1 Samuel 24
DOYLY— wherefore the Lord reward thee good] Saul’s feeling of David’s generosity must indeed be strong, when he beseeches God to reward it. Indeed, Saul had no equivalent to give David for the kindness shewn him; and therefore he refers him to God for retribution. For if, after this, he could even save David’s life he could only save the life of his best benefactor; whereas David both spared and saved the life of his mortal enemy. Dr. Delaney.
Chap. XXV. ver. 1. And Samuel died.] The Jews are of opinion, that Samuel died only four months before Saul: but, by the generality of Christian chronologers, he is supposed to have died about two years before the death of that prince, and in the ninety-eighth year of his age; twenty years of which had been spent in the government of Israel before Saul’s inauguration, after which he lived eighteen. He was, while he lived, an excellent governor, and, through his whole administration, superior to vanity, corruption, or any private views. Those who attend to his life may observe, that he was modest without meanness, mild without weakness, firm without obstinacy, and severe without harshness: a fine eulogy of him is given by the author of Ecclesiasticus, ch. xlvi. 13, &c. Besides the things recorded of him in this book, there are other matters related of him in the first book of Chronicles; as that he enriched the tabernacle with spoils taken from the enemies of Israel, chap. xxvi. 28; that he assented in reguisting the distribution of the Levites for the service of the temple, chap. ix. 22; and lastly, that he wrote the history of David in conjunction with the Prophets Nathan and Gad. But, as he died before David came to the throne, this can only be meant of the beginning of that history, which might be continued by the others. There is great probability that he composed the first twentyfour chapters of this first book of Samuel, containing historical facts in which he had so large a share. Stackhouse. How singular was the character and piety of Samuel! devoted to God from the womb, and worthy to be so! Early dedicated to the Divinity, and hallowed by His influence! Descended from Prophets, himself a greater! The service of God made the early business of his life; nor was ever interrupted by any thing but the service of his country. Exalted to supreme power, without ambition; exerting it without oppression or avarice, and resigning it without reluctance, when his God commanded! Illustrious in the splendour of a throne, and yet more so in the shade of a cell; so far from envying his successor to the supreme power, that he pitied and prayed for him! It were hard to determine which was happiest, his life or his death. He lived to the noblest purposes, the glory of God, and the good of his country; he died full of years and honours, universally lamented.
1 Samuel 24:6
- — The Lord forbid &c.] Here was a noble instance of David’s moderation and forbearance, as well as greatness and generosity of mind. The feelings which restrained him were worthy of a brave and generous man; a man of honour, religion, and virtue. He durst not stretch forth his hand against his master, and “the Lord’s anointed.” Under this sacred character, he forgot that Saul was his implacable enemy, and instantly sacrificed his resentment to his conscience and duty: and hereby acted with a goodness and elevation of mind, which Saul himself thought no one besides him would have displayed. Dr. Chandler.
Let us learn to frame our lives after the noble example of king David, who, when he had many occasions given to work evil for evil towards king Saul, yea, and many times had opportunity to perform mischief and to slay him; nevertheless, fearing God, would not follow his fleshly affections, and walk inordinately without the will of God’s word, which he confessed always to be his direction. Bp. Latimer.
1 Samuel 24:13
- — Wickedness proceedeth &c.] He means to say, If I were so wicked as I have been thought by thee, I should not have hesitated to kill thee: but I am no such person, and therefore my hand shall not be upon thee. Dr. Wells. Guilt is the consequence and fruit of guilt: if I had been guilty of conspiring against thee, I should have crowned that guilt by killing thee, when thou wert in my power. Dr. Delaney.
1 Samuel 24:14
- — after a dead dog, &c.] One of the meanest and Vot. I.
weakest of his subjects; of no more consideration and strength, in comparison of the king of Israel, than a dead dog or a contemptible flea. Dr. Chandler. David represents himself to be as contemptible as possible, that he might convince Saul it was not for his honour to take so much pains to kill him. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 24:16
- — Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.] Saul himself, with all his rage and malice, could not withstand this instance of generosity in David, but melted and sunk under it; instead of lessening the merit of it with an unrelenting heart, he “lift up his voice and wept,” and with his tears acknowledged David’s innocence, and his own guilt; and even prayed to God to reward that very person, whom, but the moment before, he was pursuing to destruction. Dr. Chandler.
1 Samuel 24:19
- — if a man find his enemy, &c.] Saul was now convinced of David’s integrity, when he did not take advantage of him in the cave, where he might have securely destroyed him. He was never so confounded with the shame of his own jealousy and malice, as by this act of piety and magnanimity in David: though he had long known that David was anointed, and appointed by God to reign as king after him, yet he did not so thoroughly believe it, till this great instance of the temper of his mind, and of his relying on God’s purpose so entirely, that he would not, by an act of his own, endeavour to bring that honour on himself sooner than the Divine wisdom intended it for him. He knew that God would not have given to any man such a dominion over
1 Samuel 24:20
- — I know well that thou shalt surely be king.] How wonderful it is, that Saul should so often have attempted to destroy David, with this knowledge of his high destination. He surely would not have done so, if he had always continued in his reasonable hours. But what will not a man do, when his passions destroy his reason, and when he is stimulated with the evil spirit of ambition, envy, rage, and malice? It was this which made the unhappy king regardless of God and man, and excited him to fight against heaven and earth. Dr. Chandler.
1 Samuel 24:21
- Swear now therefore unto me] David, by sparing his enemy, now found himself possessed of the proudest pleasure which human vanity could wish: to see his prince his petitioner, his enemy his suppliant, conscious and confessing his own guilt and David’s superiority, and begging that mercy to his issue which he himself had just experienced and had not deserved. Who would not, like David, spare an enemy for the sake of so glorious a triumph? Dr. Delaney.
1 Samuel 24:22
- And David sware unto Saul.] David generously took the oath, and honourably and religiously performed it. The whole address of Saul to David on this occasion was the natural effect of the various thoughts and passions which then agitated his breast. The full conviction he had of David’s innocence, the proof now given him of the greatness of his temper, some remains of generosity in his own breast, the consciousness of the falsehood of his own suspicions, and of his own injurious and ungrateful conduct, the recollection of David’s being appointed to succeed him, the vanity of opposing the order of God, the tender concern he had for the fate of his family under David’s reign; all these considerations, and the various passions arising from them, ness, he mindeth to destroy him. 14 Abigail understanding thereof, 18 taketh a present,