will nol smitr him the s( CfUid lime. 9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not:; /for who can slretch fortli his hand against the ' Loiin's anointed, and be guiltless? I 10 David said lurlhermiue,.-/.s' the [.onn liveth, li" the LoKi) shall smile him; or ' his day shall come to die; or he shall "desceid into battle, and perish. II' The l.oitn forbid that I sluuild stretch
I'nrlii mine hand against the Lokijs anointed:
l>ut, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that jjis at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let!■ us go. I 12 So Da\id tiink tiie spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster: and tluy gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it,, neither awaked: for tln-y a?cre all asleep; becau.se "'a deep sleep from the Loud was fallen
Vcrsie 1. 7Vie Ziphitef cuhi<?] This is the second lime that these enemies of David endeavoured to throw him into the hitndsof Saul. — Seech, nxiii. 19.
Verse 'I. Three thousand chosen men'} Though thev knew that David was but six hundred strong, yet Saul thought it was not safe to pursue such an able f^eneral with a less force than that inenlionod in the text: and, that he might the better depend on them, they were all elect or picked men out of the rest of his army.
Versed. David aruse'] As D.ivid and his men knew the country, they had many advantages of Saul and his men; and no doubt could often watch them without being discovered.
Saul lay in tlie trench'] The word 'rJitsa bammaesol, which we translate in tlie trench; and in the margin, in the midst of his carriages; is rendered by some in a ring of carriages; and by others, in the circle; i. e. which was formed by his troops. Luther himself translates it hi.igfnburg, a fortress formed of icaggons or carriages.
As VJi* I'igol signifies any thing round, it may here refer to a round pavilion^ or tent, made for Saul; or else to the /orm of his camp. The Arabs, to the present day, always form a circle in their encampments, and put their principal oflicers in the centre.
Verse 6. Abishai the son of Zeruiah] She was David's sister; and, therefore, Abishai and Joab were nephews to David.
Verse 8. God halh delivered thine enemi/ into thine hand] Here Abishai uses the same language a-> did Daiid's me*, when S.TuI came into the cave at Kn-gedi; (see ch. niv. 4, ice.) and Dnvid u-e^ tho '•anie language in reply.
Verse 10. The Lonu shall smite him] He shall die by a stroke of the Divine judgment: — or, his day shaU tome to die; he shall die a natural Heath: which, in the course of tbin^, must be before mine; and thus I shall get rid of miar enemy: — or, he shall descend into the battle and jhi ish; he kball fall by the enemies of hi-; country. The^e are the three or» dinary ways by which man accompli^hes, as a hireling, bis day. Murder David could not consider to be lawful: this would)\s\\e been taking the laailcr out of God's hand; and this David would not do.
Verse I 'i. David took the spear and the cruse] The spear, we have already s*h.u, w«fc the eubltm vi puver and regal 7.M
B.C.' 1060.' 13 H Then David went over to An. Kxod. isr. t^g Other Side, and stood on the top Anno aiitf I. of a hill afar off; a great space beitio' between them:
14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying-, Answerest thou not, Abner? Tlien Abner answered and said. Who art thou that criest to the king? \
15 And David said to Abner, Art not thou' a valiant man? and vvho is like to tliee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to de- '• stroy the king- thy lord.
16 This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the Lord Hveth, ye are ''worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, ami the cruse of water that was at his bolster.
17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, *" 7s this thy voice, my son David. And David said. It is my voice, my lord, O king.
18 And he said ' Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?
dignily. But it is usual, in Arab camps, for every man to nave his lance stuck in the grounil beside him, that he may be ready for action in a moment. The eruse of water resembled, in some measure, the canteens of our soldiers. In such a climate, where water was always scarce, it was necessary for each man to carry a little with him, to refresh him on his march.
A deep sleep from the LordI It is the same word which is used. Gen. ii. "21., to describe the sleep which God caused to fall upon Adam, when he formed Eve out of his side.
Verse 15. Art not thou a valiant man^ This is a strong irony: i/e are zeorthij to die; ije arc suns of death; ye deserve death for this neglect of your king. And had not Saul been so deeply affected with David's generosity, in preserving his life, he had doubtless put Abner and his chief officers to death; though they were not to blame, as their apparent neglect was the effect of a supernatural sleep.
Verse 19. Let him accept an offering^ If God have stirred thee op against me, why, then, let llim deliver my life into thy hand, r.iid accept it as a sacrifice. But as the word is nmta mim-.huh, a gr.'.titude-offtring, perhaps the sense may be this: Let God accept a gratitude-cffering from thee, for having pureed the land of a vrorker of iniquity; for, were I not such, God would never stir thee up against me.
my lord the king hear the words An. I'.xod. hr. of his servant. If the Loud have Anno ante i. "stirred thee up against me, let "'y-Pi^- him 'accept an offering: but if they be the children of flien, cursed be they before the Lord; 'for they have driven me out tliis day from '^abiding in the *■ inheritance of the Lord, saying, Go, serve other gods.
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord: for the king of Israel is come out to seek ' a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
21 H Then said Saul, "^ I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was ' precious in thine eyes this day: behold, 1 have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
22 And David answered and said. Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch. it.
23 '" The Lord render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee into mif band to day, but I would
But if they be the children of men'] If men have, by false representations, lies, and slanders, stirred thee up against an innocent man, then let them be cursed before the Lord. If I am guilty, I deserve to die; if not, those who seek my life should be destroyed.
Sajjing, Go^ serve other gods] His being obliged to leave the tabernacle, and the place where the true worship of God was performed, and take refuge among idolaters, said, iu eflect, Go, and serve other gods.
Verse 20. As xehen one du/h hunt a partridge] It is worthy of remark, that the Arabs, observing that partridges, being put up several times, soon become so weary as not to be able to fly; they in this manner hunt them upon the mountains, till at last they can knock them down with their clubs.
It was in this manner that Saul hunted David, coming hastily upon him, and putting him up from time to time, in hopes that he should at length, by frequent repetitions of it, be able to destroy him. — Sec JIurmer.
Verse 21. I have sinned] Perhaps the word 'n(<-jn chatati, " I have sinned," should be read, / have erred, or, have been mistaken. I have taken thee to be a very different man from what I find thee to be. Taken literally, it was strictly true. He often purposed the spilling of David's blood; and thus, again and again, sinned against his life.
inucli si't l)y lliis (lay in mine eyes, so let my life l)C mucli set by in ilia eyes of llic, LoRD^ and let him deliver lae out of all tribulation.
\'cr!tc.'l5. Thou shall both do g'/raMliing'!, and alio shall still jircvaii] 'llic Hebrew is 'rain Sd' ~ji nc'iv. nuy r:j gam I'lsch taaseh, ve gum ijacol titciil. '' Also in doing lliou sliiiU do; iinil bring able tliou slialt bt> nblr." Which (lie 'I'argum trnns'liilps, also in rrignin^ thou shall rrign,■ and in j}ro.t])ciing Ihoti shall prosper; which, in all probability, is the mrflning.
Thero is n vast deal of dignity in (his s|)oech of David, nrising from a consciousness of his own iniinceiice. He neither begs his life from Saul, nor olVers one argument to prevail upon him to desist from his felonious attempts; but refers the whole matter to God, as the Judge and \'indi-
25 Then ShuI hu'u\ to I)iivi<l, Ulcf-Hcd he thou, my w»n David: ilmu niialt Au. K...d. i^ boll) do trreat tliiiwn, and aKo Khali Annonjier i slill •■ prevail So D.ivid wiiit on lii.s way, and Saul returned to his plate
ciitor of opprc^ed innoreiire. Siul himwlf i» ii(>oc-<hlcu, except in the simple arkiiowleilgmrnt of his tin; nnd, in the behalf of their king, not one of hi« oflircrs hare one word to say! It is strange thai none of Ihem offered now to injure the person of David! 'Hut Ihey saw (hat lie was most evidently under the guardian care of Ciod, and that their master waf apparently nbandoned by Him. Saul invites David to return; but David kncvr the uncertainty of Saul'i character too well, to trust himself in the power of this infatuated king. How foolish are the counsels of men against God! \Vhen He undertakes to save, who can destroy.' And wlio can deliver out of His linnds?
David flics to Achish, ling of Galli, who receives him hiiidli/, and gives him Zihlag to diccU in, ichcre he continues a 1/rar and four months, 1 — 7. David invades the Gcshurites and Anialrkiles, and leaves neither man nor xcoman alive, 8, 9. JIc returns to Acliisli, and pretends that he had been mahing inroads on the Israelites, and Achish believes it, 10 — 12.
NO David said in his heart, I shall now '^perish one day by the hand of SanI: there is nothing; better for nio than that 1 should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any
Verse 1. / shall noic perish one dai/ by the hand ofSauf] This was a very hasty conclusion: God had.so oflrii interposed in behalf of his life, th.it he was authorized to believe the reverse. C!od had liltlierto confounded ail Saul's stratagems; nnd it was not at alt likely that he would now abandon him: there wns now no additionnl reason why He should witluliaw from IJavid His helping hand.
2 And David arose, ""and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him 'unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
There is not one circumstance in this frans-iclion that is not blameable. David joins the enemies of his God, and of his country; acts a most inhuman part against the fJeshariles I and.\malekites, without even the pretence of a Divine authority; tells a most deliberate falsehood to Achish, his protector, relative to the people against whom he had perpetrated this cruel act; giving him to understand that he I had been destroying the Israelites, his enemies. I under- ► take no defence of this conduct of David: it is ail bad •
4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
5 1[ And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal c ity with thee?
6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: Avherefore ^ Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judali unto this day.
7 And " the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was * a full year and four months.
8 ^ And David and his men went up, and invaded * the Geshurites, 'and the ^ Gezerites, and the '' Anialekiles: for those nations were of
old the inhabitants of the land, 'as B.c'.ml' thou goest to Shur, even unto the An. Exod. i;r.
9 And David smote the land, and oiymi,.-28o^ left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.
10 And Achish said, ''Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said. Against the south of Judah, and ag-ainst the south of 'the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of "the Kenites.
1 1 And David.saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying. So did David, and so wilt be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
12 And Achish believed David, saying. He hath made his people Israel " utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
all defenceless; God vindicates him not. The inspired penman tells what he did, but parses no eutogium upon his conduct: and if is false to say that, because these things are recorded, therefore, they are approved. In all these transactions U^ivid was, in no sense, a man after God's own heart. Chandler attempts to vindicate all this conduct: those who can receive his saying, let them receive it.
Ver-e 3. Every man uith his household^ So it appears that the men who consorted with David had wives and families. David and his company resembled a tribe of the wandering Arabs.
Verse."i. ^f'liy should thy servant dicell in the royal ci/y'] lie seemed to intimate that tzco princely establishments, in the same city, were too great. Achish appears to have felt the propriety of his proposal; and, therefore, appoints him Ziklag.
Verse 6. Achish gave him Ziklag'] Ziklag was at first given to the tribe of Judah; but afterwards it was ceded to that of Simeon, Josh. xv. 31. & six. 5. The Philistines had, however, made themselves masters of it, and held it till the time here mentioned: it then fell into the tribe of.Tudah again; and continued to be the property of the kings of
Judah. This verse is a proof that this Book was written long after the days of Samuel: and that it was formed by a later hand, out of materials which had been collected by a contemporary author. — See the Preface.
Verse 9. David smote the land'] Here was a complete extirpation of all these people; not one being left alive, lest he should carry tidings of the disasters of his country.! The spoil which David took consisted in sheep, oxen, asses, camels, and apparel.
Verse 10. Whither have ye made a road to-diiy?] He had probably been in the habit of making predatory excursions. This seems to be implied in the question of Achish.
Verse \1. lie hath made his people — utterly to abhor him] This deception which. Dr. Delaney says, ^^ did harm to nobody, and to the account of tchich he is at an utter loss zvhut degree of guilt to charge," imposed upon Achish, had themost direct tendency to make him imagine himself secure, while in the utmost danger: and to have a faithful friend and able ally in David; while he was the veriest enemy hecould possibly have. Shame on him. who becomes the apologist of such conduct.
T/ir Pliillfliiirs prrpnrr to nllnrk thr hrarlitrs, ami Arhisli informs David that fir shall ntrnmpani/ him to Latllf, 1, y. Saul, iiiinhlr to obtain nni/ anfO)/ r from Ciod, applirs to a u:il(h at I'.n-dtir to bring up Sarnud, that he mai/ covxersr tcith him ot> thr issue of the war, 3 — II. Saniurt appears, 12 — 14. J/r rrproachet Saul tlHH hit misconduct, and inforvis him of his approaching ruin, 15 — 10. Jlr i^ grcallij distressed; hut, at the iolicitO' lions of the woman, and his own servants, he takes some food, and departs the same night, 20 — 25.
AND " it came to pas? in those II tliat liad familiar spirits, and tlic days, lliut tlio Pliilisliiu'H pa- jl wizards, oiil nl' ilic land.
tiuTcd their armies topellier for j 4 T And iIh' IMiilislines feathered warfare, to fi<:lit with Israel. And lliemselves t<ii;<ther, and cam*- and Acliish said nnto David, Know thou assuredly, pitched in ''Shnnein: and Saul patliered all that Ihou shall f;o out with me to battle, thou Israel lo;;elher, and they pitched in 'Gilboa. And thy men..5 And when Saul saw the host of the Plii-
2 And David said to Aciiish, Surely thou lislines, he was 'afraid, and his heart grt-ally shall know what thy servant can do. And i trembled.
Atliish said to David, Then lore will I make {l 6 And wlien Saul eM(|nired of the I.«OBD, Mhc thee keeper of mine head for ever. || Loud answered iiiin nut, nnllicr by 'dreams, lanientetl him, and buried him in flamah, even 7 % 'Plu-n said Saul nnto his servants, Seek me in his own city. And Saul had put away 'those a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may
Vprse 1. 77ic Philislincs gathered their iinnies together^ Sir Isaac Newton coiijfctures, that the Philistines had got a great increase to their armies by vast numbers of men, which Amasis had driven out of K^y|>t. This, with Samuel's death, aud David's disgrace, were no inconsiderable motives to a new war, from which the Philistines had now every thing to hope.
77iou shall go out with me to battle'] This he said, being deceived by what David had told him.
Verse 2. Siireli/ thou shalt knozB ichal thy servant can do] This was another ecinivocal answer; aiul could only be understood by hif succeeding conduct. It might imply what he coi//(/ do in favour of the Philistines ag:iin<t Israel; or in favour of Isrcwl, against the Philistines. Achish understood it in the former sense; and, therefore, he said to David, / lEj// make thee keeper of my head for ever: i. e. Thou shalt be captain of my life guards.
Verse 3. Samuel zcas dead] And there was no longer a public accredited prophet to consult.
Those that had pimiliar spirits, and tlu: sizards] See the Note on Lev. xx. 31. and Kxod. xxii. 18.
Verso 5. Jl'hen Saul sa:c] He saw. from the superiority of his enemies, from the state of his own army, and especially from his own state towards God, that he had every thing to fear.
Verse 6. The Lord anszcered him not] He used the three methods by which supernatural intelligence was ordiua* rily given: —
1. Dreams- — The person prayed for instruction; and begged that God would answer by a signi6cant dream.
2. Urim. — This was a kind of oracular answer, given to the high. priest, when clothed with the ephod; on which were the Urim and Thtimmim. How these communicated the answer is not well known.
3. Prophets. — Who were requested by the party concerned to consult the Lord on the subject in que^tinn; and to report His answer. The prophets, at that time, could only be those in the schools of the prophets, whom Samuel had established at Naiolh and Gibcah. The-*" wf ri» rho only successors of Samuel, that we know.
Verse 7. Seek me a zcomitn that hath a fimiliar rpirit] Literally, Seek me a woman.:^!t.-~r3 boululli ob, the mistress of the Ob, or Pythonic tpiril; one who had a familiar spirit, whom she cou'.d invoke when she pleased, and receive answers from him relative to futurity.
Strange that a man, who h.id hani-hed all «urh from the land, as dangerous to the itace, as impostors and deceivers,
■'B.c.iim' go to her, and enquire of her. And An. Exod. isr. his sefvants said to him, Behold, Anno ante I. there Is a woman that hath a fami- "'^"P' '^"- liar spirit at En-dor.
8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other | raiment, and he went, and two men with him,; and they came to the woman by night: and ' he; said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name
9 And the woman said unto him. Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he '' hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the I wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? j
10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, | As the L09D livetli, there shall no punishment! happen to thee for this thing. {
1 1 Then said the woman. Whom shall I brins:
12 And when the woman saw Sa- Anno ante i. muel, she cried with a loud voice: "'^^P' "^^ and the woman spake to Saul, saying. Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her. Be not afraid: for v'hat sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, 1 saw ''gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, '' What form is he of? And she said. An old man cometh up; and he is covered with ^a mantle. And Saul perceived that it xoas "^ Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
15 TI And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, ^ I am sore distressed; for the Phi-
should DOW have recourse to them, as the only persons in whom he could safely put his confidence, in the time in which I Jehovah had refused to help him!
At En-dor'\ This was a city in the valley of Jezreel, at the foot of Mount Gilboa, where the army of Saul had now encamped.
Verse 8. Saul disguised himself '\ That he might not be known by the woman, lest she, being terrified, should refuse to use her art.
Verse 11. Whom shall I bring ii}}] The woman cer- i tainly meant no more than making her familiar personify whomsoever the querist should wish. In the evocation of spirits, this is all that, according to the professed rules of their art, such persons pretend to: for over human souls in Paradise, cr in the infernal regions, they have no power. If we allow that there is such an art, founded on true principles, all it can pretend to is, to bring up the familiar; cause him, when necessary, to assume the form and character of some particular person; and to give such notices, relative to futurity, as he is able to collect. And this, even in the cases to ^ which authenticity is generally allowed, is often scanty,! vague, and uncertain; for fallen spirits do not abound in knozeledge: this is an attribute of Goa; and rays of this per- [ fection are imparted to pure atul holy intelligences; and e^eu Satan himself, as may be seen from most of his temptations, is far from excelling in knowledge. He may be cunning and insidious, but he certainly is not zcise a.n(\ prudent: we, in general, give this fallen s|)irit credit for much more wisdom than he possesses.
Verse 12. fVhen the xcoman sazc Samuel] That Samuel did appear on this occasion, is most evident from the text; uor can this be denied from any legitimate mode of interpretation: and it is as evident, that he was neither raised by the power of the devil, nor the incantations of the witch, for the appearances which took place at this time were such as she was wholly unacquainted with. Her familiar d\d not appear; and, from the confused description she gives, it is fully evident that she was both surprised and alarmed at what she saw; being so widely different from what she expected to see.
Verse 13. / saw gods ascending out of the earth."] Tiie word "TiSk elohim, which we translate gods, is the word which is used for the Supreme Being throughout the Bible: but all the Versions, the Chaldce excepted, translate it in the plural number, as we do. The Chaldee has, / see "T J^ixba malacca diyai, an angel of the Lord. — Ascending from the earth: This sight alarmed the woman; it was what she did not expect; in this she could not recognize her familiar, and she was terrified at the appearance.
Verse 14. An old man cometh up; and he is covered zsith a mantle] This seems to have been a icco/u/ apparition; she cannot mean that she had seen gods ascending out of the earth, and these gods were like an old man zcith a mantle. The angelic appearance first mentioned prepared the way for Samuel; and the whole was done so as to shevv to the woman that her art had not prevailed in the present instance; and that what was now taking place was wholly independent of her incantations.
Saul perceived that it was Samuel] The description was suitable to his person and clothing.
Verse 15. Why hast thou disquieted mc] The complaint is not diiectcd against the isoman, but against Saul. In-
17 And (lie Loud hiitli done ' to hitn, ' as he spake by ''me: for the Ijohd hath rent the kinj;-doni out of tliinc band, and p^ivcii it to tli\ ncigidjonr, even to David:
18 '■ Because thou obeycdst not the voice of the IjOud, nor cxecutedst iiis fierce wrath npon Amalek, tiierefore hath tlie IjOito done this thingunto thee this day.
15) INIoreover the IjOi;d will also deliver Israel 'with thee into the hand of the l^liilistincs: and deed, her incantations had no influence in the business; and it does not appear that siie had commenced her operations before the angels had prepared the way of the prophet; and hefore tiie/wf)y>/if< himself liad made his ap[)Paranee.
Thai lliiiu mnijest mule knoisn unto me ichal I shall do.'] In his former dillirulties, and when pressed by his enemies, he was in the habit of consulting Samuel; and now he applies to him as his former preceptor. God, he knew, might answer by such a man as Samuel, when he would answer by tio other means.
Verse 16. Wherefore then dost thou ask of me'] Was ever I wont io give answers that were not dictated by the JLord? It is His counsel alone that I communicate.
Verse 17. The Lord hath done to hini] I believe these Trords are spoken of Saul; and as they are spoken lo hioi, it seems evident that him should be thcc. The Vulgate has tibi., the Septua-jint (roi, to thek: and this is the reading of five o( Kennkoti's and l)e Rossi's MSS. as well as of both the Bibles printed at Venice, in 1518, where we read •^'r leca, to THEE, instead of 1*? lo, to uim.
Verse 18. Nor excaitedtl his fierce wrath upon Amalek] See ch. xv. and the Notes there.
Verse 19. To-morrotc shalt thou and thy sons be tcilh me] AVhat an awful message! in the course of the enduing day thou shall he slain; thy three sons sliall be slain; and the armies of Israel shall be delivered into the hands of the rhili»tines! Can any person read this, properly consideriiii: tlic situation of this unfortunate monxich, the triumph of to-morrow shali thou and thy sons \..r.^.' he with me: the Lokd aUo bliall Ai. lu.i.iir. deliver the host of Israel into (.he Aniui«mri. hand ui the I'liilislines. oiymp.Wo.
yO I'heii San! ' fell ("traif^htway all nlonj^ on The earth, an 1 was sore afraid, because of the wordu of.Sainnel: and there was no Htrenf^th in liini; for he had ealcn no bread ull the day, iiur all the ni;^ht.
'ii •.. And the woman tame unto Saul, and saw that he was 8ore troubled, and tiaid unto liim, liebold, lliine handmaid lialli oljeyed lh\ voice, and I have 'put \\\j life in my band, and have hearkened unto thy words wiiich thou spakest unto me.
22 Now therefore, F pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and lei me.set a morsel of bread before thee; and cat, (hat I lion mayest have strength when thou gocst on thy way.
the enemies of God, and the speedy rain in which the godlike Jonathan is about to be involved, without feeling the keenest anguish of heart?
But Samuel says " he and his sons should be xeith him." Does not this mean that they were to go to Parailise.^ I suppose it means uo more than that they should all die. Yet the paraphrase of the llev. C. Wesley is beautiful: —
" What do these solemn words portend? -V ray of hope when life shall end. Thou and thy sons, though slain, shall be To-morrow in repoie with me. Not in a state of hellish pain, If Saul with Samuel do remain: Not in a state of damned despair. If loving Jonathan be there."
Saul had committed the sin unto death; the sin to be visited with a violent death, while the mercy of God was extended to the soul. Thus say my failh, my hope, and my rharitt/: — and doth not the mercy of God say the same:
Verse '20. Then Saul fell straighlsaj/ all along on the earth] Literally, he fell ir///i his o::n length, or tzith the fulness of his stature. He was so overwhelmed with this most dreadful message, that he swooned away, and thus fell at his ztholc length upon the ground. The woman, being terrified, had probably withdrawn lo some distance at the firft appearance of the prophet; and Saul was left artone with Samuel. After some short time, the socman came again unto Saul, found him sore troubled, and otTered bim those snecours which humanity dictated.
*B c.wal' 23 But he refused, and said, I will AnExod.inr. not eat. But his servants, too-ether Annoailtei. vvith the womati, compelled him; -^'"*'" and he hearkened unto their voice.
So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
24 And the woman had a "fat calf in the house;
Verse 23. / zsill not eat] It is no wonder that not only his strength, but also his appetite, had departed from him.
And sat upon the beil] Beds, or couches, were the common places on which the ancients sat to take their repasts.
Verse 24. The woman had a fat calf] The ancients used great dispatch in their cookery. In hot countries they could not keep llesh meat by them any length of time: hence they generally kept young animals, such as calves, lambs, and kids, ready for slaughter; and when there was occasion, one of them was killed, and dressed immediately.
Unleavened bread] There was not time to bake leavened bread: that would have taken considerable time, in order that the leaven might leaven the whole lump.
Verse 25. Thei/ rose up, and went away that night.'] The transactions of this chapter occupy one night only. 1. Saul came by night to En-dor, ver. 8. 2. He consulted tlie woman, and had his conference with Samuel the same night; for no time whatever appears to have been lost after his arrival at En-dor. 3. He was overcome by the heavy tidings which he heard; and which, for a time, appear to have deprived him of all power. 4. The woman kills a calf; dresses a part; makes and bakes bread; and Saul and his servants eat. And, 5. They rose and went away that night, ver. 25. The next day, in all probability, the battle happened, in which Israel was defeated, and Saul and his sons lost their lives.
There is a considerable diversity of opinion, both among learned and pious men, relative to the subject mentioned in this chapter, that of raising of Samuel from the dead. Some deny the possibility of the thing, and say that it was the llevil that personified Samuel: and others, that the whole ■was the imposition of this cunning woman; and that there was uo supernatural agency in the business. This is not a
and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake ''unleavened bread thereof: 25 And she brought it before Saul, and V)efore his servants; and they did eat Then they rose up, and went away that night.
proper place to argue the point. I have given my opinion in the Notes. I may sum up in a. few particulars.
1. I believe there is a supernatural and spiritual world, in which BV MAN spirits, both good and bad, live in a state of consciousness.
2. I believe there is an invisible vcorld, in which various orders of spirits, not human, live and act.
3. I believe that any of these spirits may, according to the order of God, in the laws of their place of residence, have intercourse with this world, and become visible to mortals.
4. 1 believe there is a possibility, by arts not strictly good> to evoke and have intercourse with spirits, not uvmas j and to employ, in a certain limited ■wtiy, their power and influence.
5. I believe that the woman of En-dor had no power over Samuel; nor that any incantation can avail over any departed saint of God; nor indeed over any human spirit.
6. I believe Samuel did actually appear to Saul; and that he was sent, by the especial mercy of God, to warn this infatuated king of his approaching deatli, that he might have an opportunity to make his peace with his Maker.
7. I believe that the woman found, from the appearances, that her real or pretended charms had no effect; and that what now took place, came from a totally dilTerent disposition of things from those with which she was conversant.
8. I believe that direct, circumstantial, and unequivocal oracles were now delivered, concerning things which neither human nor diabolical wisdom could foresee or penetrate; that the defeat of the Israelites, and the death of Saul and his three sons on the following day, were matters which, from their nature, could only be known to God Himself; and that no daimon or bad spirit could be employed in such a trans> action.
The Philislines gather Iheir armies together against Israel, and encamp at /Iphck; uhile the Israelites encamp at Jezreel, 1. T/w lords of the Philistines refuse to let David go to battle uitk them, lest he should betray them, 2 — 5. Achish expresses his confidence in David; but begs him to return, 6 — 10. David and his men return f 11.
2 And lii(* lords of tin- IMiilistiiies pasncd on by litiiidrods, and l)y tlioiisaiids: Ijiil David ftiid liis inon passed on in the rcre-ward ' with AthisI).
'.i Tiicn said tiie princes of the IMiilistincs, What do these llcl)re\vs here? And Achisli said niito the priiues of (he Philistines, la not this David, tlie servant of Saul the kin;^- of Israel, which hath been with me *' these days, or these; years, and I have "" fitiiiul no fault in iiiin sinre he fell imlo me unto this day?
4 And tlie princes of the I'hilistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the I'liilistines said unto him, ' Make this fellow return, tint he may go ag-aiii to his |)lace which thou hast appointed liim, and let iiiin not j^o down with us to battle, lest '^ in the battle lie be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his niasler? should it not be with tlie heads of these men?
Verse 1. To ylphek^ This wa? a place in the Talley of Jezreel, between Mount Tabor and Gilboa.
Pitched by a fotinlain'] To be near a, fountain, or copious spring of aitter, was a point of great importance to an army in countries such as these, where water was so very scarce. It is supposed that it ATas at thh same fuuiUain (hat, William of Tyre s.iyi, Saladin pitched his camp, while Baldwin, kini; of Jerusalem, pitched his by another fountain, between Nalareth and Sephoris; each being anxious to secure that without which it was impossible for their armies to subsist.
Verse 2. Ity humlretls, and by thousands'] They were probably divided, as the Jewish armies, hy Jiftici, hundreds, and thousands; eacli having its proper olTicer or captain.
Verse 3. These d<ii/s, or these yrars^ I sui)pose these words to mark no dcjinile time; and may be understood thus: '^ Is not this David, who has been whb me for a considerable time?"
Verse 1. The princes of the Philistines aerc trro/A] It is strange that they had not yet heard of David's destrutllou of a village of the Geshurites, Clezrites, and Amalekites, chap, xxvii. Had they heard of this, they would have seen Dvuch more cause for suspicion.
Verse 6. Thou hast been upright] So he thought; for, as yet, he had not heard of the above transaction; David
('» 1i Then Ailiish (ulled D.ivid, and said unto him, Surely, as the l.,oiti) lisith, thou bast been u|)ri<;ht, and ' thy K<*ii>g <>ul and thy coming; in with nie in the host I'.s good in my sight: for '' 1 have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto inc unto this day: nevertheless ' the lords favour Ihee not.
7 NVIierefore now return, and go in peace, that thou ■" displease not tlic lords of the I'liilislines.
H \\n\ David saiil iinti).\clii-jh, JJul \\lial have 1 done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been " uilii tliee iinio this day, tiial 1 may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
9.\nd Achisli answered and said to David, I know that tlioii ail good in my sight, "as an angel of God: notwithstanding ■" the princes of the Philistines have said, He '■Iiall not go up n> ith us to the battle.
Verses. David said — zchat have I done?] Dr. Chandler, and others, may say what they will to make David act a consistent part in this business; but it is most evident, whatever his intentions might be as to the part he was to take in the approaching battle, he did intend to persuade /Vchish that he would light against Israel; and affects to feel his reputation injured by not being permitted, on this occasion, to sliew his lidelity to the king of Gatb.
It was ill the order of (iod's gracious Providence that the Philistine lords refused to let David go with them to this battle. Had he gone, he had his choice of two sins — First, If he j had fought/or the Philiitines, he would havp fought against I God, and his country. Secondly, If he had in the battle I gone over to the Israelites, he would have deceived, and become a traitor to the hospitable Achish. God, therefore, so ordered it, in Ilis mercy, that he was not (lernritled lo go to a battle in which he was sure to be disgraced, whatever side he took, or with what success soever he might be crowned.
Verse 9..As an angel of God] There is some reason to think that Achish had actually embraced, or was favourably dispc'-d towards, the Jewi.-h religion. He speaks here of /Ac angels of God, as a Jew might be expected to speak; and, in ver. 6., he appeals to, and swears bv, Jehovah; 7 N
10 Wherefore now rise up early ill the morning- with lliy master's servants that are come with thee: ' and as soon as ye be up early in the
■which, perhaps, no Philistine ever did. It is possible that he might have learned many important truths from David, during the time he sojourned -with him.
Verse 10. With thj/ master's servants'] Who were these? has been very properly asked; and, to this question, there can be but two answers: —
11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. '' And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
who might still be considered the subjects of Saul, though now residing in a foreign land.
2. The servants of Achisu; i. e. David's men thus considered; because, on his coming to Gath, he had, in effect, giveu up himself and his men to Achish. But Saul may be the master to whom Achish refers, and the words convey a delicate information to David that he is no vassal, but still at liberty.
WTiile David is absent with the army of Achish, the Amalekites invade Ziklag, and burn it zeith fire, and carry away captive David's wives, and those of his nien, 1, 2. David and his men return; and, finding the desolate state of their city, are greatly affected, 3 — 5. The men mutiny, and threaten to stone David, leho encourages himself in the Lord, 6. David enquires of the Lord, and is directed to pursue the Amalekites; with Ike promise that he shall recover all, 7, 8. He and his men begin the pursuit; but two hundred, through fatigue, are obliged to stay behind, at the brook Besor, 9, 10. They find a sick Egyptian, who directs them in their pursuit, 11 — 15. David finds the Amalekites secure, feasting on the spoils they had taken; he attacks, and destroys the whole host, except four hundred, who escape on cainels, 16, 17. The Israelites recover their wives, their families, and all their goods, 18 — 20. They come to the two hundred who were so faint as not to be able to pursue the enemy, with whom they divide the spoil; and this becomes a statute in Israel, 21 — 25. David sends part of the spoil which he had taken to different Jewish cities, which had suffered by the incursion of the Amalekites,• and where David and his men had been accustomed to resort, 26 — 31.
2 And had taken the ''
AND it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the " Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
Verse 1. On the third daif\ This was the third day after he had left the Philistine army at Aphek. Culmcl supposes that Aphek was distant from Ziklag more than thirlij leagues.
lives, that were not any, either carried them away their way. 3 H So David and his men came to the city.
traveUing predatory horde; who, availing themselves of the war between the Philistines and Israelites, plundered several uuprotectod towns, and among them Ziklag. It is likely they had not heard of what David did to some of their tribes, else they would have avenged themselves by slaying all they found in Ziklag.
tofrr vvitli liiin lilted up their voiec and wept, iiiilil llu'v liiul iH> more power to \vee|).
I) And Diivid'H "two wives were taken rii])- tives, Aliinoiiin the JezreclitcsSj and Abit^ail the wife of Niil)!il llie C'arnu'lito.
() And David was greatly distressed; '' for the people spake of stoninj;- him, because tiie houI of all tiie |)e<)ple v/as ' grieved, every man for his sons and for his danghtcrs: ''but David oncouran^ed himself in the Lou» his (iod.
7 "' And David said to.M)iatliar the priest, Ahimelech's son, 1 pray thee, brin}^ me hitlier the ei)hod. And Abiathar brought thither the cphod to David.
S ' And David enfpiired at tiie Lonn, saying, Shall 1 pursue after this troop? shall 1 overtake tiieni? And he answered him, I*nrsne: for thou shall surely overtake tho)!, and witliout fail recover all.
9 f So David went, lie and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to llic jjrook and brought him to David, and ga\c him bread, 'and he ilid eat; and Ihcv niiiile him drink ' water; I I'i.\ii<l they gave him a piece of a cake of
figs, and two clusters of raisins: and ' when he 1 had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he
I \:i And J)avid.said nnlo him. To whom be- ' longest thou? and whence art thou-' And he I said, 1 am a young man of Kgypl, servant to an
14 Wc made an invasion upon the south of; ' the Cherethites, and upon l/ic coast which 6c-, lons;eth to Judali. and upon the south of '^ Caleb;
Verse 4. JVepi, until Ihci/ had no more poxcrr to •icccp.'] This niniks great distress; they wept, as says the f'utgtttc, till their tears failed them. j
Verse 6. The people spake of stoning him'] D.ivid had] done much to civilize those men; but \ve find, by this, of ■what an unruly and ferocious spirit they were: and yet they sfronijly felt the tics of natural alVection; they grieved every man for his sons and for his daughters.
David encouraged himself in the Lord] He found he could place very little confidence in his men; and, as he was consciou-s that this evil had not happened either through his neglect or folly, he saw he might the more confulfntly expect succour from his Maker.
Verse 7. Bring me hither the cphod^ It seems as if Da- Tid had put on the cphod, and enquired of the Lord for himself: but it is more likely that he caused Abiathar to do it.
Verse 9. The brook Besor'] This had its source in the mountain of Idumen, and fell into the Mediterranean sea beyond Gaza. Some suppose it to have been the same with the river of the wilderness, or the river of F,gypt. The sense of this, and the following verse, is, that when they came to the brook Besor, there were found ixo hundred out of his six hundred men so spent with fatigue, that they ] could proceed no farther. The!)3ggai:e, or ftuJT, was left there, ver. 21.; and they were appointed to guard it.
Verse 13. My master left mc, because three days agone I fell sick.] This was very inhuman; though they had booty enough, and no doubt a»se5 plenty to carry the invalids, yet they left this poor man to perish: and God Ti> sited it upon them; as he made this very person the means of their destruclicn, by the information which he was enabled to give to Divid and his men.
Verse 14. Upon the south of the Chercthilei] Calmet and others maintain that the <r,~~ cerethi, which, without the points, might be re.id Creti, weri» not only at thi> time Philistines, but that they were.Aborigines of Crete, from which they had their name Cerethites, or Cretans; and are the same of whom Zephaniah speaks, chap. ii. 5. IVoe to the inhabitants of the sea coasts, the nation of the Cherethites. And by E:ekiel, chap. xxv. 10. Behold., I xcill stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and uill cut off the Chcrethim. In '2 Sam. XV. 1,S. we find that the Cherethites formed a part of David's guards.
me, nor deliver me into the hands of ray master,
16 1 And when he had brought him down, beliold, they loere spread abroad upon all the earth, * eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of '' the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
19 And there was nothins: lackinsr to them,! neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any th'mg that they had taken to them: ' David recovered all.
20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, whieh they drave before those other cattle, and said. This is David's spoil.
South of Ciileb~\ Somewhere about Kirjiith-wba, or Ilehroi), and Kirjalh-Sepher; these being in the possession of Caleb and his descendants.
Verse 15. Sicear un/o me] At the conclusion of tiiis ' verse, the Futgalc, Syriac, and Arabic, add, that David iisore to him. Tliis is not expressed in the llebieto, but is necessarily implied.
Verse 16. Out of the land of the Philistines'] That these \ Amalekites were enemies to the Philistines is evident; but it ^ certainly does not follow from this that those whom David destroyed were enemies also. This, I think, has been too \ hastily assumed by Dr. Chandler, and others, in order to vindicate, the better, the character of David.,
Verse 17. There escaped not a man of them] It is well j known to every careful reader of the Bible, that the Amalekites were a proscribed people, even by God Himself; and, that, ill extirpatinj; them, it has been supposed David fulfilled the express will of God. But all this depends on whetlier he had an express commission to do so, received from God Himself,.is Saul had.
Verse '20. And David took all the Jlocks] lie and his men not only recovered all their own property, but they re-
1 21 And David came to the "two "Ji-^^rn^- 1 hun-Jred men, which were so faint An. Kxod. isr. that they could not follow David, Anno.inte i. whom they had made also to abide "'>"'i'- ^«oat the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he "■ saluted them.
22 ^ Then answered all the wicked men and
nun * of Belial, of ^ those that went with David,
and said. Because they went not with us, we
have recovered, save to every man his wife and
his children, that they may lead them away, and
2.J Then said David, Ye shall not do so,
; my brethren, with that which the Lord hath
, given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered
j the company that came against us into our
I 24 For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but ■■ as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff': they shall part alike,
25 And it was so from that day ' forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.
covered all the spoil which these Amalekites had taken from the south of Judah, the Cherethites, and the south of Caleb. When this was separated from the rest, it was given to David, and called David's spoil.
Veise 22. Men of Belial] This is a common expression; to denote the sour, the rugged, the severe, the idle, and (he profane.
Verse 23. That which the Lono hath given us] He very properly attributes this victory to God; the numbers of the Amalekites being so much greater than his own. Indeed, as many fled away on camels as were in the whole host of David.
Verse 25. lie made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel] Nothing could be more just and proper than this law: he who stays at home to defend house and property, has an equal right to the booty taken by those who go out to (he war. There was a practice of this kind among the Israelites long before this time, see Numb. xxxi. 27. and Josh. xxii. 8., and the Note on this latter verse.
Unto this dai/.] This is another indication that this Book was composed long after the facts it commemorates. — See the Hypothesis in the Preface.
':il To l/nin wliicli ic(i( in Htlii <•!, iiiul (o lhi7n which w<ic\n '' houtli Kaiiidlli, aiKJ lo l/ut/i which were in " Jallir, yH AikI (o thrvi uliich irrrr in ' Aroer, am! lo them wliicli lotrr in Si|iiiMi(iUi/anil to ihcni wliich were in " Eshtenioa, among vi liom lie sojourned during liis exile; and h ho had ^ivcn him iihcUer and protection, (iratitude required these |>resenl>..
Verse 27. To them which were in Jhlh-el] This was in the tribe of Kphraim.
South Ramulh] So called to dislingui.sh it from Ramoth Gileaii, beyond Jordan. This Ramoth belonged to the tribe of Simeon, Josh. xix. 8.
In Jattirl Supposed by Culmet to be the same as Ether, Josh. XV. 4-2.; but more probalily Jallir, rer. 48. Jt was situated In the mountains, and belonged (o Jiiciah.
Verse 28. In Aroer^ Situated beyond Jordan, on the banks of the river Arnou, in the tribe of G'atl.
Siphmoth'\ Supposed to be the same with Shrpham, Numb, xxxiv. 10. on the eastern border of the Promised Land.
Esh4emoa] Another city in the tribe of Juduh. — See Josh. XV. 50.
Verse 29. Them ahich were in Radial'] We know not where this place was; it is mentioned no where else in (he Bible. Culmet conjectures that Ilachilah, chap, xxiii. 19. may be the same place: here we know David did conceal himself for some time, till the Ziphites endeavoured to betray him to Saul.
And — the cities of the Kenites] A very small tract on the southern coast of the Dead Sea.
'.i\) And lo Ihim wliicli wire in Ha- '*k. (. lost..' chal, 1111(1 111 Ihtvi wliirli were in An. hiod i.f. tiie cilicH of 'die.Jeialimeelihf, find ^mx•un^f\. lo l/itm which »7iY Ml llie cilies ot the * KcnitCH,
.'iO And lo Iht7ii whirli w(r( in ' lioiir/.iii, and (o ihfin wliidi z.tir in Chor aslian, and lo (htm whieli were in Alliarli,
.'<! y\iid Id Ihnii \\iii< ii trr?/' in ' Hrlnnn. and to ill! the places where David hitnseif and \m men were wont lo liuunl.
which belon^ed lo.iriid. king of Cnuaan;;iiid Meie dnotcd ' todeilrurtion by the Ilebiews: and ihiiite tailed Uoimnlt. — See Numb. xxi. 1 — J.
In Chvr-Oihan'] I'robably the sanie as Aihan in the inbe of Jiiddh: see Josh. xv. 4'i. It «as aftirwardj ceded to Simeon, Josh. xix. 7.
To them xrhich were in Athach~\ Probably the same as Klhcr, Josh. xix. 7.
Verse 31. To them ahich were in Hebron^ This was a place strongly attached to David, and Datid to it; and the place where he was proclaimed king; and uheie he reigned more than seven years, previously to the death of Ishbosheth, Saul's son, who was, for (hat time, hit competitor in the kingdom.
David's having sent presents lo all these places, not only shews his sense of gratitude, but that the booty which he took from the Ainalekites must have been exceedingly great. And we learn from Ihi-. also, (hat David '■ojourntd in many places which are not mentioned in the preceding hi-lory; for these are all said to be places Khcre David and his men zeere tsont to haunt.
We are not to suppose that the transactions mentioned here, and in the preceding chapter, took place after Saul's interview with the woman of En-dor; they were considerably antecedent to this, but how long we do not know. What is recorded in the following chapter must have lakeo place the next day after Saul left Kn-dor.
A battle in Mount Gilboa, belu>een Israel and the Philistines; in ichich the former are deflated, and Saul's three sons slain, J, 2. Saul, being mortalli/ loowided, and if raid to fall alive into the hands of the Philistines, desires his armour-bearer to despatch him; u/iich he refusing, i<aul falls on his sicord, and his armour-bearer dots the same, 3— C The Israelites vn the othtr side of (he xallet/ forsake their cities, and the Philistines come and and the latter are defeated.
dwell in them, 7, The Philistines, finding Saul and his three sons among the slain, strip them of their armour, which they put in the house of Ashtaroth, cut off their heads, send the news to all the houses of their idols, and fasten the bodies of Saul and his three sons to the rsalls of Belh-shan, 8 — 10. Valiant men ofjabesh Gilead go bj/ night, and take aiDay the bodies; burn them at Jabesh; bury their bones under a tree; end fast seven days, 11 — 13.
OW nhe Philistines foug-ht ainst Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down '' slain in mount " Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew ** Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons.
3 And " the battle went sore against Saul, and the ^archers ° hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 '' Then said Saul unto his armour-bearer. Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest ' these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and '' abuse me. But his armour-
Verse 1. Noze the Philistines fought'] This is the continuation of the account given in chap, xxviii.
The men of Israel Jed'] It seems as if they were thrown into confusion at the first onset, and turned their backs upon their enemies.
Verse 2. Follox^ed hard upon Saul and upon his sons] They, seeing the discomfiture of their troops, were determined to sell tlieir lives as dear as possible; and, therefore, maintained the battle till the three brothers were slain.
Verse 3. He teas sore zcounded of the archers.] It is likely that Saul's sons were slain by the archers; and that Saul was now mortally wounded by the same. Houbigant translates, The archers rushed upon him, from whom he received a grievous wound. He farther remarks that, had not Saul been grievously wounded, and beyond hope of recovery, he would not have wished his armour-bearer to despatch him; as he might have continued still to fight, or have made his escape from this most disastrous battle. Some of tlie Versions render it, He feaueo the arcliers greatly; but this is by no means likely.
Verse 4. Draw Ihy szcord, and thrust me through] Dr. Delaney has some good observations on this part of the subject: " Saul and his armour-bearer died by the same sword. That his armour-bearer died by his own sword is out of all doubt, the text expressly tells us so; and that Saul perished by the same sword is wfliciently evident. Draw thy
bearer would not; " for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and '" fell upon it.
that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all his men, that same day too'ether.
7 1 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and thcT/ that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 5 And it came to pass on the morrow.
sword, says he to him, and thrust me through; which, when he refused, Saal, says the text, took the szcord 3-inn nx ath ha chereb, (the very sword,) and fell upon it. What sword? Not his ozcn, for then the text would have said so; but, in the plain natural grammatical construction, the sword before-mentioned must be the sword now referred to, that is, his armour-bearer's, 1 Chron. x. 4, 3. Now, it is the established tradition of all the Jewish nation, that this armour-bearer was Doeg; and I see no reason why it should be discredited; and, if so, then Saul and his executioner both fell by that weapon with which they had before massacred the priests of God. So Brutus and Cassius killed themselves with the same swords with which they stabbed Ccesar; and Culippus was stabbed with the same sword with which he stabbed Dio."
Verse 6. And all his men] Probably meaning those of his troops which were his life or body guards: as to the bulk of the army, it fled at the commencement of the battle, ver. 1.
Verse 7. The men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley] They appear to liave been panic-struck, and therefore fled as far as they could out of the reach of the Philistines. As the Philistines possessed Beth-shan, situated near to Jordan, the people on the other side of that river, fearing for their safety, (led also.
Verse 8. On the morrow] It is very likely that the battle and pursuit continued till the night, so that there was no time till the next day, to strip and plunder the slain.
y And tlicy cut olF liis head, and Htrii)pcd oil' Ms armour, and sent into tlio land of tlie l*liilislines round aUoul, to ° pnhlisli it in the house of tlieir idols, and amon}^- the |)copli'.
10 ''And they put his armour in tin- in)nse of ' Ashtarotli: and '' they fastened his body to the wall of '■ Ik'th-shan.
Verso 'J. Ami tlici/ cut off his head] It is possible lliat tliof cut oir tiie heads of his three sons likewise: for, althoiigli only lifs head is snid to be cut ofl", and his l)udij only to bo fastened to the wiills of Hetli-shan, yet we liiid that the men of Jabi;sh-gilead found both Ids bodi/, and the bodies of his three sons, fastened to the walls, ver. 12.
Perhaps tliey only took ofl" Saul's head, which they sent about to their temples, as a trophy of their victory, when thc^ sent the news of the defeat of the Israelites through all their coasts; and at last placed it in the temple of I)agon, I Chron. x. 10.
Verse 10. Thri/piit his arm our in the house of Ashtarotli] As David had done, in placing the sword of Goliath in the tabernacle. We have already seen, that It was common for the conquerors to consecrate armour and spoils, taken ia war, to those who were the objects of relii»ious worship.
Thci) fastened his bodj to the laall'] Probably by means of iron hooks: but it is said, 2 Sam. xxi. 12, that these bodies tcere fastened in the street of Delh-shan. This may mean, that the place where they were fa-.tene(l to the wall, was the main street or entrance into the city.
Verse 11. iVhen the inhabitants of Jabesh-gileud heard] This act of the men of Jabesh-gilead was an act of gratitude due to Saul, wlio, at the very commencement of his reign, rescued them from Nahash, king of the.Vmmoniles; (see ch. xi. 1, See.) and, by his timely succours, he saved them from the deepest degradation, and the most oppressive tyranny. This heroic act, with the seven day^' fast, shewed that they retained a due sense of their obligation to this unfortunate monarch.
Verse 12. And burnt them there] It has been denied that the Hebrews burnt the bodies of the dead; but that they buried them in the earth, or embalmed them; and often burnt spices around Ihem, kc. These, no doubt, were the common forms of sepulture; but neither of these could be conveniently practised in the present case. They could not have fcM/(a/them about Beth-shan, without being discovered; and as to embalming, that was most likely out of all question j
11 f ' And when the inhabitants «;,*'.iffi,"' of JabeHh-trilead heard 'of ihal Au. iu-kj. i»f. \vhirh the I'liilixlines liad done to Anno amr i. San!;
12 ''.Mi the valiant men arose, and went all nif^hl, and took the body of Saul and the bodiCN of his sons from the wall of Ijeth-slian, and came to Jabesh, and ' burnt llierii llicic.
Hi And they took their bones, and ' buried th( III under a tree at.Jabesh, and ' fuhtcd seven days.
as, doubtless, the bodies w ere now loo putrid to bear it. They, therefore, Imrnl them, because there was no other way of disjiosing of them at that time, so as to do lliem honour; and the i';io;ics and ashes (hey collected, and buried under a tree, or in a grove at Jabesh.