1 Samuel 26

29G A COMMENTARY UPON [chap, xxvr/ And to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab.J Who were the sons of David’s sister, (1 Chron. xi. 1G.) whoso father is no where mentioned; being a man, I suppose, of no note. Saying, Who ivill go down with me to Saul to the camp?] That is, which of these two. And Abishai said, J will go dowmvith thee.] Either Ahimelech declined it, a$ too hazardous an enterprise; or Abishai, being a hot forward young man, offered himself, while the other stood deliberating.

1 Samuel 26:1

AND the Ziphites. The old enemies of David, (xxiii. 19.) Came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?] He thought he might safely return thither, Saul having so lately made peace with him. The Ziphites also could not but hear how he had obliged Saul, and what declaration Saul had made, that he knew David would be king of Israel, (xxiv. 20.) Which David thought might discourage them from meddling any more. But quite contrary, they being afraid, if he came to be king, he would remember and revenge their ill usage of him, went to’excite Saul to destroy him. -: XX.ND David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day bij the hand of Saul.] Wfyose heart he believed was not altered, though he had felt lately some compunction for what He had done against him. But David had the greatest reason to believe he would never be able to compass his design, having God’s promise he should be king of Israel; therefore these words were spoken in a melancholy fit, when he was under some great depression of spirit. 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.] He thought, that as long as he remained in any part of Saul’s dominions, he would never cease his persecution: but by going into an enemy’s country, he would be forced to be quiet.

1 Samuel 26:2

Then Saul arose, and went dotvn to the wilderness ofZiph, with three thousand men of Israel with him. The same number he had the last time he pursued after him, (xxiv. 2.) To seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.] The inconstancy, falseness, and implacable rage of this prince is inconceivable. Who, having not long ago been obliged to David for his life, and had acknowledged his error, and made David swear he would be good to his posterity, yet openly declared himself again to be his enemy, and sought to kill him, * And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him, unto Achish, the son of Maoch,king of Gath.] It is not certain that this was tho same Achish mentioned xxi. 10. with whom David took shelter at his first flight from Saul. He seems rather to have been another, who is distinguished from the former by tho name of his father. But whichsoever he was, he had either invited David to come thither for his security (hoping to make use of his valour or his prudence in his wars), or David had sent ambassadors before to treat with him, and had his’ royal word, that he should be protected by him. And itappears afterward, that he had David in great esteem; for he gave him a town for his own inheritance, (ver. 6.)'

1 Samuel 26:3

And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. That is, by the way that went to the wilderness. But David abode in the ivilderness; and he saw that Saul came after him into the ivilderness.] He thought at first his intelligence had not been true; but he was credibly informed that Saul’s wrath was broke out again, and that he intended to come thither. And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two’wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail the Car* melite, Nabal’s wife.] It was a very capacious place that could contain so many men and their families; some of which might be numerous. And Achish was very generous to receive so many strangers and old soldiers into his royal city, as might have made themselves masters of it. Ahinoam being here mentioned before Abigail, hath made’ many think she was his wife before he took the other.

1 Samuel 26:4

And David ^therefore sent out spies, andunder stood that Saul was come in very deed.* A good captain always hath scouts abroad: who assured him his information was true, and that Saul was not far from him,..’ And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath; and he sought no more againfor him.] Unto which, it is likely, he was inclined; if he had not found it to be in vain.

1 Samuel 26:5

And David arose, and came to a place where Saul had pitched. Within sight of it; where he might observe how they lay. And David beheld where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of the host,] Who, it is likely, lay near him. And Saul lay in the trench.] Or rather, in his chariot, for so the LXX. translate the Hebrew word by XajuTrrjvti, or as some editions have it, a7r//i^: which signifies a chariot drawn by mules, as Bochartus shews out of Homer and other authors, par, i. Hicrozoicon, lib. ii. cap. 19." And the people lay round about him.] He was enclosed, I suppose, with tho carriages; as our marginal translation is of the foregoing word. Ver. G. Then answered David, and said toAhimelech the Hittitc.] A valiant man of that nation, who was a prose-* lyte to the Jewish religion: and not Qnly followed Diivid, but was always near to his person,’" 2Q2 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found

1 Samuel 26:7

So David and Abishai came to the people by night. A bold attempt, for two men to come into the midst of an army of three thousand chosen men, who were not without a watch, though they were now asleep. But a strong confidence In God’s promise that he would preserve him, overcame all fear of danger. And, behold, Saul lay sleeping zvithin the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster; but Abner and the people lay round about him.] To secure his person from any sudden assault..

1 Samuel 26:8

Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.] Though David would not kill him himself, when ho had the like opportunity; (xxiv. 4.) yet Abishai thought he might give him leave to do it: and he undertook to stick him to the ground at one thrust, so that he should make no noise by crying out.

1 Samuel 26:9

And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be 3 guiltless?. Being made king by God’s special appointment, he looked upon it as a high crime to do hira any hurt; because he was a sacred person.

1 Samuel 26:10

David said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. God, who made hira king, after a solemn manner, could only depose him: andthat he could do several ways; either by a sudden stroke, or in the. course of nature, or letting him fall in battle.

1 Samuel 26:11

The Lord forbid that I should stretch my hand against the Lord’s anointed. What he permitted another to do, when he could hinder it, was as if h<) had done it himself. But he abhorred to meddle with that, which belonged to God, as he had before said. But I pray thee, take now the spear that is at his bolster.] As a witness what they could have done, if respect to God, whose anointed he was, had not withheld them. And the cruse of water, and let zis go.] This was set there, cither for him to drink, if he was thirsty, or to wash himself; which was prescribed by their law in case of many pollutions.

1 Samuel 26:12

So David took the spear and the cruse ofzvater. By the hand of Abishai: who, like an excellent soldier, was perfectly subject to his commander, to forbear, or to do whatsoever David enjoined him. And gat them away, and no man saw it, or knew it, neither awaked; for they were all asleep: because a deep sleep from the Lord teas fallen upon them.] The Jewish doctors, in Bereschithllabba, observe, that there are three sorts of that they call tardama, which is the Hebrew word for deep sleep in this place. The first, mere sound sleep, which God sent upon Adam, (Gen. xi. 21.) Tho second is the deep sleep of prophecy, which he sent upon Abraham, (Gen. xv. 12.) Tho third is this hero mentioned, which they call the sleep marinorita (it should bo printed marmota, as Bochart observes), which is a little oreaturo more drowsy than a dormouse. (Hierozoieon, par. i. lib. iii. cap. 33.)

1 Samuel 26:14

And David cried unto the people, and to Abner the soii’of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner?. Art thou still asleep? Tlien Abner answered, and said, Who art thou that criest unto the king?] And disturbest his repose.

1 Samuel 26:15

And David said unto Abner, Art thou not a valiant man, &c. In the Hebrew the \vords are, Art not thmi a man? That is, in place of authority, as well as of great courage and valour. Wherefore hast thou not kept thy lord tho king?] Observed better military discipline, for the preservation of Saul’s person. For there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.] Came into the camp with that intention, and had a very fair opportunity.

1 Samuel 26:16

This thing is not good that thou hast done. A soft way of speaking: but his meaning was, that he was very faulty, as appears by what follows. Ye arc worthy to die, because ye have not kept yvur master, the Lord’s anointed.] Guarded him better from any danger. It is probable they despised David’s small forces, which made them so grossly negligent. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster!] He sets before them tho tokens of their carelessness; and of the opportunity he had to kill Saul.

1 Samuel 26:17

And Said knew David’s voice,andsaid, Is this thy voice, my son David?. He was in great confusion of mind, and knew not what more to say to him. And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.] He humbly acknowledged his authority; and the allegiance he owed him: though hqhad done him so many injuries.

1 Samuel 26:18

Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of a hill afar off (a great space being between them). So that he was in safety, and yet his voice might be heard. And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done, or what evil is in my hand?] Being conscious of his own innocence, David expostulates with hi in in a long speech: and desires, in the first place, to know what crime he had to accuse him of: especially since he lately acknowledged that he was more righteous than himself, (xxiv. 17.);

1 Samuel 26:19

Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of thy servant. Having no answer to that question, he dqsires him to be so patient, as to suffer him to argue awhile with him. If the Lord havestin-ed thee tip against me, let him accept an offering.] For God is not implacable, but willing to be reconciled, if I have offended him. Or the meaning may be, If, for any offence against God, there be just cause for this anger, I refuse not to die, and expiate the faults with my blood. Or the words may refer to Saul, as if he had said, Offer to God some sacrifice, that he, being appeased, may free thee from this pertinacious melancholy. But if they be the children of men, cursed be they befori r IVI I *# d CHAP. XXVI.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. the Lord; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the Lord.] From having any settled abode in his own country; which he foresaw he should be forced also to leave, as we read he did in the next chapter. Saying, Go, serve other gods.] That was the effect of their actions, though they did not say so in so many words. For they banished him into a nation of another religion, as Mr. Mede expounds these words. (See book iii. p. 823.)

1 Samuel 26:20

Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord. God seeing it, and being the avenger. For the king of Israel cometh out to seek a flea.] Which was neither for his profit nor for his glory. (See xxiv. 14.) As when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.] Hunt a poor bird from mountain to mountain, with a great deal of labour, which is not easily caught, and worth nothing when one hath it: the Hebrew word kore is no where to be found, but here and in Jer. xvii. 11. from both which places we learn it was a mountainous bird of no great value: in taking of which, the fowler spent his pains to little purpose. And it was one of those birds that sits upon the eggs of other’ birds; as the words of Jeremiah import, “She gathereth what she hath not brought forth,” that is, eggs which she did not lay. From which it is apparent, that this word doth not signify a partridge, which is a bird of price, and doth not sit on other birds’ eggs; but, as Bochart hath taken a great deal of pains to shew, was a bird with a long bill and short feet, called rusticula. I will not mention the opinions of interpreters about it, for they are very various, and the same men are not constant to themselves; for It. Solomon, w T ho here takes it for a partridge, in that place of the prophet Jeremiah takes it for a cuckoo. • (See Hierozoicon, par. ii. lib. i. cap. 12.)

1 Samuel 26:21

Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David. He invites him to come to the court again; which is more than he did at their former meeting. For I will no more’ do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: I lutve played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.] This is a very ingenuous confession, wherein he condemned himself as a great offender against God and against David. In which for the present, no doubt, he was very serious, and both ashamed and sorry for what he had done. •.

1 Samuel 26:22

And David answered and said, Behold the king’s spear! let one of the young men come over and fetch it. He durst not venture to go and present it himself to’ Saul, though it was the testimony of his fidelity and affection to him. For he did not know but the evil spirit might come on a sudden upon him, and make him change his good resolution.

1 Samuel 26:23

Tlie Lord render to every man according to his righteousness and faithfulness: for the Lord delivered thee this day into my liand, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lord’s anointed.] He repeats what Saul had confessed, the.more to affect his heart with it: and tells him he doubted not the Lord would deal with him accordingly? howsoever Saui used him. Ver. 24; Behold, as thy life was set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be set by in the sight of the Lord, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.] He prays God to deal with him as he had done with Saul; and then he doubted not to come out of all his troubles.,

1 Samuel 26:25

And Saul said unto David, Blessed be thou, my son David; thoushalt do great things, and also shalt still prevail. He perceived it was in vain to contend any longer against David, whom God designed for great things (as he saw by his most worthy and noble actions), and would still have the better of him, until he came to the throne: for possibly Saul looked upon the taking away his spear> which I observed (upon xxii. 6.) was his sceptre, as an omen the royal authority should be translated to David. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.] To Gibeah, from whence he came, (ver. 1.) but David did not think fit to accompany him, remembering how fickle he was, and therefore, notwithstanding all those good words, not to be trusted. CHAP.. XXVII.