Commentary on the Holy Bible

36, 37. A/ tributes this to some sin committed bj/ some unknown person; makes enquiry by lot; and finds that Jonathan had lasted the honey, on which he purposes to put him to death, 38—44. The people interpose, and rescue Jonathan, 45. Saul fights against the Moabites, Ammonites, and Amalekites, 46—48. An account of the family of Saul, 49 — 52.

OW ''it came to pass upon a day, tliat Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour. Come, and let us oo over to the Phihstines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migrnn: and the people that icere with him were '' about six hundred men;

3 And ' Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, "^ I-chabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord's priest in Shiloh, ^ wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over ^ unto the Philistines' garrison, there, teas a si'.arp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one icas Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

5 The ^ fore-front of the one icas situate northward over against iMichmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

Verse 1. Come, and let us go oyer] This action of Jonatban was totally contrary to the laws of war; no military operation should be undertaken without the knowledge and command of the general. But it is likely that he was led to this by a Divine influence.

The armour-bearer is the origin of what we call esquire, from escu, old French, a shield: an/iiger is the Lntin. from urma, weapons, and gero, 1 bear. In the times of chivalry, the armiger, or esquire, was the servant of the knight who went after him, and carried his lance, shield, &c. It is now, strange to tell, a title of honour I

Verse 2. Under a pomegranale-tree'\ Under Rimmon, whith not only signifies a poinegranale-tree, hut also a strong rock, ill which six hundred Denjamites took shelter, Judg. XX. 45. Probably it was in this very rock that Saul and his six hundred men now lay hidden.

Vei>e 3. Ahiah, the son of Ahilub'\ Phiiieas, son of Eli the high-priest, had two sons, Ahitub and Ichabod; the latter was born when the ark was taken, and his mother

6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour. Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us is no restraint to the Lord ""to save by many or by few.

7 And his armour-bearer said unto him. Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am witli thee according to thy heart.

8 Tiien said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto thvse men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.

9 If they say thus unto us, ' Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.

10 But if they say thus. Come up unto us; then we will go up: for ''the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and ' this sliaU be a sign unto us.

1 1 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said. Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

fVearing an ephod] That is, performing the functions of the liigli-priest. This man doc-; not appear to have been with Saul, when he offered tlie saci.fues, chap, xiii. 9, &c.

Verse 4. The name of the one was Bo-.ez'\ Slippery; and the name of the other SiMieh, treading d<ixcn. — Targum.

There is no restraint to the Lord] This is a fine sentiment; and where there is a premise of defence and support; the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely on it with the utmost confidence.

Verse 7. Behold, I am "jciih thee'\ I shall accompany thee whithersoever thou goest; and share all thy dan5;ers.

Verse 9. If they say thus unto u.v] Jonathan had no doubt asked this as a sign from God; exactly as Eliezer, the servant of Abraham, did, Gen. xxiv. I'i.

Jonathan said unto his armonr-hcarer, Conic up after inc: for the Loni) hatli delivered them into the hand ot Israel.

13 And.lonallian eliiiihed np npon his hands and npon liis feel, and his arnionr-l)enrer alter liini: and liiey tell helVne Jonathan; and ins arinonr-hearor sh-w alter liim.

14 And that lirsl siiiiiyliler, wliicli Jonathan and iiis arnn)nr-beai(r made, was aljonl tvvenly men, within as it were "an half acre ol" laiul, which a yoke of oxen inii^ht plow.

15 f And '' tlierc was treinl)linj^- in (he iiost, in the fiehl, and uinonj;- all the |)eopIe: lite f;arrison, and ' the spoilers, they also trend)kii. and the earth (piaked: so it was ''a' very great trenihling'.

1() And the watchmen of Saul in Gil)eah of lienjamin looked; ami, behold, the multitude melted away, and they Svent on beating down one another.

Verse 12. Come up to u?, and ae tcill shea jjou a thing'] Tliis was flic faToural)!e sig 1 wliUli Joiinthaii had rpcjue'^tpd. The Philistines serin to have meant, Come, and we will.■■hew you how well fortified we are; and how able to quell alt the attacks of your countrymen.

Vcrpe 13. Jditatlum dimbcd up] It seems he had a part of the rock still to get over. When he got over he began to slay the guards, which were about twenty in number: these were a sort of out-post, or advanced guard to the garrison.

Slczc after him.] Jonathan knocked them down, and the armour-bearer dispatched them. This seems to be the meaning.

Verse 14. An half acre of land] The ancients measured land by the (|uantum which a yoke of oxen could plow in a day. The original is obscure, and is variously understood. It is probably a proverbial exj)rejsion for a vcrj/ small space.

Verse 15. There teas trembling in the host^ They were terrified and panic struck; the people in general round absuc: those in the garrison, the spoilers, and the whole country, were struck with terror; the commotion was universal, and most extraordinary. The trembling of the earth is probably not to be taken literally, but as a metaphor for a great commotion in the country; though God might have interposed in an extraordinary manner, and produced a

IK And.Saul said unto Aliiali, IJrinpf hither the ark of (jod. l-'or the aik of (iod was at that time with the rhildreii of Isra'l.

!!> And it (ame to pass, while Saul ''talked iiiilo the priest, that the ** noihc that ica« in the host f)f tin- I'liiliKliiies went on and increa'-ed: and.Saul said unto tlie jiriest, \N ilhdraw thine

'^0.\iid.SanI and all the people that mrr with him 'assembled themselves, and they tame to the battle: and, behold, ' every man's sword was ai{;ainst his fellow, and there was a very threat (liscomfiluie. '4^1 jMoreover the Hebrews that were with tlie Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp /'ro7n the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites thai were with Saul and Jonathan.

real earthquake: but their being panic-slrnck was suflicient to produce all the requisite confusion and dismay.

Verse 16. The icatchmen of Saul] Those who were sent out as scouts to observe the motions of the army.

Melted aicay] There was no order in the I'hilistinian camp; and the people were dispersing in all directions. The Vulgate has, Et ccce multitudo prastrata, ".\nd behold the multitude were prostrate;" many lay dead upon the field, partly by the sword of Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and partly by the swords of each other, ver. 20.

Verse 17. Number nov:] Saul perceived that the Philistines were routed, but could not tell by what means: sup* posing that it mu?t be by some of his own troops, he called a muster to see who and how many were absent.

Verse IS. Bring hither the ark of God j lie wi^hed to enquire what use he should make of the present favourable circumstauces; and to proceed in the business as God should direct.

Verse 19. tt-'hile Saul talked unto the priest'] Before he had made an end of consulting him, the increasing noise of the panic-struck Philistines called his attention; and, finding there was no time to lose, he immediately collected his men and fell on them.

\erse '21. The Hebrews that icere teith the Philistines'^ We may understand such as they held in bondage, or who

Vc.ios?: 22 Likewise all the men of Israel An.Exod. isr. ^vhich " had hid themselves in mount Anno ante I. Ephraim, MjAen they heard that the °'y°P-^"- Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.

23 " So the Lord saved Israel that day: and tlie battle passed over ' unto Beth-aven.

24 H And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had ''adjured the people, saying'. Cursed be the man that eateth ani/ food nntil evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

25 "And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was Mioney upon the ground.

26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.

27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that loas in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.

28 Then answered one of the people, and said. Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth

were their servants. Instead of Hebrews, the Septuagint read o( JooXoi, the slaves; from which it is evident that, instead of 3;n3J? Abarim, Hebrews, they found in their text Qnai? abadim, servants. But this reading is not countenanced by any other Version, nor by any MS. yet discoTered.

The Vulgate and the Septuagint add here, And there zsere Kith Saul about ten thousand men: but this is supported by no other authority.

Verse 24. Saul had adjured the people'] He was afraid, if they waited to refresh themselves, the Philistines would escape out of their hands; and, therefore, he made the taking any food till sun-set, a capital crime. This was the very means of defeating his own intention; for, as the people were exhausted for want of food, they could not continue the pursuit of their enemies: had it not been for this foolish adjuration, there had been a greater slaughter of the Philistines, Tcr. 30.

29 Then said Jonathan, My father Anno ante i. hath troubled the land: see, I pray ^"•'L^'il you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because 1 tasted a little of this honey.

SO How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?

31 H And they smote the Philistines timt day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.

32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and o.xen. and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them ■■ with the blood.

33 Then they told Saul, saying. Behold, the people sin against the Lord, in that they eat with the blood. And he said. Ye have ' transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

34 And Saul said. Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them. Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox

were many wild bees in that country; and Judea is expressly said to be a land flowing with milk and honey.

Verse 26. The honey dropped] It seems to have dropped from the trees on the ground. Honey dews, as they are called, are not uncommon in most countries. And this appears to have been something of this kind.

Verse 27. His eyes were enlightened.] Hunger and fatigue affect and dim the sight: on taking food, this afl'ection is immediately removed. This, most people know, to be a fact.

Verse 31. They smote the Philistines— from Michmash to Aijalon] The distance, Calmet states, to be three or four leagues.

Verse 32. JVie people did eat them zoith the blood.] They were faint through hunger, and did not take time to bleed the cattle on which they fed. This was another bad effect of Saul's rash adjuration.

Verse 33. Roll a. great slonc unto me] Probably, this means tliat they siiould set up an altar to the Lord, on which tiie animals might be properly slain; and the blood poured out upon the earth: aud a Uirge stone was erected for an altar.

M>iii|..)i. „,iio the liOim: ' the same was llie fii-Ht nitar tlia( lie hiiill iiiilo the Lokd.

.'?(( And Saul said, Let ii3 go down alter the Philistines hy nif^ht, and spoil them until the nioinin;;' li;.;ht, and let lis not leave a man of Iheni. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth y^ood nnlo thee. Then.said the priest, Let us draw near hither nnto (iod.

.'17 11 And Saul asked counsel of Tiod, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt Ihou deliver them into the hand of Israel? iJut ''he answered him not tliat day.

38 f And Saul said. Draw yc near hither all the 'chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin halii heeii (his day.

39 Vov, ••' as the Lord livclh, which savcth Israel, (hough it he in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man

I my son will be on the other side. And the ' people said unto Saul, Do what seemctii good j unto thee.

41 Therefore Saul said unto the Lobo Ciod I of Israel, '' (iive ' a perfect /o/. ' And Saul and Jonalliaii were taken: hut the |)eo[)le 'escaped.

4'i And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. Aiirl Jonathan wa« taken.

i'.i T'lieii Saul said to Joiialliaii, '" Tell me wiiat tiiou hast done..Viid Jonathan told iiim, and said, " I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, 1 must die.

44 And Saul answered, " God do so and more also: ' for thou shall surely die, Jonathan.

Verse 35. Saul built an altar'] And this, wo are informpJ, was the first he liail built: Samuel, as |)r<i|)hpt, had hitherto erected the altars; and Saul tliouglit he had.suflicient authority to erect one himself, without the prophet, as he liad once ofTered sacrifice without him.

Verse 3G. Then said the priest'] tt is evident that Ahiah doubted the [iroprielv of pursuing the Philistines that night; and, as a reverse of fortune might be ruinous after such a victory, he wished to have specific directions from the Lord.

Verse 37. lie answered him not that dot/.] Why was this answer delayed.' Surely Joiwithairs eatin;; the honey was no sin. Tliis could not have excited God's displeasure. And yet the lot found out Jonathan! But did this argue that he had incurred guilt in the sight of God? I answer it did not; for Jonathan was delivered, by the authority of the people, from his father's rash curse: no propitiation is offered for his supposed transgression, to induce God to pardon it; nor do we find any displeasure of God manifested on the occasion. See below.

Verse 41. Loud God of Israel, Give a perfect lot.] Both the I'ulgate and Sepliiai^int 4M much to this verse: — And Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, Lord God of Israel, give judgment. l\'htf is it that thou hast not ansscered thi/ servant to-daii? If the iiiiqiiiti/ be in me, or Jonathan mi/ son, make it manifest. Or, if this iniquily he in thy people, give sanctijication?

Verse 42. And Jonalhan -cas taken.] The object of the enquiry most evidently was, " Who has gone contrary to the king's adjuration to-day?" The answer to that miut be, JoNATii.vN. But was this a proof of the Divine displeasure against the man? By no means: the holy oracle told the truth; but neither that oracle, nor the God who gave it, fixed any blame upon Jonathan; and his own conscience acquits him. He seelts not pardon from God, because he is conscious he had not transgressed. But why did not God answer the priest that day? Because he did not think it proper to send the people, by night, in pursuit of the van- ((uishrd Philistines. Saul's motive was perfectly vindictive, Let us go dozen after the Philistines by night, and spoil them unto the morning liglit, and let us not leave a man of them; that is. Let us burn, waste, destroy, and slay all before us I Was it right to indulge a disposition cf this kind, which would have led to the destruction of many innocent country people, and of many Israelites, who resided among the Philistines: licsides, was there not a most manifest reason in the people why God could not l>e among them? Multitudes of tliem were defiled in a very solemn manner; they had eaten the jlcsh zcith the blood: and, however sacrifices might be offered to atone for this transgression of the law, ihey must continue unclean till the evening. Here were reasons enow, vvhy God would not go on with the people for that night.

Wrsc 44. And Saul ansrcered — thou ihalt lurely die, Jonathan.] To save thy rash oath '. — So must John Biptist's head be taken olV at the desire of an impure woman; because a llerod had sworn to give her whatever she might re-

%!c'.ml'. '^^ A"^ ^he people said unto! An.Exod. isr. Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath Anno ante I. wfought this great salvation in

"'^■"P-^"- Israel? God forbid: ^ as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

46 Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

47 f So Saul took the kingdorti over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of ""Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of " Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.

48 And he '" gathered a host, and *^ smote

the Amalekites, and delivered Israel 'VciioB?!' out of tlie hands of them that spoiled A"- ^xod. ur.

49 T Now ' the sons of Saul were "'-^'"P" '^'- Jonathan, and Ishui, and Meichi-shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

50 And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was ^ Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

51 ""And Kish icas the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner icas the son of Abiel.

52 And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, 'he took him unto him.

quest! Unfeeling brute! Howerer, the king was judge. But what said the people, who were the jury?

Verse 43. And the people said] " Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? — God forbid! As the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground." Here was a righteous and impartial jury, who brought in a verdict according to the evidence. No man should die but for a breath of the law of God: but Jonathan hath not broken any lata of God; therefore, Jonathan should not die. And because he should not, therefore he shall not.

He hath wrought with God this day] God has been Commander-in-chief; Jonathan has acted under Ilis directions.

So the people rescued Jonathan] And God testified no displeasure; and perhaps He permitted all this that he might correct Saul's propensity to rashness and precipitancy. To help to correct this propensity in any of my readers, I will subjoin to the end of this chapter a very instructive fable from the Persian.

Verse 47. So Saul took the kingdom] The Targum appears to give the meaning of this expression: " Saul prospered in his government over Israel." And the proofs of this prosperity are immediately subjoined.

Fought against all his enemies] Of the wars which are mentioned here we have no particulars: they must have endured a long time; and have been, at least in general, successful.

Verse 40. Nom the sons of Saul] We do not find Ishbo.sheth here. Calmet says, it wa.s " because he was too young, and did not go with him to the war; for he mentions only those who were with him." Why then mention his daughters and his e'?/c? — Did they go with him to the war?

Verse 6'2. When Saul sazo any strong man] This was very politic. He thus continued to recruit his army with strong and effective men.

On verse 45, I have referred to an instructive fable, inti(uled " The Fatal Effects of Precipitation," from the Ayar Danush of Abul Fuzl. It is as follows: —

" A hermit, after long experience of the uncomfortableness of a solitary life, had a mind to become a husband, and consulted on the occasion a person well acquaitited with that state.

" His friend told him the resolution was judicious, there being many advantages resulting from matrimony. That it subdued unlawful desires, which are continually obtruding themselves upon the imagination in a state of celibacy: moreover, that justice requires us to perpetuate in our posterity those blessings which we have received from our ancestors; besides, that a virtuous woman is the ornament of a man's house, and the comfort of his life. But, says he, be careful in making your choice.

" The hermit asked him of what condition she should be? He replied, ' Take the daughter of a religious friendly man, whom you may make your confidant upon all occasions. But have nothing to say with three kinds of women: a widow,

Falal fjfccls of

prccipitalion; u fnhlc.

if slip is alwnys cxtolliii)^ lu'r drrifasnil luisliaiul; iicillicr a vromnii wliosu rcliition!) havo confcrrnd favoum upon you; nor onr wlio, wliciH'Vcr slio sops you, s[)C'iiks in u faint loiip, mid iiliVrls a dplicalr languid air.'

" Mo thanked liin fiinid for impartiiiK so much of bin pxpcripiice ill IHp ways of womon; and Ih-k^piI lie would farther instruct him in rPi'ar<l to what a({0 was most rligible. His fiiiMxl answprini;, said, ' Make chiiirp of n voiiiii; i{irl; for the nimpnny of nn old woman sickens and debilitates a man. The sa^es say, there nre the fairest prospects of hnp. piness and safety with women from fourteen to twenty years of ago; from twenty lo thirty, they are peaccalile and quick; from thirty to forly they covet children and wealth; from forty to filly they are anil)ilious of fame, and arc full of tricks and hypocrisy: liiil a wife turned of (ifly is the pl.-ifiue of a man's life, and the deslriiilion of his re|)ulalion niid fortune.' Tlie hermit then made eiKpiiry as to her person. Says the friend, ' The mokt valuable properties in a wife are virtue and good nature; so that she who possesses not these qunlilies, (thoui;h beautiful as an angel,) will prove H curse for life. lUit a woman of a good disposition, be she ever so u^ly, is an inestimable treasure.'

" To shorten the story — the hermit, after n long search, had the good fortune to marry a girl well connected, and of an amiable turn of mind.

" He was then impatient to have children; but, seeing no appearance of his hopes beini; fullilled, he incessantly prayed God to bestow upon him a son. At length his wife became pregnant; the hermit, filled with delight, was always talking about his son. One day, says he to his wife, ' 1 now hope we shall soon have a. sweet beautiful boy, and I will give him a suitable name. 1 shall take great pleasure in labouring to furn!~h means for his education; and I will teach him so to trend in the paths of righteousness, that he shall become a guide to the faithful.

" At length his wife was delivered of a fine boy: he returned thanks to God, ond made grateful olVerings. Day and night was he about the cradle; so that his whole time was spent in nursing.

" One day the mother, upon going to the bath, committed the infant to the father's care, entreating him not to stir from the cradle till she came back.

" The wife was hardly departed before the king who then reigned, sent for the husband. Since it was impossible to delay obeying the royal summons, he went to court, after having entrusted the child to the care of a favourite mongoose,* which had been bred up in the family. No sooner was he out of sight than a large snaUe made its appearance, and was

crawling towards the rrndle: when the mongoose kaw the child'H life in danger, he iiiktantly »elzed the tnake by the lia( k of the neck, and destroyed it. Soon after, when the hermit returned from court, the mongooie, who had been wallo»iiig ill the snake's blood, coimcious of the good bo hud done, ran out lo meet liii master. The maiiler, iteeiug the mongoose stained with blurid, imagined he hid killed the child; and, without tnaking any further reflection or en(|Utry, struck the poor little faithful animal •'Och a blow MJlh hii stick, that ho instantly expire<l. When he came into the house, and saw the child itafe, nnd the snake dead by the Mde of the cradle, he tmote his breast for grief, accusing him-elf of rashness and ingratituile towards the mongoose. VVhiht he was uttering these woeful lanienlations, in comet his wife; who, having learned the cause of his disticst, blames him for his want of reflection. He cunfe-scs his in> discretion; but begs her not to add leproaches to his distress, as reproof could now avail nothing. ' True,' says she, ' advice can be of no service in the present iii'tance; but 1 want to rou-e your mind to reflection, that you may reap instruction from your misfortunes. Shame and repentance are the sure consequences of precipitation and want of reflection; which is well exemplified in the story of the king and the hauk.'

" i have heard that a king of Persia had a favourite hawk. Being one day on a hunting party, with his hawk ui)on his hand, a deer started up before him; he let the hawk fly, and followed it with great eagerness, till at length the deer wos taken. The courtiers were all left behind in the chace. The king, being thirsty, rotle about in c|uebt of water, till, having reached the foot of a mountain, he discovered some water trickling down in drops from the rock. He took a little cup out of his quiver, and held it to catch the water. Just when the cup was filled, and he was going to drink, the hawk shook his |)inions, and o»erset the cup. The king was vexed at the accident, and again applied the cup to the hole in the rock: when the cup was lepleii^hed, and he was lifting it to his mouth, the hawk clapped his wings and threw it down; at which the king was so enraged that be flung the bird with such force against the ground that be killed it.

" At this lime the table-decker came up: he took a napkin out of his budget, wiped the cup, and was going to give llie king some water to drink. The king -aid he had a great inclination to taste the pure water that distilled through the rock: but, not having patience to wait for its being collected by drops, he ordered the table-decker to go to the top of the mountain, and fill the cup at the fountain head.

" Tlie numgo: of llie Oriental writers is tlio livcira kliy.rumnn of Liiih.Tiis: it is a very l>o,iutiful niiiinal,.iboiit Uio >i/<- of a small cat, of a grf _v or.-isli colour, longish sliO' liair, with a tine don u uiidernralli; a sharp pointed nos<-, r\crrdiD)!l,\ bright <■) r-,.ind lon(j sharp Irrth. It is the insetoratc foe of serpents of.til kind-: is rtocne>ticatcil in India, and kilU rats, mire, nnd snakesof r\f rv sort. It is very faithful, and >ery nlVerlionatc. 1 had one of these lieaulifu!.aniinnU that u?cd lo nllrnd me in my study; leap on my knee while enia^'-d.11 my •aide: and sleep there for two hours at a time. This faithful and atl'cclionatc creature died of a regular consumption, noi beini able to

bear the winter's cold of our eliniate A. C.

Fatal effects of

precipitation; a fable.

" The table-decker having reached the top of the mountain, saw a large dragon lying dead at the spring; and his poisonous foam, mixing with the water, fell in drops through the rock. He descended, related the fact to the king, and presented him with a cup of cold water out of his flagon.

" When the king lifted the cup to his lips, the tears gushed from his eyes. He then related to the table-decker the ad- Tenture of the hawk; made many reflections upon the destructive consequences of precipitancy and thoughtlessness: and, during the remainder of his life, the arrow of regret was continually rankling in his breast."

Thus ends this fable on the fatal effects of precipi/ancj/: but, were we to go to real life, we might find numerous effects of this same vice; and still much more fatal. He who acts under the immediate impulse of every passion, without reason or reflection, must act rashly and precipitately,. Not only the lower orders of animals, but wives, husbands, children, parents, and friends, have fallen vic« tims to this vice, which brought Saul almost to the point of slaying the greatest man in Israel, and embruing his hands in his son's blood.

The advice of an ancient philosopher to a Roman emperor, is a good one: " Czesar, whenever thou art angry, take heed that thou neither say nor do any thing till thou have distinctly repeated to thyself the twenty-four letters of the alphabet." Reader, if thou have no higher a corrective, use this. Do nothing rashlj/; remember the eye of God is ever upon thee: a man, in an unguarded moment, may do what may bring himself to an untimely end.

Samuel sends Saul to destroj/ the Amalekites, and all their substance, 1—3. Saul collects an immense army, and comes against their city, 4, 5. He desires the Kenites to remove from among the Amalekites, 6. He smites the Amalekites, and takes their king Agag prisoner, and saves the best of the spoil, 7 — 9. The Lord is displeased, and sends Samuel to reprove him, 10, 11. The conversation between Samuel and Saul; in which the latter endeavours to justify his conduct, 12 — 23. He is convinced that he has done wrong, and asks pardon.

24 — 31. Samuel causes ylgag to be slain; for which he assigns the reasons, 32 — 35.

SAMUEL also said unto Saul, * The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. 2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, '' how he laid

Verse 1. The Lord sent me to anoint thee'] This gave him a right to say what immediately follows.

Verse 2. I remember that which Amalek did~\ The Amalekites were a people of Arabia Petrea, who had occupied a tract of country on the frontiers of Egypt and Palestine. They had acted with great cruelty towards the Israelites on their coming out of Egypt. — See Numb. xvii. 8, &c. and the Notes there.

They came upon them lehen thetj were faint and zeeari/, and smote the hindmost of the people — those who were too tceak to keep up with the rest. See Deut. xxv. 18. And God then purposed that Amalek, as a nation, should be klotted out from under heaven: which purpose was now fulfilled by Saul, upwards of four hundred jcslts afterwards!

vxait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and ' utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckhng, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

4 And Saul gathered the people together, and

Verse 3. Slay both man and woman] Nothing could justify such an exterminating decree but the absolute authority of God. This was given; all the reasons of it we do not know: but this we know well, the Judge of all the earth doth 7-ight. This war was not for plunder; for God commanded that all the properly, as well as all t)\e people, should be destroyed.

Verse 4. Two hundred thousand — and ten thousand] The Septuagint, in the London Polyglott, have four jivn- DRiiD thousand companies of Israel, and tbirtv thousand companies of Juduh. The Codex Alexandrinus has TEN thousand of each. The Complulensian Polyglott has Ttyo nvf>'- uuLD thousand companies of Israel, and ray thousand of Judah. And Josephus has tovr hundred thousand of Israel, and TUiBrv thousand of Judah. All the other vcr-

6 1[ And Saul «aid niilo ''(lie Konitos, ' (io, doparl, net v'»i down lioin anioni;' llic Anialckilcs, lest I (li'sdov \iiii willi lli<-iii: for '' \v shewed kindnoKs lo all llic (liildii'n of Isnicl, when (lu'V «'iHiio up onl of l''<;v|)t. So tlic Kcnitcs d»j)arl('d IVoin aiiiony (Ik- Anialckih-s,

7 II ■■ And SanI smote the Amalekites from ' Ilavilaii ittitif limn cnnu'sl to 'Sluir, that is over aj;ainst l'-<;vpl-

S And '' lie took A<;iif;- tlio kins;- of the Amalekites alive, and ' nltcrly destniycd all (he people with the e(li;e of the sword.

*> Hilt Saul and the |)e<)ple ''spared Agaj;', and the hest of the sheep, and of the oxen, and 'of llic fallings, and the lain!)s, and all that 7V(ts good, nnd wonid not utterly (lestroy them: hut i every thing;' that Jfv/s vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

1 1 '" it repenteth me that 1 have set up Saul lo be kin<j^: for he is " turned hack from following me, "and hatli not performed my commaiulments. Audit ■" grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lonu all night.

sions are the same with tlic Hebrew text; and there is no iliflerciue in the MSS.

Verse."i. Saul came to a ci/j/ of Amulek'] I believe the original should be translated. And Saul came to the city Amalek: their capital bein:; called by the name of their tribe.

Verse 0. Suid unto the Kenilcs] 'J'he Keniics were an ancient people. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, «as a Kenitc. Jobab his son, (if the same person be not meant.) was gnide to the Hebrews throngh the wilderness. They had a portion of the I'romistd Land, near to the city Arad. See Judg. i. 1(5..\nd for more particulars concerriin>; them and the Amalekites, see (he Notes on iN'umb. xxiv. '20, 'il.

Verse 7. From Havilidt — to Sliiir^ From Pclusium in F^ypt, unto the Red Sea. — Jusfphtis. But Ilavilah lay castward from the Red Sa: the Amalekites lay between this and the way to Fgypt towards Shur.

Verse 11. If rc/icnlelli me that I have set up Saul] That is, I placed him on the throne; I intended, if he had been

]2 T And uheii Sarnticl rose early 1iT:u,^ to ine<-t.SiHil III the iiini uiiig, il wan An. i.»oj. i.f. told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Aui.ouBiri. ''('armel, and, hehold, he set liini *'"''■

]'.i And Samuel canie lo Saul: and Saul said unto him, ' Hlcssed br liiou of Ihc Loi(i>: 1 have performed the commandment of the l.,onD.

I.'j And Saul said, They have hrought Ihctn from llie Amahkiles: "for the people spared the hest of llic sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Jjniii) ihy (»od; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

It) 'riicn Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will (ell thee what the FjOhd hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say ou.

J 7 And Samuel said, ' When thou tcast little in thine own sight, trust thou not made the head »)f the trihes of Israel, and the Lokd anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the Limn sent thee on a journey, and said, (io and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until '•they he consumed.

I'J Wherefore then didst lliou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil.

obedient, to have established his kingdom. He has been disobedient; I change my purpose, and the kingdom shall not be established in his family. This is what is meant by God's repenting: changing a purpose according to conditions already laid down, or mentally purposed.

Verse \'l. He set him uj) a place'] Literally, a hand, T i/ad. Some say it was a monument; others, a triumphal arch: probably it was no more than a hand, pointing out the place where Saul had gained the victory. Absalom's pillar is called the hand of Absalom, 2 Sam. xviii. 18.

Verse 15. The peoj>le spared the bet of the sheep] It is very likely that the people did spare the best of the prey; and it is as likely that Saul might have restrained them if he would. That they might not love zcnr, (Jod had interdicted spoil ^m\ plunder; so the war was undertaken merely from a sense of duly, without any hope of eurichint; i!irn;fltfs by it.

the Lord, and have g-one the way which the Lord pent me, and iiave brought Agag- the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalek'tes.

21 *■ But the people took of tlie spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, " Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, '^ to obey is better than sacrifice, aitd to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of ^ witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, ^he hath also rejected thee from being king.

24 H ^And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for 1 have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because

prosperi/l/? Is it not of the Lord's great goodness that the majority of the inhabitants of tiie earth are in comparative poverty?

Verse 21. To sacrijice unto Ihe Lonii] Thus he endeavours to excuse tiie people. They did not take the spoil in order to enrich themselves by it, but to sacrifice unto the Lord; — and did not this motive justify their conduct?

Verse 22. Hath /he Lord as great delight, &;c.'\ Thi^ was a very proper ans^ter to, and refutation of, Saul's excuse. Is not obedience to the will of God Ihe end of all religion; of its rites, ceremonies, and sacrifices?

Verse 23. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft., and stubbornness is as iniquilij ami idolatry] This is no translation of those difficult words, nsijn CD'D-ini pxi nn ciDop nstDn '3 ki chatlath kesem 7neri ve-aven ve-teraphiin ha-petsar. It appears to me that the three nouns which occur first in the text, refer each lo Ihe three last in order. Thus, nsan chaltulh, TiiAKSGRF.ssioii, refers to |1n aven, iniquity; which is the principle whence transgre-tsion springs, aop kesem, DiyiSAi'ion, refers to O'inn teraphim, consecrated images, or tclesms, vulgaily talismans^ used in iiicnntatious. And '~.n meri, itLnicLLius, refers evidently to nx-Jn Art-yjrf-.jar, sTVBBORKN£ss i whence rc'&e//jo« springs. The mean-

2;") Now, therefore, I pray thee, Anmianiei. pardon my sin, and turn again with o'ymp- 303- me, that I may worship the Lord

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: ' for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, ''he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it lent.

28 And Samuel said unto him, ' Tiie Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

29 And also the " Strength of Israel " will not lie nor repent: lor he is not a man, that he should repent.

30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet ° honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.

31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the Lord.

ing, therefore, of this difficult place, may be the foliowieg: As transgression comes from iniquity, divination from teraphim, and rebellion from stubbornness; so, because thou hast rejecti'd the word of the Lord, He halh also rejected thee from being king. All the Versions are different.

Verse 24. / have sinned — because 1 feared the people"] This was the best excuse he could make for him.'elf: but had he feared God more, he need \\a.\c feared the people less.

Verse 25. Pardon my sin'\ \AteTa.\\y, bear my sin; fake it away: forgive what I have done against thee, and be my intercessor with God, that He may forgive n.y offence against Him: turn again with me, that I may zsorshipthe

Verse 26. I Kill not return reith thee] I cannot acknow* ledge thee as king, seeing the Lord hath rejected thee.

Verse 29. The Strength of Israel Kill not lie] "What God has purposed, He will bring to pass; for He has all power in the heavens and in the earth; and He will not repent, change His purpose, concerning thee.

We may say it nas some extenuation of Saul's fault, that the people insisted on preserving the best of the prey; — for who could resist the demands of a victorious mob? But hii

■ anirl. AllUlIrk iti'S. Alul Af^iipf ClliriC llllto ' lllilll; lintl Sulll \V«'lll up to his lKlU.se Aimoimifl

"'>'"'■""• liini (l.-li.iilciv Anil Af^ii- saidj to"(;ilK-iili of Sanl. oi,m,.. m Surely llic ItilliTiicss ot <lriilli is piist.

SS And Siiiniiol suid, * Ah thy HWonI iialli timdo Woiiicn iliildlcsH, si> hIiiiII tliy motlicr In- rliilil less ainoiii;- woiiioii. And Samuel liewed A^^au^ [ (liat he had made Saul kiiij; o\cr Israel.

( riMii- « IS in conirnttm;: hnil ho not, the crime wonlfl liave lit'oii thciiit iildiir.

Surelj/ the bitterness of death is /)«,</.] Almost all llie Versions render ttiis dill'erently from ours. Surclj/ death is bitter, is their general sense; and tiiis seems to be tlie true menniiig.

Verse 33. As thi/ sKord hath made women childless.] It appears that Agng hud forfeited his life by his own personal transgressions; ami that his death now was the retribution of his cruellies.

And Samuel hated A iiu^ lupniry^ 1. Whot Samael did here he did in liis niagistfiial capHcily: and, t. It is not likely ho did it by his otcn txord, but by (hat of an executioner. ^V||at king<i, niDgistriitet, and general*, do in an ollicinl way by their subjects, ^ervants, or noldieri, they ore said to do themselves: qui facit per alteram, faa't per se.

Verse 35. And Samuel came no more to see SaiiT] Hot we read, chap. xix. t'l — 21. that Saul went to tec Samuel at Naioth; but this does not affect what is said here. From this time Samuel had no connection with saul; he never more ackiiouU><lgi-d him as king: he iiiouriie<l mid prayed for him; and continued to perform his prophetic functions at Raraah, and at Naioth, supei intending the school of the prophets in that place.

Samuel is sent from Ramah to Btthlchem, to anoint David, 1 — J 3. The Spirit of the Lord departs from Saul, and an evil spirit comes upon him, 14. Jlis servants r.rhort him to gel a skilful harper to play before him, 16. J/e is pleased icitk the counsel, and desires them to find such a person, 17. T he j/ recommend Dux id, 18. JIc is sent for, comes, plays before Saul, and finds favour in his sight, 19 — 23.

ND the IjOrd said unto Samuel, " How ionjj wilt thou Annoanipi. inouiii foi" Sail!, Seeing ''I have re-

Verse 1. Fill thine horn zcith oil] Horns appear to fcave been the ancient drinking vessels of all nations; and we may suppose that most pt'rsons, who had to travel much, always carried one with them, for the purpose of taking up to Jesse the Bctli-lehemite: for '^ 1 'lave provided me a king; among; his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can 1 g;o? if Saul hear//, he will kill me. And the Lord

«ater from the fountain? to quench their thirst. Such a horn had Samuel; and, on this occasion, he was commanded to fill it with 0il, for the purpose of consecrating a king over Israel, from among the sons of Jesse.

4 And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town " tremhied at his ' coming, and said, ^Comest thou peaceably?

5 And he said. Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord: '' sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

6 IT And it came to pass, when thoy were come, that he looked on ' Eliab, and '' said. Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on ' his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because 1 have refused him: " for the LOUD seeth not as man seelh; for man " looketh on the ° outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the ■" heart.

sacrifice] This was strictly ti-ne; Samuel did offer a sacrifice: and it does not appear that he could have done the work which God designed, unless he had oflfered this sarrifice, and called the elders of the people together, and thus collected Jesse's sons. But he did not tell the principal design of his coming; had he done so, it would ha^e produced evil and no good: an<l, though no man, in any circumstances, should ever tell a lie; yet, in all circumstances, he is not obliged to tell the uhole truth; though in every circumstance he must tell nothing but the truth; and, in every case, so fell that truth that the hearer shall not believe a lie by it.

Verse 3. Call Jesse to the sacrifice] The common custom was, after the blood of the victim had been poured out to God, and the fat burnt, to feast on the flesh of the sacrifice. This appears to have been the case in all, except in the Tshole burnt-offering; this was entirely consumed.

Verse 4. The elders of the town trembled at his coming]. They knew he was a prophet of the Lord; and they were afraid that he was now come to denounce some judgments of the Most High against Iht'ir city.

Verse 5. Sanclify yourselves] Changp your clothes, and wash your bodies in pure water; and prepare your

8 Then Jesse called "i Abinadab, B.cifoej." and made him pass before Samuel. An. Eiod. isr.

this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass

" Send and fetch him: for we will not sit ''down I til! he come hither.

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ^ ruddy, and withal ^ of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. " And the Lord said. Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and j*" anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and

■^ the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ilamah.

miuds by meditation, reflection, and prayer: that, being in the spirit of sacrifice, ye may oft'er acceptably to the Lo^d. '■ Verse 7. Man looketh on the outicard appearance] And 1 it is well he should, and confine his looks to tluit; for when he pretends to sound the heart, he usurps the prerogative

In what way were these communications made from God to Samuel? It must have been by direct inspirations into his heart. But what a state of holy familiaritj' does this argue between God and the prophet! 1 believe Moses himself was not more highly favoured than Samuel.

'on the sacrifice: for Samuel says, ver. 11. TVe zcill not sit

Verse 12. lie was ruddy] I believe the word hero means red-haired; he had golden locks. Hair of this kind is ever associated with a delicate skin, and florid complexion.

Verse 13. The Spirit of the Lord came upon David] God qualified him to be governor of bis people; by infusing

1(> Lei our lord now coininand lliy sciviiiils, which are '' before llioe, (o seek out a man, icho is a cnnninp^ |)liiyc'r on a liarp: and il sliall come to pass, when the evil.spirit from (iod is upon tiloe, that ho siiall " play with \m hand, and llioii sliait l)e well.

Verso 14. The Spirit of llic Lon ii drparlccl from 5'«(//] lie was thrown into fucIi a slate of mind I))' (lie judi^menls of God, as to be deprived of any regal qualities which lie before))os>.essed. (iod seems to have taiicn what gifts he had, and given llu-ni to D.ivid; and then the evil s|)irit came upon Saul: for, what God fills not, (he devil will fill.

yin cvil spirit from the honii\ The evil spirit was either immediately sent from the I^ord, or permitted to conic. — Wlielhor this was a diabolic possession, or a mere mental malady, the learned arc not agreed: it seems to have partaken of both. That Saul had fallen into a deep melancholy, there is little doubt: that the devil might work more cIToctually on such a state of mind, there can he but little qucs- I tion. There is an ohl proverb, Satan delights to fish in troubled waters; and Saul's situation of mind gave him many advantages.

The theory of Dr. Schcuchzcr, in his Phj/sica Sacra, on the malady of Saul, is allowed to be very ingenious. It is in substance as follows: Health consists in a moderate tension of {he.Jibres, which permits all thvjluiilf to have an entire frerdom of circulation; and to the,«/«ViV.?, that of diffusing themselves throui;h all the limbs: on the contrary, disease consists in tensions of the fibres morbidly weak, or | morbidly strong. This latter seems to have been the case of SanI: and as the undulations of the air, which convey sound, communicate themselves to and through the most solid bodies; it is easy to suppose that, by the modulations of music, all the fibres of his body, which were under the influence of their morbidly increased tension, might be so relaxed as to be brought back into their natural slate, and thus permit the re-eslalilishment of a free and gentle circulation of the fluids, and consequently of the animal spirits; and thus induce calmness and tranquillity of mind. 1 believe this theory to be correct; and I should find no dilli- ij

Hccii a son ol.leHsc the Hetli lelicmitc, that is ciinnins; in playiiifj, and 'a mi<;hly va- ': liaiil man, and a man of war, and prutlenl in "^ matters, and a comely person, and '" llic I>jiid is will) liiin.

P.) \\ hereforeSauI sent mensengcrs unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, ' whicli is with the sheep. 20 Ant] Jesse ' look an ass ladfu with bread, culty to amplify and to illuslralc the subject. Eten a skilful playing Uj)i)n the harp was one means to bring a disordered state of the nervous and fibrous sy-tcm into a capacity of ad'ording such uninterrupted tranquillity to the mind as to render it capable of receiving the prophetic influence: sec the case of I'.lisha, 2 Kings iii. II, 15. It has been said—

This has been literally proved: — a musiriin was brought to play on his instrument while they were feeding a savage lion in the tower of London; the beast immediately left hi« food, came towards the grating of his den, and begun to move in such a way as to shew himself alTected by the music. The musician ceased, and the lion returned to his food: he recommenced, and the lion left ofT his prey, and was so afTected as to seem, by his motions, to dance with delight. This was repeatedly tried, and the elTects were still the same. Verse IS. / have seen a son of Jessc^ Dr. IV'arbiirlon supposes th? story is anticipated from ver. 14 to 23; and that the true chronology of this part of Darid's life is the following: — 1. David is anointed by Samuel. — o_ Carries provisions to his brethren in the army. — 3. Fights with and tracts a friendship with Jonathan. — G. Incurs Saul's jealousy. — 7. Retires to his father's house. — 8. I', after some time, sent for by Saul, to soothe his melancholy with hi^ harp. — 9..Again excites Saul's jealousy; who endeavours to smite him with his javelin. This anticipation between the 14th and 23d verse, comes in, in the order of time, between verses 9 and 10 of chap, xviii., where the br«ach is apparent.

Verse '20. Took an ass laden zii/h brcadj lie must send a present to Saul to introduce his son; and this -was probably the best he hail. Dr. Warburton plead? still farther on the propriety of his rectification of the chronology in this place.

and a bottle of wine, and a kid,

and sent them by David his son unto

21 And David came to Saul, and

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying David, I pray thee, stand before

David had at this time vanquished tlie Philistine; was become a favourite with the people; h^d excited Saul's jealousy; and retired to shun its bad effects. In the interim, Saul was seized with the disorder in question; and is recommended by his servants to try the effects of music. They were acquainted with David's skill on the harp, and likewise with Saul's bad disposition towards him: the point was delicate, it required to be managed with address; and therefore they recommend David in this artful manner. " As you must have one constantly in attendance, both in court and on your military expeditions, to be always at hand on occasion, the son of Jesse will become both stations well: he will strengthen your camp, and adorn your court; for he is a tried soldier, and of a graceful presence. You have nothing to fear from his ambition; for you saw with what prudence he went into voluntary banishment, when his popularity had incurred your displeasure?" Accordingly, Saul is prevailed on; David is sent for, and succeeds with his music: this dissipates all former umbrage; and, as one who is ever to be in attendance, he is made Saufs armour-bearer. This sunshine still continued, till his great successes awakened Saul's jealousy afresh; and then the lifted Javelin was to strike off all obligations. Thus we see what light is thrown upon the whole history, by the supposition of an anticipation in the latter part of this chapter; an anticipation the most natural, proper, and necessary, for the purpose of the historiaa. Thus reasons Bishop Wurburton; and with very

23 And it came '' the evil

to pass, when from God was David took a harp, and hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

considerable plausibility, though the intelligent Reader may still have liis doubts.

Verse 23. The evil spirit from God] The word evil is not in (he common Hebrew text; but it is in the Vulgate, SeptiiaginI, Targutn, Sj/riac, and.Arabic; and in eight of Kennicol/'s and De RossfsM'iS., which present the text thus, nyn cn'7S nn ruuch Elohim raah, Spiritus Domini malus, the evil spirit of God. The Septuagint leave out Qecj, of God, and have irvEtj/xa ttovyjOov, the evil spirit. The Targum says, The evil spirit from before tlie Lord; and (he Arabic has it, The evil spirit bi) the permission of God: this is at least the sense.

And the evil spirit departed from him.] The Targum says, And the evil spirit ascended up from off him. This considers the malady of Saul to be more than a natural disease.

There are several difficulties in this chapter: those of the chronology are pretty well cleared, in the opinion of some, by the observations of Bishop Warburton; but there is still something more to be done, to make this point entirely satisfactory. Saul's evil spirit, and the influence of music upon it, are not easily accounted for. I have considered his malady to be of a mixed kind, natural and diabolical: there is too much of apparent 7ia(ure in it to permit us to believe it was all spiritual; and (here is too much of apparent supernatural influence, to suffer us to believe that it was all natural.

The Philistines gather together against Israel, at Ephes- Dammim; and Saul and his men pitch their camp near the valley of Elah, 1 — 3. Goliath of Gath, a gigantic man, whose height was six cubits and a span, defies the armies of Israel, and proposes to end alt contests bi/ single combat; his armour is described, 4 — 11. Saul and his host are greatly dismayed, 12. David, having ban sent by his father uilh provisions to his brethren in the army; hears the challenge; enquires into all circumstances; thinks it a reproach to Jsrael that no man can be fund to accept the challenge; is brought before Saul; and proposes to undertake the combat, 13 — 'M. Saul objects to his youth and inexperience, 3'J. David sheios the grounds on which he undertakes it.

Si—'Jl. Saul arms him with liin own nrmotir; hul Dniiil, I'mdiiii^ tlum tin iiicum/jmnn, jiils tlirm off, and talus his slaff. his sliii-f, owl fne stnnts vtil o/l/i, hrooh, ami fiO(% to niicl Goliulh,.'J8— 40. The Pliitisline draws mar; ' drsfiises, dtfus, and curses him, ^1 1 — U. Dm id >, lorh his diftanci; 4.0—47, Thry draw near to each olhir; and J)arid s/in^s a stom; hits (•'idinlh in Ihr fnnhrad, ahiijn him, and cuts:ff his hi ad uilh hit ozcn sword, M^—:> I. The /'hi/islincs /li r, and arc pursui d Uij the Israelites, h'i, O.'j. Dm id hnnps llir lirnd of the Philislinr to Jerusalem, 54. Conirrsntiim between Saul and Abner concerning Daxid; who is, in contequcnce, brouf^ht In/ore Saul,.5.0 — 38.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of

Verse 1. No;s the Philistines giitliered tngetlier'] Caln)i>l thinks (hat tliis war happened ciglit yvara after the anuiiitiiig of David; and ten or tzretvc years after the war with the Amnlekites. We have already seen that there \»as war between Saul and the Philibtines all his days. — See chap. xiv. 52.

Shochoh and Jzekah] Places which lay to the south of Jerusalem, and to the west of Bethlehem; about five leagues from the former. F.phes-dammira was somewhere in the vicinity; but it is not known tcherc. — See Calmct.

Verse '2. The valley nf Fjlali] Some translate this the turpentine va'lei/, or the valley of the terebinth trees; and others, the valley of oaks. The situation of this valley is well known.

Verse 3. The Phili^lincs stood on a mounfaiii] Those ■were two eminences, or hills, from which they could see and talk with each other.

Verse 4. Tiiere zcent out a chnmpion~\ Our word champion comes from campus, the field: Campio est eniiu tile qui pugiiat in campo, hoc est, in eastris; Champion is he, properly, who fights in IhP field; i.e. in camps. A man well skilled in arms, strong, brave, and patriotic.

Hut is this the meaning of the original cr'J3n C'K ish ha-bcnim; a middle man, the man bcticccn tico: that is, as here, the man who undertakes to settle the disputes bcliceen tvco armies or nations. So our ancient champions •■ettled disputes between contending parties, by what was termed campfight: hence the campio, or champion. The Versions know not well what to make of this man. The I'lilgntc calls him vir sjyurius, a bastard; the Septuagint, avTip i\jvxTj;, a strong or powerful man; the Targiim, jihtdo -\3J gabra mibbe.yneifhon, "a man from between them;" the Arabic,

.'{ And the IMiilistines nlond f)n a inounlain on llie one side, and Isiaol stood on a ino.iiilain on the olh<r si<le there was a valley b» twccn them.

,lji»- Jj»-. riijiljibar, " a great or gigantic man;" th e Syrittc is the same; and Josephus terms him a»T,4 irat fj.jjiiyidiraro;, an immensely great man. The Vulgate has gJTen him the notation of spurius, or bastard, because it ccnMdered the oiiginal as expressing a son of tzco; i. e. a man w ho.^e parents were unknown. Among all there, I consider our word champion, as explained above, the best and moit appro* priate to the original terms.

Whose height was six cubds and a span."] The word cubit signifies the length from cubitus, the elbow, to the fop of the middle finger, which is generally rated at one foot six inches. The.'pan is the di^laiicr from the top of the middle finger to (he end of the thumb, when extended as far as they can stretch on a plain; this is ordinarily nine inches. Were we sure that (he<c were (he measures, and their extent, wliich are intended in (he original words; we rould easily ascertain the height of this Philistine: it would then be nine feet nine inches; which is a tremendous height for a man.

Uut the Versions are not all agreed in his height. The Septuagint read re(r<rx:uiy -rrr^'/i-xy v.ai c-i^ap-r^f, four cubits and a span; and Josephus reads the same. It is necessary, however, to observe, that the Septuagint, in the Codex Aletandrinus, read with the Hebrew text. But what was the length of the ancient cubit? This has been laiiously computed: eighteen inches, tr:enty inches and a half and tzcenlyone inches. If we take the first measurement, he was n/ne feet nine; if (he second, and read palm instead of span, wi(h the Vulgate and others, he was ten feet seven inches and a half; if we take the last, which is tl.e estimate of Gra»vius. with the fpan, he was eleven feet three inches; or, if we go to the exactest measurement, as laid down in Bishop Cumberland's tables, where Le computes the cubit at

*bc"kw3.' ■whose height was six cubits and a

with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat

6 And he had greaves of brass legs, and a '' target of brass between

21'888 inches, the span at 10-94i inches, and the palm at 3'684 inches, then the six cubits and the span will make exactly 11 feet 10-272 inches. If we take the palm instead of the span, then the height will be U feet 3012 inches. But I still think that the nine feet nine inches is the most reasonable.

Verse 5. He was armed xcilh a coat ofmail^ The words hi the original s^'i^piyp pnu; shirion kuskassim., means a coat of mail; formed of plates of brass, overlapping each other like the scales of a fish, or tiles of a house. This is the true notion of the original terms.

With th'tnplales of brass or iron, overlapping each other, were the ancient coats of mail formed in different countries: many formed in this way may bo now seen in the Tower of London.

The zceight —five thousand shekels^ Following Bishop Cumberland's Tables, and rating the shekel at tzco hundred and nineteen grains, and the Roman ounce at four hundred and thirty-eight grains, we find that Goliath's coat of mail, weighing_^ye thousand shekels, was exactly one hundred and fifty-six pounds four ounces, avoir du pois. A vast weight for a coat of mail; but not at all out of proportion to the man.

Verse 6. Greaves of brass upon his legs'\ This species of armour may be seen on many ancient monuments. It was a plate of brass, (though perhaps sometimes formed of lamina, or plates like the 7nail,) which covered the shin, or forepart of the leg, from the knee down to the instep; and was buckled with straps behind the leg. From ancient monuments we find that it was commonly worn only on one leg. Vegetivs, de Re Militari, says, " Pedites Scutali etiam ferreas ocreas in dextris cruribus cogebantur accipere." The foot soldiers, called Scutati, from their particular species of shield, were obliged to use iron greaves on their right legs. One of these may be seen in the monument of the gladiator liuto, in Montfaucon; and another in the Mosaic pavement at liognor, in Surrey.

A target of brass belzzeen his shoulders.'] When not actually engaged, soldiers threw their shields behind their back; so that they appeared to rest or hang between the shoulders.

weaver's beam; and his spear's b.'^ioss. head weigJied six hundred shekels An. lixod. isr. of iron: and one bearing a shield Annoantei. went before him. oiymp^jST.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto tiiem, Wh}' are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye ''servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

There are different opinions concerning this piece of armour; called iiere pi:: kiddon. Some think it was a covering for the shoulders; others, that it \ia.?, a javelin, ot dart; others, that it was a lance; some, a club; and others, a sicord. It is certainly distinguished from the shield ver. 41., and is translated a spear, Jo>h. viii. IS.

Verse 7. The stuff of his spear was like a zoeaver's beam"] Either like that on which the zearp is i-olled, or that on which the cloth is rolled. We know not how thick this was, because there were several sorts of looms; and the sizes of the beams very dissimilar. Our looollcn, linen, cotton, and silk looms, are all difl'erent in the size of their beams. And I have seen several that I should not suppose too thick, though they might be too short, for Goliath's spear.

His spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron'] That is, his spear's head was of iron, and it weighed six hundred shekels: this, according to the former computation, would amount to eighteen pounds tiaelve ounces.

And one bearing a shield] nji'n ha-tsinnah, from ys tsan pointed or penetrating, if it do not mean some kind of a lance, must mean a shield, with what is called the umbo, a sharp protuberance in the middle; with which they could as effectually annoy their enemies as defend themselves. Many of the old Highland targets were made with a projecting dagger in the centre. Taking the proportions of things unknozcn to those knotzn, the armour of Goliath is supposed to have weighed not less than tKo hundred and seventj/- two pounds thirteen ounces! Plutarch informs us, that the ordinary weight of a soldier's panoplj/, or complete armour, was one talent, or sixty pounds; and that one Alcimus, in the army of Demetrius, was considered as a prodigy, because his panoply weighed two talents, or one hundred and tzsenty pounds.

Verse S. 1 a Philistine] The Targum adds much to this speech. This is the substance: " I am Goliath the Philistine, of Gath, who killed the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, the priests; and led into captivity the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and placed it in tlie temple of Dagon my God; and it remained in the cities of the Philistines seven months. Also, in all our battles 1 have gone at the head of the army; and we conquered and cut down meoj

1 1 Wlu'M Saul and all Israel heard tliosc words of llie Philistine, they were dismayed, and preatly al'niid.

12 H Now David waft Mhe son of lliatj ■' Kplmithite of iiclli-lclicm-indah, whoso name; iiiis iJesse; and he had ' ei^ht sons: and the man went among; mentor an old man in the days of Saul.

I.'{ And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and tiic 'names of his three sons that went to the battle iccif Klial) the first-born, and next unto liini Abinadab, and the third Sliammali.

15 But David went and returned from Saul

and laid (hem as low as tlip dust of the earth; and to this day the Philistines have not granted me the honour of being chief of a thousand men. And ye, men of Israel, what noble exploit has Saul, the son of Kish, of Gibeah, done, that ye should have made him king over you? If ho be a hero, let him come down himself and fight with me; but if he be a weak or cowardly man, then choose you out a man that he may come down to me."

Verse 9. Then sill jce be your servants'^ Of this stipulation we hear nothing farther.

Verse 10. I defy'] 'nfl-in >J!< ani cherephati " I strip and make bare" the armies of Israel; for none dared to fight him.

Verse 11. Saul and all Israel — trere dismat/ed] They saw no man able to accept the challenge.

Verse 12. — The I '2th verse, to the 31st inclusive, are ■wanting in the Sepluagint; as also the 41st verse; and from the.*) tth to the end; with the five first versos of chap, xviii. and the 9th, 10th, llth, 17th, 18th, and lOth, of the same.

All these parts are found in the Codex Alexandrinus: but it appears that the MS. from which the Codex Alexandrinus was copied had them not. — See Observations at the end of this chapter. Dr. Kennicott has rendered it very probable that these portions are not a genuine part of the text.

if) And (he I'hilistine drew near Anr..!..i morniii;;' and rxcniii^", and presented himself forty da^s.

17 And Jesse suid unto |)a\id his son. Take now for ihv lireliireii an epiiah of tlii» pari In d rnrii, and these ten Inavc-, and run to tin- i;itiip to thy brethren;

IH And carry tln-se ten '' eheeses iinio the ' captain of th( Ir tlioiisaiid, and ' lo(ik how llr, brethren fare, and take their pledfrp.

I'.' Now Saul, and they, and all the men ot Israel, jrc/c in the \alley of Klah, li;^litiiig \\illi the i'hilistines.

20 1. And David rose up early in the moriiin;;, and left the slutp with a l.ceper, and took, and went, as Jc.s.se had commanded him; and In; came to the 'trench, as the lio~t was j^oinj^ forth (o the '" fifrlit, iiiid shouted for the battle.

21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army a^-ainst army.

22 And David left "his carriaf^e in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the

done to clear the chronology of the present printed Hebrew, \' it is impossible to make a clear consistent sense of Ihc his. I tory, unless these verses are omitted. I>et any one read the i' eleventh verse in connection with the Ihir/i/second, (leave ' out i\\c forty-first.,) and connect the. f ft j/ -fourth «ilh the sii/h of chap, xviii. and he will be perfectly convinced that I there is nothing wanting to make the sense complete; to say I nothing of the other omissions noted above. If the above be taken in as genuine, the ingcnuily of man hat hitherto |[ failed to free the wholi^ from apparent contradiction and • absurdity. I must confess that where eve»y one else has failed, I have no hope of succeeding: I mu't, therefore, leave all farther attempts to justify the chronology; and re- I fer to thee who have written /or and against the genuine- I ness of this part of the common Hebrew text. At the end I of the chapter I shall introduce some extracts from Kennicott and PilkingtoH; and leave the whole with the unprejudiced and discerning Reader.

I Verse 1 8. Carry these ten cheeses'] Cheeses of milk,

Anno ante I. 23 And as he talked with them, be- ^"''' - hold, there came up tlie champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake '' according to the same words: and David heard

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled " from him, and were sore afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said. Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king- will enrich him with great riches, and ^ will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying. What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away " the reproach from Israel? for who is this ^^uncircumcised Philistine, that he should ^defy the armies of "the living God?

27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, ' So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

28 H And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's '' anger was kindled against David, and he said. Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart;

Verse 29. Is there not a cause.?] Kin i3n KiSn halo daber ku. I belieTe the meaning is what several of the Versions express: / have spoken but a zcord; and should a man be made an ofTender for a word?

Verse 32. jind David said'] This properly connects with verse the eleventh: — Thou art but a youth; supposed to be about tzientij-two or ttientj/-three years of age.

Verse 34. Thj/ servant kept his father's sheep'[ He found it necessary to give Saul the reasons why he undertook this combat; and why he expected to be victorious. — 1. I have courage to undertake it, and strength to perform it. — 2. Both have been tried in a very signal manner. — 1. A lion came upon my flock, and seized a lamb; 1 ran after him, he attacked me, 1 seized hold of him by his shaggy locks, smote and slew liim, and delivered the limb. — 2. A bear came in the same vvay, and 1 attacked and slew him. — 3. This, with Tvhom I am to fight, is a J^hilisiins^ an uncircumcised maa;

for thou art come down that thou ^'.c.'wm.' mightest see the battle. ^n. Kxod. isr.

30 H And he turned from him toward another, and " spake after the same " manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he ° sent for him.

32 ^ And David said to Saul, '' Let no man's heart fail because of him; "^ thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

33 And Saul said to David, ' Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a 'lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught hi?n by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, ' The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of

one who is an enemy to God: God, therefore, will not be on his side. On that ground I have nothing to fear. — 4. He has defied the armies of the Lord; and has, in eflect, defied Jeiiovah Himself: therefore, the battle is the Lord's, and He will stand by me. — 5. I have perfect confidence in His protection and defence; for they that tru.st in Him shall never be confounded, — G. I conclude, therefore, that the Lord wh» delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, will deliver me out ef the hand of this Philistine.

Verse 35. — The slaying of the lion and the bear, mentioned here, must have taken place at two dilVcrcnt times r perhaps the verse siiould be read thus — / iceiit out after him, (the lion,) and smote him, &c. And when lie, (the bear,) rose up against me, I caught him by the beard, and slea

38 II And Saul '' armed David with Iiis armour, and he put un liclmct of brass upon iiis head; also he armed him wilh a coal oC mail.

:i\).\nd David girded his sword upon hisr armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it..\nd David >-aid unto Saul, I cannot <;() with tiiese; lor I iiave not proved ihitn. And David put them olV iiim.

40 And lie totik his slalV in his hand, and chose him tivc bmoolh stones out of the ' brook^

that those wero reasonable grounds of confidence; and, therefore, wished him success.

Versr:?8. Saul armed Davids He knew that, aI(houi;h the battle was the Lord's, yet prudent means should be used to secure success.

Verse 39. / cannot go wilh Ihese^ In ancient times, it required considerable exercise and training to make a man export in the use of such heavy armour: armour which, in the present day, scarcely a man is to be found who is able to carry: and so it must have been then, until that practice, which arises from frcijuent use, had made the proprietor perfect. / have not proved them, says David: I am wholly unaccustomed to such armour, and it would be an incumbrance to me.

Five smooth stones] Had they been roi/^/i, or angular — 1. They would not have passed easily through the air; and their asperities would, t« the course of their passage, have given them a false direction. — 1. Had they not been smooth, they could not have been readily dispatched from the iling.

A shepherd's bag'] That in which he generally carried his provisions, while keeping the sheep in the open country.

And his iling"] The sling, both among the Greeks and Hebrews, has been a most powerful offensive weapon. — See what has been said on Judg. xx. 16. It is composed of /so jtrings, and a leathern simp: the strap is in the middle, and is the place where the j/o«e or bullet lies. The string, on the right end of the strap, is (irmly fastened to the hand: that on the lejt, is held between the thumb and middle joint of the fore-finger. It is then whirled two or three times round the head; and, when discharged, the finger and thumb let go their hold of the left end string. The velocity and force of the sling are in proportion to the distance of the strap, where his Hlinir toaa in his hand: and he Aonoiu.u-i.

drew near to tiw rhilisline.

41 And the I'hilistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that Iwre the «liicl<] woil bei'ore him.

42 And when tlie IMiilistine looked about, and Haw David, he 'disdained him: for he was hill a youth, and 'ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David, * Am I a (lopf, that thou come'-t to me with staves •■ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

the bullet lies, from the shoulder joint. Hence the ancient Jialleares, or inhabitants of Majorca and Minorca, are said to have had three sUngs of different lengths: the longett they used when the enemy was at the greatest distance; the middle one, on their nearer approach; and the shortest, wlieu they came into the ordinary fighting distance in the field. The shortest is the most certain, though not the mvstpoTzerful. The Ballearians are said to have had one of their slings constantly bound about their head; to have used the second as a girdle; and to have carried the third always in their hand.— Sec Diod. Sic. lib. v. c. 18. p. 28C. Edit. Jiipont.

In the use of the sling, it requires much practice to hit the mark; but, when once this dexterity is acquired, the sling is nearly as fatal as the musquet or bow. — See on ver. 49. David was evidently an expert marksman: and his sling gave him gre.ul) the advantage over Goliath; an advantage of which the giant does not seem (o have beeo aware. He could hit him within any speaking distance: if he missed once, he had as many chances as he had stones; and, after all, being unincumbered with armour, young and athletic, he could have saved his life by tlight. Against him the Philistine could do but little, except in close fight: it is true he appears to have had a javelin, or missile spear; see on ver. 6.: but David took care (o prevent the use of all such weapons, by giving him the first blow.

Verse 42. He disdained him] lie held him in contempt: he saw that he was young; and, from his ruddy com' plexion, supposed him to be effeminate.

Verse 43. Am / a dog, that thou earnest to me silh staves?] It is very likely that Goliath did not perceive the sling, which David might have kept coiled up within his

Cursed David by his g«ds.] Prayed his gods to curse him. This long parley between David and Goliath is quite in the stile of those times. Homer's heroes have gencraily

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: ""but 1 come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast " defied.

46 This day will the Lord ^ deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will p^ive " the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; '^that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the

an altercation before they engage; and sometimes enter into geographical and genealogical discussions; and vaunt and scold most contemptibly.

Verse 44. Come to me, and I will give thyflesK] He intended, as soon as he conld lay hold on him, to pull him to pieces.

Verse 45. Thou earnest to me with a svBord'] I come to thee jriTH the name (rriya be shem) of Jehovah of hosts; the God of the armies of Israel. What Goliath expected from his arms, David expected from the ineffable name.

Verse 46. This dajj zcill the Lord deliver thee into mine hand^ This was a direct and circumstantial prophecy of what did take place.

Verse 47. For the battle is the Lohd's] It is the Lord's war: you are fighting against Him and his religion, as the champion of your party. I am fighting for God, as the champion of His cause.

Verse 48. The Philistine arose'] This was an end of the parley: the Philistine came farward to meet David; and David, on his part, ran forward to meet the Philistine.

Verse 49. Smote the Philistine in his forehead] Except his^ace, Goliath was every where covered over with strong armour. Either he had no beaver to his helmet; or it was lifted up, so as to expose his forehead: but it does not appear that the ancient helmets had any covering for the face. The Sepluagint, however, supposes that the stone passed through the helmet, and sunk into his forehead — Kai uieJu •?,rJ'ji iix rr,; V£ciy.s<pa.?.!x.ix.; n; ro y,£rx"7rcv avrou; "and the stone passed through his helmet, and sunk in his scull." To some this has appeared perfectly improbable: but we are assured, by ancient writers, that scarcely any thing could reiiit the force of the sling.

Lord ' saveth not with sword and '^^rm-i' and he will give you into our Anno ame i.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nis>h to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward (he army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in bis forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So ' David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but thei-e was no sword in the hand of David.

Diodorus Siculus, lib. v. c. 18. p. 287. Edit. Biponf, says, " The Balleares, in time of war, sling greater stones than any other people; and, with such force, that they seem as if projected from a catapult." Aio xai Y.a.Ta. to.; rciyofj-x^tas ly rat; ffroirSsAaif rvvrovTs; rov; vpo tuiv eira.>J^€xv £<;-£<rrwra;, ■nci.roLrpaiiiJ.a.T.Z.oufTW £v Se rai; xapxra^ea-i rouj re SvpiOu; y.at tx xpavYi, y.xt txv o-y.STTxrri ptov ovKov tnjvfpiSovtri. Kara Ss Tr^v ivrro^ixv ovrw{ xxpttsis iktiv, oxTTe Kxrx to TfAEirov //.v) ajji-xprav e iv rov irpoy.sii/.eyov (TKOTOv. "Therefore, in assaults made on fortified towns, they grievously wound the besieged: and in battle they break in pieces the shields, helmets, and every species of armour by which the body is defended. And they are such exact marksmen, that they scarcely ever miss that at which they aim."

The historian accounts for their great accuracy and poKer in the use of the sling, from this circumstance: — Airiai Se rovTwv, K. r. A. " They attain to this perfection by frequent exercise, from their childhood; for, while they are young, and under their mothers' care, they are obliged to learn to sling; for they fasten bread for a mark, at the top of a pole; and, till the child hit the bread, he must remain fasting; and when he has hit it, the mother gives it to him to eat." — Ibid.

I have given these passages at large, because they contain several curious facts; and sufficiently account for the force and accuracy with which David slung his stone at Goliath — We find also, in the f/.)) a^xprxvav, not miss the mark, of the historian, the true notion of apixpravEiv, to sin, which I have contended for elsewhere. He who sins, though he aims thereby at his gratification and profit, misses the mark of present and eternal felicity.

their chumjiion dead, Jlij

AiiimiiiKr I. Hworil, iind drew it out of tlif HJicalli his licad lliciowilli. And wlicii the Phdistiiics saw their climnpioii wus dt'iid, " tliey llc-d.

hfi f And till' i))cii of IsiacI iind of.Iiidiili arose, and sliouted, and pursued llx- I'liilisdncH, until thou come (o (he vaHey, and (o the pjale.s ol Kkroii. And tl)e wounded of (he l*hili'-(ines fell down l)y (he way •<• "* Sha-araiu)^ even unto Gath, iind unto Kkron.

f).'?.And (l)e rhildren of Israel redinied from chasing- after the IMiilistincs, and (hey spoiled their tents

54 II And David took the head of the Philibtinej and hrouyhl it to Jerusalem; but

Verse 51. When the Philistines irnc their champion rrny dead, they Jlcd.^ They wore panic-struck; anil not being willing to fulfil (iio condition which was stipulated by Goliath, they prccipitntply left the field. Tho Israelites took a proper advantage of these circunistancos, and totally routed their enemies.

Verse 54. David took the head of the Philistine'] It has been already remarked that this, with the following verses, and the five first verses of the xviiith chapter, are omitted by (he Septuagint. — See the Observations at the end.

Verse 58. Whose son art Ihoit, thou i/oiini^ wan?] That Saul should not know David, with whom he had treated a little before, and even armed him for the combat; and, that he should not know who his father was, though he had sent to his father for permission to David to reside constantly ■with him, chap. xvi. 22., is exceedingly stiange 1 I feur all Bishop Warburton's attempts to rectify the chronology, by assumed anlicijnitions, will not account for this. [ mu^t honestly confess ihey do not satisfy me; and I must refer the Header to what immediately follows, on the authenticity of the TSrses which concern this subject.

On the subject of that large omission in the Septuagint, of which I have spoken on ver. \% 1 here subjoin the reasons of Mr. Pilkington and Dr. Kennicolt, for supposing it to be an interpolation of some rabbinical writer; added at a Tery early period to the Hebrew text.

" Had every Version of the Hebrew text,'' says Mr. Pilkington, '• agreed to give a translation of this passage, as we now find, the attempts of clearing it from its embarrassments would have been attended with very great dilficulties: but, as in several other cases before-mentioned, so here, the rroyidcoce of God seems to have -o far secured he jiut his armour in his lent. ^! r i'^-?'.' hi AntI as David telurned from the slaii^hlei of the l'liili>«(ine, Ahner (ook him, and brought him before fSaul '"with the head of the Philistine in Ilis hand.

t)H.And Saul said to bim, Whose son art thou, ikon younfj man? And David answered, ' / (i/n (he son of (by servant Jesse the Hetblehemite.

the credit of those who were appointed to be the penmen of the Oracles of truth, that the defence of their original records may be undertaken upon good grounds, and sup|>orted by sulTicient evidence. For we are now, happily, in possession of an ancient Version of these two chapters, which appears to have been made from a llebrctc copy, which had none of the thirly-ninc verses which are here suppoked to have been interpolated, nor was similar to what we have at present in those places, which are here supposed to have been altered. This Version is found in the f'alican copy of the Seventy \ which, whoever reads and considers, will find the accounts there given regular, consistent, and probable. It will be proper, therefore, to examine the several parts where such alterations are sup|)Osed to have been made in the Hebreis text; in order to produce such other external or internal evidence, as shall be necessary to support the charge of interpolation; which ought not to be laid merely opon the authority of any single Version.

" The first passage, which is not tranflale<l in (he J'atican copy of the Greek Ver-ion, is from the lllh to the 32d Terse of the xviith chapter, wherein we have an account — 1. Of DaviiFs being sent to the camp to vi*if his brethren. — '2. Of his conversation with the men of Israel, relating to Goliath' i challenge; and their informing him of the premium Saul had olTered to any one that should accept it, and come oir victorious. —.'<. Of Eliab's remarkable behaviour to his brother David, upon his making this inquiry. — And, 4. Of Saul's being made acquainted with what DavidhaA said upon this occasion.

" It is obvious to remark upon this pa<sage: — " I. That, after Darid had been of <o much serrice to the king, in causing the evil spirit to depart from him: after its being recorded how greatly Sail loved him, and that he had made him his armour-bearer; after the king had sent to Jesse to sigoify his intention of keeping his son with him; all of which are particularly mentioned in the latter part of the preceding chapter: the account of his keeping his father's sheep afterwards, and being sent to his brethren upon this occasion, must appear to be somewhat improbable. — 2. That ^¥hat is here said of the premium that Saul had offered to him who should conquer the Philistine is not well consistent with the accounts afterwards given; of which we shall have occasion to take particular notice. — 3. That Eliab's behaviour, as here represented, is not only remarkable, but unaccountable and absurd. — And, 4. That the enquiries of a young man, who is not said to have declared any intentions of accepting the challenge of the Philistine, would scarcely have been related to the king. But now, if this passage be supposed to have been interpolated, we must see how the connection stands upon its being omitted.

" Verse 11. ' When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly

'• Verse 32. ' Then David said unto Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.'

" No connection can be more proper; and in this view David is represented as being at that time an attendant upon the king: and, when we had been told just before, chap. svi. 21. that Saul had made him his armour-bearer, we might justly expect to find him with him when the battle was set ] in array, chap. xvii. 2. In this connection David is also re- j presented as fully answering the character before given of him; ' A mighty valiant man, and a man of war,' chap. xvi. j 18. and ready to fight with the giant upon the first proposal; l (for the account of the Philistine presenting himself forty days is in this passage here supposed to have been interpolated, chap. xvii. 16.) I shall leave it to the critical He- \ hrets Reader to make what particular remarks he may think ' proper in respect to the style and manner of expression in j these twenty verses; and let Jesse go for an old man amongst j men in the days of Saul, (^"c." — Pilki.vgtox's Remarks upon several Passages of Scripture, p. 62.

" The authorities, " says Dr. Kennicott, " here brought to prove this great interpolation, are the internal evidence arising from the context, and the external arising from the Va- Hcan copy of the Greek Version. But how then reads the Alexandrian MS.? The remarks acknowledge that this MS. agrees here with the corrupted Hebrew; and, therefore, was probably translated, (in this part,) from some late Hebrew copy, which had been thus interpolated: see pag. 72, 75. Now that these two MSS. do contain different readings, in some places, I observed in pag. 398 — 404. and 411. And in this xviith chapter of Samuel, ver. 4, the Alexandrian MS. says, (agreeably to the present Hebretc,) that the height of Goliath was six cubits und a span; i.e. aboie eleven feet: but the Vatican MS. (agreeably to Josephus,) that it was/our cubits and a span; i. e. near eight feet.

" And, in ver. 43, what the Vatican renders he cursed

David by His gods, the Alexandrian renders by his idols. But, though the Hebrem text might be consulted, and a few words differently rendered by the transcriber of one of these MSS., or by the transcribers of the MSS. from which these MSS. were taken; yet, as these MSS. do contain in this chapter, as is almost universally the same (in verb, noun, and participle,) I presume, that they contain here the same translation with the designed alteration of a few words, and with the difference of the interpolated verses found in the Alexandrian MS.

" But, after all, what if the Alexandrian MS., wliich now has these verses, should itself prove them interpolated? What if the very icords of this very MS. demonstrate that these verses were not in some former Greek MS.? Certainly, if the Alexandrian MS. should be thus found, at last, not to contradict, but to confirm the Vatican in its omission of these twenty verses, the concurrence of these authorities will render the argument much more forcible and convincing.

" Let us then state the present question; which is. Whether the twenty verses, between ver. 11. and 32., which arc now in the Hebrexc text, are interpolated? The Vatica/i MS. goes on immediately from the end of the 11th verse, (xai spo^ijSjjtrav o-^oJoa,) to ver. 32, which begins Kai hits AaviS: whereas the 12th verse in the Hebrew begins not zcith a speech, but with David's birth and parentage. If, then, the Alexandrian MS. begins its present 12th verse as the 32d verse begins, and as the 12th verse could not begin properly, I appeal to any man of judgment, IVhcihcr the transcriber was not certainly copying from a MS. in zchich the 32d verst succeeded the 11th verse; and, if so, then /ro»i a MS. zchich had not these intermediate verses. Now, that this is the fact, the case will at once appear upon examining the Alexandrian copy, where the 12th verse begins with KAI EIIIE AATIA; exactly as the 32d verse begins, and as the 12th verse could not begin properly.

" The case seems clearly to be, that the transcriber, having wrote what is now in the 11th verse, was beginning what is now the 32d verse; when, after writing Kai bittb Aocvti, he perceived that either the Hebrezs, or some other Greek copy, or the margin of his own copy, had several intermediate verses; upon which, without blotting out the significant word EiriE, he goes on to write the addition: thus fortunately leaving a decisive proof of bis own great interpolation. If this addition was in the margin of that MS. from which the Alexandrian was transcribed, it might be inserted by that transcriber; but, if it was inserted either from the Hebreze, or from any other Greek copy, the transcriber of this MS. seems to have had too little learning for such a proceeding. If it was done by the writer of that former MS. then the interpolation may be a hundred, or a hundred and fifty years older than the Alexandrian MS. Perhaps the earliest Christian writer wiio enlarges upon the strong circumstance of David's coming from the sheep to the army, is Chrysostoni, in his homily upon David and Saul: so that it had then been long in some copies of the Greek

Version. Tlio truth seomii to be, tliut the addiliou of tlio.c tweiily vflfica took its first rise from what Jmqihtts h»d inserted ill Ids variation and cinhi'lliihinpiil of thin hi.itory; l)ut (hat many circuinstancc.i wero aftcrnard-. added to his uchlilions.

" For, (iiiid it it fxtrinnc'ly rcmarluililc,) though Jusejiltiis has itiunr-, he lias not half llie ini|irobaliilitics Hliidi an; found ul present in Iht* Sarrrd History: as, for instancr, Nothing of llif armies being figliliiiii in the valley/, or Jigliting ill (ill; wlun Duvid was sent by his father, a» In ler. 10. — JVothiii!? of the hint going J'orth, nnil iliouting for the battle, lit the time of D.ivid's arrival, as in ver. '.!0. — Noihing of all the men of Israel Jlrcing from Colialli, os in vcr. "iA.: on tiio contrary, the tmo armies, (it should seem,) continued ii|)on their two niouiilains. — Nothing of David's long eoii- Viisiiliuii tiith the suliliers, vcr. '25 — 27.; in seasons so very im|)ropcr, as, whilst tlicy were shouting for tlie battle, or whilst they were Jlceing from Goliath; aud Jlecing from a man after they had seen him, and heard him ticicc in every day for fortjj daijs together, ver. IG: the two armies, all this long while, leaning u[)oii their arms, and looking very of fjoliulh wuj carried bij Daiiil into hii oun lent, (a.u'i hicould liavc then no lent of hit oun, if he bud not betn tlifrn an ollicer in the army;) I bay, as toon at Jotqihui hif> ii:- (orded these circumslance*, he goes i>u to Sunt' § envy and hatred of David, anting from the vomen t tonni of congratulation; exactly as theiic capital |iartii of the. history ate (onnctted in the f^jricjy MS. And with lhi» circani> stance I shall roncluile these remark*; earuektly recommending the whole to the learned Header's attentive examination.

" It must not, howcuT, hi; foii^ot, that the learned!•'. IIoubigant has, in his Bible, placed the^e twenty verses, (from tho llth to the 3'id,) between iiuoki j as coulainiiig a passage which comes in very im|)ro|)crly.

" If it be in(|uiredas to this interpolation in Samuel, Khen it could possibly be introduced into the text? It may be observed that, about the time of Josepliui, the Jews seem to have been foud of enlarging, and, (as ihey vainly thoaghl,) embellishing the Sacred History, by inventing speeches, and prayers, and hymns, and also new articles of history; and these of considerable length: witness the several additions peaceably at one another. — Nothing of Goliath's repeating to the Book of Esther; witness the long story concerning ills challenge everi) tnorning and evcrij evening, a» in ver. 16. icinc, uomcn, and truth, inserted amidst parts of the genuine Da>id, (it is said, ver. '23,) happened to hear one of these; history of Ezra and Neiiemiah, and worked up into what is challenges; but, if he heard tiie evening challenge, it would now called the First Book of Esdras; witness the hymn of have been then too late for the several transactions before, the three children in the fiery furnace, added to Daniel; and and the long pursuit after, (roliath's death; and David could witness also, the many additions in Josephus. Certainly, not well hear the morning cliallcnge, because he could scarce then, some few remarks might be noted by the Jews, and have arrived so early, after travelling from lielldchcm to the some few of their historical additions might be inserted in army, (about fifteen miles,) and bringing with him an ephah;| the margin of their Hebrew copies; which might afterwards (f parched corn, and ten loaves, and ten cheeses; as in ver.!' be taken into the text itself by injudicious transcribers. 17, IS. — Nothing of encouraging any man to fight Goliath, I " The history of David's conquest of the mighty and inby an offer of the king's daughter, ver. '25.; which, as it suiting Philistine is certainly very engaging: and it gives a seems from the subsequent history, had never been thought I most amiable description of a brave young man, relying with of; and which, had it been ollered, would probably have i firm confidence upon the aid of the Cod of battle, against a been accepted by some man or other out of the whole army. > blaspheming enemy. It is not, therefore, very strange that — Noihing of Kliab's reprimanding David for coHi/zig- <o ^ce some fanciful Itabbin should be particularly struck with the the battle, as in vcr. '2H.; but for a very diflercnt reason: strange circumstances of the Philistine's daring to challenge and, indeed, it is highly improbable that Eliab should treat | all Israel; and David's cutting off the giant's head with the him at all with contempt and scurrility, after having seen giant's own sword. And then, finding that Josephus had Samuel anoint him for the future king of Israel, see chap, said that David came from the sheep to the camp, and hap. xvi. 1 — 13.— Nothing of a second conversation between Da- pened to hear llic challenge, the Kabbin might think it very vid and the soldiers, as in ver. 30, 31.— Nothing of Saul natural that David should be indign.nnt against the giant, and and Abncr's not knowing u:ho teas DaviiPs father, at the time of his going forth against the Philistine, as in ver. 35. — Nothing of David's being introduced to the king bj/ Abncr,!

talk valorously to the soldiers, and that the soldiers should mightily encourage David: and then, (to be sure.) this was the most lucky season to introduce the celebrated friend- in form, after killing tho Philistine, ver. 57.; at a time when || ship of Jonathan for David; particularly when, (according the king and the captain of the host had no leisure for com- 1 to these additions,) Jonathan had seen Abncr leading David plimental ceremony; but were set out, ver. 57. ia immediate, in triumph to the king's presence; every one admiring the and full pursuit of the Philistines. — Nor, lastly, is any notice taken here by Joscphu<i, of what now begins the xviiith chapter, Jonathan's friendship for David, which is related elscw here, and in a diflerent manner: on the contrary, as soon as Josephus has mentioned Goliath's death, and told us that Saul and all Israel shouted, and fell at once upon the Philistines; and that, wlien the pursuit was ended, the head young hero, as he proudly advanced with the grim head of: the Philistine in his hand. So that this multiform addition, I and fanciful embellishment, of the Rabbin reminds one of the motley absurdity described by the poet in the famous lines—

Ilumano capiti cerviccm picior equinam Jangers si velit, ct varias induwrc plumas, ^c.

" The passage, supposed to be interpolated here, was in the Hebrew text before the time of Aquila; because there are preserved a few of the differences in those translations of it, which were made by Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus. These verses, bein^ thus acknowledged at that time, would doubtless be found in such copies as the Jews then declared to be genuine, and which they delivered afterwards to Origen as such. And that Origen did refer to the Jews for such copies as they held genuine, he allows in his Epistle to Africauus; for there he speaks of soothing the Jews, in order to get pure copies from them." — KeNiVicott's Second Dissertation on the Hebrew Text, p. 419.

In the general dissertation which Dr. Kennicott has prefixed to his edition of the Hebrew Bible, he gives additional evidence that the verses in question were not found originally in the Septuagint, and consequently not in the IleOrezc copy used for that Version. Several MSS. in the royal library at Paris either omit these verses, or have them with asterisks, or notes of dubiousness. And the collation by Dr. Holmes, and his continuators, have brought farther proof of the fact. From the whole, there is considerable evidence that these verses were not in the Septuagint in the time of Origen; and, if they were not in the MSS. used by Origen, it is very probable they were not in that Version atjirst; and, if they were not in the Septuagint at first, it is very probable that they were not in the Hebreie text one hundred and fifty years before Christ; and, if not then in the Hebrew texi, it is very probable they were not in that text originally. — See Dissertation on Gen. p. 9.; and Remurks on Select Passages, p. 104.