Commentary on the Holy Bible

Terse 6. He Aall not be slain.] In consequence of this eoift, we may suppose he issued orders controiy to those which he hod given the preceding day.

Verse 7. Ife isaa in his presence, as in times past.] By Jonathan's advice he had secreted himself on that day on which he was to have been nssnssinatnd: the king havii^ sworn tliat he should not be slun, Davkl resumes his plaee in the palace of Saul.

Terse9. And the ail spirit Jrom the Lowa] Hiaenvy nd iealotisy again returned; producing distractwn « aund, which was exacerbated by diabolic influence. See oaehap. zvi. 14.

showed him all those thinea. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and tie was in his presence, 'as ' in times past.

8 f And there was war again: and ^^9& David went out, and fought with the E»5!hr. Philistines, and slew them with a ai^m great slaughter: and they fled from '■tW.M'i 'him.

9 And the evil spirit from the Lobd waa upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand; and David played with hand.

10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javeOn; but he slipped away out of Said's presence, and he emote the javelin into the wall, and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 If ■ Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, tomorrow thou shalt be stain.

12 If So Michal " let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13 And Michal took an > ima^e, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

14 And when Saut sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

15 And Saut eent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there -was an image in tlw bed, with a pillow of goats' Jucir for bis bolster.

17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped 1 And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; ' why shmild 1 kill thee?

18 If So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and tokl lum all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

not trust Saul; and, therefore, was continually on his watch. His agility of body was the means of his preservation at this lime.

Vme 11. And to slay him in the momtn^l When they might be able to distinguish between him and Hirhat his wife: for, had thqr attempted bis life in the night season, diere would have been some danger to Hichal'a life. Besides, Saul wished to represent him as a traitor i and, consequently, an attack upon him was justifiable at any time, even in the ftrilest daylight.

Verse 12. Let David dcvm. through a vlndow} As Saul's messeneera were sent to David's house to wtiA him, they woutd naturallv guard the gate, or lie in wait in that place by which l)avid would come out; Michal, seeing this, let nim down to the ground throuefa a window, probanly on the back part of the bouse; an^ there being neither entrance nor issue that way, the Iters in wait were easily eluded.

Verse 13. Michal took an image] Cfirvm tm et ha leraphim, the teraphim. Tha Hebrew word ^tpeers to mean any kind of imwe, in any kind ofjbrm, as a repre> sentative of some reaUhf. Here, it must have be«a something in the human Jormf because it was intended lo represent a man lyinf in bed indisposed.

A ptttow qf gtHoM hair} Perhaps she formed the appearance of a nek man's Mad. muffled up by this pillow, or bag of goats' hair. So, 1 think, the original might be imderatood. The goati Hair was merely accidentali unlen we could suppose that it was designed to represent the hair qf Davids head, which is not improbable.

VcrM 17. Leime go; lehy should I InU thee?] TTiat is, If thou do not let me go, I will kill thee. This she said to excuse herself to her mther; as a w^e she could do no ieM than fevOur the eeoape of ber husband; being perfectly satisfied there was no guilt in him. ItiasumKMed that it was on this occasion that David wrote the lixth Psalm, Deliver me from mine enemies, Ac

Verse 19. Davidjled and escaped— to Samuel] He, no doubt, came to this holy man to ask advice; and Samuel

19 And it wan told Saul, saying, Behold, David m at Naioth in Ramah.

20 And " Saul sent meeEen^ers to take David:

• and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon tne meseengere of Saul, and they also >> prophesied.

81 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent meesengers again the third time, and they OTophesied elso.

S3 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a ^eat well that is in Sechu; and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said. Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23 1[ And he wentthither to Naioth in Ramah: and 1 the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 '' And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and

* lay down > naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, ■> h Saul also among the prophets?

' "'^ "^ JotlEitlian WhaiUave I done? whai is mine iniquity 1 and what ia my sin before thy father that he eeeketh my life 7

2 And he said unt» Kim, Grod forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing eiUier great or small, but that he will * show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

3 And David sware moreover, and said. Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace ia thine eyes; and he eaith. Let not Jonathan know this, lest be be grieved: but truly, as the

LoRo liveth, and as thv eouI livetfa, tJiere it bat a step between me ana death,

4 Then said Jonathan unto David, * Whatsoever thy soul ■ desireth, I will even do U for thee.

5 And David said onto Jonathan, Behold, tomOTrow i« the I new moon, and I should not fa3 to eit with the kin; at meat: but let me go, that I may * hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

6 If thy father at all miss roe, then saf, David earnestlv asked leave of me that be might ma ■ to Beth-lehem his citv: for there m a yearly

7 ' If he say thus, /( is well; thy servant shaD have peace: hut if he be very wroth, (Aen be sure that ^evil is determined by nim.

8 Therefore thou shall *deal kindly with thy servant; for ' thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee: notwithstanding, > if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why diouldest thou bring me to thy father?

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for if I knew certainly that evil were determmed by my father to come upon thee, then would not i tell it thee?

10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

11 IT And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And th^ went out both of them into the field.

12 And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have " sounded my father about to-morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and < show it thee \

13 ^ The Loan do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to fio thee evU, then I will show it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and > the Lord be with thee, as lie hath been with my father.

14 And thou shall not only, while yet I lire, show me the kindness of the Loan, that I die not:

thouzht it beat to retain him, for the present, vith himself at naioth, where it ismppoBedhehad aschool ofpropheta.

Samuel — appmrUed over lhan\ Being head or jutsideni of the sciiool at this place.

The Spirit tff OodwoMupon'] They partook of the wme inftieace, end joined in the Mune exercise i and thus were prevented from seizing David.

Verse 23. He wen/ on and propheaied] Tlie Divne Spirit seemed to have seized bim at ilie well of Sechu; and he went on from thai, prophesying, praying, singing praiaes, &c. till he came to Naioth,

Verae 24. H» stripped off hit dotkta\ Threw off hia robes, or military dreaa, retaining only hia tunie; and continued so all that day and all that night; uniting with the Bona of the prophets in prayers, singing praises, and other religious exercises; which were unusual to kings and wornora; and (hia gave rise to the saying, Satii also among the prophets? By bringing both nim and hia men thus under a divine influence, he prevented them from injuring the peraon of David. See the notes on ch. X ft &C.; and see a Senoon on The OuiMan Profdiet and his Work.

Verse 1. David Jled Jrom Naioth} On hearing diat Saul had come to that place, knowing tliat he was no longer in safety, he fled for his life.

Verae 2. My/iUhsr wHl do nothing] Jonathan thought that his fioher would have no evil design against DavK^ because of the oath which he had sworn lu himself) ch. xiz. 6} and, at any rale, that lie would do nothing sgaioal David, without informing him.

Verse 3. There ia but a step beitceen me cTid death] My life is in the moat imminent danger. Your feJlier has, most assuredly, determined to destr<^ me.

nu and death, may be found in Juwio/, who, aaiiiiaig those who risk iheir lives for the sake of gain, is p«iloQa Vf^ages, spealia thua:

I lUOKtt HHd> iMiiwn eonnUu. dobno CaiUbiui ligna, diRiOa a nwrlt mnalu ftuuuor aul Kptcn, ti til toiliiliiiii bda.

" Go now, and commit thy life to the winds, hewn plonk, Jimr or seven fingers think, if the out of which it has been cut, have been largo enou^" Verae 5. To-morrow is the new nurni} The mooihs ot the Hebrews were lunar montha, and they reckoned firon new moon to new moon. And, as their other Ceasta, particularly the possover, were reckoned according (o l}us, they were very scrapuloiis in observii^ (he fint apoeaniiBe of each new moon. On these new moons they offered aserifioea, and had a feast, as we team from Numb. z. 10. xxviii. 11. And we mav suppose that the Eamilies, on such occaaiona, aocrificed and fcaetcd together. To thia David aeema to refer; but the gathering togedier all the fiunilies of a whole tribe seems to have token place only once in the year. ITiere it ayearlysa^ficethMreJoraU thtjamity, ver. 6.

Verse 8. If Aere 6e {n me iniquitp] It thou seeal that I am plotting either against the state, or the life of thy father, then slay me thyself.

Verse 10. Who Aati tell me?} Who ^1 g^ve me dw necesBary information 7 What means wilt thou uk to convey this intelligence to me?

Verse 11. Come, and let vs go out into theJUU.'\ In answer to David's question, he now shows hin bow tas shall convey this inlelligence to him.

Verse 12. Jonathan said—O Loan God Itrael] There is, moat evidently, something wanting in inis rem. The Septvagint has, TTie Lord God ^ Urael doA KNOW. "niB Syriae and Arabic, TV Lord God ^ Israd is wmcKss. Either of these makes a good senae. Bat two of Dr. Kcnnicott's MSS. suf^ly the word <n dbos

15 But aUo " thou shalt not cut ofT thy kindnesa from my house for ever; no, not when the Lord hath cut ott' the enemies of David every ooe from the face of the earth.

16 So Jonathan ■ made a covenant with the house of David, sayinfr, " Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear a^ain, f becauAe he loved him: i for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 If Then Jonathan said to David, ' Tomorrow u the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be * empty.

19 And when thou hast staid tl^iree days, then thou shalt go down tjjuickly, "and come to * the plEice Tniere thou dMst hide thyself * when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone ■ Ezel.

20 And I will Ehoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though 1 shot at a mark.

21 And, behoM, I will send a lad, aatjing. Go, 6iid out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou r for there is peace to thee, anjd ' do hurt, ■ as the Lord Uvetn.

22 But if I say thus unto the young man. Behead, the arrows etre beyond thee; go thy way: lor the Lord hath sent thee away.

23 And as touching * the matter which thou and I hare spoken of, behold, the Loso be between thee and me for ever.

24 % So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon was come, the king eat him dowB to eat meat

25 And the king sat upon hU seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought. Something hath befallen bim, he is ''not cleaiu surely ne is not

27 And it came to pass on the morrow, irAtcA vas the. second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, arither yesterday nor to-day 'I

** iiv«th;" and the text reads thus, At tkt Lord Ood qf bract UTBTH, lehen I have •ou,rtded my Jather, — if there be good, and I then tend not unto thM, andthovU thee, the Lord do M and miuA more la Jonathan. This makes a still better aeoae.

TerastS. Tiu Lou> be uilh thae, a* he hath been wUh my AM«r,] Frvm ibisL lad other nwages her^ it is very endent that Jooathaa kaew diat the Lord bad appoistra David lo the kingdom.

TcrM 14. Show me the kindnese ^ the LoasJ When ihOH eomest t« the kingdom, if I am alive, thou ibut show kiodneM lo me; aod thou shalt coniinue that kindness to

%bmil7 after me. ene 20. I will thoot Utru arrom) Jonatbaa intended diat David riioald siw at the stone Ezel, 'where probably there was tome kituTof eav& or hiding-plaee; diat, to prevent all suspicion, he wonla not go to lum himself; but take his servant into the fields, and pretend to be exercising himself in archery; tkat he would shoot three arrows, the better to cover his deaigri; and, that if he should say to bis •arrant, who went to bring beok the arrows, " The arrows are on dtis side of tbecs" this should be a sign to David dat he nia^t safely fcoitni lo ecnit no «vil bemg designed to hin. Bat if he AoviM say, '"nie arrows are b^rond tbee Iheo David Aould escape for his life, Saul having detemined his destruction.

VetM '26. 7V king eat won h*$ eeal} It seema diat there was one table for SauL Jonathan, David, and Abner t Saul having dte chief aeot, tkot next to the walL Am only Jbur sot at this table, the absence of any ofu would soon be Mdesd.

Terse 29. Our famUti hatk a eaerifiee] Such sacrifices wwtwndoubledlyysstof ones; dte beasts slain for the oceiMOO wen first ^ered to Chd, and dwir 6leod foiired

earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:

20 And he said, Let me ^o, I pray thee: for our tUmilv hath a sacrifice in the city; ana my brother, ne hath commanded me to be th&re: and now, if I have found favour in thine eres, let me ReX away, I pray thee, and see mv Brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

30 Then Saul's anger was Icindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou * son of the perverse, rebellious tDoman, do not I know that thou nasi chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the coniueion of thy mother's nakedness?

31 For as long as the eon of Jesse livelh upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he ' shall surely die.

32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said imto him, < Wherefore shall he be slain? What hath he done?

33 And Saul '> cast a javelin at him to smite him: > whereby Jonathan knew that it was detennined of his father to slay David.

34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because bis father had done him shame.

35 t And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field, at the time appointed with David, and a little W with him.

36 And he said unto his lad. Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he &hot an arrow * beyond hun.

37.And when the lad WEis come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said. Is not the arrow beyond thee t

38 And Jonathan cried afler the lad. Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad S^thered up the arrows, and came to his mfister.

39 But the lad knew not any thing; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

40 And Jonathan gave his i artillery unto " his lad, and said imto him, Qo, carry them to the city.

41 IT And as soon as the lad was gone, David

oat bffore kirns afterward, all that were bidden to the feast, ate of the flesh. Tliis was a family entertainment, at the commeneement of which Otod was peculiarly honoured.

Verse 30. Hwu *on of the ptrterte rebeUiouM woman] Tliia clause is variously translated, and undenlood. The Uebrev ndriit be tranalaied, Son qf an ta^fiut rebellion: that is, " Inou art a rebel againat thy own father." libe VuLoaTS, FUi mvUeri* virum uUro rapientie; " Son of the woman, who, of her own accord, forcea the man." The SxPTOAGurr is equally curious, Yu Kopaatiav avra^ »- " Son of the damsels who came of dieir ova accord." Were these the meaning of the Hebrew, theu the bitter reflection must refer to some eeerti transaction between Saul and Jonadtao^a mother; which certainly reflects morediihoDour on himself than on bis br«ve son. Most sarcasms bear aa hard upon the apeaker. aa diey do on him against whom they are apoken. Abusive language always ai|:ueB a mean, weak, and malevolent heart.

Verse 34. Jonathan aroeo — injterceanger'\ We should probably imderstand this nuber of JoDothau'e gritf than of his anger, the latter elauseez^aining the former i for he IMS grieved for Doetd. He was grieved fiir his father; be was grieved for his friend.

Verse 33. Make epeed, htute, etay nat\ lliough these words appear lo be addressed to the lad, yet they were spoken to David, indicatiiig that bis life was al stale, and only a prompt flight could save him.

verse 40. Jonathan gate hie oriUIery] I believe dtis to be the only place in oar language where (he word artilltry is not applied lo cannon or ordnance. The wiginol <V9 ketey, signifies simply inttrumente; and here means dw bow, ((uiver, and arrows.

arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his fiicc to the ground, and bowed himself three times; and they kiseed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

4^ And Jonathan said to David, " Go in ^eace, 'foraamuch aa we have aworn both of ub in the name of the Lord, saying, Tbe Lord be bet ween me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed fbrever. And he arose and departed: ana Jonathan went into the city.

THEN came David to Nob to PAhimelech the priest: and Ahimelech. — ^ — was 'afraid at the meeting of David, mn\ ujilo Jiim, Why art thou alone, and no man wirh thee J

2 Ami David said unto Ahimelech the priest, rlii^ ki[i'r \'\n\U "'omraanded me a buEiness, and b^iili ■r-A'.ii ii iin me, Let no man know any thing of tite basirifsi^ whereabout I send thee, and wh^t I hnvct commanded thee: and I have appointeii 7p!/ seryiintB to Bach and oach a place.

% JSow rlicr' liire what is under thine -hand? fire* }}!'.• fiyis h.-foes of bread in mine hand, or It there is ■ liresent.

. And the priest answered David, and said, erj! is no common bread under mine hand, but thfi'o id 'haiinvved bread; 'if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the ' vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread i» in a manner common,

Verse 41. UtUU David ereeeded] David's distrew miu^ ia the nature of thtnn, bo the greaieat. Beiidea his friend Joaatbui, whom newu now about to loae for ever, he lost hii wife, relatives, country; and, what waa most afflictive, the altars of his Qod, aud tbe ordinances of ra> ligioii.

Saul saw David's growing popularly, and waa convinced of his own mal.^miRi8lration. He did not humble himself before God; and, therefore, became a prey to envy, piid^ jealousy, cruel^, and every other malevolent temper. Prom oim David had every thing to fear i and, therefore, hs thought it was safer to yield to tbe atorm, than attempt to brave it; though he could have even raised a veiv powerful party in Israel, hod he used the means which were so much in his power. But, as he neither sought nor alTecuid the kingdom, he lef^ it to tbe providence of Ckxl to bring him In, by such means, in such a way, and at such a time, as was moat suited to his godly wisdom. He that believeth idi^l not make baste i God*t tooy and time are ever the best; and he wlu^ even in Ood's way, runs before he is sent, runs at random; runs without light, and without divine strength. Feeble, therefore, must be bis own might, his own counsel, and hia own wisdom: dwugh he eneompan himself with bis own sparks, yet tbia bath be at tbe Lord's hand; he shall lie down in sorrow.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXL Terse 1. 7%m cam* David to Nob} There were two places of this name: one on this side, the second on tbe other side, of Jordan: but it is genemlly supposed that Nob, near Oibeah of Benjamin, is the place here intended; it was about twelve miles from Jerusalem.

Why art Hum aiont} Ahimelech probably knew nothing of du difference between Saul and David; and as be knew him to be the king's son-in-kHr, ba wondered to see htm come without any attendants.

Verse 2. TJu king hath. eommamUd me a busine**] All said here is an untruth, and could not be dictated by die Spirit of the Lord: but there is no reason to beUeve that David was under the influence of divine inspiration at this time. It is well known that, from all antiquity, it waa held no crime to tell a lie in order to save life, nius Diphihu!

TmXsfi^ora rs ipnSat on mtniptis **I hold it li^t to tell a bg in order to procure my per-

6 So the [H-iest *gavc him hdlowed bread: for there was no ttf-ead there but the show-bread, 'that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Mtnl vat there that day, detained before the Lord: and his name waa ■ Doeg, an Edomite. tbe chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

8 1[ And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

9 And the priest said. The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in ■ the valley of Elah, ^ behold, it U here wrapped in a cbta behind the e[diod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there it no other save that here. And David said, There it none Uke that; give it me.

10 IT And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to ^ Achish the king of. Gath,

11 And ''the servants of Achish said unto him, It not this David the king of the land? Did

12 And David 'laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 And <he changed hia behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their bands, and ^ scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let

14 Then said Achiah unto his servants, Lo,

A AeoAen may soy or stef thus: but no CkruHntn act thus, and mm ius aouii though hc^ by so doio& maj save hit life.

Verse G. So the ^xriett gave him haOowti bread] To this history our Lord alhides, Mark It. 26. in order to dwr thai, in cases of abtoluie necutUy, a breach of the ritval law was no sin. It was lawful for the priests only to eat the show-bread: but David and his companions were starving; no other bread could be had at the time; and, therefore, he and his companions ate of it without sin.

Verse 7. Detain^ be/are the LOBo] Probabfy fulfilling some vow to tbe Lord; and, durefore, for a time waa nmdent at die tabernacle.

And hia name was Doeg] From chw. xxa. 9. we learn that this man betrayed David's secret to Saul, which cwaed him to destr(7 tbe city, and slay eigbty-five pneMa. We learn from Ito titl& that the flfty-oeeond Psalm was nsda on this occasion: but these titles we not to be inplkiily trusted.

Verse 9. Tfu award of Ooliath] It has already been conjectured, (see eb. zvii.) that the sword of GMiatii was laid up as a ^ophy in the tabernacle.

Verse 10. Went to Adii^ the king qf GaA.} This was tbe worst place to which he could liave gone: it was tbe very city oi Gkiliallu whom be bad slain, utd whose avoid he now wore; and be soon found, from tbe convenatMo of die servants of Achish. that his life waa in tbe ntost imminent danger in this place.

Verse 13. And he dianged hie bAaviour] Some imagine David was so terrifMl at the danger to which he was now exposed, that be waa thrown inio a kind of jArmef, accomwnied with tpileptie JUe. Utis opinion is countenancea by tbe Septaagint^ who render toe passage tbss: I^ tim aifipa nnXir*r«i', "Behold, ye see an epibflio man. Why baveye introducedhim tomel" V^ekereifut twiXiprruti (vw: " Have 1 any need of epileptioa, itaat ye have brought him to have his fits before mel^ (ntXsmstaSai wpet /a.) It is worthy of remark, that ibe qriftfs JiMing upon the beard, i. e. elavering or frodung it Ike mouth, is a genuine concomitant of an epifcmic fiL

If this transluion be allowed, it will set the eoaduetof David in a clearer pmnt of view than tbe preaest trsssiation does. But odian think the whole was a ieigiiBd ea»* duet { and ibat be acted tbe part of a hmaiie ori

15 Have I need of madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman m my preseiwe 7 shall this fewno come iato my house?

his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

S " And every one ffiai was in distress, and every one that " v>as in debt, and every one that was ° discontented, gathered themselves uDto him; and he became a captain over them: aud there were with him about four hundred

3 1[ And David went ^ence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Mow, Let toy father and mv mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with yon, till I know what God will do for me.

4 And he brought tbem befijre the kins of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

5 1[ And the proohet fQ&d said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

6 1[ When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that vere with him, (now Saul abode in Oibeah under a i tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants niere standing about ium,)

ID wder to ^ out <tf the hsoda of Adusb and his eourtths. Mkoj Ttndnale this eondoot of David: but if mocking be catching, according to the proverb, he vhoyeffTM htmielf to be mod, im^, through the just jud^ent of Ood, become M. I d&re not be the apologist of tntiTtecrity, or lying. Those who wish to look unher into this subject, may cod- ■nit Dr OiandUr, Mr. Saurin, sad Ortlob, in the first volvtine of Di»atrlaiien$, at die end of the Dutch edition of dw CritiaSiusri.

T«ne 15. SbiU Oi* fellow eome tnft> flw Aotwe 7] I will mot tAe into my service a men wbo is liable to so grievous a disease. Chandler, who vindicates David's J^^ntn^r bimMlfmad, concludes thus: — " To deceive the deceiver bk in many instances, meritorious; in none criminal. And what so liltely to deceive as the very reverse of that chac- •eiar, which they had so misconBtrued 1 He was undone asaitftss man; ne had a idta&eo to eaeona as amsdnua.- be tried, and die experiment snoeeeded.'' I confeas I can neither feel the force, nor the morality of this. Deoeit and hypocrisy can never be pleasinK in the siirht of God. NOTES ON CHAPTHt XXII.

Verse L 7^ cove AduUam] TbiM was in the tribe of Judah; and, aeeonting to Ensebius and Jermn, tan miles •astwaid ot what they call ElmAavptdta.

Veres 2. And easry one diat was m Jfifrw~rfsM — dUemiienUdi It is veiv possible that these several disaffected and ejcceptimome characters might, at first, have supposed that David, unjustly persecut^ would be glad to avail himself of their assistance, that he might revenge himarif upon Saul i and so ihey, in the mean time, minit profit by plunder, dee. But if this were dMir design, they were gready ditappc»nted; for David never made ai^ improper use of them. They are twver ibuiui plundering or muidering; on the contrary, they alwayv appear under rood (liseiplinet and are only employed in services of a beneficent nature, and in defence of their counuy. Whatever they were before they came to David, we and that be leeeeded in civilizing them, and making profitdltle to the stale those who were oefbre unprofitable. It is not necesauy to strain (he words of the original, in order to prove (bat these wese opprened people, and not axee)niaDBble eharaiSen, as some have done.

Vena 3. mttMantoOukbtgqf Abab\IhKfidt>eiili not mst bis panota within the naeh of Saul) and be

7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him. Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and viDevards, ana make you all captains of thousanas, and captains of hundreds;

8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that * showeth me that

aoD hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of yoa that is sorrv for me, or showeth unto me that my son hath stirred tip my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

6 Then answered ■ Doeg the Edomite which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to * Ahimelech the son of * Ahitub.

10 " And he inquired of the Loan for him, and 'gave him victuals, and gave him the sword ot Goliath the Philistine.

11 1[ Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

12 And Baul said. Hear now, thoa son of Ahitub. And he answered, ■ Here I am, my lord.

13 And Saul said unto him. Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to Ue in wait as at this day 1

14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said. And who ia »o faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king^s son-in-law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is nonour{d)le in thine house?

15 Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute -otiv thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my lather; for thy servant knew nothing of all this, ■ less or more.

found it very inconvenient lo them to be obliged to go through all the fbti^ues of a military life; and, therefor^ be^ me kinft of Moab to give (hem shelter. The king of Aloab, being one of Saul s enemies, would be the mora ready to oblige a person fi-om whom he mi^t at least aspKlfritJuimip, if not considerable sermcss.

Verse 5. Get thee into the land qf Judal£\ God WKW that in this place alone he could find siiety.

Verse 6. 8md (Aeds & OtbtM Baul and his men, were in pursuit of David; and had here, as is the ceneral eustom in the Basi, encamped on a height, for so Ramah should be translated, as in the marein. His tjptar, the ensign of power, (see on ch. xviii. it.) was at his hsndi thai le, stuek in the ground where ha reatad, which was the mark to the soldiers that thert was tbur general's tenU

And att bi» »ervant» were alanding abotd Mm] Tliat is, Ihey were encamped around him; or perh^is hers there is a reference to a sort of eouncU of war, called by Saul, for the purpose of delivering the spaeeh teeorded ia Ibe following verses.

Verse 8. Then is none that Aawelh ms] He oonieotufed that JtMiathan bad made a league with David, to oethroiM him I and be aeeusea them « disloyalty Cm- not making die diaeovery of diia unnaniral Maon. Now, it was impossible for any of them to show vbM did not ezisti no such league luiving ever been made between David and Jonathan.

Verse 9. Doeg tha Edomile, nhith w »tt over At etrvania of Saul] In ch. xzi. 7. he is said to be the dii^eat qf the herdmen that belong^ to Saul; and tlie Sejma-

E'nl intimate that he was mer the mulee of Saul. Pro- My he was what we call the kinjg's equerry, or groem. Verse 10. And he inquired of the Lord far him] Una circumstance is not related in the history = nit it i> pr<^ bly true; as David would most naturally wish to know where to direct his steps in this very important crisis- Verse U. And vho IS BO faW^ul] The word into ATm* man, which we here tiaikslate faitltfut, is probably die name of an qMcer. See the note on numb. xii. 7.

Verse 16. Did I Aen begin to inquire ^ Ood] He probably means, dtat his inquiring mw for Invid was no new thing, living often done so befoie t and without enr being infwroed it was other wrcng in itself ordiylsasiBg

16 And the king said, Thou ehalt surely die, Ahimeleeh, thou, und all thy father's house.

17 If And the kin^ eaid unto the ■'footmen *that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me. But the servants of the king ^ would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.

18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and ne fell upon the priests, and * slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

19 ' And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men apd women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20 ^ ' And one of the sons of Ahimeleeh the Bon of Ahitnb, named Abiatluir, ' escaped, and fieJ nftrr Ttnviri.. • to the king. Nor i> it Itkehr that Ahimeleeh knew of any dinpwment betweea Saul and David. He knew him U be the king's lon-iii-lav, and he treated him as vuch.

Verse 17. Bui the tenanta qf the kin^ mndd notj They dared to diiobey the commandi of ai& king, in a case of micli injuitice, inhumanity, and trreligion.

Vene 18. And Dotg—f^ upon the prieaU] A ruthleei Edomite, ca|)ableaf any apeciea of initjuity.

FSmneore and five jmfmiu] The Septoagint read rptflMMnc Mt Kt»Tt Mififlas, ArM hundred andjhe men; ■ad Joaephus hae thrte kundnd and eighly-Jbe men. Probably the eighty-five vers prieata; the three hundred, the &mi)iea of the prieata; tliree hundred and eighty-five bei^ the whole population of Nob.

"not did mar a linen epAod] That ia, peraona vho did actually adminiater, or had a right to aominiBtAr, in ■acred thinga. The Unm ephod was the ordinary olothing of the prieMa.

Terae 13. Jw2 Aofr— omofs h» with the edge of the aword\ Thia is one of the worn acta in the life of Soul: hia maJice waa implacable: and hia wroth waa cruel; and there ia ne motive of juatice or policy by which nicha barbanma act can be justified.

Verse 30. Abiathar, eectated] This man carried with lum hit taurdatal garmenu, aa we find from chap. xxiv. 9,9. 8

VeraeSZ. tkiuvitOat dai/l When I nw Doeg there, I mapeeted be would make the matter known to Soul.

/ have occaeianod the death t(f ailVie pereone] I have been the innocent cause of their deatruction.

Verse n. He that tetketh my life eeeketK li/t] The •nmi^ of Soul is directed against thee, as well as asainst met iai thou canst have no safety but inb^ng oloauy attached w ms} and I will defsnd ibe^ even at the risk of my own li& Thia hs was bound in duly and conscience

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXIH. Varsel. ThePhiiiatineeJlghtagainatKeUahi Keilah was n fartiAed town in the tnbe of Judah, near to EleudwK^iriB^ on die natd to Heteoni

2 Therefore David i inquired of the Loan sayingr. Shall I go and smtte these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

3 And David's men said unto him. Behold, we be afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we come to Keilah affainst the amues of the Philistines 1

4 Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him, and said. Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand. -

5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away dieir cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

6 And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimeleeh " fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

7 il And it was told Saul that David ^V-J^ was come to Keilah. And Saul said, A>E>ud.i«. God hath delivered him into mine hand;

8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege D>av)d and his men.

9 1[ And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him: and "he said to Abiathar the t>riest. Bring hither the ephod.

10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul secketh to come to Keilah, °to destroy the city for my sake.

11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the Lord said, He will come down.

12 Then said David, Will the men of Keilah ■■ deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul 7 And the Lord said^ They will deliver thee up.

13 TH Then David and his men, ^wAtcA were about six hundred, arose and departed out of

Rob the AraAing'JIoore] This waa an ancient eustov of the PbilistuwSiHiaianilea, and others. See Judges v. 4. When Ae eom waa ripc^ (md fit to be thraahed; and ib^ had collected it at the tnniahing-floors, whidi were alw^ in the open field, then ibeir enemies come upon ibem, and apoiled them of the fruita of their hnrvesL

Verae 2. 'IVierf/ore David inqiuTed of the Loan] la what way David mode this inquiry we are not loU; bat it waa probably by means of Aitiaiiiar t and, therefore^ I Ibink, with Houbtgan^ that the sixth vane should be nM tmmedtalely after the fiisL The adventure mentioned here was truly noble. Had not David loved his country, and been above all motives of private and personal revenge, he would have rejoiced in thia invasion of Judah, as ptoducing a strong oiversion in his &vour, and embroiliu hia invelemte enemy. In most cases, a man with David^ wrongs would have joined with the eoemiea of his country, and avenged himself on the author of hia admaitita; but he diinks of nothing bol suceouring Ceilah, and nsii^ hia power and influence in behalf of his brethren! This is a rare instance of disinterested heroiam.

TTie horn said— Go and mitt] Hernial now gowidi oonfidence, being assured of success. When God promisea suooess, who need be ofrsid of the bee of any enemy 1

Verse 4. David inquired qf the horn yet agvinj Tiii was to saUsfy bis men; who made tha atroiv olgectiaos mentioned in the preceding verae.

Verse 5. Brought away their eatUe] The Conge and spoil which die Philistines had taken i driving the onnury before them round about Keilah.

Verse 6. Cmta doini widi on apAod] I think diia vem should come immediately after verae the Ibst. See tbo note there.

Verse 8. iS^ui ealled aU tki people together] Thst^ all the people of that nf^ta or distria; that laey might scour tne country, and hunt out David from all his hauim.

Verse 9. Bring hither the ephod] It seems as if David himself clothed with the ephod, had eonaulied the Loani and the 10^ lldi, and lab veraes contain tha words of dwewuultation, and the Lwd'a answer. But see oavcr.Zi

Eeilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it Vfoa told Saul that David was eBcaped from Keilah: and he forbare to go forth.

14 And David abode in the wildernees in strong^holds, and remained in 'a mountain in the wilderness of * ZIpb. And Saul > sought him every day, hut God delivered hka not into his hand.

15 And David saw that Sam was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.

16 And Jonathan, Saul*s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and " that also Saul my father knoweth..

18 And they two 'made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.

19 TT Then "came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying. Doth not David hide himself with us in strong-holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilab, which u ' on the south of ' Jeshimon?

20 Now, therefore, O king, come down according to all uie deairaof thv soul to come down; aiM ■ our part ^ail be to deliver him into the king's hand.

21 And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LoBO; for ye have compassion on me.

Veraei II, 12. In dieae ttnea w« find the fbllowinjg questioQ* oitd annren; David BBiid, Will Saul come dam to Keilah? And the Lord nid, He will come down. WiU Ihe mm qf Keilah deliver me and my men into Uu-hand tf Said 7 And the Lord nid, lyiey Aoilt deBver thee uj>. lo this ihort hiauiry we find an ample proof that there ia •ueti a. thin^ aa amtingmcy in huinao a&ira i that ia, God has poised many things between a poraibility of being and not being; leaving it to the will of the ereaxure to turn the soole. In the above aoBwers of the Lord, the following condiliona were evidently implied: Ir thou eojilinue ia Keilah, Soul will certainly come down; and^ if iSaui coin< doum, the men of Ketlab deUvar the» into his handa. Now, thou^ ibe text poutively oaaerts that Saul would come to Keilah, yet be aid not come; and that the men of Keilah would oeliver Itavid into hia hand, yet David waa not delivered to him. Aod why 1 Because David left Keilah) — but had he Maid, Saul would have come down, and the men of Keilah would have betrayed David. We may obaerve from this, that, however poaitive a declaration of God may appear, that refers to any thing in which man ia to be employed, Uie prediction iinotinleaded to nMpemi or dettrotf fre»-agenetf, but always eomprdwndi la it •ome particular condition.

Verae 14. WHdeme** Zipb.} Ziph waa a city in the ■Otithem part of Judea, not far from Carmel.

Veree 16. And Jonathan — Hrengihttud hie hand in Chd.} It is probable that there was alwayi a secret intereourae between David and Jonathan; and that, by this moat truaty friend, he waa ajmriaed of the various designa of Saul to take away hia liu. Aa Jonaihan well knew that Ood had appointed David to the kingdom, he came now to encourage him to tnutt ui the Moat High; and to osaure him iluit Uie hand of Saul should not prevail againot him; and at this interview they renewed ihcir covenant of frwndahip. Now, all ihia Jonathan could do, consistently with his duty to ida fafur and liis king. He knew that David had delivered ilie kingdom: he aaw that bis father was ruling uncoQalitulionally'; and he knew that Gud had appoint^ David to succeed SauL This he knew would come about in the order of providence; and neither he nor David took one step to liasten the time. Jonathan, by his several interferences, prevented his father from imlirning his hands in innocent blood: a more filial, mid a more loyal part, he oould not have acted; and, therefore, Ui his attachment to David, he is wholly free of blame.

Verse 25. The vildemtB* qf Moon] Maon was a mount&iBOUs district, in the most southern parts of Judah. CWmet aipposea it to be the aty of Mounts, which Eusebius places in the vicintty of Oaza; and the Mm«mi

22 Go, I pray you. prepare yet, and know and see his place where his * naunt is, and who hash seen him there: for it is told me thathe dealeth

23 See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himiself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go witnyou: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search liim out throughout all the thousands of Judah.

24 And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness *> of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.

35 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down * into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard ihal, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.

26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, mid David and his men on that side of the mountain: ^ and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul \ for Saul and his men * compasiK ed David and his men round about to take them.

27 ^ ' But there came amessenger unto Saul, saying. Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have « invaded the land.

28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing afler David, and went against the Philistines r therefore they called that place ^ Sela-haromahlekoth.

Verse 26. Saul loatt on thU aide qf Ihe mountain} Evidendy not knowing that David and his men were on ihs oiberside.

VerasST. Timers cams a messenfer] See the provideiMO of Ood exerted for the salvatim of David's life I David and his men ore almost surrounded by Saul aod bis army, and on the point of being taken, when a messenger arriveiL and informs Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land I But behold the workings of providence! God had already

{repared the invasipa of the land by the Philistines, and ept Said ignorant how much David was in his power i iHit aa hia advanced guards and scouts must have discovered him in a very short timoi the messenger arrives just in the nick of time to prevent it 1 Here David was deHvered by God; and, in such a manner too, as rendered the divine interposition visible.

Verse 29. IViey called that place Sela-hammak-UioA,'] That is, the rock o/* diviaiona; because, se^s the T^rgum,. the heart of the Icing waa divided to jgohaher and IhUher. Here Saul was obliged lo atparaie himself from David, in order to go and oppose the mvading Philistines.

Verse 29. Strong kolde at En-gedi.] Ea'geAiwBamtmted near to the western coast of the Dead aea, not br from Jeshimon: it literally signifies the ki<ffa weU; and wai celebrated for its vinei/arda, Cant. i. 14. It waa ak» celobrtUed for iu balm. It is reported to be a mountainous territory, filled with caverns; and consequently proper tea David in bia jweaeDt circumstances.

How thrtuiiing-,fioora were made among dw aneienti; we tearo from Cato, />siZ«ihis({cd,idtap. xci.andezzix. And, as I believe it would be an excellent method to make die most durable and efficient bam-Jloora, I will set U down.

Aream aie faato. Jjoeum u&t^cies eoT^odUo,- ^"itea amurca conspergito htne, ainiUtgue comiibat. Pottea conimtnuUo gltoaa bene. Deinde coaguate, tt paviatH* verbarato. Poatea denuo amurca eomipergitQ, tinUogv* areacai. Si Ua feeeria negue formica nocebunl Tisqva lieriMttaaeeniuT! eicumpluent,lutumncmerit. "Hake a llirashing-floor thus: dif( the place thoroughly; afterward sprinkle it well with the tees of oil, and give it time to soak in- Then beat the clods very fine; make it level, and beat itwelldown wiihapaviour's rammer. When this is done, ■pinkie it afresh with the oil lees, and let it dry. This being done, the mice cannot burrow in it, no grass con grow through it, nor will the rain dissolve the surface lo niss mud.^

^tL^" A it came to pass, ^when SauJ A«» xl. was returnd from ' followioff the Loi^p-m phiiiBtinesj that it wae told him, saying:. Behold, David u in the wilderness or Enfceai.

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and " went to seek David aod his men iqnn the roeks of the wild eoats.

3 And he came to the eheep-eotes oy Uie way, where v>a» a cave; and " Saul went in to * cover his feet: and f David and his men renuuned in the aides of th&cave.

4 t And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee,

Behold, I will deliver thine eneniy into thins hand, that thou mayest do to him as it slulU seem godd unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the ekirt of ' Saul's robe privily.

5 And it carao to pass afterward, that ■ David's heart smote him, because he had cut off SauFs skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, » The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto mv master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand agninst him, seeing he ts the anointed of the

7 So David " stayed ' his' servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8 ^ David also rose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried afler Saul, naying. My lord the king. And when Saul looked behiod him, David stooped with his lace to the earth, and bowed himself

Arm quoque ti terrena erit, itt tit ad trituram tatit hahUU, pruRum rodofur, deinck confodiaiur, jurmixlU pateU cum amured, aue $aUm non accepit, extergaUin nam ea ret a populaiione muriam fbrmiearumque frumeTttadefendti. "rumaqualapavietilUiVdmoltmlapidt MtutenKtur, et ruraiu wubjeeha paleU ineuleetur, attpu ita toUbtu gtecanda rtUnquaita: D» Re RumKcA, lib. il e. 20. **U you would hsra a thnuhli^-floor made on die open grouiM, that it may be proper (at the purpose, first pare off the rarfoce, then let it be well diKsed uid mixed with leei of oil, unsalied, with which chaffnas been mingled t for this prevents (he mice and ants from burrowing and injuring the com. Ihen level it with a paver** rammer, or press it down with a millstone. Afterward, scatur chaff over it, tread it down, and leave it to be dried by the sun."

l^iis may be profitably used within doors, as well as in die field: and a durable and solid floor is a matter of very great consequence to the husbandman, as it preveiiti the floor from being injured by sand or dust.

Verse 1. Saul vaa returned] It is very pnAKtblo that it was (Hily a small marauding party that htul made an ezenraioa in the Isrselitish borosrs; and diis invasion was soon suppressod.

Verse 3. Rodcs <ff the wild goaia\ lie ori^nal o^rn Uureyha^yitlim, is varioualy understood, "nie Vul- OATS makes a paraphrate; Super abrupli*Bimtu pHraa gum »oli* ibiciius peryia nint! "On the most precipitous roc^ over which the ibezeaalone can travel." IlieTASonc, the caveme <ff the rodca t tfae Sbptvaoint make the original a pnqier name t tar, oot of ai*ffm yva tmtrey haythm, they make 'Saitaumj aaddaiem; and in some copies AAiojUif, Atiamtin; which are evidently corruptions of the Hebew.

Verse 3. 7%s Juep-eotui Caves in the rocks; in which it is common, even to the present time, for ^epherds and their flocks to lodge. According to Strabo^ there are caverns in Syria, one of which is capable of containing f^ur

Saui went in to cover hit Jee(\ Perhaps this phrase signtfies exactly what the Vulgate\aa rendered it, utpur-

5ia-et ventrem. The Septuagint, the Thrgum. and the irofrtc, understand it in the same way. It is likelv, that when ha 1^ perform^ Hub act qf meeanly, that tie lay down to repose oimself; and it was while he was asleep that David cut ofiT die akirfof his robe. It is stnmge that Saul was not aware that there might be men lying in wait in ■iuh a place; and the rabbins nave invented'^a roost curious conceit to account for Saul's security: — " God, foreseeing that Saul would come to this cave, eauetd a spider to weave her web over lha mouA of ii; which, when Saul perceived, he took for granted that no person had lately been there; and, consequently, he entered it without suspicion." Tliia may be /i/«rai/v true; and we know that even a spider, in the hand of God, may be the instrument of a great salvation. This is a Jewish tradition; and one of the most elegant and instructive in their whole collection.

David andhit men remained in the aides of the eareA tba is no hyperiiole: we have not only the authority of Slrdbo, as above mentioned, but we have the authority of the most accurate travellers, to attest die ftcl of the vast capacity of caves in die East.

Dr. Pocoek observes, " Beyond the valley (of TeVoa) there is a very large grotux which die Arabs coll flJMu' iruxh, a hiding-plMC: the nigh rocks on each side of the vall^ are abnost perpendicular; and the way to die groUo is by a terrace formed in the rem, which is very narrow.

are two entrances into it % we went by the fardies^ which leads hy a narrow passage into a very large gnoa, the rock being supported bv great natural pillars: tfie tof of it rises in several parts like domes | the grotto is perftetly dry. Iliere is a tradidon, that the people of the ramtiy, to the number of thiriy Ikmuand, retired into this grotlo. to avoid a bed air. Inis place is so strong, that one wouU im^oe it to be one of the strong-holds of Bn-gedi, ta which David and his men fled from Saul: and possib^ it may be that very cave in which he cut off Saul's akirt; for David and his men might, with great ease, lie hid thers^ and not be seen 1^ faim." Pocedet TVovefs, voL iL pail

Verse 4. Aruf the mm qf David mid] We know not to what promise of Ood the men of David refer: diey. perhaps, meant no more dian to say, "Befaold, the Loid bath delivered thine enemy into thy band; now do to him as he wiriies to do to thee.

otom] 'Hiough I have a hi^ (miaioa of dw character of David, yet tm eiroainsiMMes of die ossa seem to indicate that be arose to take away the life at Saul; and diat it was in reference to this tnu his heart smote him. It ftppei^ that he rose up isnnediately, at the desire of his men, to slav his inveterate enemy, »ad one whom he knew the Lord had lejected » but, when about to do it, he was prevented by the remonstrance of Ood in his conscience; and instead of cutting off hi* bead, as be might have done, an act which the lawi and ongeaoTwar wculd have justified, he contented himself with enuing off the skirt of his robe; and he did this only to show Saul how much he had been in his power.

Verse 6. TTie Lord's anointed] Howsoever uDwordiihf Saul was now acting, he had been appointed to his bien office by Ood himselTj and he eould only be removed by the authority which placed him on the throne. Even David, who knew he was appointed to reign in his stead, and wbcee life Saul had often sought to desrmy, did net conceive that he had any right to take away his life: and he grounds the reasons of^his forbearance on this, he is mv master; I am his subject. He is the Lard's anoitiied; and therefore aacred, as to his person, is the Lord's BtghL It is an awful tiling to kill a king, even the most untoward, when he lias once been constituticoally appoinlad to the throne. No experiment of this kind has ever wabceeded; the Lord aWiors king-killing. Had David taken awny the life of Saul, at this time, lie would, in the eigbl of Cbd, have been a murderer.

Verse 7. Siiffered them not to rite against Saul.] Am he could restrain dtem, it was his duty to do so: had hs evnnived at their killing him, David would have hem the murderer. In prayins tor the king, we call God **• onif ruler of princes i for this simple reason, that their au<h^ rity is the highest among men, and next to ihat of God himself: hence, he alone is above ibem. We find ibis sentiment well expressed Iiy an etcgoni poeii—

10 Behold, this day thina eyes hare seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave; and some bade me kill thee: hat mint eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand aKaiost my lord: for he 10 uie Losd's anointed.

1 1 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I eut off the akirt of thy robe, and killed thee not. know thou and see that there w * neither evil nor transeression in mine hand, and 1 have not sinned aeainst thee; yet thou ' buatest my wml to tfuie it.

12 < The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lobd avenge me of thee: but mine hand ■halt not be upon thee.

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, WickednetB proceedeth from the wicked: bat mine hand shall not be upon thee.

14 After whom is the king^ of Israel come out 7 after whomdoBt thou pursue? 'after a dead dog, aftar a flea 1

15 • The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee; and * see, and * plead my oanse, and '' deliver me out of thine hand.

16 11 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of meaklag these words unto Saul, that Saul said, ' u this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 ^ And he sud to David, Thon art i more righteous than I: for * thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt welt with me: forasmuch as when > the Lord had delivered me into thine haiuLthou kitledst me not

19 For, if a man find his enemy, will he let

Versa 13. WkJudnus proceedOi from th* -wvAtd^ "Rus pioveri> tofty be thua understood; he that does a vicked act, givea proof thereby ih&t he ii a wicked man. Prom him who ii wicked, wickedneu will proceed: he who n wicked, will add one act of iniquity to another. Hod I coiMpirM to dethrone yoa, I would have taken vour life when it wes io my power \ and thus added vndieanut to vkktdneM.

Verse 14. AJler a dtad dog] A term used among the Hetwevs to signify the most sovereign contempt. See 2 9am. xvi. 9. Oae utterly incapable of making the least renstaoee against Saul, and tbe troops of Israel. The same idea is expressed in the termjiia. Tbe Targum properly expresses both thus: one wo Uvteak, one who it eontemptUiU.

Verse 16. Jtfy etm David] David had called Saul his moMter. lord, and king. Saul accosts him here as hisstm, to show oiat he felt perKctly reoonoiW to him, and wished 10 receive him, ai formerly, into his fiunily.

Verse 19. ffa man find hU enemy, iciU he Ui him go wefiotray?] Or, rather, Wiilkeatndliimina giodteay? But Bmoigant transUies the whole clause thua; Si ijais tnimieum raum reperiens, dimitiit turn in nam bonam, sedditur ei d diimino sna metres — "If a man finding his enemy, send him by a good way, the Lord veiU give him hie reward." The words which are here put in italic, are not in the Hebrew text; hut they are found, at least in the sense, m the Septuagint, Bf/Aac, and Arabic; and seem necessary to complete the sense: therefore, adds Saul, the Lordi^ rntard Au good for vAof ttm boat done unto me.

TerssiO- / htoto vkB that ffiou Aalt nrefy be king] Hebrew, Jtetgnlng, Owu ehatt reign. He knew this befiice t and yet he conUniied to pursue him with tbe most dudty hatred.

Terse SI. Sieearnow] Saul knew that an oalh woukT famd David, thourit it was insuffieient to Innd himself: Me chap. xix. 6. ^e had sworn to his son Jonathan that Itavid rfiouht not be slain; and yet soti^it, by all means iarfaia power, to destroy him.

him go well away 1 Wherefore the Lobd reward thee good for that thou hast done onto me this go And now, behold, ■ I know well_ that thou shalt surely be kii^, and that the kingdom a Israel shelf be estaUished in thine hand.

21 ' Swear how therefore unto me by the LoRn, p that thou will not cut off my seed after me; and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.

22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul WMit home; but David and hia men gat tbsm up unto t the hold.

AND 'Samuel died: and all the Israelites were gathered together, ^ and ■ lamented him, and buried nim in ai»b m his house at Ramah. And David arose,!:£ISJ!^ and went down * to tbe wilderness of Paran.

2 II And tiiere imu a man " in Maon, whose 'poBsessions -were in 'Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheei;, and a thoascmd goats: and he was shearing his ^eep in Carmel.

3 Now the name of the man va» Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and eke wu a woman of good understanding; and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and be was oT the house of Caleb.

4 ^ And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did ■ shear his sheep.

5 And David sent ont ton young men; and David said unto the young men, Glet you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and ''greet hmi in my name:

Daviaand kie men gat them up unto the hold.'\ Went up to Mixpeh, according to the Ixriae and Arabic. David could not trust Saul with his lin; the utmost he could expect from him was, that he diouhl oease from persecutes him; but even this was too much to expeet from a man ot such a character as Saul. He was no longer under the divine niidance; an evil spirit had full dominion over his soul. What God fills not, the devil will occupy.

Verse 1. And Samuel died] Samuel lived, as it rapposed, about nindy-ei^t years; was in the government of Israel before Saul from sixteen to iwenti/ years; bjk) ceased to live, according to the Jews, about your TnonlAs before the death of Saul; but, aecoraing to Calmet and othera, two yearn. But all thia ia very uncertain: how long he died before Saul cannot be ascertained. For some accounut of his character, see the end of the chapter.

Buried him in hie kouae} Probably, this means not hia dweUing-houte, hat die houee or timb he bad made for hks sepulture: and thup the Syriac and Arabic seem to have understood it.

David — went down to the wHdemat fif Paran.] TTiia was either on the confines of Judea, or in Arabia Petrva, betweed tbe mountains of Judah aiid Mount Sinai: it is evident, tcom the history, that it was not fiu- from Canned on the south confines <» Judah.

Verse 3. 7^ name ^fftsmonuos Naiai] Tbe word Ssi nabat, signifies to be yboKaft, bate, or vilbmous) and hence the Imo word iMlwo^knim, is Busposed to be de* rived.

The name qf hia wyi Abigail] The ^oy or exultation qf my faJher. A woman of sense and beanty, married to tne hog mentioned above; probably because ne was rtcA. Many women have been Aus sacrificed.

Cff the houae qf Caltb] "Astf^mvehu Calebi, "he was a Calebite." But as the word caleb signifies a dog, tbe Bttptuagint have understood it as implying a man of • eamine lUspotiMon, and translated it U»»; mb mfymmn sspBtsft he was a-aogwiah man. It is understood ii flw Bsme'vay Ity the S^tae nod AnHe.

6 And thas irhall re my to him tiat liveth in prosperity, ■ Peace 6e both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thoo baat

7 And now I have heard that thou ha*t shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, wc 'hurt them not, ■■□either was there aught miasinff unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.

8 Ask the young men, nod they will shotf thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in ' a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy flcrvants, and to thy son David.

9 And when David's young men came, they

Sake to Nabal according to all those words in B name of David, and ^ ceased.

10 TT And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, • Who ia David? and who is the son of Jeese? There be many servants nowadays that break awav every man from his master.

11 ' Shall I then take my bread, and mv water, and my « ftesh that I have killed for my snearors, and give it unto men whom I know not whence they 6e?

18 So David's young men turned their way, end went again, and came and told him all those •ayingB.

13 And David said unto hu men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And thev girded on every man bis aword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred ^ abode by the stnft'.

14 IT But one of the youae men t«d Abigail, Nabars wife, saying. Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he > railed on them.

Id But the men toere very_good unto tis, and h we were not > hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant Mrith them, when we were in the fields:

16 They were " a wall onto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.

Verse 6. Ptaee be both to Sue] This ii the ancient form of sending greetings to a friend: Peace to theS) Peace to tty ■ovsiaoiD, end Peace to oil llut tuoc hast. TTiai ti^ may both thytt(f, ihyJamUy, and all that pertain unto ihee, M in continual proeperity!

Perhapa David, by thi« Balutation, wiahed Nabal to understand that ha bad acted bo toward him and hii property, that nothing had been deatroyed, and that all had Men protected: see ver. 15, 16, 17.

Verse 7. Thy Aqpherde inUcb were wiVi ua, we hurt them not} It is most evident that David had ac^£m upon Nabal, for very eMeotial services performed to his henlsmen at Carmel. He not only did them tio hurt, and took none of Iheii^fioekt for the supply of his necessities, but he protected them from the rapacity of others: they were a WALL unto tu, said Nabal's servants, both by night and day. In (hose times, and to the present day, \rondering hordes of Arabs, under their several chi^e, think they have a right to exact contributions of provisions, &c. wlierever dtey come: David had done nothinr of this kind, but proteoted them w&inst those who would.

Verse 8. Whaisotver comtth to Ihiju hand\ As thou artnakingagreat feast for thy servants^ and I and my men, ss htving essentially served thee, would naturally come in far a slMn, were we preeentt send a portion by my ten young meti, for me and my men, that we also may r^)oics with you. Certainly this ws* amy raasooable,Rnd a very modest request.

Verse 10. moim David?] Nabars answer shows the stirline«t of his disposition. It was uiiiust to refuse so reasonble a request! and the manner of the refusal was highly iiisulbiuf. It is true what his own servants snid of him, He it such a ion BiKal that one eaniud epeak to JUm, ver. 17.

V«ntl%. Todctvohundredloavee] The Eastern bread isoidioarity both fUn and smo/f; andaiuwerstoourcoites.

!lVofto£Uetywtn«] That is, two goat-dtins fUU. The bids Is pulkd off the »Dimal without rtoping iwj the

1? Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for ■ evil is determined againat our master, and against all his househdd: for he is Bitch a son of « Belial, that a man cannot speak

18 f Then Abigail made haste, and v took two hundred loaves, and two bottles on wine, and fire sheep reody dressed, and fire measures of parched corn, and a hundred ^clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of lige, and laid them on asses.

19 And she said unto her servanu, 'Go od before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down bv the covert of the bill, and. behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.

21 Now David had said, "Surely invainhavtt I keptall that this/eUoir hath in the wilderness, so that noUitng was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath ^ requited me evil for

28 " So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I 'leave of all that pertaiM to him by the morning light *any that pisseth against the wall. >

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, ' and lighted 00" the ass, and fell before Darid on her and bowed herself to the ground,

34 And fell at his feet; and said. Upon me, lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, nieak in thine ' audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.

25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, ■ regard this man of BehaL even Nabal; for as his name is, so tff he; 'Nabal is his name, and folly it with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the yonoc men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

26 Now, therefore, my loM, *> a# the Low Ihreth, and as thy soul hveth, seeing the Low hath < withholden thee from coming tothed blood, and from *■ avenging • thyself with thine own hand, now ' let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as NabaL

places where the legs, Ac were, are sewed sod then the skin u^mn one largt bag. This is properly us

FwAeepi Not one she^ to one hundred moi. Ciuatcra sff raitinml BaisinB dried in die mi. Cakea offigt] Pigs oured, and then pressed together. We receive the foriner in jars, and the latter in small barreJt; and both articles answer dte description hers giv*^

Nowallthisprovisionwasamatterofunle worth; aii4 had it been granted in the first instaoce, it would have |Nr> fectly satisfied David, and secured the good offices aShim and his men. ' Abtfrail showed both her wisdom and prudence in making mis provision. Out of thrse tkautcmd sheep Nabal could not have missed ^e; and, as this claim was made only in the time of sheep-diearing, it couU not have been mode more than oooe m the year: and it ocrtftinly wasa small price for such important eervioea.

Verse 30. She came doan—and Damd~~ctime dowm} David was coming down mount I%aiint Abigail «sa coming down from Carmel. Calmet

Verse 22. So and more ateo do God] Nothing ea justify this part of David's conduct. Whatever his pni*o> cation might have been, be had sufiered^j»vperly speakings no wrongs; and his resolutioD to ci|t off a whole inaoeenl family, because Naba] had acted ungenerously toward him, was abominable and cruel; not to say diabolic. He who atiempu to vindicate this conduct of David, is, at least constructively, a foe te God and truth. David himsstfeeodemns this most rash and mnnRaniable eondw^ snd thanks Ood for havii^ prevented him ihnndoiiigthiBen^> ver. 32, &C..

Any thai pietdh agvinsf the loaiT} His enrsMM certainly means either www or days; and should be was translated, if ' leave — any male: and this will answer both to men and dog*, and the offensive mode of expression be avoided. I will not enter farther into the solject: Bochart and Calmet have done enough, and non thsa •iHNiabi and iatbsffaiasef Unguags too.

S7 And now > this ^ btesniw which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even jM^iven unto the youn^ men that < follow my

28 I pray thee, foreire the trespass of thine handmaid: for ^ the Lord will certeinly make my lord a a'ure house: because my lorif ' fight- «tb the battles of the Lord, and " evil hath not been Ibund in thee all thy days. *

29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul; but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thv <3od; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall hR " slins out, * or ottf of the middle of a slinff.

30 Aim it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the food that he hath spoken concernin°r thee, and Shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;

31 That IhM slrall be r no grief unto thee, nor of^nce of heart dnto my lora, either that thon hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.

32 IT And David said to Abigail, « Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avengmg myself with mine own hand.

34 For in verjr deed, a» the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath * kept me back from nnrting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had ' not been lefl unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.

35 So David received of her hand tfiat which ■fafl bad brought him, and said unto her, ' Go up

' in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy Toice, and have * accepted thy person.

36 IT And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, * he held aTeast in his house, like the feast of a king: and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for be wa* very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of NEU>al, and hia wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

33 And it came to pass about ten days nfiet, that the Lord nnote Nabal, that he died.

39 f And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, ■ Blessed be the Lord, that hath ^ pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of NabaL and hath ■ kept nis servant from evil: for the Lord hath ■ returned the wickedness of Nabal upon bis own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.

41 And she arose, and bowed herself on Her face to the earth, and said. Behold, let ^ thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an aes, with five damsels of hers that went ' afler her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

43 David also took Ahinoam ^ of Jezreel; ■ and they were also both of them his wives.

44 IT But Saul had given ' Mjchal his dauehter, David's wife, to rPbalti the son of Laish, which was of ^ Oallim.

Tens 28. And nii hath not htn found in tftec] ITtou bsK not eommtttodsDy set of this kiad faidierto.

Vene 29. Shall h* hownd in the bundU tff l^tj Thy life shall be precioui in ine ai^c of ihe Lora: it shsll m Coond in the bundle qf life; ii ahall be tupported by bira who ia ikt' tpring ana fountain qf tif«t and ever be found united to thoie who are most favoured by the Almighty.

Tmm ekaJl he »Hng out] Far from bring bound and J^ft Ugdher in union with (he fimntaio of lift^ be will esM them off from himself ai a stone is cart out from a slinj. Hiia betokeoa boih force and vioUnce.

Verse?7. Hit heart died wUhin him. and he became M a etone.} He was thunderstruck, ana was so terrified at the apprehension of what he liad tac^wd, that the fear overcame his mind; he became insensible to all thinga •nmod him; probably refused all kinds of nourishment i wad died in ten days.

Terse39. To take her to him. to leife.'] It is likely that he had heard before this that Sa>il, to cut of all hia preteoaiona to the throne, had married Hichal to Phalti; and Ais justified David in taking Abigail, or any other woman: and, according to the then custom, it was not unlawful for Dsvid to take eeveral wives. By his marriage with Abigail, it ia probable he became possessed of all nabal'e property in Carmel and Maon.

Terse 43. David aim look Ahinoam} Many think that this was his wife before he took Abtgwl: she is ■Iwaya mentioned first in the list of his wives | and she WIS uie mother of his eldest son Amnon.

W Jezreel] Tnut were two places of this name; one Id «M tribe oflsaaehar, (he other in the tribe of Judah.

Qf OaUim.'i Probably, a city or town in the tribe of Bennmin: see Isaiah x. 30. It is likely, therefore, that Saul chose thia man because he was of bis own tribe.

Ih this chapter we have the account of the death of Samuel; wbo^ from bis infaney^bad been devoted to Ood, and the aervioe of his people, ne waa bom at a time in which religion was at a very low ebb in Israel, as there were but very fisw prophets^ and no open oietan; scarcely amy revelation from Ood. Those who might be called jtrvphela, tud no regular miniatiy of Qod'a word i tbey were estraordiDary mesaengen, sent for a particular purpose, and not, continued ia the work any longer than the time necessary to deliver their extraordinanr meaaage.

Samuel ia auppoeed to bavo been the m'st who established aeademiee, or adiooU,Jbr prophets; at least, we do not bear of them before hia time: and it ia pmuited (hat they continued till the Babylonieh cf^itivity. Tha was s wise insfiuition i and no doubt contributed much to the maintenance of pure religion, and the i^weniiOQ of idolatty among that pet^le.

Samuel reformed many afauaes in the Jewiah state ] and raised it to a pitch of political conaequenee to which it bad been long a alranger. He was very zealous for the honour of God; and supported die rights of pure religion, of the king, and of the people, against all encroachments. He was lAief magietrate in Israel before the appointment of a king; and afterward be acted as prime minieter to Saul ( though without beiu cfaoaen, or fmnally appointed to thut station. Indeed, he seems, on the whol^ to have been the eivU and eedeeiaelieal governor. • Saul being little more than general of the leraetUiekforeee.

In his office of vunieUr in the stale, he ^ve the brightest example of seal, diligence, infloxible integrity. waS uncorrupteaneaa. He leproved both the people «oa the king for their tranacreeaioiiL with a boldness which nothing but his sense of the divine authority oould in*

Siie; and yet he tempered it with a sweeitMSi which owed the interest he f^lt in their wel&re, and the deep and distressing ooncem he Cslt for disir bwkalidings UH iiuSdeiities.

He wes ioeorrupt; he reeeived no man a onos; he hod no penoion tnm tne ttale t be enriAed none of his relO' tivet from lbs vtifrKe purw; left no private debU to bs discharged hf his oountry. He was among Ote Hebrews irttat AriHidee is said to have been among the Oreefcit so poor at his death, though a minister of state, that he did not leave property enotigh lo bury him; Jnelice was by hihi duly and iraportialiy administered; and t^ression and wrong had no existence.

If there ever was a heaven-bom minxHer, it was Sam* nel) in whose public and private conduct there was no blemish) and iriiose parallel cannot bs found m the aootent or modem history of snr eounny j|Mht uivtM

Tte SpWM Mra SbbI oT DiTiiPi Udlnrpliee. L Sul, whh Mm Ooutml ■MO. |Da iajninuil of bim, 1, B. Dttti atuli dih ^iin; ind lixb whn Saul lild fiuM m ounDi 'wil h* udAbtaU tmat ta Uw saw br nlftii, tad nil

AND the Ziphitee came unto Saul to Gibeah, Bariug, < Doth not "— - David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which it before JeBhimon 1

3. Then Saul arose, and went down to the witderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to «eek David in tiie wilderness of Ziph.

3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which ia before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wildernesF.

4 David therefore eent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.

5 IT And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld tiie

Slace where Saul lav, and * Abner the son of ter, the captain of nis host: and Saul lay in the I trench, and the people pitched round about

6 Then answered David, and said to Ahimelech the Hjttite, and to Abisbai " the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will "go down with me to Saul to the camp % Aod Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

7 So David and Abishai came to the people by flight: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench: and bia spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

Let tninitten of aUU^ yAo have Mu^t for DMhing but their own gloiy, ud haVe increased dw public burdens by tbeir improvideot expenditure i who have endeavoured, by Iheir wordy repreaentationB, t8 dazzle and delude the people, and impo§a/aiM grctjuUur in the place of tnu p-eatntt and toHd jtrowpaiiy; who have opjtreaud Vie many, and atriehtd Nle mrlhW; fall down at the feet of raia heavm-bam man, and leant from this immaculale jud^ brael what a mitfaful wetvant to his king, and an mcorruptibla miniaUr atof^ means; and, in retiring from their high station, or in goinff to appear before the judrnwnt-scat of God, see vbeuier, in me preaenoe of th«ir King, and in the foce of die thousands of their people, they can boldly say, " Behold, here am 1 1 witnees against me before the Lord, and before his anointed, Whose ox have I (akan 1 whoM ass liave I seized, and wh<mi have I deftaiidedl irttom have I oppressed (by (he impooitioD of heavy taxes fnr the support of Ti««(Ue*« crpcTtM^ and the payment of xmal men?) Or of whose hand have I token any bribe to blind my eyesl semtmise my conduct, examine the state of my waiqr, oi»npare their present circumstances with what dwy wen previously to my adminiatTation; and see if you eao find ai^ght in my hands." See cIm^i. xii. 1, dec.

Oil, how seldom in die annals «f the world, &om the SSMmMed heads of the great body politic, can the departing prime minister bear, "Thou-iiaat not defrauded us i Oiffii hast not oppressed us; neither hast thou taken a*^t of anv nian's hand." This voice can be bewd from CKlgal! bat of what other miniater ean this be spoken but of Samuel As smt, who was ths gift of Ood*i meroy to die people of Isrsel i irtiose memory was too precious to be intruMd to puUie monnmstMa, but stands, and alas, almost untfn^ in the Boos or Oob! Of Danvd, and his sdministiation, I ^11 have occasion to speak elsewhere.

A prime minister, dteply devoted to Ooo, and failhfid to his king and to his eoundy, is so rare a character in the world, that vhm be does ooeur, he should behaUnpto ptMie admiradoa. Ses the notes on chap. xii. and cbw. xxiv.6.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXVI. Verse 1. 7%s ZipMbs eome] This is die second time that these enemies of David endeavoured to throw him into the hands of Saul. See eh. xxlii. 10.

Vsrse 2. Thrtt SkememA cAossn ms^ Tbourii thav BMW dtu David wss but six hundnd stnw, nt Sul 784 _ '

8 Then said Abiahai to David. Ood •htth delivered thins enemy into thine hand thi«: now therefore let me smite him, I pray theo, with the spear, even to the earth at once, aaa I will not mnite him the second time.

9 And David eaid to Abiahai, Destr(^ hint not: ' for who can stretoh forth his hand agauat the Lord'b anointed, and be guilUess 7

10 David said furthermore. At the Loin lireth, -4 the LoBD shall smite him; or < his day shall come to. die; or he shall 'descend into battle, and perish.

11 I The Loan forbid that I should stretoh forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed; but, I pray thee, take thou now the epear that i« at his bolster, and the cruise of water, and let ua go-

of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them awav, and no man saw U. nor knew if, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because ■ a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

13 IT Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space 6ein^betwe«i them:

t4 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner. saying, Anewerest tboa not, Abner % Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiani man? and who it like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

16 This thing is not good that thoii had done. As the Lord liveth, ye arc 'worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lobd's

Aoog^t it was not safe to parsua soeh an aUe general wiA a less force thm diat inentioned in the text: and, that be might the better depend on them, they were all eUet ar picked men out of the rest of his army.

Versed. Datidanm} As David and bis »en knewttia country, they bad uaaq sdvantsges d Seal and bis bmii and no doubt oould orna watcli tbem wiOisut beteg disoovered.

Saul loy-te At trenth} Tim wad ivoa hamwiaegal, w4iieh we trawdale in 0u treoA i and in the margin, m ths midst ((f kit tarriaga,- is rendered by soim^ m ■ ring of earriaget,- and iy others, in Uu eirelt; i. c whkk was formed by his troMx. Luther himself translates tDWrnbtUTB, ^fortrem Kimed of iMg'ons or earriagt*,

Ab his <0r^ signifiea any thine round^ it may here rder to a rounopavitton^ tent, made for Saul; or dee to iba form his conm. Tba Anba, to the present day, always form a circis in their enoampmenta, ana put dieir princifal officers in the centre.

Verse S. Abiehai the tan (f Zeruiah\ She was David's sister) and, therefota, Abisbai and Joab were nepbewa u

Verse 8. Ood hoik d^iver^d Atne anewy into Aims kand^ Here Abishai uses the nooe languagifi as did David's men, when Saul came into the cave at 1^-gedi } (see du xxiv. 4, &C.) and David usee dte same language in rqd^

Verse 10. Loan ihaU mite kirn] He iball die % a stroke of the divine judgment: — or, hit day AaU eomt to die; he shall die a natural death; which, m the coons of things, must be before mine) and thus I shall get lid of nrine enemy: or, he sAaU descend into battle, and y*> riaA; he shall ftill by the enemies of tus couotiy. Ttiess kn the three ordinary wavs by which man accomplishes as a hireling, his day. Murder, David could not consider to be lawful: this would have been taking the matter out of Gfod's hand; and this David would not do.

Verse 12. David took the tpear and the mitss] Hie spur, we have already seeiL was the emblem oT peiaer siid regal digmty. But it is usual, in Arab camps, fiv every man to have his lance stuck in the ground beside him, that be may be ready for action in a moment, cruise of water resembled, in some measure, the «i«tens of our soldiers. In such a climate, where water was ■]• ways scarce, it was necessary for each man to eany a Knli with him, ■ refiredi him m nis mafdi.

anointed. And now see where the king'i apear iff, and the <aruiae of water that tbcu at hu bol- Bter.

18 And he said, 'Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after hie servant? for what nave I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

19 Now therefore, 1 pray thee, let my lord (he kinf hear the words of his servant. If the Lord have ' stirred thee up against me, let him ■accept an oflering: but if tuep be the children of men, cursed be they before the Lord j » for ther have driven me out this day from ^ abiding in the 'inheritance of the Loan, Bayins, Qo, serve other gods.

20 Now therefore, let not my blood mil to the earth before the face of the Lord; for the king of Israel is oome out to ' seek * a flea, as when one doU\ hunt a oartridge in the mountains..

2 1 IT Then said Saut^ ■ I have sinned: return, my son David; for I wdl no more do thee harm, because mv aoal was ' precious in thine eyes tbis day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.

33 > The Lord render to every man his rightC' Onsness and his faithfulness: for the Lord de- Dvered thee into trvg hand to-day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the Imbd^b * anointed.

24 And, behold, as tfay lUb was maeh set by

is used (G«n. iL 21.) to deacnbe the *Uep which God caused to bll upon Adam, when he formed Eve out of hia side.

Verse 16. Art not ihou a valiant man} This ia a strong iroaj: ye are toortky U> die; ye are tons qf death ye deaerve death for this aegieO. of your kinff. And had nut Saul been to deeply affected ^th DavicTa freneroaity, in preaemng hia lite, he had doubtless Aoner ana his ebisf officers to death; though- they mre not to blame, as ^ir af^Kirent negtect was (he eflect of a aupematural sleep.

Verae 10. Lei him accept an ^Wering\ If God have stirred thae up asainst me, why, then let him deliver my life into thy hand, and accept it as a sacri&e. But as the word is nmo mindiaK, a gratitude-offering, perhapa the ■enae may be this: Let Ood accept a gratitude-oneriag from thee, for having pursed the land of a vorkcr of iniquity; for, were I not suen, God would nera' stir ibee iip agauut me.

Bvt \f Ihey be tfu children of men] If men have, ftiat representations, lies, and slander^ stirred thee np against an innocent man, dien let them be mr»ed before OU Lord. If I am guSty, I deserve to die } if ^o^ GDose vba seek my lift dMuld be destrtwed.

Sming, Oq, itrve other god*.] His being tAKged to leave (he tabernacle, and the place where the tme worship of God wa* performed, and take refage among idolater; said, in eStet, Go, and eene other gade.

verse 20. At uAcn one doth hunt a parlrtdgel It ia wordiy of remark, that the Arabs, ofaMrving that partridges, betBg put up leveral timos, soon become ao weaiy ■s not to be able to ny. they in this manner bunt them upon the mountains, till at last they can knock tlwm down widi dteir dubs.

It was in this manner diat Saul hunted David, ooming bastily upon him, and putting him up (h>m time to time, in-hopss that be shouM at leng4>, fay frequent repetitions of it, M able to destroy him. See Itarm«r.

Verse 21.' I have «tnn«f] Perhapa the word >ntten AataO, " I have sinned," should be read, 7 have erred, or, hme been mietaken. I have taken thee to be a very dif- Eennt man from what I find thee to be. lUcen literally, it was Btrictly true. He often purposed the apilling oi David's blood; and tliu% again and again, Hnnid aninst his life.

Verae 25. TTimi thall do both great ihinj^ and aleo ahaU eliU prevail.) The Hebrew is sa nwyrt rwf a> *Knn'fS> gom AaA liaeA, ve gam yaeol tteal. "Also in dtriw thou Shalt do { and being aUe thou shalt be able." Wiueh the Targum translates, aUo in reigning Ouni Aali this day in mine eyM, so let my life be moch aet by in the eyes of ute Lord, am let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thon, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still i prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Dartl Sa to ItUib, klnf (/ Olds «^ norim Mb kbritr, arf CltM Ite iata ■•MIIii.Thmh«M*UMn&rTv«ndWBBMten^T. DmU tnndMB Owurkc* (rd AranMicn, und laiB nkhar mu dor vodM kin. 8. S. Ha

AND David said in hia heart, I shall now ^ perish one day by the hand a&. tm. of Saul: there is nothing "better for t^w^i me than that I should speedily escape '■<^r«°r"* into the land of the Philistines; and Saul dutll despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.

2 And David arose, i and he passed over with the six hundred men that leere with him " unto Achieh. the son of Maoch, king of Gath.

3 And Davkl dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David, " with his two wives, Ahinoam the JezreelitesB, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.

4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath; and he sought no more again for him.

6 If And David said unto Acntsh, If I have now found ^ace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: Sot why should thy servant dwttl in tbB rojrot city with thee?

6 Then Adudi gave him '/aklag that day:

reign; and in jnvopering tkou ^mlt preoper t which, ia allprobobility, is the meniiing.

There is a vast deal of d^nity in this speech of David, arising from a oonsciousnesa of nis own innocence. He neither begs his life from Saul, nor offers one argument to prevaiVupon him to desist from his felonious auemptai out refers the whole matter to God, as the judge and vin> dicator of oppressed innocence. Saul himself i> speechleaa, except va the aimple acknowledgment of hia sin: and, in the behalf Of their king, not one ot hia officers have one word to say 1 It ia strange that not one of iham offered now to injure the person of David 1 But tbey saw that he was most evidently under the guardian care of Ood, and that their master woa apparemly abandoned by hina. Saul invites David to rsfum; but David knew toe un* ceftaingr of Satd'a chancier too well, to trust himself is the power of this inhniated king. How foolish an Ihs counsels of men against God I Wlm> he nndartakes to •ave, who can destroy! And who can deUver out td his hands?

irOTES ON CHAPTER XXVIL Verse 1. 7 ehaU note periah one day by Ae hand

Satti] This was a very hasty conclusion: God had so often interposed in behalf of his life, that he was authorized to believe the reverse. God had hidieno confoundsd all Saul's atratagems i and it waa not at all likely that he would npw abimdon him; there was ntm no addittomat reaaoh \rity he dioold withdraw from David his fael|^ig

Verse 2. David aroot, and he patted over—vnto AdiifA] TTiere is not one circumstance in this transaetioQ that is not blameable. David joins the enemies of his Ood, and of his country; acts a moot inhunutn part against be Oeshuritea and Amalekites, without even a pretence of a divine authority; tellsamost deliberate falsehood to A^ish, his protector, relative to the people against wh&m be had peipetTttled this cruel act; eivinghim lo underatand that ne had been destroying the nraelites^ his enemies. I ni^ dertake no defence of oiia conduct of DavM; it ia all badi all defencelesa; God vindicates him not. The inspirad penman tells what be did, but passes no etdogium upon his conduct: and itia fidse to say that, because these things are recorded, therefbre they are approved. In all dton transactions David was, in no one sense, a man after OsdTs own heart. Chandler attempts to vindicate all diis cenduct: those who can receive his saying, let them receive tt Terse 3. Bnrp man vltk hit AouHftoIdl So it appears I consorted With David lisd wivw sad

I And p the time that David dwelt in the coniitrjr of the Philiatines was t a full year and foar months.

4 ciSf ® ^ David and hia men went AaEioitZr. up, and invaded ' the Geshurites, *and

iJSm* the ' Gezritea, and the " Amalekites: toiT»pH>. for those naiions were of old the inhabitants of the land, ^ as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

9 And David smote theland, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the appard, and returned, and came to Achish.

10 And Achishsaid, "Whither have ye made a road to-day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of ■ the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of ' the Kenitea.

II And Davw saved neither man nor woman alive, to brini^ tidings to Gath. saying. Lest thev shouU tell on us, saying. So aid David, and so viU be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Phtlietines.

12 And Acbisn believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel ■ utterly to abhor him; therefore he snail be my servant for ever.

A ND • it came to pass in those daya, fcjoo.ni. XX that the Philistines gathered their —. - armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. ADfT Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou ehalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

Verse S. Why Aould Ay mrvant dwtQ in the royal cUy] He teemed to intimate that two j>rinetly eatahtuh' mtnia, in the mme city, xrere too great. Achiah appears to bare felt tl^e sropne^r of his proposal t and, therefor^ •ppoimi bint Ziklag.

Verse 6. AdiiA raxt him ZUclag] ZiVla^ was at first given to the tribe of Judah; but afterward it was ceded to that of SinuoH, Josh. xv. 31. db xiz. 6. The Philis' tines bad, however, made thenuelvoi masters at it, and held it till the time here mentioned: it then fell into the tribe of Judeh uain i attd continued to be lbs property of the kin^ of Jwuh. ' l^is verse is a proof that this book was written long after the days of Samuel: and th&t it was formed by a later band, out of materials which had been ooltected by a eoaiemporary author. See theprf/oce.

V«ae 9. David atiwit the btu£\ Here was a complete axliipatioo of all these people: not one being left alive, kat na riiottld carry tidings of the disasters of bis country I Tbe moil which David took consisted in thtep, oxen, uaatt, eamat^KoA appareL

Terse 10. WkUher havayt mad9aroadtO'day7'\ bad probably been in the habit of making predatory exeuraioos. lUs seems tv be implied in me question of Aehiah.

Terse 12. He hatk made hitjpto^ — uUtrly to oMor JUm] Tliis deception, which, Dr. Delaney says, "did h»rm to nobody, and to the account <if uAmA he u at an utter tooe what degree qf guilt to dtarge," imposed upon Achish, had the most direct tendency to make him ima-

£'ae himself secure, while in the utmost danger; and to ve a laithful friend and able allv in David, while he was lha veriest enemy he could possibly have. Shame on liim vbo becomes the apolcwLit of such conduct.

NOTES OlSr CHAPTER XXVin. Terse 1. Tfie Phiiiatinet gaUiered their armite togtOur] Sir Isaac Newton conjectures, that the Philistines had got a great increase to their armies by vast numbers •f men, which AmaMi» bad driven out of EgypL Thit, with Samuel's deall^ and David's diagrace. were no Inoanaider*U« motives to a new war, from wokb Ibe Plil- Ustinsi had aov every thing to hope.

3 And David aaid to Achish, Smtij dwa shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

3 ^ Now ^ Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried nim in Raraah, even in his own city. And Saul had pat away ' those that had fanuliar spirits, and the wizardsr out of the land.

4 T And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem^ and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in ■ Gilhoa.

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was ' afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6 Ai)d when Said inquired of die Lon, ■ the LoBD answered him not-, neither by ^dreams,

7 IT Then said Sauluntohis servants, Seekme a woman that hath a familiar Bpirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, fAerets a woman that bath a familiar spirit at En-dor.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: attd ^ he said; I pray thee, divine unto me by the fanuliar spirit, and bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee.

9 And the woman said imto him. Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how be 1 hath cut oil' those that hav^ familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore tbett layest thou a snare for my life, to eatise me to die?

10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, suing. As the Loan liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

Thou ehalt go out with me to battle] This be asi^ being deceived by what David bad told him.

Terse 2. Surely thou ehall knotB what thy semmf cob do.] This was another eqtrivoea] answer { and eouM only be understood by his succeeding conduct. It might im^Iy what he could do in favour of the Philittina agamst Israel; or in hvour of brael against tbe Philisunos. Achiah understood it in tbe former sense; and, ibercfote, be said to David, 1 will make thee keeper of my head/or eter; i. e. Thou shalt be captain ot my l^e-guarde.

Terse 3. Scanuti woo dead\ And Ifaeit was no loager ■ public accredited prtqtbet to consult.

ITtoee that haa/amiHar ipirttM, and the wixarde} See the notes on Lev. xi. 31. ana Exod. xiii. 18.

Terse S. When Saul saw] He saw, from tbe superiority <rfhi> eoemiea, from the state of his own anny, and especially from bis own stste toward Ood, that be had every thtog to fisar.

Terse 6. The Loan OMiMred him noQ Be nsed as three meOtoda by which supenututal tnlelbgence was ordinarily ^ven.

1. Dreamt. — The person prayed for instruction; and begged that God wouU answer by a significant dream.

2. Urim. — This was a kind oi oracular answer, given to the high priest, when clothed with tbe epbod; oairiuch were the ifrim s!nd Thummim. Bow these ccwnmoiacatod the answer is not well know.

3. ProphtU.—yVho were requested bj tbe party o«bcemed to consult the Lord on the subject in question; and to report his answer. The prophet*, at that tim^ could only oe those in thetdiooU<f the prajAeUjvhom Samud bad established at Naioth and Chbeah. The*e were the only successors of Samuel that we know.

Verse?. Seekmeawomanthathathafamitiar^r&.l Literally, Seek me a woman, aw r/jfa baatath eo, ne miatresto/theOb, or Pylhonic^rtt;wvhoh^%taaSi iar spirit, whom she could invoke when the pleased, and receive answers from him relative to futurity.

Strange, that a man who had banished all mA from the land, as dangerous to the state, as impostors and deceivers, should now have recourse to them, as the on^ persons in whom be coold safely put liia eopndeocc^ in IM time in which •Aftomh bad relused to help him f

11 Then said the woman. Whom shall I brine op onto thee? And he said. Bring me up Samuel.

12 And when the woman eaw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saol, Bayig?, Why hast thou dec^ved me? for thou art ^bL

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid; for what sawest thou 1 And the woman eaid unto Saul, I saw "gods ascendingrout of the earth.

14 And he said unto her, "What Ibrm m he of? And she said, An old man cotheth up: and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was p Samuel, and he stooped with his fiice to the ground, anA bowed himself.

15 f And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, 'I am sore distressed; for the Phifistines make war affainst me, and * God is departed from me, and > answereth me no more, neither '■by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore Iliave called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I stmll do.

16 ' Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou atj[ of me, seeing the LoKd is departed £rom thee, and ia become thine enemy i

At £!n-dar.] This was a eily in the valley of Jexree^ at (he foot of mount Gilboa, wbere ihe ajmy of Saul had now

Veree 8. Saul diaguUed himaeif] That he might not be Icnown by tlie woniaii, lest iba, being terrified, should n&ue to use her art.