1 Samuel 27

1 Samuel 27:1-7

David here, 1. Provides for the safety of himself and family in Gath, ver. 1—7. 2. Fights Israel’s battles against the Canadians, ver. 8, 9. 3. Imposes upon Abish concerning his expeditions, ver. 10—12.

1. AND David said in his heart, ‘I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines, and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 2. And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him, unto Achish, the son of Maceh, king of Gath. 3. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David, with his two wives, Abraham the亵acesthesis, and Abigail the Carmelites, Nabal’s wife. 4. And it was told Saul, that David was fled to Gath: and he fought no more again for him. 5. ¶ And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place

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Though there was an apparent reconciliation now wrought between them, David knew too well Saul’s temper, to hope it would be of long continuance. We have here,

1. His fearfulness and unbelief. God’s promises, and his own past experience, cannot prevent melancholy apprehensions of his danger, and he is ready to despair, after all his deliverances, and fears he shall yet fall by the hand of Saul. Note, Many a poor trembling heart is exercised like David, and, from the sense of his numerous corruptions, is ready to give up all hope, and dishonour God’s faithfulness.

2. His refolution hereupon, to fly into the land of the Philistines, hoping, that then Saul would desist from any further pursuit. A dangerous course; but in dangerous circumstances something must be hazarded.

3. He met with a kind reception from Achish. Probably David had first acquainted him with his distress, and obtained his protection; and he can sooner rely on the word of a Philistine, than the oath of Saul. His fee hundred men accompanied him with their houstholds, and dwelt at first with Achish at Gath; but finding many inconveniences there, he desires, and Achish consents to give him Ziklag for his abode. Being in the royal city exposed him to envy, and the courtiers of Achish probably disheard the friendship their king shewed him. Besides, here the public exercise of his religion was more offensive, and his men in greater danger of being corrupted. On every account therefore the motion was prudent, and the issue proved it so; for bither his friends could more easily resort to him, and by the present grant, the city became ever after annexed to the crown of Judah, as it had been in their lot before, though not occupied by that tribe. Here he abode, not a year and four months, but day, even four months, Saul being within that time Sain, and David succeeding to the throne. Note, (1.) It is our duty to withdraw from temptation. (2.) We shall never lose by what we give up for the sake of God and our souls.

4. Saul desisted now from any farther pursuit, which it seems he again intended, if he had not been gone out of his reach. Note, It is not for want of will, but power, that the evil of many a wicked man is kept within bounds.

5. ¶ And David and his men went up and invaded the Gethurites, and the Geerites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt: 9. And David ‘smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the afles, 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 against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites. 11. And David saved neither man or woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, left they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will 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.

Deut. vii. Afls. xxii. 6. Heb. Himself thinking to think to his, &c.

1 Samuel 27:7

Preparations are here making for that war, which will put on and to the life and reign of Saul, and to make way for David in the throne. 1. The Philistines are the aggressors, and which show king makes Daniel his confident, ver. 1, 2. 2. Saul appears as despair, ver. 3—6. 3. His application to a wish, to bring up Samuel, ver. 7—14. 3. His discharge took the apparition, ver. 15—19. 4. The damp is struck upon him, ver. 21—25.

1. AND it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel: and Achish said unto David, ‘Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. 2. And David said unto Achish, ‘Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. 3. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Karnah, even in his own city: and ‘Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 4. ¶ And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, ‘he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6. And when Saul ’enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

laying. Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul, 13. And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what favors thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw goats defending 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 was Samuel, and he thopped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

Left to all feuds of God and goodness, Saul determines, from he is refused direction from heaven, to ask it from hell. Picture 3 import, hypers, deterrent mania.

1. He requires out a woman that hath a familiar Spirit, and being directed to one at Endor, he disguises himself, allumed to be known employed on such an errand, and, with two servants only, by night goes to establish her; flowing therein his own folly, as well as contempt of God, to have recourse to that which is lately he had condemned as abominable. Nate, (1.) Weeks of degrees have the light; but what darkness can hide from the piercing eye of God? (2.) Many who have cast off the fear of God, are yet ashamed to appear to had as they are before men.

2. Saul being arrived, acquaints her with his business; and when she expected her fear of Saul, from his former adult, unmoved with the cutting memorial, he daringly with an oath promises her impunity, and bids her proceed, and bring up Samuel from the dead. Nate, (1.) The fear of human have in on most minds a much stronger tie, than the apprehension of the wrath of God. (2.) They who swear, will lie. Saul’s oath could little secure her from the punishment of her sin. (3.) The murderer of God, who when alive were neglected or despised, never death are many times fought for, and wished again to return; but they who hear them not now, can expect no message of peace from them hereafter.

3. Samuel, or his resemblance rather, appears. We hear nothing of her dreams or incantations: these depths of Satan are better concealed, lest wicked men in other times, as no doubt they would, should practise the same disobelical arts. There have been many disputes, whether Samuel really appeared, or whether it were a mere juggle of the woman, and Saul in his condition was unable to detect the cheat; or whether the devil performed the prophet. The more generally received opinion, that which stands most free from objection, and is most agreeable to the duty, is the left. It is incredible, that the devil should have any power over the fouls of the righteous; nor can we conceive God would, to countenance such an abomination, suffer the holy prophet to appear. The foul which was in heaven, could not come up out of the earth; nor the glorified Spirit be troubled, as this apparition complains: much less could Samuel say, Saul should be with him to-morrow, whose imposition and gives no hopes of his happiness. That it was not a mere juggle, the whole circumstances of the fiery form to shew, and must be supposed in the very notion of a person’s having a familiar Spirit, and the consciousness of her being liable to death for such disobelical communion. But that Satan should be suffered to ask thus as a Spirit of delusion, as hurry Saul to his ruin, is very credible, and a most just judgment of God upon him.

4. The woman now discovers Saul, though disguised, informed, it should seem, by her familiar, and appears terrified. He bids her fear not, but proceed, and let him know what the law, which she describes as gods, or a Spirit, rising from the earth. When he requires his form and men, she tells him it was an old man, covered with a mantle, such as poisons and judges were. Concluding from the woman’s description that it was really Samuel, (for he himself does not appear to have seen any thing, whether the incantations were in another room, or that he dared not look Samuel in the face,) he bowed to the earth, either as a token of reverence to the supposed prophet, or to hear the whisper which familiar Spirits are said to give out of the flesh. Nate, It is just in God to give those up to strong delusions, to believe a lie, who have no pleasure in the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness.

5. ¶ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘Why hast thou disquieted me to bring me up? And Saul answered, ‘I am now disturbed, for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16. Then I said Samuel, Wherefore thou dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17. And the LORD hath done to him, ‘as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, rose to David. 18. Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, ’nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek,’ there-

fore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day, 19. Moreover, the LORD will also deliver Israel, with thee, into the hand of the Philistines: and to-morrow shall thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

Before Christ may be

20. David, having encouraged himself in God, adverbs himself to him for direction.

21. He saiths Ablactae to bring the ephod, and enquire whether he should go down after these898, and who, thus he should overtake them, and receives a command to go, and an assistance of success. Had he consulted God before his expedition with the Philistines, perhaps all his trouble might have been prevented. It is good to be made wise by just over-fights.

22. Encouraged by this answer from God, he immediately purifies with his fix hundred men, who, though fatigued with their march, and more with their trouble, follow hard after the track of these898. Two hundred at the brook Befor were quite faint and disabled; these therefore he is compelled to leave them to recover themselves, whilst he continues the pursuit with the remainder, trusting not on the arm of Seth, but on the promise of God. Nor, (1.) Discouraging providences will but exalt the faith of the determined God. (2.) They who kill peck forward, will jealably seize the prize. (3.) The Son of David considers our infirmities, and pains our weakness.

23. God brings him a guide: a wretched Egyptian lies in their way, forth under the complicated positions of sickness and mass, spambles, and ready to expire. The men bring him to David, and compaction moves him to relieve so miserable an object. The refreshment they gave him from brought him to his fences, and enabled him to give an account of himself, and who he belonged to. He was an Egyptian, servant to an Amalekite, as indeed his treatment thereof. Being overtaken with sickness, got in his hard service, his inhuman matter had deferred him, and left him barbarously to perish for want. He gives him an account of their expedition, their ravages on the South of Judah, and their capture of Elking; and, at David’s request, giving by an oath bound him not to deliver him up to his shrouded matter, offers to bring him down to the place where their pleasurers were. Nor, (1.) Great events often depend on very unexpected incidents. (2.) No man to mean and despicable, as to be beneath our notice: we know not how much good or evil the weakest instruments may do us. (3.) He is a

crued out on Amalekite matter, that, when his poor servants are sick, identifies them hailily, and leaves them to shift for themselves; when they are so disabled and helpless. (4.) Nothing is ever left by compaction: charity usually brings its own reward.

4. The Amalekites are surprised in the midst of their fault. Triumphing in their forceful, and concluding themselves safe from all fear of being purified, military order was neglected; all were holy in eating, drinking, and dancing, spending the evening in mirth and jostly, when David and his men suddenly fall upon them, and without assistance put them to the David. The pursuit continued till the evening of the next day, and not a man escaped, but four hundred young men, who owed their perseveration to the twiftness of the camels, or dromedaries, on which they rode. All the spoil of their camp fell into the victors hands: they recovered not only all they had left, particularly David’s wives are mentioned, as the dearest and nearest to his heart, but also the flocks and herds of the Amalekites, which in triumph were driven home before them, as David’s spoil. Nor, (1.) Security is the destruction of the sinners. (2.) Death ensues in hovering over many a fool, that to duress and keep devour the day, and little thanks, in the midst of pleasurers’ throng, how near he stands on the brink of never-ending pain. (3.) In prosperity they will be carried and honoured, who in distress, like David, were inflicted. (4.) The Son of David hath recovered and all the hands of sin and Satan all that poor sinners had left, and enriched his faithful people with better-people than those flocks and herds, even with strathous which robbers can never steal, and mansions of glory that are incorhythmic, unbelied, and never fade away.

5. 9. And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Befor: 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 blamed them. 22. Then answered all the wicked men, and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, “Because they went not with us, we will not give them again of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart. 23. Then said David, if shall not do so, any brethren, with that name: the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us, thus our lands. 24. For who will heathen unto you in this matter?” but as his part is that goeth down to the centre, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall partake. 25. And it was so from that day forward that he made it a fustile and an ordinance for him to take this day. 26. 9. And when David came to Sinking, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, were to his Herads, (laying, Behold: a 9-problem for the articles of the enemies of the LORD). 27. To them which were in Bethel and to them which were in South-Kenneth, and to them which were in Jastar, 28. And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphthooth, and to them which were in Eshlemon, 29. And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Keniers, 30. And to them which were in Hebreth, and to them which were in Chor-athan, and to them which were in Athach, 31. And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to insure.

1 Samuel 27:8-12

Wherever David is, he cannot long be inactive.

1. He meditates and executes an inroad on the Gethurites and Geerites, some of the remainder of the Amorites, and the Amalekites, who probably were incorporated among them, when they fled from Saul. As these were devoted nations, he leaves none alive: and beside, there was another reason, that they might not carry tidings to Achish, from whom he intended to conceal what he had done, left it should alarm the jealously of the Philistines.

2. Achish, on his return, enquires of his expedition, and David very desully, to conceal the truth, perspicutes; pretending to have made an inroad on the south of Judah, which was in a sense true, as these people lay southward; but David, it is to be feared, intended to be otherwise understood, as if he had fallen on his own countrymen, in which sense Achish apprehended him, and concluded from thence his fidelity to him, and that his countrymen would be so exasperated against him, that now David would be his servant for ever. Note, (1.) Equivalences to be found in a direct line. (2.) Let the loss of great and good men be looked upon not as an exculpation for our limitation of them, but as an admonition to avoid them.

1 Samuel 27:15-16

We have been,

1. Saul’s bitter distress. The apparition demands the cause of his troubling his repose by such magical incantations, as beget in Saul a confidence in the power of this charisma. ‘Saul spreads his terrible case before him: the Philistines are against him; and he is unable to make head against their armies; and, worth than this, God hath forsaken him, will give him no direction, nor afford him any answer; therefore, reduced to despair, he is driven to this method of requiring of him what he should do. Was ever such folly and madness? Would Samuel direct him whom God had forsaken? Or was it conceivable, that when no living prophet would advise him, he should find help from the dead? Nate, (1.) The sinner has only himself to blame for all the miseries to which he is reduced. (2.) It is too late to knock, when the door of mercy is shut.

2. The answer he receives is fearful, and betrays the lips it down from, tending evidently to drive him to despair. The devil, persisting the prophet, appears angry at being disturbed; declares the vanity of his attempt in thus seeking relief; for since God is departed from him, all is lost; reminds him of his anointing David in his stead; and affirms him the word then brought from God is ready to be accomplished, (to easily can Satan make use of the scriptures, when they answer his designs); upholds him with his disobedience in the case of the Amalekates; foretells the rout of his army by the Philistines on the morrow; and denounces his own death and his foes in the battle. Not a word of comfort appears throughout; no intimation of mercy, or admonition to repent; but every prospect is terminated with black despair. Nate, The liveliest image of hell upon earth, is a sinner given up to despair.

3. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid because of the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him: for he had دیدn no bread all the day, nor all the night. 21. ¶ And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and ‘I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkned unto thy words which thou spakeest unto me. 22. Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a moorful of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength when thou goest on thy way. 23. But he refused, and said, ‘I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he hearkned unto their voice: so he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24. And the woman had a far calf in the house, and she haffed and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unsevered bread thereof. 25. And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants, and they did eat: then they rose up, and went away that night.

1 Samuel 27:20-25

Shocked with the dreadful tidings, the dejected king sinks spiritless to the earth; his soul is in the agonies of death with fear; and his body, weakened with failing, having that day taken no food, is unable to rise without help, and ready to expire on the spot. On this, the woman, hearing him fall, or perceiving the apparition was gone, during whose stay she had left him alone with it, hastens in, and is terribly frightened, not so much for the king’s danger as her own, should he die there; and therefore with great follicleate importunes him to take some refreshment, that he might have strangled to return to the camp. At first he obstinately rejected her offer, as if chasing rather to die by hunger, than the sword of the Philistines; but his servants earnestly seconding her entreaties, they compel him by their persuasion to conform. He arises therefore from the earth, and the woman instantly preparing some provision, he and his servants eat. Being thus refreshed, they hasten back to the camp before the morning light, that they might not be discovered. Nate, (1.) They who depart from God, leave their own mercies. A miserable life, and a more miserable death, is their wretched portion. (2.) When a man is given up to despair, he submits on his own destruction, as the horse rephrases to the battle. (3.) Let every man who reads Saul’s end, tremble at the thought of grieving the holy Spirit of God, left he hephus forsaken, and left to the wickedness and despair of his own heart.

CHAP. LISNMEELI

And David said: “And Ablactae the priest, Ablactae, I pray that bring me thither the ephod?” And Ablactae brought thither the ephod to David. 8. And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pray for after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Purise, for thou, Shall: surely overtake them, and without fast recover-all. 9. So David went, he had the far hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Befor, where those that were left be-that? Sayed. 10. But David purified, he and four hundred men (for two hundred above behind, which were so faint, that they could not go on the brook Be-for). 11. 9. And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat, and they made him drink water. 12. And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two chillers of water; and when he had eaten, “Just four came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drank any water, three days and three nights. 13. And David said some him, if a whist, doubt thou?” And he said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite, and my mother left me,” because they they spoke I fell sick. 14. We made an incision upon the tooth of the Cherethites, and upon the root which belonged to Judah, and upon the tooth of Copt, and we never stung with fire. 15. And David said to him: “Can’t thou bring me down to this company?” And he said, “Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my thither, and I will bring thee down to this company.” 16. And when he had brought him down, behold, they were 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 made them from the twilight, even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped me a man of them, save their hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and died. 18. And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away; and David refused his two wives. 19. And there was nothing lacking to them, neither found nor great, neither was nor daughters, neither spoil nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all. 20. And David took all the flocks, and the herds, made they chavo before their sister cattle, and said, “This is David’s spoil.”

1 Samuel 27:21-31

We have here David returning triumphant, and laden with spoil.

1. His wearied troops, who were left at the brook Befor with their baggage, came to meet him, and congratulate his victory, and David receives them with great kindness and affection. Nor, They who are willing, but weak, shall not be upbraided with, but comforted under, their infirmities.

2. The same wicked men, who had talked so mutinously against their leaders, now show the time inhumanity and uncharitableness to their brethren; would greedily rob them, not only of part of the spoils, but of all that was their own, except their wives and children, which, left thus stripped and destitute, would be but a burden to them. Nor, (1.) The covetous heart is hardened against the suffering of the needy. (2.) Being in the best company, and under the best instructions, makes no change on the hearts of the men of Belial.

3. David rejects so unreasonable a proposal. It was highly ungrateful to God, whose hand alone had given them the victory. It was most injurious to their brethren, who not by choice,

Before Chall 1935.

choice, but necessary, were left behind, and then also employed in the needful service of guarding the baggage. David therefore commands an equal distribution to be made between them all, and ordained it for a perpetual statute in Israel, that they who tarried by the fluff, should share with those who went into the battle; and hereunto they accquainted, overcome by his persuasion, and overawed by his authority. Now, Resolute firmands is needful in a commander to refrain fastious spirits.

4. David generously distributes his own share of the spoil among his friends in Judah, in gratitude for the favour and protection they shewed him during his haunts among them; in compensation of the damage they might have sustained by this champion of the Amalekites; and in policy, to engage them more readily to espouse his cause, when the day should come, that the throne of Israel would be vacant. Now, (1.) Every gracious soul must be generous: He that gives a new heart, gives a liberal hand. (2.) They who have shewn us kindness, desires a recompense whenever God puts it in our power. (3.) A well-timed present is the best letter of recommendation. (4.) They who are disposed to receive the Sun of David for their king, will be enriched by his munificence, not merely with the gifts of grace in time, but with the riches of glory in eternity.