Saul's fruitless Before CHRIST CHAP. XV. hast rejected the word of the LORD, | about 1079. he hath also rejected thee from being king. 24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. voking a nature, that the obstinate commission of it is altogether inconsistent with all true principles of religion, and, in effect, a total renunciation of them. The word "iniquity," in the latter part of the verse, is iniquity towards God, the forsaking his worship, the denying Him his true honour, the turning from Him to false gods, or joining them with Him; and therefore it is expressed by two words together, iniquity and idolatry. The latter part of the verse is only a repeating and strengthening of the assertion laid down in the former part rebelling by obstinate disobedience against the true God, is like serving a false one; and stubbornness in obeying God partially, or serving Him only after our own way or humour, is the same thing as not serving Him at all. Dr. S. Clarke. God considers all opposition against lawful authority as a sin against Himself. He declares, that "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry:" the meaning of which is this; that if a man were a Jew, and yet a rebel, he might as well be an heathen: if he were too stubborn to submit to the ordinances of God, he might as well be a sorcerer, or serve idols. And it is worthy of observation, that this severe sentence is against Saul, a king, who usurped the authority of the priesthood, and pleaded a godly reason for it. But so jealous is God, for the wisest ends, upon this subject, that no dignity of person, no appearance of reason, is admitted in excuse for the sin of rebellion. We therefore rightly pray in the Liturgy of the Church of England, that God would deliver us from rebellion in the state and schism in the church; and in order to this we should also pray, that He would deliver us from the principles out of which they proceed; for none of our reasonings will prevail in this case. Jones of Nayland. he hath also rejected thee from being king.] The ungrateful monarch, stubborn in rebellion against the will of his heavenly Benefactor, is now decisively informed that God had rejected him. At first with daring falsehood he steadily averred to Samuel, that he had obeyed the commandment of the Lord. Then he charged the disobedience on the people; then pretended that the sheep and oxen were saved for purposes of sacrifice. Driven from evasion to evasion, he could no longer dissemble his guilt, but was constrained to confess that he had feared the people instead of God, had obeyed their voice instead of the voice of God. The extreme solicitude with which, after his confession, he importuned Samuel to turn with him and honour him before the elders of the people, shewed that the respect of men humiliation. Before CHRIST 27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the about 1079. skirt of his mantle, and it rent. 28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. Eternity, or, 29 And also the Strength of Or, Israel will not lie nor repent: for he victory. is not a man, that he should repent. 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. was still the darling object of his heart. To the conduct of Saul, in the whole of this transaction, can a name more appropriate than Folly be ascribed? Can any fact be more clearly ascertained than that sin and folly are the same? Gisborne. 24.-because I feared the people,] It is probable that in this Saul only prevaricated, and endeavoured to dissemble with God; his authority was so great and absolute, that he had no occasion to fear the people; and his own covetousness certainly made him readily consent to the people and army, even if, as does not appear, the first motion came from them. Dr. Wells. If this excuse had been true, it would have been rather an aggravation, than a diminution of his crime. To fear the people whom he ought to command, was a weakness unworthy of a king. To dispense with a positive command of God, was an impious presumption; to obey man rather than God, was wicked and profane. Wogan. 28. The Lord hath rent &c.] God was not moved with Saul's expressions of repentance, because his repentance was not sincere; and the fear of being deprived of his kingdom was his chief motive. For this reason, Samuel insisted that God had rejected him, and would never see him more. The sorrow of the wicked is not always true repentance; it is often nothing but a worldly sorrow; and therefore God, who knoweth the heart, disregards it, and forsakes them when the measure of their iniquity is full. Ostervald. 29. the Strength of Israel &c.] He tells him it must be unavailing for him to importune any further, for that it was not with the great and all-wise God as with hasty and irresolute men; and it was his unalterable decree to transfer the crown from him, and give it to one of less passion and more piety. Pyle. As any judge or inferiour magistrate would deserve to suffer death, who should neglect his duty to his sovereign, when peremptorily commanded to execute justice in any matter; so considering the infinite difference between God and man, and the long train of wickedness into which Saul afterwards ran, the severity of God can hardly be thought excessive, in punishing his contempt of this great command by the alienation of the crown from his family. Stackhouse. 30. yet honour me-before the elders of my people,] Saul, though he used no diligence to regain the favour of God, was yet very solicitous that his honour might be preserved in the opinion of the people. Thus do too many care little for their consciences, yet stand much upon their credit. They are loth to leave their sins, and as loth to own them: therefore they try to Samuel and Saul part. Before CHRIST 31 So Samuel turned again after | at his coming, and said, Comest about 1079. Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. d Exod. 17. 11. Numb. 14, 45. about 1063. + Heb. in thine hand. 33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul. 35 And Samuel came no more to 1 Samuel sent by God, under pretence of a AND the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. 2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer + with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD. 3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. 4 And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the town trembled throw a cloak over them, that the outside may look comely, and the dishonour that is underneath may not be seen. Bp. Sanderson. 32. came unto him delicately.] Not like an offender expecting sentence of death, but in the garb and gesture which became his kingly quality. Poole. Surely the bitterness &c.] Having been spared by Saul and his army, he now apprehended no hurt from Samuel. And Samuel hewed] Caused it to be done by the publick executioner. It appears from Samuel's words to Agag that he was not cut off merely for the sins of his ancestors, but also for his own merciless cruelties. Bp. Patrick. Chap. XVI. ver. 2. Before CHRIST about 1063. + Heb. 5 And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: meeting. sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him. 7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or 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 + Heb. eyes. the LORD looketh on the a heart. a 1 Chron. 28. 9. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and Ps. 7. 9. made him pass before Samuel. And Jer. 11. 20. & he said, Neither hath the LORD cho- 12. sen this. 9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 17. 10. & 20. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not b2 Sam. 7. 8. down till he come hither. sit in. Ps. 78. 70. ↑ Heb. 12 And he sent, and brought him round. Now he was ruddy, and withal of eyes. of a beautiful countenance, and Heb. fair goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him for this is he. 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of Though the principal design of Samuel's journey to Beth-lehem was to anoint the son of Jesse, yet there was no falsehood in saying, according to the instruction given him, that he came to sacrifice. In fact, he did offer sacrifice as the Lord commanded, ver. 5. It is true, he had a further intention, but he was under no obligation to disclose this; and the concealing one design by going upon another can never be matter of blame, when concealment tends to good. Dr. Waterland. 4. Comest thou peaceably?] They suspected that the purpose of his coming might be, to reprove them for some misdemeanour, or to pronounce some judgment on them for it. Pyle. 13. — anointed him] He did not hereby invest him · and say, I am come to sacrifice] actually with the kingly power, but only marked him. CHAP. XVI, XVII. his brethren and the Spirit of the about 1063. LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. about 1065. || Or, terrified. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD || troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and || Or, speech. prudent in || matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him. 19 Wherefore Saul sent messen about 1063. out to succeed Saul after his death. Thus David always understood it, looking upon Saul, as long as he lived, as the Lord's anointed, or as king of Israel. in the midst of his brethren :] It should have been translated, from the midst of his brethren; that is, he singled him out from the rest, and privately anointed him. For it is manifest that Samuel was afraid to have it known, and therefore did not anoint him publickly in the midst of his brethren. And by Eliab's treatment of David after this, chap. xvii. 28, it plainly enough appears that he did not know him to be the king elect of God's people. Bp. Patrick. the Spirit of the Lord came upon David] God, by the influence of his power and Spirit, inspired a disposition into David, as He had before inspired into Saul, after his consecration, worthy of royalty. He no longer considered himself as a shepherd, but as destined to be a king; and was endued with courage, resolution, and prudence to fit him for the events which awaited him, and for the government of God's people, whenever he should be promoted to that dignity. Dr. Chandler. The Spirit of the Lord coming upon David, accounts for the extraordinary effects and endowments, which immediately followed after his designation to the throne: otherwise it would indeed be difficult to explain, how a designation to empire, which in common circumstances is too apt to debase, corrupt, and overset with vanity, should raise an obscure uneducated youth, in an obscure age and country, without the advantage either of instruction or example, into the greatest musician, the noblest poet, and the most consummate hero of all antiquity. Stackhouse. 14. an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.] An evil spirit, by permission of God, troubled him by causing in him, or putting into his mind, suspicious, timorous, envious, and melancholy thoughts. Dr. Wells. The obstinate infatuation, afterwards displayed to quiet his evil spirit. Before CHRIST gers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the about 1063. sheep. 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. 21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. 23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand : so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. by Saul, savours of something more than common frenzy or madness; it seems similar to the case of Pharaoh, after he had resisted all the means of grace, when the Lord at length hardened his heart to his destruction. The "evil spirit from the Lord" which actuated Saul strongly resembles the demoniacal possessions of the New Testament; for the persons, so possessed of devils, raved on several occasions in a manner much resembling the conduct of Saul. Dr. Hales. Or perhaps it is meant, that the remorses of his conscience, the menaces of Samuel, God's rejection of him, and his continual apprehensions of being dethroned by his competitor, exasperated his natural temper, generated a melancholy habit of mind, and carried him by fits into actual madness. Stackhouse. The evil spirit that came on him from, or by permission of, the Lord, was the evil spirit of melancholy, jealousy, envy, and cruelty: such an evil spirit will, in the nature of things, banish the spirit of a sound mind, moderation, equity, and every princely virtue; introduce an almost perpetual gloom, and dispose men to the most unwarrantable and criminal excesses. Dr. Chandler. 23. the evil spirit departed from him.] The bad effects of the melancholy and disorder caused by the evil spirit departed from him for a time, being removed by the alteration which the musick made in his animal spirits. Dr. Wells. The original use of musick was probably to compose the spirits, and to render the mind sedate, at the solemnities of religion, sacrifice, &c.; afterwards, to soothe and tranquillize the imagination and the fancy, for purposes of repose: and this appears still to be the character in which Eastern musick excels, where not science, but expression prevails. Saul was at this time an hypochondriack, whose low spirits were relieved by the cheerful and animating vibrations of the young shepherd's careless harp; and it may easily be conceived Goliath defieth Israel. Before CHRIST about 1063. || Or, the coast of Dammim. ↑ Heb. ranged the battle. + Heb. clothed. Before CHRIST sheweth the reason of his confidence. 38 and ye servants to Saul? choose you No WOW the Philistines gathered to- 2 And Saul and the men of Israel 4 ¶ And there went out a champion 5 And he had an helmet of brass 6 And he had greaves of brass upon Or, gorget. his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. 7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron and one bearing a shield went before him. 8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, to me. 9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. 10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid. 12 Now David was a the son of a Chap. 16. 1. | 14 And David was the youngest : 15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Beth-lehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. 17 And Jesse said unto David his Why are ye come out to set your bat-son, Take now for thy brethren an tle in array? am not I a Philistine, ephah of this parched corn, and these how well adapted to such a purpose were the unstudied strains of David, which were bold and free from his courage, and sedate through his piety. Script. illust. Chap. XVII. ver. 1.- Shochoh and Azekah,] These places lay to the south of Jerusalem, and east of Bethlehem; about four leagues from the former, and five from the latter. Calmet. 2. by the valley of Elah,] "After some miles of hard journey over hills and rocks, we entered the famous Terebinthine vale, renowned for centuries as the field of the victory gained by David over the uncircumcised Philistine. Nothing has occurred to alter the face of the country. The very brook whence David chose the five smooth stones has been noticed by many a thirsty pilgrim, journeying from Jaffa to Jerusalem, all of whom must pass it in their way. The ruins of goodly edifices indeed attest the religious veneration, entertained in later periods for the hallowed spot: but even these are now become so insignificant, that they are scarcely discernible; and nothing can be said to interrupt the native dignity of this memorable scene." Dr. E. D. Clarke. 4. six cubits and a span.] Above eleven feet, according to Bp. Cumberland. 5. was five thousand shekels] The estimate of this weight depends on that of the shekel; it could hardly be less than 150lbs. nor more than 200. The weight of his spear's head, ver. 7, 600 shekels, was probably from 16 to 24lbs. Script. illust. 6. greaves of brass] These were necessary to defend the legs and feet from the iron stakes placed in the way by the enemy, to gall and wound their opponents: they were a part of ancient military furniture, rendered necessary by the artifices of the contending parties. Burder. 17.- Take now for thy brethren &c.] It is reasonably supposed, that, in those days, the soldiers went to war at their own charge, or found themselves in provisions. Dr. Wells. It is observable, that David himself was not at first concerned in the war, and only went to the army apparently by accident. In all this, the particular hand of Providence is visible, which thus disposed circumstances for the exaltation of David, when he thought nothing of it; and, from the lowly condition of life in which he had been brought up, made him his brethren in the camp, Before CHRIST CHAP. XVII. ten loaves, and run to the camp to about 1063. thy brethren; + Heb. cheeses of milk. + Heb. captain of a thousand. 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. 20 ¶ And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. Or, place of the the carriage. Or, battle array, or, place of fight. † Heb. the vessels from upon him. + Heb. asked his brethren of peace. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army. 22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. 23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words and David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when + Heb. from they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid. his face. the deliverer of his people, and afterwards their king. Ostervald. 18.- take their pledge.] The meaning of this phrase is not clear. According to some, it means that he should bring something from them which might certify Jesse of their health. Others translate the word, not pledge, but business; and understand the sense to be, Bring me word what they do, how they behave themselves, with whom they associate, &c. Bp. Patrick. Perhaps the pledge is meant which they gave for the purchase of this food. Houbigant. 22. — left his carriage] In which he had brought the provision sent by his father. Bp. Patrick. 25. make his father's house free] Free from tribute and taxes: this was a royal privilege, and ennobled the family on which it was conferred. Dr. Wells. 26. What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, &c.] The workings of David's modesty and valour are finely painted in these questions. His modesty would not suffer him directly and openly to accept the challenge, and profess himself Goliath's antagonist; and yet the fortitude of his own beating VOL. I. accepteth the challenge. Before CHRIST 26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall about 1063. be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? 27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. 28¶ And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. 29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? 30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same + manner: and the people an- + Heb. word. swered him again after the former manner. 31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for Heb. took him. 32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. him. breast, and the glory of the undertaking, left him wholly at a loss why others should decline it. Dr Delaney. 28. - and Eliab's anger was kindled] Eliab, who knew David's spirit, soon perceived his design; and, filled with indignation lest David should achieve what he himself had not dared to undertake, reproved him with the most taunting questions, as if nothing but vanity and a vicious curiosity had drawn him thither. Dr. Delaney. 29. Is there not a cause ?] Is there not just cause for my offering myself to encounter this giant, since none other is bold enough to take away this reproach from Israel, and our God? Dr. Wells. David has first to overcome his brethren's envy; before he engages the proud Philistine; but his greatest victory is over himself. His meekness does this; his faith and love to God did the other. His mild answer, "Is there not a cause?" implied both, and shewed at once his virtue and his piety. He is fittest to be God's champion, who has learnt to master his own passions. Wogan. 33.-Thou art not able to go] Meaning, "Thou 2 R |