1 Samuel 16
PATimport; and thereby became -very *mfit for business, being sometimes furious and distracted; always full of anxiety and solicitude of mind: sighing and trembling like a man in the dark, as Abarbinel explains it- For his blood’ and spirits were thick and heavy, having lost their usual purity $nd splendour.
1 Samuel 16:1
joiND the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Said, seeing I Iiave rejected him from being king over Israel?^ Since God had told him so plainly, and positively, that the sentence against him was irreversible, it was in vain to mourn and to pray (as some. think he did) for his restitution to God’s favour. Fill thy horn with oil, and go to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.] It might increase his sorrow, perhaps, to think that if Saul should die *sudvol. ii. - • *’ denly, there was none yet. appointed by. God to succeed him. Which might be one reason why now God declared his pleasure about that matter.
1 Samuel 16:2
And Samuel said, How can I go?. That is, with safety. ■, ’’. If Saul hear it, he ivill kill me.] For he was enraged at the sentence passed upon him, though at that present he seemed, to submit.unto it.’’*. r And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, lam come to sacrifice unto the -Lord.] Which he, being aprophet, might do anywhere: all the ritual lawsbeing subject to the prophets. •.,„.<-•’. I I.
1 Samuel 16:3
Andcall Jesse to the sacrifice. To an eucharistical feast upon the sacrifice: unto which they might invite f their neighbours and friends. And I will shew thee what thou shalt do; and thou shalt anohit him whom I will name unto thee.]*Go& promises to direct him so to manage the business, that he should come into no danger. From whence it may be gathered, that it was not the holy oil wherewith he anointed him, for that was kept in the sanctuary: unto which place he could not have gone to fetch it, but it would have been known, and raised suspicions of what he was going to do. (See Fort. Scacchus, in his Myrothecium, lib.iii. cap. 46.),
1 Samuel 16:4
And Samuel did that which the Lord spake. Took a horn of oil, and an heifer. And came to Beth-lehem: and the elders of the town trembled at his coming.] They went out, I suppose, to meet hinr; but trembled when they saw him.., > And said, Comest thou peaceably?] They-w;ere afraid y that he came to reprove them for some sin that was. in their city; or that’hc fled to thcnl for security against SauTs ang6r, which might bring them into danger..
1 Samuel 16:5
And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord. That was one intention of his coming; and though there was another (to anoint David) he was not bound to declare it: for where there are two ends.of any action, one may without any injury to truth declare the one, and conceal the other. As Moses did, when he told Pharaoh they “must go and sacrifice to God in the wilderness; but suppressed their intention to march to the land of Canaan. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.]. See upon Exod. xix. 10. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called themto the sacrifice.] It is likely Jesse might be an elder; but if he; \werc; his sons were not: but he gave them a particular invitation, and took care they should come prepared. Samuel was not a priest’, but being a prophet he had authority from God, in extraordinary cases, to perform theofficc of a pries*; in offeringsacrifice.
1 Samuel 16:6
Audit came to pass, when tliey were come. After * the sacrifice was over, while they were making ready the feast, that was to follow upon it, Samuel took Jesse pri-. vatcly into a room, and there, it is likely, acquainted hini with his commission: whereupon he called for his eldest.son to come to him. *: That he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the anointed of,. the Lord is before me.] Beholding a goodly person, hand- -some and tall (as appears by the following verse), he con-: eluded within himself, that this was the person God designed for his anointed, 2N
1 Samuel 16:7
And the Lord Said unto Samuel. By a secret, inward suggestion. Look not on his countenance, nor on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.] All have not a noble spirit, who have a noble aspect; as appeared by Saul. Which should have made Samuel not conclude so hastily, from a goodly appearance.
1 Samuel 16:8
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. That he might have a full view of him. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this.] God had suggested to hirii, *ts hie did concerning the former, that he did not approve him.
1 Samuel 16:9
Then Jesse made Shatnmah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. He is called Shimeah, 2 Sam. xiii.3. and Shimma, 1 Chron. ii. 13.
1 Samuel 16:10
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel.) Not all at once; but seven in all, one after another in order; David hieing the eighth; And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.] Thefcc words shew that he had acquainted Jesse with his business: but these four of his sons, among whom he was to anoint one to be king, were no more qualified for it, than the thrjfce first: for he had eight sons in all, (xvii. 12.)
1 Samuel 16:11
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest; and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And so was not at home. The most excellent commanders were anciently taken from the plough, or from feeding sheep, as Pliny observes, lib. xviii. *Nat. Hist. cap. 5. " Fortissimi viri, et milites slrenuissimi ex agricolis gignuntur.” And so Vegetius, lib. i. cap. 3. de Tie Militari, discusses this point, whether the best soldiers came out of the city or country: and resolves, " aptiorem armis rusticam plebem," &c. that the country people are most fit for arms; who live in the open air, and arc bred up to labour, and endure heat, and neglect the shade; being unacquainted with baths, ignorant of delights, of a simple mind, contented with a little; having their bodies hardened to the enduring all labour; who are used by the country life to carry burdens, dig trenches, tind such-like labour. And therefore he concludes, that the strength of an army is to be supplied but of the field, for so it is, that the less men arc acquainted with the delights of life, the less they fear death. Moses was thus bred a long time in the service of Jethro: and Saul looked after his father’s cattle. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.] By this it appears, all this was transacted between the sacrifice and the dressing of the feast upon it.
1 Samuel 16:12
And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy. His hair was red, which in ancient times was accounted beautiful, as Bochartus observes from this place. With which agree the words of Festus, who having said that rutilus signifies red, adds, " cujus coloris studiosae etiam antiquae inulicfes erant;" of which colour women also were studious in ancient times. (Sec Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 34.) But it niust be confessed, that the Hebrew word admoni Aoih not signify onlyretf, biit also bright and shining; as Bochartus himself acknowledges those words, Lament, iv. 7. arc to be understood, where he saith of the Nazaritcs, ademu azem mippinim, they were more shining in body than pearls. And I think these words are so to be interpreted concerning David, that he had a clear complexion; or was very fair (as we speak) and lovely. And withal of a beautiful countenance.] Or, had heautifuleyes, as the words are in the Hebrew, " Oculisspcculis ctliberalibus/’ as Conradus Pellicanus here glosses. And goodly to look to.] Of a pleasant aspect; full of sweetness and clemency, as the same author understands it. All this is said to signify that he was a goodly person, and had greatness in his countenance. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.] The Jews observe upon these words, that it was necessary td anoint the first of a family, that was advanced to the kingdom; but it was not necessary to anoint his children that Succeeded him: unless upon occasion of a dispute, by a contrary faction* (Sec Scldcn, de Success, in Pontificat. lib. ii. cap. 9.)
1 Samuel 16:13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him. He did not hereby invest him actually with the kingly powfcr: but this anointing was only a designation of him to succeed Saul after his death. So David always understood it; looking upon Saul as the Lord’s anointed as long as he lived; that is, as the king of Israel. (See Judg.ix.S.) In the midst of his brethren.] It had better have been translated, from the midst of his brethren; that is, he singled hira ont from the rest, and privately anointed him. For it is manifest by what is said before, that Samuel was afraid to have it known, and therefore did not anoint him publicly in the midst of his brethren. And by Eliab’s treatment of David after this, (xvii. 28.) it plainly enough appears he did not know him to be the king elect of God’s people. The Jews in Seder Olam Rabba (cap. 13.) say, David was twenty-nine years old when he was anointed: which certainly is false, if it be understood of this first unction by Samuel (whereby God elected him, as in the two following Judah and Israel received him for their king); for after Saul’s death he reigned forty years, and lived till he was seventy. So that he was thirty years old when he began to reign: part of which time he spent in the service of Saul; and after that was sorely persecuted by him. How long that persecution lasted is uncertain: but it continued so long, that it makes the opinion of Abarbinel probable, that David could not be above twenty years old, if so much, when Samuel anointed him. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.] A spirit of prudence to behave himself wisely upon all occasions; with a spirit of courage, so that he durst grapple with a lion and a bear: and the spirit of prophecy, in which he was very eminent afterward. In short, a spirit fit for a prince. And Samuel went up, and went to Ramah.] Having no farther commission from God at Beth-lehem.
1 Samuel 16:14
But the Spirit oftlieLord departed from Saul. Which came upon him when he was first made king, and continued with him till this time; (x. 11. xi. 6.) yet he did not lose his courage, but his prudence and skill in government. And an evil spirit from^the Lord troubled him.] He grew >mclancholy, timorous, and suspicious: so thathc started where’there was no danger, as the Hebrew word^cems to
1 Samuel 16:15
And SauVs servants said unto him, Behold, an evil spirit from God troubleth tliee. His courtiers could not but observe a strange disturbance in him: which they looked upon as so unusual, that they ascribed it to the band of God. Ver. 1G. Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a cunning player upon the Mrp.] An instrument alwayshighly esteemed; as those were who could play well upon it. It is called cinnor in the Hebrew, from whence, no doubt, the Greek Ktvvvpa is derived. And it sltall come to pass, that when the evil spirit from God is upon thee.] When a melancholy fit seized him. That he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.] It being a bodily disease, they hoped by this means he might receive some relief: and, perhaps, they had seen some experiment made of it upon men in the like condition; for music wonderfully alters the spirits, and consequently the tyood: and hath a peculiar virtue in it to cheer and delight those that are sad, and compose those that are furious, as Saul sometimes was.
1 Samuel 16:17
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now one that can play well, and bring him to me. For none durst deny his attendances him, as Samuel had described the manner of the kingdom, (viii.ll, 12, &c.)
1 Samuel 16:18
Thai answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen the son of Jesse the Beth-leliemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person.] It is likely this was some friend or acquaintance of David’s, who had a mind to bring him to court: and therefore reckons up all his good qualities, as well as his skill in music; together with his success in all affairs. Which though he managed with great prudence, yet he could not have been so constantly prosperous if God had not blessed him. •
1 Samuel 16:19
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, say ing, Send me David thy son, which is with the slieep.* This message, it is likely, might possess Jesse with some fear that the secret was discovered.
1 Samuel 16:20
And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.* But by this present He hoped to ingratiate his son in his princely favour. The word laden is not in the Hebrew, but only an ass of bread. Which is a phrase used in other authors, as Bochartus hath observed out of Athenacus: who mentions this phrase in Sosibius, apruv rpug ovovg Kav%r\ivovQ, three great asses of loaves, (Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 34.)
1 Samuel 16:21
And David came to Saul, and stood before Mm.* Ministered unto him among the rest of his servants. And he loved him greatly; and he made him his armourbearer.] Which was an honourable preferment.
1 Samuel 16:22
And Saulsent to Jesse, saying, Let David, Ipray thee, stand beforeme; for he hath found favour in my sight. This was an extraordinary token of his. kindness, that he would not keep his son to wait upon him without his consent.
1 Samuel 16:23
And it came to pflss, when the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand.) J osephus seems to have thought that he also sung hymns and psalms to the harp; for his words are, (lib. vi. Antiq. cap. 9.) Afywy te tovq vfjivovg k<x\ ipaX^w ev ry Ktvvipq, &c. But the illustrious Spanheim shew? that the word ipaXubg is often used for the sound of the harp.. So the scholiast upon Aristophanes’s Aves, ^aX/xbc tcvplmg 6 i% K&apag %x°G’ (See his observation, on Calliraachus’s hymn in Apollinem, ver. 12.) Arid so Nero truly said, (which Tacitus mentions in his Annals, lib. xiv. cap. 14.) " Antiqui duces cithara cecinerunt," the ancient great commanderssang to the harp. So Cornelius Nepos reports of Epaminondas, that he was an excellent musician., And Saul was refreshed, and was well.] All authors are full of the power of music, -both to stir up passions, and to allay them; according to the several kinds of it* A thenars (lib. xiv.) praises it for the virtue that is in it,,Kat ra r)%t) iraideveiv, teal rovg Svpoeideig Kai rag yvwfiag dia<p6povg icaraitpavvuv, to regulate men’s manners, and to allay and soften those that are furious, and disturbed in their minds. Such songs Aristotle calls u£kr\ KaSapicriKa, purgative songs; apt to cleanse the mind from turbid motions, (lib. viii. Polit.) See Gerh. Vossius concerning this in his book de Artibus Popularibus, cap. 3. sect. 13. where he shews how diseases pf the body have been cured by music, as well as of the jnind: and sect. 45,46. he shews the power of it over brute creatures. Bochartus also enumerates many famous artists among ( the ancients, besides Orpheus and Amphion (whose history is dressed up fabulously), that arc celebrated, not by poets, but by good historians, for their wonderful skill in moving men’s passions by music. (Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 44. p. 461, &c.) And long before these, the great Erasmus hath observed the force of music in curing diseases, and quite altering the passions of men’s minds, in his preface to Arnobius upon the Psalms. Which may be found among his epistles, lib. xxviii. p. 1G55. And the evil spirit departed from him.] For a time; there being lucid intervals in sych distempers as his was; which frequently returned again.