1 Samuel 18

And the days were not expired. Which were appointed to be fulfilled (as it is in the Hebrew) before the marriage took effect: so that he had time to perform what was agreed instead of a dowry.

1 Samuel 18:2

And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more to his father’s house. Saul also resolved to shew greater respect unto him than before. For it appears by this that he had not lived always at court, after he came first thither; but often went to his father, when Saul was well, and had no use of him.

1 Samuel 18:3

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant. Solemnly entered into a mutual friendship. Because he loved him as his own soul.] Such excellent men there were among the heathen, between whom there was £dryoc (piXlag, as Plutarch calls it, a yoke of friendship, wherein they were so joined together in love and amity/as to have one common interest. He mentions (in his book inpt 7ro\v(j>i\iag) Theseus and Perithous; Achilles and Patroclns; Orestes and Pylades; Pythias and Damon; Epaminondas and Pelopidas: but none of them comparable to these two, Jonathan and David: who entered into the most sacred bonds of mutual assistance and defence to the very death; and kindness to their posterity after either of ihem was. dead. fc Which, was a singular providence of God, who by this means preserved David, in that sharp persecution which shortly after arose against him at court.

1 Samuel 18:4

^Aiid % Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it vnto David. That he might appear like a courtier. a $ \ And Ms garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, ami to his girdle.] That be might look like another Jonathan; and all might take notice they werp no longer two, but one. For he put him into the garlrboth of a courtier and of a soldier; or rather, great commander.: -

1 Samuel 18:5

And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him. Upon military expeditions: none of which he re-, fused, though ever so hazardous*. i And he behaved himself wisely.] Shewed as much prudence in his conduct as he did courage. And Saul set him over the men of war.] Not over all; for Abner was general, as we speak, of all his forces: but he made him.captain of his guard; or gave him some other great command in his army. And he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Said’s servants.] Except a few, who envied his preferment. Ver. G. And it, came to pass, as they came.] Marched along, in a great.cavalcade (as they now speak), from the place of battle. ■ m:, r. When David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine.] I suppose, Saul and the whole court thought fit to honour David, by accompanying him to Jerusalem, when he carried Goliath’s head thither. * TJie women came put of all the cities of Israel.] All the.neighbouring cities. Singing and dancing to meet king Saul with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music] As the custom was in. times of great rejoicing.

1 Samuel 18:7

And the women anstvered one to another as they played. They sang as weir as played on musical instruments: and they sang alternately, as they did Exod. xy. 21. And the burden of the song seems to have been that which follows., ‘W 1 If II VI vwVII I CHAP. XVIII.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. And said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.] For his slaying Goliath was the cause of the flight of the army of the Philistines, and the great slaughter of them. Ver. 8. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; arid he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?] He began to be jealous they would advance him to the throne, in a little time: having so highly magnified him above their king.

1 Samuel 18:9

And Saul eyed David from that day forward. Narrowly observed him, whether he had any such design to make himself king. Or/ as it is commonly interpreted, he looked askew upon him, as one he envied and hated, and was afraid of; as the LXX. translate it.

1 Samuel 18:10

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul. Which had formerly haunted him, (xvi. 14.) and now, by his discontent, anger and melancholy was brought again upon him. And he prophesied in the midst of the house.] Before the whole court. This prophesying is generally understood, only of his imitating the motions, actions, and gestures of the prophets; which sometimes were very different from those of other men: (see 2 Kings ix. 11.) but I do not see why this word, should not retain the signification here, which it hath in other places: that he sung Divine songs. Which perhaps he the rather did, that David might suspect no danger from hirn.^ Abarbinel thinks, that his mind being disturbed with various roving thoughts about his own condition, and about David, he foretold that David should be heir of his kingdom. And David played with his hand, as at other tunes.] To compose and quiet his disturbed spirits. And there was a javelin in SanFs hand.] Which he had provided on purpose/ as the following words shew, to dispatch David.

1 Samuel 18:11

And Saul cast the javelin, for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it.~\ This argued he was so full of fury, that he designed to kill him in his own house, before all his courtiers, when David was waiting upon him, and doing him service. And David avoided out of his presence twice.] Had his eye upon him, and shunned the blow, both now, and at another time mentioned xix. 10.

1 Samuel 18:12

And Saul was afraid of David, because the Isord was with him, and was departed from SauL. Who was as unsuccessful in all his designs, as David was prosperous.’’ \

1 Samuel 18:13

Therefore Saul removed him from him. : Fro’m his court. And made him a captain over a thousand.] Instead of captain of his guard (which required his attendance at court), he gave him a command abroad: where he hoped he might be killed in some expedition; or he might have an opportunity privately to take, away his life. And he went out and came in before the people.] As the leader of that thousand men.

1 Samuel 18:14

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways. None could find any fault in his conduct, whithersoever he went. And the Lord was with him.] Made all his undertakings prosperous. vol. II.,

1 Samuel 18:15

Wlierefore, when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. His feaTs increased as he saw David still grow so prudent that no exception could be taken to* his behaviour.

1 Samuel 18:16

But all Israel and Judah loved David. This is to be understood (as Corn. Bertram thinks, de Repub. Jud. cap. 10.) as if he had said, The Israelites in general loved David, but especially they of the tribe of Judah. Because he went out and.came in before them.] This phrase signifies in other places to administer all things belonging to. one’s charge with full authority. So Moses speaks of himself, Deut. xxxi. 2. and of Joshua hissuccessor, Numb. xxvii. 21. And so I suppose it signifies here, that David had an absolute power under Saul, over those whom he commanded: and managed it so well that he gained every body’s affection.. u." "

1 Samuel 18:17

And Saul said to David, Beholdmy elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife. He at last bethinks himself of the promise he had publicly made unto him that should kill Goliath.* The performance of which David did not demand, but in modesty left it to Saul’s own con 7 science. Who now intended nothing less, it appears by the sequel, than to be as good as his word. ■, Only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles.] He would not have him think upon this marriage of coming again to live at court: but to continue a military life,- and fight for his country; whereby he hoped to be rid of him; For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him.] Now he seems to have some sense of honour, and to lay aside those base thoughts of murdering him himself. But let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.] By whose hand God’s just judgment so ordered things that Saul himself fell. J

1 Samuel 18:18

And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life. The hazarding his life, he tells him, could not deserve so high an advancement. And what is my family in Israel, that I should be son-inlaw to the king?] This was not a refusal of the honour, but an acknowledgment how* unworthy he was of it. *,: [ Ver. 19/ And it came to pa$s, at the time when Merab, SauVs daughter, should have been given to David.] When all things.were ready for the marriage. v <. That she was given to Adriel the Meholathite to wife.] A most high affront to David, and the greatest injury that could have been done him: which he wisely dissembled. How Jonathan resented this usage we are not told. It is likely his duty to his father made him entreat David to take it patiently; and to look upon Saul as one that was sometimes besidehimself, and did not know what he did. m

1 Samuel 18:20

And Michal, Sauls daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased Mm. Not out of any love. to David, or desire to perform his promise: but because he hoped by her means to bring his ends about of destroying David.;

1 Samuel 18:21

And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be. a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may, be against him. He hoped his daughter, in obedience to him, might be persuaded to bring him into some snare that he.would lay for him: or, that being exposed to great dangers (which he was to undergo, as a condition of having her to wife) he might perish in some of them. Wherefore Saul said xtnto David, Thou shalt be this day <§ A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. XIX. my son-in-law.] That is shortly, within a time, it is likely, prefixed by Saul. In the one of the twain.] By marrying one of his daughters. He had two; and though he was disappointed in one of them, yethis promise was fulfilled, if he married the other.

1 Samuel 18:22

And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly. It seems David was not forward to embrace Saul’s offer; having been so grossly abused: therefore Saul ordered his courtiers in private discourse to take occasion to persuade him to it. And say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.] The affection of the king and of the whole court, was a mighty argument to induce him to’it.

1 Samuel 18:23

And Saul’s servants spake these words in the cars of David. And David said, Seemeth it a light thing iinto you to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor man, and little esteemed?] Having no estate, and of small credit: and therefore unable to endow her according to her quality.

1 Samuel 18:24

And the secants of Saul told him, saying, In this manner spake David. In the Hebrew, according unto these toords; that is, they reported his words faithfully; that he was as sensible of his own meanness, as of the honour that was offered him.

1 Samuel 18:25

And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, Tlie king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of his enemies. This custom hath prevailed in latter times “in some countries, to give their daughters in marriage to the most valiant men; or those who should bring them so many heads of their enemies. Alex, ab Alexandro reports of a people in Carmania, that if any were desirous to marry, it w r as necessary he should first bring the king the head of an enemy, (lib. i. cap. 24.) Vincent le Blanc reports the like of others, (par. i. cap. 30.) But why did Saul desire the foreskins of the Philistines’, and not their heads? To this Procopius Gazscus answers, that Saul did not know but David might cut off the heads of his own subjects and bring them instead of the Philistines, and therefore he asked so many fore* skins, which the Israelites had not, that he might be sure he had killed so many enemies. As for portions, the Hebrew custom was not like that of the Romans, who required the wife to bring a portion to her husband, " lit onera matrimonii tanto sequius sustineat,” that he might be able to bear the charges of matrimony more equally. But among the Hebrews the husband endowed the wife, and received nothing at all with her. And so the custom was among the people of that land before they came into Canaan. For Sichem bade Dinah’s relations require w T hat dowry they pleased, and it should be settled upon her, he desiring nothing of them but her, (Gen. xxxix. 17.) And so it was in the case of David. (See Wagenseil upon Sota, cap. 4.) But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.] Who he knew would be extremely enraged Against David, by putting this great indignity upon them, As they all counted it, of cutting off their foreskins.

1 Samuel 18:26

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son4n-law. In the Hebrew the words arc, the thing was right in David’s eyes; that is, he thought fit to accept the offer upon these conditions.

1 Samuel 18:27

Wherefore David arose and went, he andhis men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men: and brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full talc to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law.] He gave Saul double of what he had demanded: partly to shew his sense of the honour he had done him, and partly to express his love (o his daughter, and to declare his intention to venture his life freely to do him service. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.] There being no way to avoid it, after the marriage had been sosolemnly treated and ratified.

1 Samuel 18:28

And Said’ saw and knew that the Lord was with David. He was convinced of it, by the success which he constantly gave him. And that Michal, Said’s daughter, loved him.] Which was a great disappointment.to him.

1 Samuel 18:29

And Saul was yet the more afraid of David. Having thus advanced him; and seeing no hope of bringing his designs to pass against him. And Saul became David’s enemy continually.] He was every day more resolved to destroy him. Such strange blindness did his anger and hatred, and sueh-like passions, bring upon him, that he set himself against him, who he saw and knew had God for his friend.

1 Samuel 18:30

And the princes of the Philistines toent forth. To fight with the Israelites: who had highly incensed them by David’s late action, as well as by former losses. And they thought, perhaps, that David would make use of the benefit the law allowed, Deut. xxiv. 25. of not going to war in a year after he was married. And it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul.] By discovering, 1 suppose, the designs of the Philistines, and preventing’ them: for we do not read that they came to a battle. So that his name ivas much set by.] He was very highly esteemed.

And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the. Philistines, and spoiled their tents. They acted: like good soldiers; who did not first fall upon thespoil*; and thereby let the enemy escape.

And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem. After he had shewn it to Saul, (ver. 57.) and exposed it to all the people, (xviii. G.) Jerusalem was now become a noted city, which was the reason, I suppose,. why he brought his head hither: though it is only said, he brought it to that place; wbero it having been shewn as a spectacle, perhaps was reposited somewhere else. • Buthe put his armour in his tent.] Which, I suppose, was set up -for David, upon this occasion; when he prepared himself to encounter the Philistine. And when his tent was taken down after the battle, the armour was deposited in the tabernacle, as his sword was, to remain there for a trophy. • -. - I * * -

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Whose son is this youth?. Such cavillers as Spinosa from hence -argue, that this chapter was not written’ by him that wrote •the former: for how is it possible, say they, that Saul should not know David; who had lately attended on him ifi his court? But this is very frivolous; for in siich a multitude of business as kings have, and among so many new faces which they see everyday, it was easy to forget a man he had «seen and conversed withal now and then;, especially when he was crazed, and had a disease in his head, Vis Saul had.‘Besides, David came now in another kind of appar.el thanie did when he was sent to wait.upon Saul at court: for he appeared now as a shepherd, in a rustic habit; (ver. 40.) and his countenance, it is likely, was much’altered hythe heroicmotion he now found in himself to fight -with* Goliath. And after all, Abarbinel observes, he doth iibt ask who David was, but who was his father: which he •might easily forget when he had been disturbed with melancholy, and with the public affairs. And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, 1 cannot tell.] He being a military man, and therefore much abroad, had •not seen David when he was at court," or taken no notice. of him..’, j..,.*, \ * x Ver.‘50. And the king’ said, Inquire then whose son this -stripling is.] Jt was natural to desire to krioW whence such a young man came, who so much excelled all other men. • -Ver. 57. And. as David returned from the slaughter of thb Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him unto Said, with the head of the Philistine hi his hand.] He thought it was best the king should learn from his own mouth who he \was: especially after such a glorious exploit.. ■

And Saul said, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite. JVIore discourse, no. doubt, passed 4 ^between them, as appearsiy the next words; but this was; all that was proper to be recorded, in answer to.Saul’s question… CHAP. XVIII." Ver.-l. JxND it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit unto the spul of David,. and he loved him as his own soul.’]. Such was the prudence and modesty of his discourse and behaviour, after such an heroic action, that he entirely gained Jonathan’s affection.