1 Samuel 26

—saying, Go, serve other gods.] This was the effect of what his enemies did, although they did not say so in express words: for they banished him into a nation of another religion. Jos. Mede. The adoption of the local gods of any nation, as well as of their rites, was so general, that David makes his being driven unjustly into an idolatrous land, the same thing as being forced to serve idolatrous gods. Bp. Warburton.

1 Samuel 26:6

6.—Achish gave him Ziklag] Ziklag was situate in the extreme parts of Judah to the south. In the division of the land, it was first given to the tribe of Judah, Josh. xv. 31; and afterwards to that of Simeon, Josh. xix. 5; but the Philistines seem all along to have kept possession; so that it never came into the hands of either tribe, till, by the gift of Achish, it became the peculiar inheritance of David and his successors. Stuckhouse.

1 Samuel 26:8

8.—the Geshurites, and the Gezrites.] Of these we know little, only that they were neighbours of the Amalekites, living in the same territory with them, and were therefore, with the other nations, to be extirpated by the Israelites who were to possess their land. Dr. Chandler.

—the Amalekites:] Some that had escaped from the slaughter of Saul, or that were living afar off at the time. And the following words (ver. 11, of David’s killing them all) must be understood, that he left none alive whom he found in these parts; for there were still Amalekites in other places, 1 Sam. xxx. 1. Bp. Patrick. The people whom he invaded were most probably the remains of the Canaanites and the Amalekites, whom God had commanded to be destroyed. And therefore,

1 Samuel 26:19

19.—If the Lord &c.] If God hath excited you against me, on the score of any guilt for which I deserve to die, behold, here am I ready to be sacrificed in atonement for it. Dr. Delaney. Others understand the words as expressive of David’s readiness to offer up any sacrifice; for God is not implacable, but willing to be reconciled, when an offence is committed against Him. Bp. Patrick.

LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

1 Samuel 26:20

20.—to seek a flea.] To kill a person, from whose destruction could be derived neither profit nor glory. Bp. Patrick.

—as when one doth hunt a partridge] The account given by Dr. Shaw of the manner of hunting partridges and other birds by the Arabs, affords an excellent comment on these words: “The Arabs have another though more laborious method of catching these birds; for, observing that they become languid and fatigued after they have been hastily put up twice or thrice, they immediately run in upon them, and knock them down with their bludgeons.” It was precisely in this manner that Saul hunted David, coming hastily upon him, and putting him up from time to time, in hope that he should at length, by frequent repetitions of it, be able to destroy him. Harmer.

1 Samuel 26:21

21.—I have sinned: &c.] The duty and submission of David not only softened, but humbled the haughty

Before CHRIST about 1000. cleaning. Saul acknowledgeth his sin. David beggeth Ziklag of Achish. Before CHRIST about 1058.

1 Samuel 26:25

25.—So David went on his way.] Through the whole of the adventure related in this chapter, what propriety of character, what justness of sentiment, what tenderness of address do we find! Abishai appears, what he was, a soldier, warm and thirsty of revenge. David is resolute and brave, calm and steady, full of loyalty to his prince, of affection and duty to his father, and reverence for his God. Saul shews himself cruel, inconstant, and relenting: falls under conviction, owns his fault, justifies his son-in-law, promising in his present disposition to injure him no more; and in spite of all his faults moves our compassion towards him. Dr. Chandler.

Chap. XXVII. ver. 1.—I shall now perish one day] David, weary of wandering, weary of struggling with Saul’s implacable spirit, and of obtaining a precarious subsistence by the spoils of his enemies, or the bounty of his friends, resolves at last to quit his country, and throw himself once more on the protection of his enemies. This resolution has been censured, on the ground that he should not have left the land of Judah to go into a heathen country, without the Divine command or permission. Wherefore the generality of writers ascribe this resolution to a want of Divine grace, and of a proper confidence in the protection of that God, who had so often and so signally delivered him under the greatest exigencies. Dr. Delaney.

These words seem to have been spoken by David in a

melancholy fit, when he was under some great depression of spirit; for, as he had God’s promise that he should become king of Israel, he had the strongest possible reason to believe, that Saul would never be able to compass his design against him. He was aware that Saul’s heart was not altered, although he had felt and expressed some compunction for his past conduct. Bp. Patrick.