I have only to remark here, that the historical books of the Old Testament have suffered more by the carelessness, or infidelity, of transcribers, than any other parts of the sacred volume: and of this the two Books of Samuel, the two Books of Kings, and the two Books of Chronicles, give the most decided and unequivocal proofs. Of this, also, the Reader has already had considerable evidence; and he will find this greatly increased as he proceeds.
It seems to me that the Jewish copyists had not the same opinion of the Divine inspiration of those books as they had of those of the Law and the Prophets; and have, therefore, made no scruple to insert some of their own traditions, or the glosses of their doctors, in different parts: for, as the whole must evidently appear to them as a compilation from their public records, they thought it no harm to make different alterations and additions from popular statements of the same facts, which they found in general circulation. This is notoriously the case in Josephus: this will account, and it docs to me very satisfactorily, for many of the various readings now found in the Hebrew text of the Historical Books. They were held in less reverence, and they were copied with less care, and emended with less critical skill, than the Pentateuch and the Prophets; and on them the hands of careless, ignorant, and temerarious scribes, have too frequently been laid. To deny this, only betrays a portion of the same ignorance which was the parent of those disorders; and attempts to blink the question, though they may with some be an argument of zeal-, yet, with all the sincere and truly enlightened friends of Divine revelation, they will be considered to be as dangerous as they are absurd.
Where the rash or ignorant hand of man has fixed a blot on the Divine records; let them who, in the Providence of God, are qualified for the task, wipe it oft': and, while (hey have the thanks of all honest men, God will hare the glory.
There have been many who have affected to deny the existence of giants. There is no doubt that the accounts given of several are either fabulous, or greatly exaggerated. But men of an extraordinary size are not uncommon even in our own day: I knew two brothers, of the name of Knight, who were born in the same township with myself, who were seven feet six inches high; and another, in the same place, Charles Burns, who was eight feet six! These men were well and proportionably made. 1 have known others of this height, whose limbs were out of all proportion; their knees bent in, and joints ricketty.
Ireland, properly speaking, is the only nation on the earth that produces Giants: and let me tell the poor, that this is the only nation in the world that may be said to live on potatoes; with l\tt\e bread, and less flesh-meat.
I have seen, and entertained in my house, the famous Polish dwarf, the Count Boruzclaski, who was about thirtysix inches high, every part of whose person was formed with the most perfect and delicate symmetry. The prodigious height and bulk of Charles Burns, and the astonishing diminutiveness of Count Boruzclaski, could not be properly estimated but by comparing both together. Each was a perfect man; antl yet, in quantum, how disproportionate! Man is the only creature in whom the extremes of minuteness and magnitude are so apparent; and yet the proportion of the parts in each strictly correlative.
Jonathan and David commence a /aslins^ friendship; and David acts prudcntli/ tcith respect to Saul, I — 5. Saul becomes jealous of David, on account of the esteem in uliich he is held in Israel; and, in hiffurj/, endeavours to destroy him, 6 — 12. David is made captain over a thousand; and the people love and respect him, 13 — 16. Saul, in order to ensnare him, offers him his daughter in marriage, 17 — 24. And requires a hundred forC' thins of the Philistines for doiari/; hoping that, in endeavouring to procure them, David might fall hy the hands of the Philistines, 25, David agrees to the conditions, fulfils them, and has Michal to zcife^ 26 — 30.
oi,m,..w. j,,„.,,|,.,„ vviis knil with Ihc Koiil of Diuid, ''iiiid.Idiiiilliini loved Iiim as his own sdiil.
2 And Saul look liiin llial day, "and would Id liiiii i;() no more home (o his faHior's house.
.'{ 'riicn.Idiialliaii and David made a covenant, bociiuse he loved him as ids own soul.
4 And.Jonathan stripped himself of the roI)e that wv/.s- upon him, and f;ave it to David, and iiis garments, even to his sword, and to liis l)ow, and io his cjirtlle.
f> II.\nd David went out whilhersover Saul sent him, avd ''behaved himself wisely: and Siiul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted ill Ihesipht of all the people, and also in tlie sij^ht of Saul's servants.
(5 II And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the
7 And tile women '' aii<>wered one tniollu r hh they played, and said, 'Saul liath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
H And Saul was very wroth, and tlic sayirifj 'displeased' him; and he t^aid, They have a«- crilied unto David ten thou'-ands, and to me tliey have ascriljcd liitl thousands: and n/ui/ can lie have more but '"the kint^dom?
!).\nd SanI eyed Divid from that day and lorward. |; 10 f^ Ami it camo (o pa^s on the morrow, that "the evil spirit fidiii God came upon Saul, "and ' lie piopliesied in ihc midst of the liou>-e; and David plaved with iii^ iiand, as at other limes: ''and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
Verse 1. When he hud made an end of speaking'] These ^ve first verses are omitted by the Sepluaginl. — See the Notes on the pr(>cc(ling chapter.
Jonathan loved him as his ozcn soul.] The most intimate frieiulship suhsistpil bplween them; and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. No love was lost between them; each was worthy of the other. They had a friendship which could not he aft'pcted with changes or chances; and which exemplified all that the ancients have said on the subjfict: Tr^v ipiAiav iironjra sivai, xai fiiav ^''■'X^J^^ '''"' f'^"^ iripay olutov — " Friendship produces an entire sameness; it is one soul in two bodies: a friend is another self.
Verse 4. Jonathan stripped himself] Presents of clothes, or rich robes, as tokens of respect and friendship, are frequent in the East. And how frecjuently arms and clothing >»ere presented by warriors (o each other, in token of friendship, may be seen in Homer, and other ancient writers.
Verse 5. Set him over the men of tear] Made him generalissimo; or what we would caW field-marshal.
Verse 6. IVhen David was returned] This verse connects well with the 54th verse of the preceding chapter; and carries on the narration without any break or interruption. — See the Notes there.
Verse 6. ITic tcomen came out] It was the principal business of certain women to celebrate victories, sing at funerals, fic.
With instruments of music] The original word Q'lpSs' shtiliishim, signifies iDStruments with three strings; aud is,
I think, properly translated by llie \ ulgate, cmhi iittris, with sistrums. This instrument is well known as being u«e(l among the ancient Ecyptian^: it was made of bras!', and ha(l three, (sometimes more,) brass rods across; which, being loose in their holes, made a jingling noise when the instrument was shaken.
Verse 7. Saul hath slain his thousands] As it cannot literally be true that Saul had slain thousand>, and David ten thousands; it would be well to traii'-late the passage thus: Saul hath smitten, ox foii<;lil, ug<iinsl thousands j D'lvidy against tens of thousands. ''Though S.iul has been victorious in all his battles; yet he has not had such great odds against him as David has had: Saul, indeed, has been opposeil lijj thousands; David by ten thousands." We may hero remaik, that the Philistines had drawn out their whole forces at this time; and, when Goliath was slain, they were totally discomfited by the Israelites, led on chiefly by David.
He prophesied in the midst of the house] He was besidt himself; m^Ac pra^iers, supplications, and incoherent imf/recations: '• (lod preserve niy life," " D>-stroy my enemies;" or such like prayers; might frequently escape from him in his agitated state. The Arabic intimates that he. was actually possessed by an evil spirit; aud that, through it, he uttered a sort of demoniacal predictions.
liut let us examine the original more closeiy: it is said that Saul prophesied in the midst of hishou-r; that if, he
^aA-.^^k 11 And Saul ^ cast the javelin; Ao.Exod. isr. for he said, I will smite David even Anno ante I. to the ^vall witk it. And David oiymp. 287. avoided out of his presence twice.
12 f And Saul was " afraid of David, because " the Lord was with him, and was ^ departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and •he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David 'behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and ^the Lord loas with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw tiiat he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But '"all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17 IT And Saul said to David, BehoUl my elder daughter INIerab, ' her will 1 give thee to wife: only be thou ■■ valiant for me^ and fight ' the Lord's battles. For Saul said, "' Let not mine hand be upon him^ but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said unto Saul, "Who am 1? and what is ray life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19 But it came to pass at the time when
Merab Saul's daughter should have \c.io63.'' been sriven to David, that she was A"- kxoj. ir.
20? 'And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing 'pleased him.
21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be 'a snare to him, and that ' the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt "this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
22 1[ And Saul commanded his servants, soying, Commune with David secretly, and say. Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thitig to be a king's son in law, seeing that 1 am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, " On this manner spake David.
25 And Saul said. Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any ^ dowry, but a
prayed in his family, while David was playing on the harp; and then suddenly threw his javelin, intending to have killed David. Let it be observed, that the word «D:n'''i vayethnabe, is the third person singular of the future, hilhpael; the sign of which is not only to do an action on or for one's self, but also la feign ov pretend to do it. The meaning seems to be: Saul pretended to be praying in his family, the better to conceal his murderous intentions, and render David unsuspicious; who was, probably, at this time, performing the musical part of the family worship. This view of the subject makes the whole case natural and plain.
Verse 11. Saul cast the javelin'\ The javelin, or spear, was the emblem of regal authority: kings always had it at hand; and, in ancient monuments, they are always represented with it.
In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a diadem: Per ea tempora reges hastas pro diademate hubebanty Hist. lib. xliii. And, as spears were the emblems of supreme power, hence they were reputed as attributes of the Divinity, and were worshipped as representatives of tlie gods. At) Ofiginc rerum, pro Dtis immortuUbus veteres
HASTJS coluerttnl, ob nijus religionis mcmoriam, adhuc deorum simulachris n.isT.E adduntur. — Ibid.
Verse 13. Made him his captain'\ This was under pretence of doing him honour; when it was, in eft'ect, only to rid himself of the object of his envy.
Verse 15. He was afraid of him. '\ lie saw that, by his prudent conduct, he was every day gaining increasing influence.
Verse 17. Fight the Lord's batlles'\ Mr. Calmet properly remarks that the wars of the Hebrews, while conducted by the express orders of God, were truly the rears of the Lord: but, when the spirit of worldly ambition and domination became mingled with them, they were no longer the wars of the Lord, but wars of lust and profanity.
Verse 21. That she may be a snare to hini] Saul had already determined the condition on which he would give liis daughter to David; viz. that ho should slay one hundred IViilistines: this he supposed he would undertake for the love of Michal, and that he must necessarily perish in the attempt; and thus Michal would become a snare to him.
Verse 23. But a hundred foresiiins'] That is. Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistiues; and tliou shalt produce their hundred foroKkins of Uio PliiliHlincH, U) Ijc " avt'ii;;(!d of IIip Kiii^^'k «mic'- mics. But Saul ''lliou;^lil lo liuikc David fall by the hand of tlic Philistines.
2(1 And when \m servants tohi David tliesc words, it pleased David well to be the king's son inlaw: and ' the diivH were not ''expired.
27 VVIierefore David arose and went, he and • his men, and slew of tlic Piiilistines two hundred men; and ' David bro\ijjlit their foreskin.s, and they (^ave tliein in fall (ale to the kinj^, that he niij^lit be the kings son in law. And Saul f^avc
fbrcsh'ns, as a proof not only that thou hast killed one huiiilretl men; but tliat (iiese arc of the uncircumcised.
Verse 27. Sli-w lico hundred men] The Sept uagint has only one hundred men. Saul covenanted with D.iviil for a hundred; and David himself says, 2 Sam. iii. 14., that he espoused Michal for a hundred; hence it i", likely that one hundred is the true reading.
'iH % And Saul waw and knew ilii;t llic Loito wan with David, and lluil Michal.Saul's daughter loved him.
25> And Saul wan yet tlic inorr; David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
.'>■() 'i'hin the princes of the Philistines * went forth: and it came to pass, after they vrent forth, l/iat David '' l)ehaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Haul; so tiiat his name was much 'set by.
Verse 30. Then the prince t of the Philitlinei nent forth'] Probably to avenge themselves on David and the Israelites: but of this war we know no more than that David was more skilful and successful in it than any of the other officers of Saul. His military skill was greater, and his success was proportionate to his skill and courage; hence it is said, he behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul.
Jonathan pleads for David before Saul; k/io is, for flic present, reconciled, 1 — 7. David defeats the Philistines; and Saul becomes again envious, and endeavours to slaj/ him, but be escapes, 8 — 10. Saul sends men to David's house, to lie in wait for him; but Alichal saves him by a stratagem, 11 — 17. David Jlees to Samuel, at Ramah, 18. Saul, hearing of it, sends messengers three several times to take him; but the Spirit of God com' ing upon them, thei/ prophesy, 19 — 21. Saul, hearing of this, goes after David himself, and falls under the same infucnce, 2'i— 2-t.
AND Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they shnuld kill David. 2 Hut Jonathan.Saul's son "delighted much in David: and Jonathan told Da-
Verse 1. That they should kill Dtrcid.] Nothing less than the especial interposition of God could have saved David's life, when every officer about the king's person,
vid, sayinj^, Saul my father "'seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thcc, take heed to thv^olf until the morninji', and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
Verse 2. Take heed to thyself until the morning'^ Perhaps the ort'cr was given to slay him the ne:il day; and there-
An. EAod. isr. sjdg my father in the field where Anno ante I. thou art, and I will commune with
4 f And Jonathan 'spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him. Let not the king "sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to theeward very good:
5 For he did put his 'life in his hand, and ^slevv the Philistine, and ^ the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: 'wherefore then wilt thou *^sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause }
6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain.
7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, "as 'in times past.
fore Jonathau charges him to be particularly on his guard at that timo, and to hide himself.
Versu 4. Jonathan spake good of David] It is evident that Jonathan was satisffed that David was an innocent man; and that his father was most unjusllj/ incensed against
Verse 5. For he did put his life in his hand] The pleadings in this verse, though short, are exceedingly cogent; and the argument is such as could not be re-iisted.
Verse 6. Jle shall not be slain.] Inconsequence of this oath, we may suppose he issued orders contrary to those which he had given the preceding day.
Verse 7. Jle leas in his presence, as in times past.] By Jonathan's advice he had secreted himself on that day on which he was to have been assassinated: the king having sworn that he should not be slain, David resumes his place in the palace of Saul.
Verse 9. jinil the evil.tpirif from the Lord] His envy and jealousy again returned; producing distraction of mind. which was exacerbated by diabolic influence.— ^See on chap. xvi. 14.
Verse 10. But he slipiied away] lie found he could not trust Saul; and, therefore, was continually oti his watch. Ilifigility of body was the means of his preservation at this ilme.
8 H And there was war again: \^cm^' and David went out, and fou"ht A"- f-xod. isr. with the Philistines, and slew tiiem Anno ante i. wilh a great slaughter; and (hey fled °'^'"''- -^^^ from '' him.
9 And ' the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his iiouse with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his iiand.
JO And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the v^all: and David fled, and escaped that night.
1 1 U ■" Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and INIichal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, tomorrow thou slialt be slain.
I,S And Miclial took an ° image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it wilh a cloth.
Verse 11. And to slay him in the morning] When they might be able to distinguish between him and Michal his wife; for, had they attempted his life in the night season, there would have been some danger to Michal's life. Besides, Saul wished to represent him as a traitor; and, consequently, an attack, upon him was justifiable at any time, even in the fullest day-light.
Verse 12. Let David dozc^n through a tsindow] As Saul's messengers were sent to David's house to tcutch him, they would naturally guard the gate, or lie in wait in that place by which David would come out: Michal, seeing this, let him down to the ground through a window, probably on the back part of the house; and, there being neither entrance nor issue that way, the liers in wait were easily i^lndpd.
Verse 13. Michal took an image] O'iJinn HK et ha /eraphim, the teraphim. The Hebrew word appears to mean any kind of image, in any kind of form, as a representative of some reality. Here, it must have been something in the human form; because it was intended to represent a man lying in bed indisposed.
A pillow of goats' hair] Perhaps she formed the appearance of a sick man's head, muflled up, by this pillow or bag i>f goats' hair. So, I think, the original might be understood. The goats" hair was merely accidental; unless we
If> And when llic nicsscni^ci'^ wfio <<inif in, hohohl, Ihi II v'ds an iinaf^c in iht- hiil, Willi a pillow of f;-oats' hair for his holster.
17 And Saul said nnio Miclial, \N'hy hast llion deceived nic so,.ind sent away mine enemy, liial lie iH escaped ' And Miclial answered Saul, He said unto me, Ia'I me go; " why slionid 1 killlhee'-
IH 11 So David lied, and escajjcd, and came lo Samuel to Kamah. and lold iiim all tlial Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naiolli.
'20 And '' Saul sent messenf;eis to lake David: "and when they saw the company of the pro-
could suppose that it was dosiniied to represent the liair of David's head, whicli is not improbable.
Verse 17. Lei me go; zsht/ should I kill thee?'\ Tli.it is, if thou do not let me go, I will kill tlice. This she said to excuse herself to her father: as a aife she could do no less than favour the escape of her husband; being perfectly satisfied that there was no guilt in him. it is supposed that it was on this occasion that David wrote the lixth Psalm, Deliver me from mine enemies, Sec.
Verse 18. Daviil jlcd and escaped — to Samuel^ He, no doubt, came to this holy man to ask advice; and Samuel thought it best to retain him for the present, with himself at Naioth, where it is supposed he had a school of prophets.
Samuel — appointed over thcml Being head or president of the school at this place.
'.il And when it whs told Saul, he srnl other niesseiif^ers, and lliey [irophesied likewise. And Saul sent mes>.engers aj^ain ihe lliiid lime, and I hey |)ri)phetiied also.
'i'i 'I'lien went he also to Ramah, and <ame to a g;reat well I hat in in Se(liu: and he asked and said, \N here arc Samuel and David f And one said, liehold, l/iti/ hi- at Naiolh in Kamah.
I 'Hi f And he went thither to Naiolh in Ramah: and 'the Spirit of (lod was upon him also, and he went on, and |)rophesied, until he
'^4 ^.\nd he stripped olV h's clothe s also, and prophesied before.Samuel in like manner, and
I '^ lay down ** naked all lliat day and all llial ni^lit. \\ lie I (fore they say, ' Is Saul also among the
The Spirit of (iod!caf i//)un] They partook of the same inlluencc, and joined in the same exercise; and thus were prevented from seizing David.
Verse 23. He zcenl on, and prophesied'] The Dirlne Spirit seemed to have seized him at the well of Scchu; and he went on from that, prophesying, praying, singing praises, SiC. till became to Naioth.
Verse 24. lie stripped off his clothei'] Threw off his royal robes or military dress, retaining only bis tunic; and continued so all that day and all that night; uniting k ith the sons of the prophets in prayers, singing praises, and other religious exercises; which were unusual to kings and warriors; and this gave rise to the sayinii, Is Saul also among the prophets? I'y bringing both him and his men thus under a Divine intluence, he prevented them from injuring;h<" person of David. — See the Notes on ch. x. 6, &c.; and see a Sermon on The Chriitian I'rophct and his Work.
David complains to Jonathan of Saul's emiiitj/ against him; Jonathan comforts him, 1 — 10. They zcalk out into the field, and rcmu- Ihiir covenant, 1 1 — 17. David asks Jonathan's leave to absent himself from SattPs court; and Jonathan informs him hoic he shall ascertain the disposition of his father touards him, IS — 23. David hides himself; is tnisscd hy Saul; Jonathan is questioned concerning his absence; viakes an excuse for David;
Saul is enraged, and endeavours to Mil Jonathan, 24 — 33. Jonathan goes out to the field; gives David the sign which they had agreed on, and by which he was to know that the king had determined to take away his life, 34 — 39. He sends his serrant back into the city; and then he and Dadd meet, renew their covenant, and have a very affectionate parting, 40 — 42.
AND David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothingeither great or small, but that he will " shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
3 And David sware moreover, and said. Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith. Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.
4 Then said Jonathan unto David, '' Whatsoever thy soul " desireth, 1 will even do it for
5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the '' new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that
Verse 1. David fled from Naioth'] On bearing that Saul had come to that place, knowing that he was no longer in safety, he lied for his life.
Verse 2. My fither Kill do nothing] Jonathan thought that his father would have no evil design against David, because of the oath which he had sworn to himself, ch. xix. 6. and, at any rate, that he would do nothing against David, without informing him.
Verse 3. There is but a step betzeeen me and death.] My life is in the most imminent danger. Your father has, most assuredly, determined to destroy me.
Th3 same figure used here, there is but a step bettceen me and death, may be found in Juvenal, who, satirizing those who ri>k their lives for the sake of gain, in perilous voyages, speaks thus: —
I nunc ct vends animam committe, dolalo Confuus ligno, digltis a morte rcmotus Quatuor aut septem, si sit IcUissima teda.
T may ^ hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run ' to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly ^sacrifice there for all the family.
7 ' If he say thus. It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that ' evil is determined by him.
8 Therefore thou shall "' deal kindly with thy servant; for ' thou hast brought thy.servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee: notwithstanding, ""if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?
9 And Jonathan said. Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?
10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?
" Go now, and commit thy life to the winds, trusting to a hewn plank, four or seven fingers thick, if the beam out of which it has been cut, have been large enough."
Verse 5. To-morroa is the neio moon] The months of the Hebrews were lunar months, and they reckoned from new moon to new moon. And, as their other feasts, particularly the pass-over, were reckoned according to this, they were very scrupulous in observing the first appearance of each new moon. On these new moons they offered sacrifices, and had a feast, as we learn from Numb. x. 10. xxviii. 11. And we may suppose that the families, on such occasions, sacrificed and feasted together. To this David seems to refer: but the gathering together all the families of a whole tribe seems (o have taken place only once in the year. There is a yearly sacrifice therefor all the fiimily, ver. C.
Verse 8. If there be in me iniquity] If thou seest that I am |)lotting either.ngainbt the state, or the life of thy father, then slay me thyself.
I I 11 And Jonulliaii Haid iiiitd David, Gomo, and let us f-o out into the lu'ld. And (lii'v went onl. hotli ofl tlictn into llii- I'udd. 12 And Joniitliiin k,\u\ unto David. O fiOiiD nod of Isiiicl, u!icn I have 'sounded my rather id)onl lo-nio"ro\v any time, or the third ilaij, and Ijehold, //■ there be good toward David, and I tlien send not \uU() thee, and ''slievv it tliee;
!.'> ' The liOiM) do so and mneli more to.Jona-: than: lint if it please my fatlier to do thee evil, then I will sliew it tliee.and send thee away, that thou maycst go in peace: and '' tiie Ijoiin be j vvilli t!iee, as he hatli l)cen with my latlier. |
14 And thou slialt not oidy, while yet I live, shew me the kindnesii of the Loun, that I die not:
15 Hut uIho 'thou shalt not cut oil" thy Ivindncss from my house for over: no, not wiien the liOUD hath cut oil" the enemies of David every one from the face of tlie earth.
if) So Jonathan 'made a covenant with the house of David, saijins^, ''Let the Lord even re(|uire it at the hand of David's enemies.
17 And Jonatiian caused David to swear again, '' because he loved him: ' for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
IS H Then Jonathan said to David, " To; morrow is the new moon: and thou slmlt be j missed, because thy seat will be ' empty.
lad, IJehold, the arrows are on this side of llice, I take them; then come thou: for <//crc jf peace
22 Hut if I say thus unto llie young man, Behold, the arrows arc beyond thee; go thy way: for the Loud hath sent thee away.
23 And «.s touching 'the matter which tbou and I have spoken of, beliold, the Loud Ac between thee and me for ever.
2i f So David liid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
2.5 And the king sat upon bis scat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for be tliought, Something hath befallen him, he is " not clean; surely he ix not clean.
necessary information? What means wilt thou use to con- Tcy this intelligonrc to me?
Verse 11. Come, and let us go out into Ihejieldl In answer to David's ((uostioii, he now shews him how he shall convey this intpjligcncc to him.
Verse 12. Jonathan said — 0 Lord God of Israei] There is, most evidently, something wanting in this verse. The Scptiiaginl has, The Lord God of Israel doth ksow. The Sj^riac and Arabic, The Lord God of Israel is nirxEss. Either of these makes a good sense. But two of Dr. Kenuicott's MSS. supply tlic word >n chat, " liveth;" and the text roads thus, As the Lord God of Israel livetb, zchen I have sounded mj/ father, — if there be good, and I then send not unto thee, and shcto it thee, the Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. This makes a still better sense.
Verse 13. Tlie Lord be icilh thee, as he Itath been xcilh mt/ father,^ From this, and other pas.-ages here, it is very evident thnt Jonathan kuew that the Lord had appointed David to the kingdom.
Verse 14. Slicis me the kindness of the Lord'] When thou comest to the kingdom, if I am alive, thou shalt shew kindness to me; and thou shalt continue that kindness to my family after me.
Verse 20. / z^ill shoot three arrotes'] Jonathan intended that David should stay at the stone Kzel, vihere probably there was some kind o{ cave, oz hiding-place; that, to prevent all suspicion, he would not go to him, himself, but take his servant into the fields, and pretend to be exercising himself in archery; that he would shoot three arrows, the better to cover his design; and, that if he should say to bis servant, who went to bring back the arrows, " The arrows are on this side of thee," this should be a sign to David that he might safely return to Court, no evil beinj designed to him. But if he should say, " The arrows are beyond thee •.■ then David should i-scape for his life, Saul having determined his destruction.
Ver-e 'lb. The king sat upon his seatl It seems tfcit there was one table for Saul, Jonathan, David, and Aba?v;
\^'.ml' 27 And it came to pass on the An. Exod. fsr. morrovv, which was the second dot/ Annolniei. of the month, that David's place was "'>""P- ^^- empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his soHj Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to-day?
28 And Jonathan " answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
29 And he said. Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to he there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.
30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, '' Thou ' son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore novi send and fetch him unto me, for he '' shall surely die.
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, •■ Wherefore shall he be slain.' What hath he done?
Saul having the chief seat, that nexl to (he zcall. As only four sat at this table, the absence of any one would soon be noticed.
Verse 29. Our family hath a sacrifice] Such sacrifices ■were undoubtedly /«/«/ ones; the beasts slain for the occasion were first offered to God, and their blood poured oh4 before him: afterwards, all that were bidden to the feast, ale of the flesh. This was a family entertainment, at the commencement of which God was peculiarly honoured.
Verse 30. Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman] This clause is variously translated, and understood. The Hebrew might be translated. Son of an unjust rebellion: that is, " Thou art a rebel against thy own father." The Vulgate, Fill mulieris virum ultro rapientis: "Son of the woman, who, of her own accord, forces the man." The Septuagikt is equally curious. Tie v-optxtriiuv avroiJ.oX'jui'Tu.'v " Son of the damsels who came of their own accord." Were these the meaning of the Uebretn, then the bitter redection piust refer to some secret transaction betwixt Saul and Jotiat}i4D'8 mother; which certainly reflects more dishonour on
33 And Saul ' cast a javelin at him Vc.' ml' to smile him: ^whereby Jonathan Am. Kwd. isr. knew that it was determined of his Anno ante i. father to slay David. oiy„,p. 28(i.
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the montli: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
35 H And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with
36 And he said unto his lad. Run, find out now tlie arrows which 1 shoot. And as the lad ran he shot an arrow '"beyond him.
37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, 7s not the arrow beyond thee?
38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gatiiered up the arrows, and came to his master.
30 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40 And Jonathan gave his 'artillery unto '" his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry tke7n to the city.
41 ^ And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell
himself than on his brave son. Most sarcasms bear as hard upon the speaker, as they do on him against whom they are spoken. Abusive language always argues a mean, weak, and malevolent heart.
Verse 34. Jonathan arose — in fierce anger"] We should probably understand this rather of Jonathan's grief than of his anger, the latter clause explaining the former; ybr he icas grieved for David. He was grieved for his father; he was grieved for h\s friend.
Verse 38. Make speed, haste, stay not] Though these words appear to be addressed to the lad, yet they were spoken to David, indicating that his life was at stake, and only a prompt flight could save him.
Verse 10. Jonathan gave his artillery] I believe this to be the only place in our language where the word artillery Is Tiot applied to cannon or ordnance. The original ''?3 keley, signifies simt)ly instruments; and here means the bow, (|uiver, and arrows.
Verse 41. Until David exceeded.'] David's distress must, iu the nature of things, be the greatest. Besides his friend
^n-V>^>>A.w. cd lijmscir llii('<r tiiiK's; iind (ht'y I.ord) Ixt Ijctwccn me ami llic( Aniii. iiMir r. kissed niic iiiiolhfi', Jiiid wept one hilwccii my seed and thy vi-id lor oiyiii|i.wG. with anolhcr, until David exceeded. ever. And he a rose and de|)arte(l: 4'2.And.lonathan said to David, "(Jo in peace, and.Irjiiathan went into the ( ity ^ lora.snuicli as we have sworn holh ot us in his wife, relalives, country; niifl, whiit w.'is most ntHictivP, the nllnr^t of his (mxI, iukI tlio onliiiiiiicPs of ri'lii;ioii.
Saul saw Diivid's ^rowiiii; |)o{iularity, anil uns convinced of his own mal-admitiislration, lio did not humble himself hoforcCJod; and, tliPreforc>, became a |)rpy to envy, pride, jealousy, cruelty, and every other malevolent temper. From him D.ivid had every thing to fear; and, therefore, he thoui;ht it was safer to yield to the storm, than attempt to brave it; though he could have even raised a very powerful party in Israel, had ho used the means nhich wern so much
In hN power. But, a< he neither fought nor affected the kingdom, he left it to the providericp of (iod to bring him in, by such means, at such a way, ami in such a time, as wa« most suited to His godly wisdom. He that beli'teth thall not make haste: God's way and lime are over the t>c«t; aod he who, even in flod's way, runs before he is sent, runs at ranrlom; runs without light, and without Ditine strength. Keplilp, therefore, nm^t be his own might, his own counsel, and his own wisdom: though he encompass himself with hif own sparks, yet this hath he at the Lord's hand; he shall lie down in sorrow.
David comes to Ahimclcch at Noh, receives provisions from him, and the sxcord of Goliath; and is noticed by Doeg, one of the servants of Saul, 1 — 9. lie leaves Nob, and i^oes to Aehish, hinc: of Galh, 10. But on being recognized as the vanquisher of Goliath, bj/ the servants of Aehish, he feigns himself deranged, and Aehish sends him awaty, 11 — 15.
oiymp.286^ ing' of Davldj and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
2 And David said unto Ahimelech, the priest. The kinj;^ hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any tldiioof the business wheieabout I send thee, antJ
THEN came David to Nob to 11 wliat I have commanded thee: and I ' Ahimelech the priest: and ' have appointed hit/ servants (o such Ahimelech was *" afraid at the meet- and such a |)lare.
3 Now therefore what is under thine hand ^ give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is "^present.
4 And the priest answered David, and said, Thirc?,s' no common bread under mine hand, but there is ' hallowed bread; ' if the young
of the diflVrence between Saul and Da\id; and as he knew him to be the king's son-in-law, he wondered to see him come without any attendants.
NOTES 0\ CHAP. XXL Verse 1. Then came David to Nob.'] There were two places of this name; one on this side, the second on the other side, of Jordan: but it is generally supposed that Xob, \'- Verse 2. The kin; halh commamlcd me a business] All near Gibeah of Uenjamin, is the place here intended; it was i' said here is an untruth, and could not be dictated by the about twelve miles from Jerusalem. I' Spirit of the I^rd: but there is no reason to beliere that
IVhij art thou alone] Ahimelech probably knew nothing ' David was under the inllueDce of Divine inspiration at this
and said unto him, OF a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since 1 came out, and the " vessels of tiie young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, *" yea, though it were sanctified this day " ill the vessel.
6 So the priest '^gave him hallowed bread: for there %vas no bread there but the shewbread, ''that was taken from before the Lord, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord: and his name was 'Doeg, an Edomite, the ciiief- «st of the herdmeti that belonged to Saul.
8 ^ And David said unto Ahimelcch, And is there not here under thine hand."spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my
time. It is well known that, from all antiquity, it was held no crime to tell a lie in order to save life. Thus Diphilus:
" I hold it right to tell a lie, in order to procure my personal safety: nothing should be avoided in order to sa?e life."
A HetUhenmaj say or singthus: but no 67(77s/«m can act thus, znd save his soul; though he, by doing so, may save his life.
Verse 6. So the priest gave him hallozcctl hread^ To this history our Lord alludes, Mark ii. 25. in order to shew that, in cases of absolute necessity^ a breach of the rilutil law Mas no sin. It was lawful for the priests only to eat the shewbread: but David and his companions were starving; no ether bread could be had at the time;;ind, tlierefore. he and his companions ate of it without sin.
Verse 7. Detained before the Lonu~\ Probably, fulfilling some vow to the Lord; and, therefore, for a time was resident at the tabenacle.
And his name was Doeg^ From chap. xxii. 9. we learn that this man betrayed David's secret to Saul, which caused him to destroy the city, and slay eighty-five priests. We learn from its title, that the Hid. Psalm was made on this occasion: but these titles are not to be implicitly (rusted.
Verse 9. The snord of Goliath^ It has already been conjectured, see ch.xvii. that the sword of Goliath was laid up as a trophy in the tabernacle.
9 And the priest said. The sword Anuoantei. of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou "'J'^^se. slewcst in '^the valley of Elali, 'behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said. There is none like tiiat; give it me.
10 H Antl David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to ' Achish the kingof Gath.
11 And ''the servants of Achish said unto him. Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, ' Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
\2 And David '"laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
13 And " he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and
Verse 10. JVetit to Achish the king of Gath.'] This was the worst place to wliich he could have gone: it was the very city of Goliath, whom he had slain, and whose sword he now wore; and he soon found, from the conTersation of the servants of Achish, that his life was in the most imminent danger in this place.
Verse 13. And he changed his behaviour'] Some imagine Davitl was so terrified at the danger to which he was now exposed, that he was thrown into a kind of phrenzy, accompanied with epilq^ticfUs. This opinion is countenanced by the Septuagint, who render the passage thus: ISov iSsrs avSpa, sTf!>.riVrt)v, " Behold, ye see an epileptic man. Why have ye introduced him to thc:" Mij eXarou/xai fffiAijirnuy syuj; " Have I any need of epileptics, that ye have brought him to have his fits before me?" (^iTiiXr^ifnviir'ixi ■rtf.'j; (j.i). [t is worthy of remark, that the spittle falling upon the beard, i. e. slavering or frothing at the mouth, is a genuine concomitant of an epileptic fit.
If this translation be allmved, it will set the conduct of David in a clearer point of view than the present translation does. But others think the whole was a feigned conduct; and that he acted the part of a lunatic or madman, in order to get out of thc hands of Achish and his courtiers. Many vindicate this conduct of David: but if titocking be catching, according to thc i)roverb, he wlio feigns himself to be mad rmy, through the just judgment of God, become so, I dare not be the apologist of insinccriti/, or lying. Those who wish to look farther iiif» (his subject, may consult Di vaiits, ]jo, ye see the man '* is mad: wherefore j this ycV/oit) come into mv Iiouhc?
ChaittUcr^ y\r. Siiiirin; iiiid (JilLh, in (lio lust volume of in mnny iiistniicoii, incriloriau»; iti none criminal. And DissciliUioiit, III till' end of the Uutcli fdilioii of tlic Ciilici i wlint so likely to deceive ns the wry rnvi'r>.e of that chirac- tcr, uliicli tliuy hud so nii>conilruc'(l? iln wai undone as • I0M« vian;):a had:i chaiicu to e«ca|H> ut a madman: he tried, and the ex|)uiiineiil succeeded." 1 toiifeiS I can neither feel
Verso 1,1. ShuU litis fellow come into mi) /lOKiiC.'J I will not take into my service a man who is liable to,so i(ri<>v-
JJaiiil /lees lo the ctac ij' yldiil/ani, liluic lie is joined hi/ fair tiioidrcd men oj" rarioiis descriptions, 1, 2. lie S^ocs afhncards lo Moid); and. by the adiicc of tlic prophet Gad, to the forest of Jfarelh, 3 — 5. Saul suspfcting his servants of in/idi/ilj/, upbraids them, 6 — 8, JDocg informs him of Daiid's coming lo Nob; of his being entertained bij Ahimeleeh; on uhich Saul sfaiys Ahimclcch and all the priests, to the number of eighty-five, and destroi/s the citi/ of Xob, 9 — J 9. Abiathar, the son of Ahimclcch, onlij escapes; he joins xcith David, hy tchom he is assured of protection, 20 — '-'J.
DAVID tlicrcfoic departed tlieiice, and ' escaped '"to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2 ' And every one that was in distress, and
Verse 1. The cave Adullam^ This was in the fiibo of Jud.ih; and, according to Ikusebius and Jerom, ten Illilc^ ea&tvi'ard of what they call Eleulhcropoiis.
Ver.se 2. And every one that was in distress — debt — disfan(eiited'\ It is very |)ossible tliat these several disaflected and exceptionable characters might, at first, have supposed that David, unjustly persecuted, would be g'ud to avail him- Mlfof their assistance, that he might revenge himself upon Saul; and so they, in the mean time, might profit by plunder, &c. But if this were their de>igii, they vcere grtatly disappointed; for David never made any improper use of them. They are never found plundering or murdering: on the conliary, they aluays appear under good discipline^ and are only employed in services of a beneficent nature, nnd in defence of their country. ^Vhatever they were before they came to David, we find that he succeeded in civilizing them, and making profit.ible to the state those wlid were before unprofitable. It is not npce>«ary to strain the words of the original, in order to prove that these were oppressed people, and not exceptionable characters, as some have done.
Verse o. lie said unto the king of Moab"] Divid could not trust his parents within tLe reach of Saul; and he found b'. c.'i^^' Moab: and he said unto the kinj^ An. Exod. isr. of Moab^ Let my father and my Anno ante I. mother, 1 pray thee^ come forth^
4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.
5 1 x\nd the prophet ^ Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.
6 f When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeaii under a '' tree in llamah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him. Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse "give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that '' sheweth me that " my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hatli stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
it very inconvenient to them to be obliged to go through all the fatigues of a military life; and, therefore, begs the king of Moab to give them shelter. The king of Moab, being one of Saul's enemies, would be the more ready to oblige a person from whom he might at least expect friendship, if not considerable services.
Verse 3. Get thee into the land of Judah] God saw that in this place alone he could find safety.
Verse 6. Saul abode in GiOeah~\ Saul and his men were in pursuit of David; and had here, as is the general custom in the I'ast, encamped on a height, for so Ramah should be translated, as in the margin. His spear, the ensign of power, (see on ch. xviii. 1 1.) was at his hand; that is, stuck in the ground where he rested, which was the mark to the soldiers, that there was their general's tent.
And all his servants were standing about him] That is, they were encamped around him; or perhaps here there is a reference to a sort of council of war, called by Saul, for the purpose of delivering the speech recorded in the following verses.
9 f Then answered 'Doeg the ^li.V^ml Edomite which was set over the An. Kxod. ur. servants of Saul, and said, I saw Annoamei. the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to ^'y"'^^ ^ Ahimelech the son of *■ Ahitub.
10 ' And he enquired of the Lonn for him, and ■"gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Pliilistine.
11 H Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that icei'e in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12 And Saul said. Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, ' Here 1 am, my lord.
\3 And Saul said unto him. Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait as at this day?
14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said. And who iS so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all
Verse 8. There is none that sheweth me] He conjectured that Jonathan had made a league with David, to dethrone him; and he accuses them of disloyalty for not making the discovery of this unnatural treason. Now, it was impossible for any of them to shew what did not exist; no such league having ever been made between David and Jonathan.
Verse 9. Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul] In ch. xxi. 7. he is said to be the chiefest of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul; and the Septuagint mtXmate that he was over the mules of Saul. Probably he was what we call the king's eqtterry, or groom.
Verse 10. And he enquired of the Lord for him] This circumstance is not related in the history: but it is probably true; as David would most naturally wish to know where to direct his steps in this very important crisis.
Verse 14. And who is no faithful] The word jo«: Neeman, which we here translate faithful, is probably the name of an officer. — See the Note on Numb. xii. 7.
Verse 1 3. Did I then begin to enquire of God] He probably means, that his enquiring now for David was no ncm is And (lie liinj; said (o Doep, Turn thou, and fall upon (he pries(s. And Doeg (he lulonii(e lurneil, and he fell upon (he jjrieHts, and ' slew on lha( day fourseore and five persons (hat did ■wear a linen ephod.
thing, having often done so lipforo; and williout ever lieing iiiformed it was cither wrong in itself, or (li<<|)l«asing (o (lie king. Nor is it liliely tliat Ahimelcrli knew of any disagreement between Saul and David. lie knew him to be the king's son-in-law, and lie treated him as such.
Verse 17. But the.•terx'/ints of (he king xcould iiot^ Thej dared to disobey the commands of (he king, in a case of sucli injustice, inhumanity, and irreligion.
Verse 18. And Docg — -fell upon the priests^ A ruthless Edomite, capable of any species of iniquity.
Fourscore and Jive persons'] The Septungint read rpiaxoriovf xat iriyre aySpa;, three hundred and Jive men; and Josephus has three hundred and cighly-Jive men. Probably the pighty-five were priests; the three hundred, the families of the priests; three hundred and eighty-fiTe being the whole population of Nob.
That did sear a linen ephod."] That is, persons who did actually administer, or had a right to administer, in sacred
21 And Abialliar sliewed David (ii;it Saul had slain (he Jvokd'k priests.
23 Abide thou with mc, fear not: 'for be that seekedi my lite seeketh (by life: but «i(|i me (hou ulidll he in saleguard.
Verse 19. And Nob — smote he vcith the edge oj the tziord'] This is one of the worst acts in the life of Saul: his malice was ini|)lacable; and his wrath was cruel; and (here is no motive of justice or policy l)y which such a barbarous act can be justified.
Verse 20. Abiafhar, esctrpcd'] This man carried with him his sacerdotal garments, as we find from ch. xxiv. C, 9.
Verse '22. / kncK it that dm/'] AVhcn I saw Docg there, r suspected he would make the matter known to Saul.
/ have occasioned the death of all the persons] I have been the innocent cause of their destruction.
Verse 23. Jle that seeketh my life seeketh thy life] The enmity of Saul is directed against thee, as well as against me; and thou canst have no safety but in being closely attached to me: and I will defend thee, even at the ri.'k of my own life. This he was bound in duly and conscience to do.
David succours Kdlah. besieged hj the Philistines; difcals them; and delivers the citj/, 1 — 6. Saul hearing that David Ziiis at Kci/a/i, determines to come and si izc him, 7, b. David enquires of the Lord concerning the fidelitt/ of the men of Keilah towards him; is informed that if he staj/s in the citi/, the men of Keilah xciil betray him to Saul, 9—12. David and his men escape from the city, and come to the vrildtmcss of Ziph, 12— J3. Jonathan meets him in the uood of Ziph; stin.gthins his hand in God; and they rcticxr their covcncnt, 16 — 18.
The Ziphites endeavour to hclray David to Saul, but he and his men escape to Maon, 19 — 24. Saul comes to Maon; ami having surrounded the mounlain on mhich David and his men za'ere, they must inevilahlt/ have fallen into his hands, had not a messenger come to call Saul to the succour of Judah, then invaded h\j the Philistines, 25 — 27. Saul leaves the jjursuit of David, and goes to succour the land,- andDavid escapes to En-gedi, 28, 29.
THEN they told David, saying-. Behold, the Philistines light
AunoVntei. against ''Keilah, and they rob the oiymp^ threshing-floors. 2 Therefore David "
enquired of the Lord, saying. Shall I go and smite tiiese Philistines? And the Lord said ur.to David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.
.3 And David's men said unto him. Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines }
4 Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for 1 will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
5 So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
Verse 1. The Philistines Jiglii against Keilak~\ Keilah was a fortified town in the tribe of Judah, near to Eleutheropolis, on the road to Hebron.
Rob tfie threshing-Jloors.^ Tliis was an ancient custom of the Philistines, Midianites, and others.— See Judges, t. 4. When the corn was ripe and fit to be threshed, and they had collected it at the threshing-floors, which were always in the open field; then tlieir enemies came upon them, and spoiled them of the fruits of their harvest.
Verse 2. Therefore David enquired of the Loithl In what way David made this inquiry we are not told: but it was probably by means of Abiathar; and, therefore, I think, with Houbiganf, that the sixth verse should be read immediately after the first. The adventure mentioned here was truly noble. Had not David loved his country, and been above all motives of private and personal revenge, he would have rejoiced in this invasion of Judca, as producing a strong diversion in his favour, and embroiling his inveterate enemy. lu most cafes, a man, with D.ivid's wrongs, would liave joined with the enemies of his country, and avenged himself on the author of his adversities; but he thinks of nothing but succoiiiiiig Keilah, and using his power and influence in behalf of his brethren! This is a rare instance of disinterested hcroiim.
6 And it came to pass, when Abi- ^s.v'mi.' athar the son of Ahimeiech 'fled to Au. E»od. ir. David to Keilah, that he came down Annoan'tei. with an ephod in iris hand. oi,,„p.^s6.
7 ^ And it was told Saul that Da- b.'c.'"i%x vid was come to Keilah. And.Saul Aa. Exod. isr, said, God hath delivered him into Anno ante t. mine hand; for be is shut in, by "I^^P:^- entering into a town that hath gates and bars.
8 And Saul called all t!ic people togetlier to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.
9 % And David knew that Saul secreily practised mischief against him; and '' he said to Abiathar the priest. Bring hither the ephod.
10 Then said David, O Lord God of Israel thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seekelh to come to Keilah, " to destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into
The Lord said — Go and smitc^ He might now go with confidence, being assured of success. N\ hen God promises success, who need be afraid of the face of any enemy?
Verse i. David e7ii[uircd of the Lnr.n ijet agniii] This was to satisfy his men; who made the strong objections mentioned in tlio preceding verse.
Verse 5. Brought azsajj their cattle] The forage and spoil which the Philistines had taken; driving the country before them round about Keilah.
Verse 6. Cams dozen with a.a ephod] I think this verse should come immediately after verse the first. — See the Note
Verse 8. Saul called all Ike people togetlier] That is, all the people of that region or district; (hat (hey might scour the country, and hunt out David from all his haunts.
Verse 9. Bring hither the ephud. | It seems as if David himself, clotliod with (he ppl!od. had consulted the Lord: and the 10th, 1!(h, and I'ith vcist-s contain (he « ords of the consultation, and the Lord's answer. But see on ver. 2.
Verses 11, 12. — Jn these verses we find (he following questions and answers: David said, IVill Said come dozen to, Kciluh? — And the Lord said, llo zc/ll come duu:ri. IVill (he men of Keilah deliver me riiul mti men into the hard of Saul? —,\nd (lie tord said, The ij la'll deliver ihen up. In this short history vre fiad an ample proof that there is ruch a
\.i Tiion said D.ivid, Uil •deliver me iiiul my hicm Saul?;\nd (he f,()iti) said thee up.
\.i f Then David and his men, ^ which irrre nl)OUt six hundred, arose and departed out of Keiiaii, and went whillicrsoever they could jj;o. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilali; and he Oiiijare to <^o forth.
14 And David aijode in (lie wilderness In strong holds, and remained in ' a mountain in the wilderness of '' Zipli..\nd Saul "soiii;iit Iiim every day, but Cod delivered liini nut into his hand.
1.^) And David saw that Saul was come out lo seek his life: and David 2tY/.s in the wiiderness of Ziph in a wood.
If) And Jonathan Raul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
17 And he said unto him. Fear not: for the liand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king- over Israel, and I shall be
filing as contingency in human afT.iirs: that Is, God has poispd many things l)ctweeii a possibility of being and not being; Irnving it to the will of the creature to turn tiie scale. In. the above answers of the Lord, the following conditions were evidently implied: Tf thou continue in Keilah, Saul will certainly come down: and, if Saul come doicti. the men of Keilah icill deliver thcc into his hands. Now, though! the text positively asserts that Saul would come to Keilah,;
liver D.ivid into his hand, yet David was not thus dclivrred to him. And why? Because David loft Keilah; — but had he itaid, Saul would have come down, and the men of ICcilah would hnvo betrayed David. We may observe, from this, that, however positive a declaration of (lod may.nppear, that refers to any thing in which man is to be pm[)loycd; the prediction is not intended to suspend, or dcslro>/,freeagcncj/, but always comprehends in it some particular condition.
Verse 14. Wilderness of Ziph'l Zipli was a city in the touthern part of Judea, not far from CarmeK
IH Andllieytwo '^madeai. i^.int Anii«iiai<- 1, before the l.oui): and D.ivid abode '''y"!'- «*• in the wood, and Jonathan wi tit (o his house.
W) \ Then '(ami- up (If /-iphiteH (o Saul (o (liix'Hh, sayiii!:^, Doth not David hide hlinseir with us in slron;^-h(.lds in the woo'l, in (he hill <A' Ilaeliilah, which in 'on the south of ' Jeshirnon? ' '' ' yt) Now therefore, () kini^, rome down nrrordin^ to all (he desire of thy soul to come dovn; and 'our part ahaii be to deliver him into the kind's hand.
'22 Cto, I pray von, prejjare yet, and know and see his place ^vllc^e his ' haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dcaleth very subtilh.
2.j.See tiieierore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with (he certainty, and 1 will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he he in the land, that I will search him out (hroughoiU all the thousands of Judah.
24 And (hey arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilder-
Verse 1 6. ytnd Jonathan — strengthened his hand in God."] It is probable that there was always a secret intercourse between David and Jonathan; and that, by this most trustT friend, he was apprised of the various desigirs of Saul to take away his life. As Jonathan well knew that God had appointed David to 'he kingdom, he came now to encourage him to trust in fl:e Most High; and to asi^ure hira that the hand of Saul should not prevail against him: and at this interview they renewed their covenant of friendship..\ow, all this Jonathan could do, ron'-i'lcntly with his duly to his father and his l^ing. He knew that David had delivered the kingdom: ho saw that his father was ruling anconstitutioo. ally; and he knew that God had appointed David to succeed Saul. This he knew would come about in the order of Providence; and neither he nor David took one step to hapten the time. Jonathan, by his several interferences, prevented his father from embruing his hands in innocent blood: a inor» filial, and a more loyal part, he could not have acted; aad, therefore, in bis attachment to David, be is wholly free of blame.
oiymp^ seek him. Anrl they told David: wherefore he came down '' into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: "and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men '' com-
Verse 25. The zeilderness of Maon] Maon was a mountainous district, in the most southern parts of Judah. Calmet supposes it to be the city of Meno'is, which Eusebius places in the vicinity of Gaza; and the Mcenaimi Ca.^- trum, which the Theodosian code places near to Beersheba.
Verse 26. Saul ttent on this side of the mountain'] Evidently not knowing that David and his men were on the other side.
Verse 27. There came a messenger] See the providence of God exerted for the salvation of David's life! David and his men are almost surrounded by Saul and his army, and on the point of being taken, when a messenger arrives, and informs Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land! But behold the workings of Providence! God had already prepared the invasion of the land by the Philistines, and kept Saul ignorant how much David was in his power: but as his advanced guards and scouts must have discovered him in a ▼ery short time, the messenger arrives just in the nick of time to prevent it! Here, David was delivered by God; and, iu such a manner too, as rendered the Divine interposition visible.
Verse 23. Thej/ called that place Sela-hammahlekolh.] That is, the rock of divisions; because, says the Targum, the heart of the king jsas divided to go hither and thither. Here Saul was obliged to separate himself from David, in order to go and oppose the invading Philistines.
Verse 29. Strong-holds at En-gedi.] En-gedi was situated near to the western coast of the Dead Sea, not far from Jeshimon: it literally signifies the kid's ice II; and was celebrated for its vineyards, Cant. i. 11. It was also celebrated for its balm. It is reported to be a mountainous territory, filled with caverns; and, consequently, proper for David in his present circumstances.
How threshing-floors were made among the ancients, wr learn from Cato, De Re Rustica, chap. xci. and cxxix. — And, as [ believe it would be an excellent method to make passed David and his men round 'b. c." iw>*i!' about to take them. ^n. Exod. ur.
come; for the Philistines have ^ invaded the land.-
28 Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place ° Sela-hammahlekoth.
29 H And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong-holds at ■■ En-gedi.
Aream sic facito. Locum ubi Jacies confodilo; postea amitrca conspergito bene, siniloque combibut. Postea comminuito glebas bene. Deinde cowquato, el paviculis verberalo. Postea denuo amurca conspergito, sinitoque arescaf. Si ita feceris neque formiccs nocebunt, neque herbw nascen^ tiir: et cum pluerit, lutum nan erit. " Make a threshingfloor thus: dig the place thoroughly; afterwards sprinkle it well with the lees of oil, and give it time to soak in. Then beat the clods very fine; make it level, and beat it w^ll down with a paviour's rammer. When this h done, sprinkle it afresh with the oil lees, and let it dry. This being done, the mice cannot burrow in it, no grass can grow through it, nor will the rain dissolve the surface to raise mud."
The directions of Columella are nearly the same; but, as there are some differences of importance, I will subjoia his account.
Area quoque si terrena erit, ut sit ad trituram satis habilis, primum radatur, deinde conjodiatur, permix/is paleis cum amurca, quce salem non accepit, extergatur: nam ea res a populatione murium formicarumque frumenla defendil. Turn ccquata paviculis, vel molari lapiile condenselur, et rursus subjectis paleis inculcetur, atque ita solibus siccanda relinquutur. — De Re Ruslicd, lib. ii. c. 20. " If you would iiave a threshing-floor made on the open ground; that it may be proper for the purpose, first pare off the surface, then let it be well digged, and mixed with lees of oil, unsalted, with which chaff has been mingled, for this prevents the mice and ants from burrowing and injuring the corn. Then level It with a paviour's rammer, or press it down with a millstone. Afterwards, scatter chaff over it, tread it down, and leave it to be dried by the sun."
This may be profitably used within doors, as well as in (he field: and a durable and solid floor is a matter of very great consequence to the husbandman, as it prerents the flour from being injured by sand or dust.
Saul is iiiJhnUrd that David is at En-grili,• and goes to seek him with tlircc tlioimand />»r«, I, y. //< ^ors into a cave to repose, where David and his men lay hid; who, obicning this, exhort David to take auai/ hit life: David refuses, and eonlenls himself with privili/ euttins; off SuuFs shirt. 3 — 7. ll'hr,n Saul depart' d, not hnouinf^ what was done, David ealted after him; shewed him that his life hud hern in his power; erpustulutts itrunglj with him; andappeals to God, the Jud'^e of his innocence, 8 — \5. Saul confeitei Davi'Pt uprightneis; acknowledges his ohligation to him for sparing his life; and eauses him to swear that, when he should come to the kingdom, he would not destroy his seed, 17 — ii I. Saul returns home,- and David nnd his men stay in the hold, ii2.
2 Then Haul took tlirec thousand chosen men out of ull Israel, and ' went to seek David uiul
Verse 1. Saul zcns returned'] [t is very probable tbnt it was only a small maniutlliit; party that luul made an excursion in the Israeliti^h borders; and this invasion was soon suppressed.
Vorse 2. Rocks of the icild goats.l The original ms S'^irn tsureij ha-i/Him, is variously understood. The Vt'LcATK makes a purnphrase; Super abruplissiinas pelras qua; suits ihkilius pcrviw sunt: "On the most precipitous rocks over whicli the ibexes aloue can travel." The T.\ ri; l m, /Ae caverns of the rocks; the SErTUAoiNT make the original a proper name; for, out of D'ViTi mv tsureij ha-i/elim, they make SaWaisa, Saddaiem; and in some copies Anxu-si-^, Aeiamtin; which are evidently corruptions of the Hibrcw.
Ver.-e 3. The sheep-cotes] Caves in the rocks: in which it is common, even to the present time, for shepherds and their flocks to lodge. According; to Strubo, there are caverns in Syria, one of which is capable of contuiniiig^u>' thousand men: ilv kv xai Tsr^ axi(rj^iA.iot!f avdpurKovs ie^nirSxi Suvajisv-jv, lib. xvi. p. 1096. — Edit. 1707.
Saul icent in to cover his feet] Perhaps this plirase signifies exactly what the i'uh^ate has rendered it, at purs;aret lenlrein. The Septuii^int, the Targnm, and the Arabic, understand it in the same way. It is likely, that when he had performed this act of neccssilj/, that he lay down to repose himself; and it was while he was asleep that David cut oft" the skirt of his robe. It is strange that Saul was not nware that there might be men lying in wait in such a place: and the rabbins have inveoted a most curious conceit to account for Saul's security: — " God, foreseeing that Saul would
3 And he came to the Hhecp-cotes by the way, wliere was a cave; and "■Saul went in to 'cover his feet: and 'David and his men remained in llie sides of the cave.
come to this cave, caused a spider to aeare her tceb over the mouth of it; which, when Saul perceived, he took for granted that no person had lately been there; and, consequently, he entered it without su>picion." This may b« lilcrallj/ true: and ne know that even a spider, in the hand of God, may be the instrument of a great salvation. This is a Jewish tradition; and one of the most elegant and instructive in their whole collection.
David and his men remained in the sides of the core.] This is no hyperbole: we have not only the authority of Strabo, as above-mentioned, but we have the authority of the most accurate travellers, to attest the fact of the va^t capacity of caves in the Ka~t.
Dr. Pocock observes, " Beyond (he valley (of Tekoa,) there is a very large grotto, which the Arabs call El Maamah, a hiding place: the high rocks on each side of the valley are almost perpendicular; and the way to the grotto is by a terrace formed in the rock, which is very narrow. — There are two entrances into it; we went by the farthest. which leads by a narrow passage into a very large grotto, the rock being supported by great natural pillars: the top of it rises in several parts like domes; the grotto is perfectly dry. There is a tradition, that the people of the country, to the number of thirtif thousand, retired into this grotto, to avoid a bad air. This place is so strong, that one would imagine it to be one of the >trong-holds of En-fcdi, to which David and his men fled from Saul: and possibly it may be that very rave in which he rut oflr Saul's skirt; for IXavid and his men might, with great ease, lie hid there, and not be seen by him." — Pocock's Travels, Vol. II. part i. p. 41. 7 L
B.C.106L' 4 ^ And the men of David said un- An- Exod. isr. to him. Behold the day of which the Anno ante J. LoRD Said unto thee, Bchold, 1 will oiymp. 2 3. deliver thine enemy into thine haod, that thou ma^est do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cutotftlie skirt of " Saul's robe privily.
5 And it came to pass afterward, that " David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6 And he said unto his men, *" The Lord forbid that 1 should do this thin«>* unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the
7 So David '' stayed ^ his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and \vent on his way.
8 \ David also rose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind
him, David stooped with his face to b c.'iodlf the earth, and bowed himself. An. nxod. isr.
10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how (hat the Lord had delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.
11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that 1 cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not; know thou and see that there is '' neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou ' huntest my soul to take it.
13 ""The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
Verse 4. And the men of David said] We know not to what promise of God the men of David refer: they, perhaps, meant no more than to say, " Behold, the Lord hath delivered thine enemy into thy hand; now do to him as he wishes to do to thee."
Then David arose'\ Though I have a high opinion of the character of David, yet the circumstances of the case seem to indicate that he arose to take away the life of Saul; and that it was in reference to this that his heart smote him. It appears that he rose up immediately, at the desire of his men, to slay his inveterate enemy, and one whom he knew the Lord had rejected: but, when about to do it, he was prevented by the remonstrance of God in his conscience; and instead of cutting oft" his head, as he might have done, an act which the laws and usages of war would have justified, he contented himself with cutting oft" the skirt of his robe; and he did this only to shew Saul how much he had been in his power.
Verse 6. The Lord's anointed'] Howsoever unworthily Saul was now acting, he had been appointed to his high office by God Himself; and he could only be removed by the authority which placed him on the throne. Even David, who knew he was appointed to reign in his stead, and whose life Saul had often sought to destroy, did not conceive that he had any right to take away his life: and he grounds the reasons of his forbearance on this. He is ini^ master; I am his subject. He is the Lord's anointed; and therefore sacred, as to h\% person, in the Lord's sight. It is an awful thing to kill a king; even the most untoward, when he has once been constitutionally appointed to the throne. No experiment of this kind has ever succeeded; the Lord abhors king-killing. Had David taken away the life of Saul at this time, he would, in the sight of God, have been a murderer.
Verse 7. Suffered them not to rise against Saull As he could restrain them, it was his duty to do so: had he connived at their killing him, David would have been the murderer. In praying for the king, we call God the onli/ Ruler of princes; for this simple reason, that their authority is the highest among men, and next to that of God Himself: hence, He alone is above them. We find this sentiment well expressed by an elegant poet: —
Regum timendorum in proprios greges, Reges in ipsos imperium est Jovis.
Kings are supreme over their own subjects; Jove alone is supreme over kings.
Verse 1 3. Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked"] This proverb may be thus understood: he that does a wicked act gives proof thereby that he is a wicked man. From him who is wicked, wickedness will proceed: he who is wicked, will add one act of iniquity to another. Had I conspired to de-
If) ^ And it came to pass, when David Iiad made nn cntl dI' spoakini;' IIipho words unto Saul, that Saul said, " Is this thy voice, my son David? And Said lifted up liis voice, and wept.
17 '"And he said to David, Thou art ' more righteous than I: for ■■ tiiou hast rewarded me good, whereas 1 have rewarded tiice evil.
throne you, I would have taken your life wlion it was in my power; and lluis added icickediicss to zcickettncss.
Verse 1-4. ylf/cr a dead dog"] A term used among the Hebrews to signify the most sovereign contempt. — See 'i Sam. xvi. 9. One utterly iiira[ial)lo of makini; the least resistance agiiinst Saul, and the troops of Israel. The same idea is expressed in the term Jlea. The Targum properly expresses both thus: one zeho is Kealc, one zcho is contempliblf.
Verse 16. il/y sun David] David had called Saul his master, lord, and king. Saul accosts him here as his «on, to shew that he felt perfectly reconciled to him, and wished to receive him, as formerly, into his family.
Verse 19. If a man Jind his enemy, zcill he let him go sell azcnt/] Or, rather, IVill he send him in a good zzui/? But llouhigant translates the whole clause thus: Si quis 1 inimicuni siiiim reperiins, dimillit exiin in viain bonam, red- | ditur ei a domino sua merces — "^ If a man finding his enemy, send him by a good way, the Lord aill give him his regard.'" The words which are here put in italic, arc not in the Hebrew text; but they are found, at least in the sense,
I!) l-'or, if a man find his enemy, will he let him {JO well away i" wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that liH)u hast done unto me this yO.\nd now, behold. " I know well that thou '•halt surely be kiny;, and thai the ki.igdom of Israel sliall be e>.tablished in thine hand.
21 " Swear now therefore unto me by the Lono, I* that thou wilt not cut oil' my seed after me; and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.
22.And David swan- unlo Saul..\nd Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto '' the hold.
ill the Scpliuigir.t, Syriac, and Arabic; and seem necessary to complete the sense: therefore, adds Saul, the Lord tzUl rcicard thee good for zehai thou hast done unto me.
Verse 20. / knezc tcell that thou shall surely be king"] Hebrew, Reigning, thou shall reign. He knew this before; and yet he continued to pursue him with the most deadly hatred.
Verse 21. Sisear noa] Saul knew that an oath would bind David, though it was insuflicient to bind him»elf: see chap. xix. 6. He had sworn to his son Jonathan that Dat id should not be slain; and yet sought by all means in his power to destroy him!
Verse '22. Saul zcent home] Confounded at a sense of his own baseness; and overwhelmed with a sense of David's generosity.
David and his men gat them up unto the hold.] fVent up to Mizpeh, according to the Syriac and yfrabic. David could not trust Saul with his life: the utmost he could ex[)Oct from him was, that he should cease from |>ersecuting him; but even this was too much to expect from a man of such a character as Saul. He was bo longer under the Divine guidance; an evil spirit had full dominion over his soul. What God fills not, the devil will occupy.
The death of Samuel, 1. The hhtori/ ofNahal, and his churlishness towards David and his men, 2 — 12. David, determining to punish him, is appeased hij Abigail, Nabal's wife, 13 — 35. Abigail returns, and tells Nabal of the danger that he had escaped; who, on hearing it, is thunder-struck, and dies in ten daj/s, 36 — o8. David, hearing of this, sends and takes Abigail to wife, 39 — 42. He marries also Ahinoam of Jezreel, Saul having given Michal, David's wife, to Pluilti, the son of Laish, 43, 44.
sraelites were g'athered togetlier, and ^ lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down ' to the wilderness of Pa ran.
2 H And there teas a man '' in Maon, whose * possessions icere in "^Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she loas a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man teas churlish
and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
4 H And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did * shear his sheep.
5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men. Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and ''greet him in my name:
6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, ' Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds wiiich were with us.
Verse 1. And Samuel died'] Samuel lived, as is supposed, about ninetij- eight years; was in the goTernment of Israel before Saul from sixteen to twenty years; and ceased to live, according to the Jews, about four mon//!.y before the death of Saul; but, according to Calmet and others, two years. But all this is very uncertain: how long he died before Saul cannot be ascertained. For some account of his character, see the end of the chapter.
Buried him in his lioiise] Probably, this means not his dwelling-house, but the liouse or tomb he had made for his sepulture: and thus the Syriac and Arabic seem to have understood it.
David — went down to the wilderness of Paran.^ This was either on the confines of Judea, or in Arabia Petraea, between the mountains of Judah and Mount Sinai: it is evident, from the history, that it was not far from Carmel, on the south confines of Judah.
Verse 3. The name of the man was Nabal] The word h21 nabal, signifies (o he foolish, base, or villainous; and hence the Latin word nebula, knave, is supposed to be derived.
Tlie name of his wife Abigail] The joy or exultation of my father. A woman of sense and beauty, married to the hog mentioned above; probably because he was ricli. Many women have been thus sacrificed.
Of the house of Caleb.] 'ab^ Kini ve 1m Calebi, " he was a Calebite." But as the word calcb signifies a dog, the Sepiuagint have understood it as implying a man of a canine disposition, and translated it thus: xai 6 avSpunro; y.vvty.is, he was a doggish man. It is understood in the same way by the Syriac and Arabic.
Verse 6. Peace be both to thee] This is the ancient form of sending greetings to a friend: Peace to thee. Peace to thy BousEUOLB, and Peace to all that thou hast. That is, may both iiiyself, (hy family, and all that pertain unto thee, be in continual prosperity!
Perhaps David, by this salutation, wished Nabal to understand that he had acted so towards him and his property, that nothing had been destroyed, and that all had been protected: see ver. 15, 16, 17.
Verse 7. TJiy shepherds which were with us, we hurt tliem 7iot] It is most evident that David had a claim upon Nabal, for very essential services performed to his herdsmen at Carmel. He not only did them no hurt, and took none of their Jlucks for the supply of his necessities, but he protected them from the rapacity of others: (hey were a wall unto us, said Nabal's servants, both by niglit
J> And wlicii David'.s youn*;' men came, llicy spiiki- to Nahal accordinp;- to all lliose words in tlic nanii' ot David, and '' ceased.
10 1i And Nabal answered David'.s sorvanls, and said, 'Wiio is David? and who is (lie son ol" Jesse? lliere be many servants now a days thai break away every man from his master.
11 'Shall 1 llun lake my bnad, and my water, and my "^ llcsh that I havekdled lor my shearers, and give it unto men, whom 1 know not whence they hey
12 So David's yoiinpf men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his svvord. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and lliere went up alter David about
and day. In those times, and to the present day, wandering hordes of Arabs, undor their several chiefs, thinii they have n right to exact conlrihutions of provisions, &c. whcreever they come: David had done nothing of this kind, but protected them against those wlio would.
Verse 8. IVhaisuever comelli to thine haml'\ As thou art making a great feast for thy servaiit>, and 1 and my men, as having essentially served thee, would naturally come in for a share, were we present;.send a portion by my ten young men, for me and my men, that we also may rejoice ■with you. Certainly this was a very reasonable, and a veiy modest request.
Verse 10. JFho is i)«r/V/] Nahal's answer shews the surliness of his disposition. It was unjust to refuse so reasonable a request; and the manner of the refusal was highly insulting. It is true what his own servants said of him, Jle is such a son of Uelial that one cannot speak to him, ver. 17.
Verse 18. Took ti:o hundred loaves'] The eastern bread is ordinarily both thin and sntail; and answers to our cakes.
\\ ^ Mill one of the yoiin;;- riirii An,., amr i. told Abigail, NabaJH wiCe, sa\ing, •">"'i'- «♦• Heboid, David hphI mcKHengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he ' niiled on them.
\h Hut the men wtre very gontl unto uh. and '■ we were not ' hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with ihem, when we were in the fitids:
H) They were "a wall unto uh b<)lh by night and day, all the while we were with (hem keeping the sheep.
17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for "evil is determined against our ma.ster, and against all bis household: for he is sitcli a son of " Helial. that a)nan ( uniiol >.|ic;tk to him.
18 f Then Abigail made lianiL', ami • lonk two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred '' clusters of raisins, and two hunclitd takes of figs, and laid thon on a.sses.
I!) And she said unto her servants, 'Go on before me; behold, I come after you. Hut
Tico bottles of ■sine'] That is, two goats-skins fall. The hide is pulled off the animal without ripping up; the places where the legs, &c. were, are sewed up, and then the skia appears one large bag. This is properly the scripture and eastern bottle.
Cukes of figs] Figs cured, and then pressed together. We receive the former in jars, and the latter in small barrels; and both articles answer the description here given.
Xow all this provision was a matter of little worth; and, hud it been granted in the first instance, it would have perfectly satisfied David, and secure<l the good offices of him and his men. Abigail shewed both her wisdom and prudence in making this provision. Out of three Ihotuand sluep N.ibal could not have misse<l Jive: and, as this claim was msde only in the time of sheep-sbearing, it could not have been made more than once in the >ear: and it certainly was a small price for such imporlaat services.
Vc.'im' s^e told not her husband Nabal. | All. Exod. isr. 20 And it was ^o, an she roJe Anno ante T. On tlie ass, tliat slio Came down by i oiyn^p^^ llie covert of the hill, and, beh.-U,, David and his men came down against her; andj she met them.
21 Now David liad said, ''Surely in vain have' I kept ail that this/e//oio hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath '" requited me evil forj good.
22 ' So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I ** leave of all that pertain to hint by the morning light 'any that pisseth against the wall.
23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, '^and lighted olT the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
24 And fell at his feet, and said. Upon me, my lord, upon me /et ////.s- iniquity 6e; and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in tlime ^ audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
2> Lf'f not my lord. 1 pray thee, '" regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; 'Nabal is his name, and folly?s with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26 Now therefore, my lord, ^ as the Iokd liveth, and a^ tliy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath ' withholden thee from coming to sited blood, and from '"avenging" thyself with thine own hand, now "hn thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
28 1 pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for ' the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord ' fighteth the battles of the Loud, and "^ evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
29 A''et a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine Enemies, them shall he ^ sling out, ^ as out of the middle of a sling.
'^0 And it shall tome to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good tliat he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
.SI That this shall be " no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causele«s. or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmai<i.
H2 H And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to uiet- 1 me:
o3 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast ""kept me this day from coming to sh( d blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel
Verse 10. Site came dozeti — and Daviil — came dozninl David was coming down Mount Pharan; Abigail was coming down from Carmel. — Calmet.
Verse 22. So anit mmc also do God'] Nothing can justify this part of David's conduct. VVhatPver his provocation misht have been, he liad -uttered, properly spi aking, no Wiongs; and hi« resolution to cut ofT a whole innocent family, because.Nabal had actrd ungenerously towards him, was abomintble and cruel; not to say diabolic. He who attempts to vindicate this conduct of Djvid, is, at lent constructively, a foe »o God and truth. David tiim-elf condemns this most rash and unwarrantable conduct, and thanks God for having prevented him from doing this evil, ver. 32, &c.
Verse 28. And evil hath not been found in thee] Thou hast not committed any act of this kind hitherto.
Verse 2P. Shall be bound in the bundle of life] Thy life "hall be precious in the signt of ihc Lord: it shall be found in the bundle of life; it shall be -upported by Ilim who is the Spring and Fountain of life y and ever bo
.S5 So David rerpived of iicr hand thai ^liich she iiad hroii^lit iiiiii, and said unto her, 'do li|) in |)ea«e to ihine house; see, I huve liearkciied to thy voice, and have '' accepted thy pppKon.
'Aii 11 And Ahij^iiil came to t'Jabal; and, bcliold, " he held a feast in his house, hiie the feast of a kiny; and Nal)iil"s lieart wan niei ry within liini, for he tcv/s very drunken: wlierefore she told him nothin;^, less or more, until the mornin<;- li<;ht.
kH But it came to pass in the moininp:, when tlic wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife Jiad told him these things, that his heart died within him, anil he became rts- a stone.
SH And it came to pass about ten dflys after, that the IjORd smote Nabal, that he died.
39 T And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, ' Blessed be the Lord, that hath
Them shall he sling om/] Fur from being bound and kept together in union with (he Fountain of life, He will cast them oB' from Himself as a stone is cast out from a sling. This betokens both force and violence.
Verse 37. /7<.v heart died icilhin him, and he became as a stone'l He was thunder-struck, and was so terrified at the apprehension of what he had e^caprH, that the fear overcame his mind: he became insensible to all things around him; probably refused all kinds of nourishment; and died in ten days.
Verse 39. To take her to him to jsife.'] It is likely <hat he had heard before this that Saul, to cut off all his pretensions to the throne, had married Michal to I'haiti; and this justified David in taking Abigail, or any other woman: and, according to the then custom, it was not unlawful for David to take several wives. By his marriage with Abigail, it is probable he became possessed of all Xabal's property in Carmel and Maon.
Verse -13. David also took Ahinoam'\ Many think that this was his wife before he took Abigail: she is always mentioned first in the list of his wives; aud she was the mother ef bis eldest son Amnon,
/ plciidrd (he cause of my reproach VI'; i^V' iVoin the hand of Nabal, and hath Ad. r....i. It
, ness of Nal)al np"n ids own Iiead..\nd David sent and conimuiied «ilh.\i)iL;ail, to take her (o
■10.And whfr. the sei Viinls oi David were come to Al)i;;ail to ('armel, tliey •pake unto her, hayin^-, David sent us uiitu llicc, to take thee to him to wife.
41.\nd she arose, and jjowed herself on //cr face to the eailh, and said, Belicdd, lit 'thine handmaid he a servant to wash (be feet of the servants of my lord. I 42 And Abjn^ail hasted, and arose, and rode! upon an ass, witii five damscis of her's that went 'alter her; and she went after the messen^jers of David, and became his wife.
43 David also took.Miinoam " of Jezreel; " and they were also both of them his wives.
44 1 But Saul had given ".Michal bis dauj^liter, David's wife, to ■■ Phalli the fcon of Lai»h, which teas of ■" Gallim.
Of JezreeT] There were two places of this name; one in the tribe of Issachar, the other in the tribe ef Judah.
Of Gallim.'] Probably, a city or town in the tribe of lienjamin: see Isaiah %. 30. It is likely, therefore, that Saul chose this maa because he was of his own tribe.
In this chapter we have the account of (he death of Samuel; who, from his infancj', had been devoted to (lod, and the service of His people. He was born at a time in which religion was at a very low ebb in Israel, as there were but very few prophets, and no open vision; scarcely any revelation from Ciod. Those who might be called;w-p/)/uYj, bad no regular ministr)' of God's word: (hey were cKraordinarj' messengers, sent for a pardcular purpose, and not continued in the work any longer than (he thne necessary to deliver their extraordinary message,
Samuel is supposed to have been the first who established academies, or schools, for prophets; at least we do not hear of (hem before his (ime: and it is granted that they continned till tl.e Habjloni-h captivity. This was a wise institution; and no doubt contributed much to the maintenance of pure religion, and the prevention of idolatry, among that
Samuel reformed many abuses in the Jewish state; and raised it to a pitch of political consequence to which it had been long a stranger. He was very zealous for the honour of God; and supported the rights of pure religion, of the king, and of the people, against all encroachments. He was chief magislrale in Israel before the appointment of a king; and afterwards he acted as prime minister to 'fia.uX; though without being chosen, or formally appointed, to that station. Indeed, he seems, on the whole, to hare been the civil and ecclesiastical governor; Saul being little more than general of the Israelitish forces.
In his office of minister in the state, he gave the brightest example of zeal, diligence, inMexible integrity, and uncorruptedness. He reproved both the people and the king for their transgressions, with a boldness which nothing but his sense of the Divine authority could inspire; and yet he tempered it with a sweetness which shewed the interest he felt in their welfare, and the deep and distressing concern he felt for their backslidings and infidelities.
He was incorrupt; he received no man's bribe; he had no/jcns/on from the state; he enriched uoue o( his lelatives from the public purse; left uo private debts to be discharged by his country. He was among the Hebrews what Aristides is said to have been among the Greeks: so poor at his death, though a minister of state, that he did not leave property enough to bury him: justice was by him duly and impartially administered; and oppression and wrong had no ex- I istence.
If there ever was a heaven-born minister, it was Samuel; in whose public and private conduct there was no blemish; and whose parallel cannot be found in the ancient or modern: history of any country in the universe. |
Let ministers of state, who have sought for nothing but their j own glory, and have increased the public burthens by their i improvi4ent expenditure; who have endeavoured, by their wordy representations, to dazzle and delude the people, and impose false grandeur in the place of true greatness and solid prosperity; who have oppressed the many., and enriched the worthless fea; fall down at the feet of tuis heavenborn man, and learn from this immaculate judge of Israel what a faithful servant to his king, and an incorruptible minister of state, means: and, in retiring from their high station, or in going to appear before the judgment-seat of God, see whether, in the presence of their king, and in the face of the thousands of their people, they can boldly say, " Behold, here am I! witness against me before the Lord, and before His anointed. Whose os have I taken? whose ass have I seized, and whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed (by the imposition of heavy taxes for the support of needless expences, and the payment of venal men?) Or of whose hand have I taken any bribe to blind my eyes? Scrutinize my conduct, examine the state of my family, compare their present circumstances with what they were previously to my administration; and see if you can find aught in my hands:" see chap. xii. 1, &c.
Oh, how seldom in the annals of the world, from the assembled heads of the great body politic, can the departing prime minister hear, " Thou hast not defrauded us; thou hast not oppressed us; neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand." This voice can be heard from Gilgal: but of what other minister can this be spoken but of Samuel the seer, who was the gift of God's mercy to the people of Israel; whose memory was too precious to be entrusted to public monuments, but stands, and alas, almost unique, in the Book. OF God! Of Daniel, and his administration, I shall have occasion to speak elsewhere.
A prime minister, deeply devoted to God, and faithful to his king and to his country, is so rare a character in the world, that when he docs occur, he should be held up to public admiration. — See the Notes ou ch. xii. and on ch. xxiv. 6.
The Ziphites i?iform Saul of David'' s hiding-place, 1. Saul, with three thouf^and tnen, goes in pursuit of him, 2, 3. David sends out spies; and finds where Saul had pitched his camp y and he and Abishai come to the camp by night, find all asleep, and bring away SauVs spear, and the cruse of water that was at his head, 4 — 12. David goes to the opposite hill; awakes Abner, captain of SauVs host; chides him for being so careless of his maS' ter^s life; and calls on Saul to send one of his servants fiiv the spear; and severely chides him for his continued hostility to him, 13 — 24. Saul humbles himself to David; promises to persecute him no more; and returns to his own placcy 25.
Nl) tlif /ipliilrscamo iiiitoSanl to (liheali. Hiiyinf;', ' Dolli iint
'Z Then Saul HidHC, iintl went down to tlic wil- <lcnH'.''-i III' /,i|)li, liaviii;;' (lii'cc tlioiisaiid cIiohcii miMi of Isiiii-i with liiiii, (o seek David in tinwildcriifSH of /ri|>h.
.'? And ShuI |)il<'lied in the liill of llacliilali, whicli in hel'orf Jcsliiinon, by tl"' way. IJnt David abode in the wilderness, and he saw thai SanI rame ald-r him into (he wildirness.
4 David thcieloie sent onl sjjics, and understood thai Saul whs come in very deed.
5 H And David arose, and came to the place ^vllerc Saul had pilelied; and David hclield (he place where Saul lay, and ''Abncr the son of Ncr, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in (he ■^ trench, and the people pitched round about
6 Then answered David and said to Ahinielech tlie llittite, and to Abishai '' the son of /eruiah, brother to Joab, saying', Who will 'go down widi me to Said (o the camp? And.\bishai said, I will go doxvn \>ith thee.
7 So David and Abisiiai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within
tlic trend); and hi-, i^pcar stnek in the ground al lii^ hi.Uler: but liveicd Ihine enemy iiil<> thine hand ihis day.
now (hereCoie let me smile him, I pray thee, jwith the spear even to the eardi at once, and I