A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

CHAP. XIII.

AFter the sinnes of David and punishments threatned therefore, and secret∣ly executed by the death of his child, now follow his open punishments, saith Lyra, and first in the deflowring of his daughter Thamar, as hee had de∣flowred * 1.1 Ʋriahs wife, and then in the murther of his sonne Amnon, as hee had murthered Ʋriah. Amnon burnt in lust towards Thamar, Absoloms sister, for by the same woman that David had Absolom hee had Thamar also, and * 1.2 therefore shee was called Absoloms sister, but how to doe any thing to her hee knew not, that is, for the satisfying of his filthy lust, because the Kings daugh∣ters which were Virgins were kept close, so as that no man could come to them, and so were other Virgins also, to prevent all danger; a Virgin was therefore called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from hiding; and this made him to pine away, for the passions of the mind if they bee excessive, as of love, hatred or feare; doe ma∣cerate * 1.3 the body. Jonadab his friend, and cosin german, a subtle man to doe evill, seeing this and understanding the cause, giveth him wicked counesll, to * 1.4 faine himselfe sick, that under the colour of that hee might obteine her com∣pany alone to make something for him, which hee should feigne that he lon∣ged to have her to doe. This counsell hee deferred not to follow, and so gat * 1.5 an opportunitie to force her, shee resisting all that shee could, and disswading him from this vile attempt, and willing him if his love were so great, to speake to the King that hee might have her, who shee said, certainly would not deny her to him. But of this it is doubted, seeing a brother might not marry * 1.6 with the daughter of his father or of his mother. The Hebrews answer, that Maacah the mother of Thamar was taken in warre, and David having mar∣ried her according to the Law, shee brought forth this daughter being begot∣ten by a former husband, and if so, there was no nearenesse of blood to hin∣der this marriage. But this seemeth to bee a fiction of the Rabbins, who are bould to fgeine any thing; rather it is likely, that Thamar spake thus, as wil∣ling to say any thing to keepe him from this foule sinne, as Josephus hath it, for shee could not bee ignorant of the Law not onely forbidding, but cursing such a marriage, Deut. 27. 22. Amnon certainly knew it, and because shee was his sister, hee had no hope of obtaining her. This was a grievous punishment to David, for Amnon was his eldest sonne, and so by his birthright should * 1.7 have succeeded him in the kingdome, but God foreseeing this, and the misera∣ble end, that hee should come unto, disposed otherwise of it, and it was so much the more grievous, because by the subtletie of Jonadab, he himselfe was made an instrument, though ignorantly, to helpe to the committing of this sinne, in that hee sent Thamar to Amnons house: shee being come, and having prepared for him to eate, hee first refused, as if hee had been very sicke, and so bad all to goe out, then hee called for her againe, and having her alone for∣ced her. To put away this unlawfull lust, saith Martyr, Amnon should have prayed unto God and taken him a lawfull wife, but not doing thus hee conti∣nued * 1.8 subject unto it. The heathen prescribe three remedies, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, fa∣sting; 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, time, to deferre and not suddenly to seeke to have it satisfied; 3. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, an halter. And hee saith, that both Davids adultery was now punished, and his marrying of a daughter of the uncircumcised, for such was * 1.9 Maacah, the mother of Thamar, viz. the daughter of the King of Geshur.

Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, this may seeme strange, and contrary to * 1.10 the common manner, that having injoyed her, whom hee so much desired, hee should now have his most ardent love turned into extreame hatred, for Shechem having defloured Dinah had his soule made hereby to cleave unto her, * 1.11 and it falleth out to many others likewise; yet Phaedra, as the Poets faine, did likewise hate Hippolytus, and Nero his mother, after that hee had lien with her. The Rabbins yeeld this a reason, that in forcing her hee had hurt himselfe, and because shee spake most vilely to him; Cajetan, that his desire being satisfied, there was a turning of the humours, and so of the affection: but then it would * 1.12 bee so commonly. Peter Martyr better, that hee was pricked in conscience * 1.13 and ashamed for his horrible sinne, and so grew into an hatred of her, with whom hee committed it; and through the judgement of God against David it came thus to passe, that it might bee knowne to Davids griefe, and to make way to further calamity unto him, when hee should heare of Amnon be∣ing slaine for this, whereas if Amnon had not turned to this hatred, it might have been concealed.

Thamar seeing his love to bee turned into so great hatred, in that hee com∣manded her to bee put out of the Chamber forthwith, and the doore to bee * 1.14 bolted after her, expostulated with him, saying, that this was a greater evill then the former. But hereby shee meant not, that the incest and this putting of her away in hatred being compared together, it was greater, but both being done to one person, the evill was aggravated, for hee should rather now have comforted her and spoken kindly to her, and suffered her to stay till night, that then shee might secretly have departed, and so her credit being preser∣ved, shee might afterwards have notwithstanding this wrong, injoyed some good marriage, whereas by sending her away presently, the crime was made notorious by reason of many about the house, which beheld her as shee went away. Happily shee thought, if his love had still continued towards her, the King her father might in such a case have dispensed with the Law, and mar∣ried * 1.15 her unto him, or otherwise have provided for her honour, sith it was at his command, that shee went unto him, and hee might some way have beene ex∣cused, as being mad in a manner through love, and so doing hee knew not what, thus Martyr.

Then Thamar cried and put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours. * 1.16 Shee cryed not out before, although Josephus affirmeth it, for if shee had, there was company neare that might have broken in to rescue her, but now like one growne desperate, as not caring what became of her, shee made known by her crying, what a shamefull thing had been done, and shee goeth not to her fa∣ther, but to her brother Absolom, as if shee thought him her best friend, and were in her mind exasperated against her father for sending her to Amnons house, where shee had been so grosly abused. Touching her party-coloured garment it is said, that with such the Kings daughters, who were virgins, used to bee apparelled; but not other Virgins, who were of an inferiour ranke, for it is fit, that diverse degrees should bee distinguished by diversitie of apparell, thus Jacob sometime apparelled his sonne Joseph. Lyra saith, that it is not to bee * 1.17 understood, that Thamar at her first going out from Amnon put ashes upon her head &c. but after that shee was come into Absoloms house, lest by doing so publikely shee should manifest her shame; so likewise Tostatus, but Josephus, * 1.18 that shee went crying out in the middest of the Citie, and Chrysostome, through the street, which is most probable, and that exclaiming against Amnon and saying, that hee had ravisht her, lest shee should bee thought to have beene put away as an whore. Thus Amnon through the just judgement of God by putting away Thamar in hatred bewrayed his owne wickednesse to the indange∣ring of his life. Absolom comforteth his sister, bidding her to hold her peace, * 1.19 and telling her, that it was her brother, whereby hee meant not, that in this respect hee might doe this unto her, but that the lesse blame could bee laid up∣on her for being alone with him, whom shee could not suspect that hee would offer her this wrong, and by holding her peace shee might the better provide

for the credit of their family, to all which so foule a fault was a great blot being once divulged and not to Amnon alone.

And when David heard of all these things, hee was very wroth, the vulgar Latine addeth, and hee would not grieve the spirit of Amnon, because hee greatly loved him * 1.20 and hee was his first borne: thus also the Septuag. and Josephus, but the Hebrew hath it not. But it seemeth, that it should bee understood, seeing it is not said, that David punished Amnon for it, or reproved him, wherefore it seemed good to the LXX. Interpreters to adde it, that the reason, why hee was onely wroth but did nothing, might appeare. There was a great reason why David should bee much affected at hearing this, because they were both his children, and so it redounded greatly to his dishonour, that such wickednesse should bee com∣mitted amongst them, he also being in a manner the occasion of it in sending Thamar. But whether ought hee not to have done more then bee angry or [Qu.] grieved for his foule fault? Some say, hee should have judged Amnon accor∣ding * 1.21 to the Law, for so much as hee was the supreme Judge upon earth, to judge and to see execution done for offences committed against the Lawes of God, according to which Lawes Amnon should have beene put to death, both be∣cause hee was incestuous, and because hee lay with her by force: For * 1.22 this last, saith Cajetan, they should both have died, if any had prosecuted the Law against them, hee for the rape, shee because being in an house shee cryed not out. And therefore David is by some condemned, as sin∣ning againe herein. But for the Law touching rapes, Cajetan is much mi∣staken, seeing death is not appointed, but in case of being betroathed to an * 1.23 husband, as Lyra well noteth. As for incest in Amnon, hee denyeth it, but * 1.24 against the consent of all other expositors, that hee might cleare David. Hugo cleareth him, because Amnon was greatly grieved already and penitent, but * 1.25 this is against all probabilitie. It was his over-indulgent affection to his sonne Amnon, seeing him looke so thinne and wanne, that hee was unwilling to grieve him more by speaking or doing any thing against him, thus for the present, but as Lyra hath it, hee did doubtlesse afterwards, as a father, re∣prove him in secret. Pellican, because those words touching his love to Amnon * 1.26 are not in the Hebrew, rejecteth them, but justifieth David in his doing no ex∣ecution, because he considered his owne sin, and this as a punishment laid upon him therefore. Wherefore hee could do nothing more advisedly, then anxiously to expect the hand of God hanging over him, and humbly imbrace it, and pacifie Gods clemency by * 1.27 prayers; to which, as the best, I subscribe. And so we shall not need to argue either as Lyra doth, that there being no accuser, nor witnesse produced, but Thamar herselfe being silent, after shee came to Absolom, Da∣vid could doe no execution, nor with Peter Martyr in seeking to take this away, that the King hearing of so foule a crime should have searched it out, and punished it; for considering what had gone before, and was threatned against him, hee might well think himselfe unfit to stirre in this matter.

Absolom the brother of Thamar in the meane season conceived great hatred * 1.28 against Amnon, but hee spake nothing either good or bad unto him, that is, as is gene∣rally held, touching the injury offered to his sister, but by his silence passed it over, as if hee had not seemed to regard it: For if hee had spoken unto him nothing at all by way of communication, hee could never have had such an opportunitie to bee revenged upon him, because hee might well have knowne his hatred against him. In not speaking then hee dissembled it, and made Amnon to thinke, that his brotherly affection was never the lesse towards him, till the time came, wherein hee meant to bee revenged. And hee was prickt on the more, saith Martyr, to take this revenge upon him, because he was his elder brother, and if hee were taken out of the way, hee should bee in the more hope of attaining the kingdome, Vers. 23. At the end of two yeares, when Amnon * 1.29

suspected nothing, Absalom made a feast at his sheepshearing in Baalbasor neare unto Epbraim, to which hee invited Amnon, and all the Kings sonnes, &c. For his feasting, it was a thing commonly used amongst the Hebrewes at their sheepshearing, because their forefathers were shepherds, as wee may see before * 1.30 in Nabals example and that of Judah, for the place it is said to bee neare Epbraim; Joseph: and Adrichom: and Tostatus say, in the Tribe of Ephraim, others in the bor∣ders of Benjamin, next unto that Tribe, but that conjecture is rather to bee ap∣proved, that by Ephraim here is not meant a Tribe, but a City called Ephrem, or Ephraim, as Jerome saith, of which City mention is made Joh: 11. 54. and this * 1.31 stood in the Tribe of Judab, where Absaloms possessions must lie, seeing hee was of that Tribe; H: B: saith, it lay 8 miles from Jerusalem in the way to Jericho neare to mount Ephraim. At this place was his sheepshearing, and hither hee desired both the King to come and all his sons, that there might be no suspition of his ill meaning towards Amnon. But it was a very bold enterprise, to thinke to kill him even in the Kings presence. But David refused to goe, lest hee and his company should bee overchargeable to him, and hee was hardly entreated to let Amnon goe, whom hee specially desired to be there, pretending doubtlesse the greater grace to bee herein done unto him, because hee was the eldest and represented the King, but secretly intending to murther him.

Absalom having prevailed, and the King promising to send all his sonnes, * 1.32 he gave a charge to his servants, when Amnon should bee merry with wine, at his bidding instantly to smite and kill him, which they did accordingly, and then all the Kings sonnes fled each one upon his Mule. Hee was so cow∣ardly and effeminate, saith Pellican, that hee durst not doe it himselfe, but pro∣pounding * 1.33 to his servants that if Amnon were taken out of the way, hee should bee heire to the Crowne, hee promised to save them harmelesse and well to re∣ward them, and to take the fact upon himselfe, having a purpose then also in his minde without doubt afterward to murther his father. Some conjecture * 1.34 and that not improbably, that these servants of Absalom were Geshurites of his mothers country, and so were the lesse afraid, because they had nothing there to lose, if they should forthwith flee away with their master to Geshur, as v: 37. The rest of the Kings sonnes stayed not to revenge their brothers death, for if they had so done, they might all have beene indangered, but they fled upon their Mules, which is a mungrell kinde of beast comming of an Horse and an Asse, such as it was unlawfull for the Israelites to breed, saith Martyr, but A∣ristotle * 1.35 saith, that in Syria there were Mules of another kinde more swift in travaile then these; howsoever, although the Israelites were forbidden to breed the first sort, yet they were not forbidden to use them.

Newes then was brought to David, that Absalom had slaine all his sonnes, which strucke such sorrow into him, that hee rent his garments and lay upon the earth, &c. and indeed how could hee doe otherwise, considering his great love to his children, the author of the murther, the treacherous manner, his causing of them to goe, and the hand of God herein against him for his sinne in murthering Ʋriab, hee had heard of that with pleasure, now hee heareth of the murther of his sonnes to his extreame sorrow. Thus great griefe is some∣time caused by children, that a man may wish with Augustus Caesar, that either hee had lived alwayes a single life, or beene without children. But fame in this, as commonly it doth, exceeded the truth, Amnon onely was slaine, as Jonadab the sonne of Shimeah Davids brother told him, seeking hereby some∣what to mitigate his sorrow; This hee spake not out of a certain knowledge, * 1.36 but conjecturally, as hee was witty and privy to the occasion of Absaloms ha∣tred against Amnon, as being the man that had counselled Amnon to that wickednesse, for which hee was now slaine, and happily as Martyr hath it, Absalom although hee bare his malice against Amnon in secret, yet to Jonadab hee might at some time discover it. It is false then, which the Hebrewes faigne, that hee was Nathan the Prophet, having two names, and so knew by the Spirit what was done, for so holy a man would never have given so wicked counsell, as he did to Amnon before v. 5.

As Jonadab foretold, so David by and by seeth it verified, for all his other * 1.37 sonnes returned, and wept, and then David wept also and his servants; they for the losse of their brother, and that hee was slaine by their brother, thinking also upon the ignominy of their sister Thamar; the King for his son perishing in his drunkennesse to the hazzard of his soule also, who was most deare unto him, and for his owne sinne, the cause of all this; and the servants out of com∣passion, seeing so flourishing a family of their Lord and Master so suddenly brought to such misery.

As for Absalom, hee thinking it not safe for him to abide in the kingdome af∣ter this fact, fled to Geshur to Talmai the King, to whom hee was nearely al∣lyed * 1.38 by his mother, as ch: 3. 3. for Maacah his mother was daughter to Tal∣mai, where Geshur lay, see 1 Sam: 27. 8. Hee thought happily by his mediati∣on, that Davids wrath might bee pacified towards him, or keeping a farre off for a time hee might more easily bee afterwards reconciled. Wherefore he tarryed in Geshur 3 yeares.

In the mean season David having mourned his fill for Amnon began to long to see his sonne Ahsalom againe Lyra saith, hee by this time considered in his * 1.39 minde, that Amnon perished justly for his wickednesse, and so hee ceased to mourne any more for him. But it is rather to bee thought, that hee ceased mourning, because hee could not by mourning bring him backe from death againe, which is intimated also in the last words, hee was comforted touching Amnon, seeing bee was dead. But what is meant by the former words, his heart longed to goe forth to see Absalom? the Vulgar Latin, Sept. Vatab. Mont. David cea∣sed to persecute Absalom, and there is nothing signifying his soule or heart, and if hee would faigne have seene him, Joab should not so hardly have obtained leave for him to returne, neither should hee after this have beene kept fom his sight two yeares. The vulg: therfore is here to be preferred, David at the first was much enraged and would have slaine Absalom, but in this long time his anger was so appeased, that hee persecuted him no more, onely he meant that hee should live in perpetuall banishment, and never come in his sight more, but hee should indeed have continued still in his first resolution to execute the law upon him, the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 also signifieth, hee made an end, Junius, cum con∣summarat desiderium exeundi.

Morally wee may learne by Amnon to take heed of sinfull pleasures, the * 1.40 end whereof is so bitter, for although wee hate our sinne, as Amnon did Tha∣mar, whereby wee may bee in the way of forgivenesse, yet if wee fall into ano∣ther great sinne, as Amnon into drunkennesse, wee shall not escape deserved pu∣nishments.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lyra.
• * 1.2

  V. 1, 2. 3, 4. 5, 6. Ioseph.
• * 1.3

  7, 8.
• * 1.4

  9, 10. 11, 12.
• * 1.5

  13, 14.
• * 1.6

  Levit. 18. 9.
• * 1.7

  2 Sam: 3.
• * 1.8

  P. Martyr.
• * 1.9

  2 Sam: 3.
• * 1.10

  V. 15.
• * 1.11

  Gen. 34.
• * 1.12

  Cajetan.
• * 1.13

  Peter Martyr.
• * 1.14

  V. 16.
• * 1.15

  Peter Martyr.
• * 1.16

  V. 19.
• * 1.17

  Lyra.
• * 1.18

  Tostatus. Josephus. Chrysost.
• * 1.19

  V. 20.
• * 1.20

  V. 21.
• * 1.21

  Tostatus. Peter Martyr.
• * 1.22

  Levit: 20. 17. Cajetan.
• * 1.23

  Deut: 22.
• * 1.24

  Lyra.
• * 1.25

  Hugo Card.
• * 1.26

  Pellican.
• * 1.27

  Quomodo filium acerbe, ut meruerat, punire possit, qui seipsum cognovit majori suo crimine admissionem hujus in filio suo commeruisse: Et non tam peccatum esse in filio ju∣dicavit, quam poenā peccati in se patre commissi. Nihil ergo consultius fieri potuit, quam impendentem Domini manum anxie expectare, & humiliter amplecti, &c.
• * 1.28

  V. 22. Peter Martyr. Cajetan. Dionysius. Tostatus.
• * 1.29

  V. 23.
• * 1.30

  1 Sam: 25. Gen: 38. ••
• * 1.31

  Hierom▪ de locis Hebr. H. Bunting Pa∣triar. travailes.
• * 1.32

  V. 28.
• * 1.33

  Pellican.
• * 1.34

  Lyranus. Tostatus. Dionysius.
• * 1.35

  Peter Martyr. Levit: 19. 19. Aristot: l: 8. de nat animal: c: 24. V. 30.
• * 1.36

  V. 32. Lyra.
• * 1.37

  V. 34, 35. 36.
• * 1.38

  V. 37.
• * 1.39

  V. 39. Lyra.
• * 1.40

  The Morall.