1 Samuel 31
DOYLYChap. I. ver. 2.—and earth upon his head:] As a token of mourning, Josh. vii. 6; 1 Sam. iv. 12; Job ii. 12.
Vol. I.
1 Samuel 31:4
- — unto his armourbearer.] It is the constant tradition of the Jews, that this armourbearer was Doeg. Dr. Delaney. — lest these uncircumcised come &c.] He was afraid they might put him to some ignominious death, or make sport with him as they did with Samson. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 31:6
- So Saul died.] There is nothing to commend in the manner of Saul’s death. He died, not gallantly fighting, but by his own hand; he died, not as a hero, but as a deserter. Self-murder is manifestly the effect of cowardice, and it is as irrational and iniquitous as it is base. God, whose creatures we are, is the sole Arbiter, as He is the sole Author of life: our lives are His property, and He has given us our country, our family, and our friends: thus, besides the injury done to our fellow creatures in a variety of relation, the act of selfmurder incurs the heavy guilt of desertion of the post assigned to us by God, and of rebellious disobedience to His commands. Dr. Delaney.
1 Samuel 31:9
- — in the house of their idols.] That they might give thanks to their gods for the victory they had obtained. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 31:10
- — in the house of Ashtaroth.] The custom of dedicating to the gods the spoils of a conquered enemy, and placing them in their temples as a trophy of victory, is extremely ancient. Frequent instances of it are mentioned in the Greek and Roman writers. See note at chap. xxi. 9. — and they fastened his body] To expose it to publick shame and reproach, as we do the bodies of great malefactors. Bp. Patrick. — Beth-shan.] A city in the tribe of Manasseh: to this place the people of Jabesh might march (ver. 12.) in the course of a night. Bp. Patrick.
1 Samuel 31:13
- — fasted seven days.] As a token and expression of great sorrow. Bp. Patrick. The death of Saul is well deserving of our serious attention. This prince, who had been chosen by God to the throne, and who began his reign so well, made a
miserable end; and the threatenings denounced against him by God on several occasions were fully put in execution. Thus it always has been, and always will be, with the Divine denunciations, whether against particular persons, or against sinners in general. This event ought to inspire us with a wholesome fear, and to impress us with the conviction, that those, who are enriched by God with blessings, and who abuse those
blessings, are at last abandoned by Him, and made examples of His indignation. When we see the sons of Saul, and Jonathan in particular, a man of so much piety and virtue, perish with him, we are made to call to mind how often the innocent are involved with the guilty in temporal judgments: a dispensation, which God ordains for wise and just reasons, and with the view of promoting the real welfare of His faithful servants. Ostervald.
The following Chapters from the first book of Samuel are appointed for Proper Lessons on Sundays and Holydays:
CHAP. II…3d Sunday after Trinity,…Morning. III. ditto. Evening. XII. 4th Sunday after Trinity. Morning. XIII. ditto. Evening. XV. 5th Sunday after Trinity. Morning. XVII. ditto. Evening. XIX. or. 18. Whit-Tuesday. Morning. # THE SECOND BOOK OF # S A M U E L, OTHERWISE CALLED, # THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. # INTRODUCTION.
THE Second Book of Samuel bears an exact relation to the preceding history, and is likewise connected with that which succeeds. The history contains a period of near forty years, from about A. M. 2948 to 2988. It describes the establishment and prosperity of David’s reign; which he deserved, as well by his generous respect for the memory of Saul, as by the excellency of those many qualities which his maturer piety displayed. It relates the extinction of Saul’s family, and David’s grateful and unsuspicious kindness to the surviving son of Jonathan. The inspired author then records the fall of David; and exhibits a sad proof of the unhappy depravity to which the noblest minds may be seduced by passion. He represents to us God’s anger softened, but not appeased, by David’s repentance; who was soon after punished by the death of the child, and many domestic calamities. The transgression of Amnon was the first consequence of his bad example; and “evil rose up against him out of his own house” (Nathan’s prophetic threat, chap. xii. 11.) in the ambitious intrigues and rebellion of Absalom. We soon behold him a degraded and fugitive sovereign, reviled by his meanest subjects, and severely punished for his conduct towards Uriah, by the incestuous outrage of his son, chap. xvi. 21, 22. The submissive repentance, however, and restored virtues of David, procured his pardon and re-establishment on his throne; which he dignified by the display of the greatest moderation, justice, and piety. If in the exultation of his recovered prosperity, God suffered him (chap. xxiv. 1; and 1 Chron. xxi. 1.) to be betrayed into an ostentatious numbering of the people, “his heart smote him” to immediate repentance, and he piously threw himself on God’s mercy, and entreated that he only might suffer from the indignation which he had provoked. The vicissitude of events which the book describes, the fall and restoration of David, the effects of his errours, and his return to righteousness, are represented in the most interesting manner, and furnish valuable lessons to mankind. The author, in the concise style of sacred history, selects only the most striking features of character, and the most important incidents of those revolutions of which he treats; and among the conspicuous beauties of the book, we can never sufficiently admire the feeling lamentation over Saul and Jonathan, the expressive parable of Nathan, and the triumphant hymn of David.
The prophecies contained in the book are, first, that which blended temporal and spiritual blessings in the promises relative to Solomon and the Messiah; the permanency of David’s throne, and the perpetuity of that kingdom which is prefigured chap. vii. 12, 16; Heb. i. 5. Secondly, the predictive denunciations of Nathan, chap. xii. 11-14: and, lastly, the figurative descriptions of David’s psalm, chap. xxii; by whom the “Spirit of the Lord spake,” assuring him of an everlasting covenant, chap. xxiii. 2, 5. Dr. Gray.
Before CHRIST 1066. # CHAP. I.