βet asportavit inde ossa Saul, et ossa JonathΓ¦ filii ejus : et colligentes ossa eorum qui affixi fuerant,β
βAnd he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.β
βSo David had the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan brought from there, along with the bones of those who had been hanged.β
βand he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son. They also gathered the bones of those who were hanged.β
βand he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.β
We have here the story of some conflicts with the Philistines, which happened, as it should seem, in the latter end of David's reign. Though he had so subdued them that they could not bring any great numbers into the field, yet as long as they had any giants among them to be their champions, they would never be quiet, but took all occasions to disturb the peace of Israel, to challenge them, or make incursions upon them.
Verses 10-14 That a guilty land should enjoy many years of plenty, calls for gratitude; and we need not wonder misused abundance should be punished with scarcity; yet how few are disposed to ask of the Lord concerning the sinful cause, while numbers search for the second causes by which he is pleased to work! But the Lord will plead the cause of those who cannot or will not avenge themselves; and the prayers of the poor are of great power. When God sent rain to water the earth, these bodies were buried, for then it appeared that God was entreated for the land. When justice is done on earth, vengeance from heaven ceases. God is pacified, and is entreated for us through Christ, who was hanged on a tree, and so made a curse for us, to do away our guilt, though he was himself guiltless.