Israelites, Exod. xvii. 8. Judg. iii. 13. and, besides were great sinners themselves: but they were not cut off till their iniquity had come to the full, and after a respite of more than 400 years from the time when their sentence was first pronounced, Exod. xvii. 14. of which they could not be ignoraut, but which they might have averted by repentance. They were therefore fit objects of the vengeance of the righteous Judge of all the earth, to be inflicted by the sword of the Israelites, the executioners of His decrees.

9.-Saul-spared Agag, &c.] Here Saul was guilty of two very great faults: 1st, of covetousness, in preserving for himself the best of all those spoils which God had expressly commanded to be utterly destroyed; 2ndly, of vanity, and ostentation, in taking Agag alive, and bringing him with him in triumph, when God had peremptorily commanded him to destroy them all.

11. It repenteth me that I have set up Saul &c.] Meaning that He had resolved to deprive him of the throne. Repentance in God implies only a change in His dispensation towards His creatures: it is ascribed to God when He alters His course and method of dealing, and treats a person as if He indeed repented of the kindness He had shewn him. God speaks as a man, to make Himself understood of men. See note at Gen. vi. 6.

12. he set him up a place,] Meaning probably, that he raised a pillar or arch in token of his victory, or built an altar.

13.-I have performed the commandment of the Lord.] Saul seems to have expected praise, and not reproof for what he had done; but, as appears from the Prophet's answer, while the sinner neither saw nor heard his sins, they cried aloud in the ears of God. We cannot but notice here the strange blindnessof a carnal and worldly heart; we are all too apt, like Saul, to mistake a part for the whole of our duty, and even to pride ourselves in such a partial obedience, as if it was uniform and complete.

15.-the people spared &c.] This was a mean excuse, to throw the blame on the people, when he himself was principally in fault, as if what the people did was not done by his authority. This being too evident to be denied, he next makes au excuse drawn from a pretence of religion; which was as much as to say, we have disobeyed the commandment of God in order to serve Him.

22. to obey is better than sacrifice, &c.] The meaning is, that a good life is better not only than Jewish sacrifices, but better even than the best of any worship that is paid to God. Nevertheless, as the one ought above all things to be done, so the other ought not by any means to be left undone; nay, the worshipping God is part of that very obedience, and a means to enable men to

perform more acceptably the other parts of their obedience to Him.

23.-rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, &c.] The word we bere render "witchcraft" signifies the following of divinations and enchantments, which were superstitions forbidden by the Law, and were justly looked upon as idolatry or a renouncing of God, in having recourse to other real or imaginary powers in opposition to Him. The meaning is therefore, that 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.

32. Surely the bitterness of death is past.] Agag's meaning seems to be, either, that having been spared by Saul and the army, he now apprehended no hurt from Samuel; or else, that being now vanquished and having lost his kingdom, he was resigned to his fate, and thought death itself not so grievous.

CHAP. XVI.

Verse 2.-and say, I am come to sacrifice] Though Samuel's principal design was to anoint the son of Jessp, yet there was no falsehood in saying, that he came to sacrifice. For in fact, he did sacrifice as the Lord commanded him.

6. Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.] Samuel on seeing the comely person of Eliab, said, or thought, the man to be anointed king according to God's command, is this that stands before Him.

13.-anointed him] He did not hereby invest him actually with the kingly power, but only marked him 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.

14.-an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.] The evil spirit that came on Saul 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 and good mind; introduce an almost perpetual gloom, and expose men to the most unwarrantable and criminal excesses.

CHAP. XVII.

Verse 4.-six cubits and a span.] Above eleven feet; or, according to some calculations, not more than nine.

5.-the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.] The estimate of this weight depends on that of the shekel; it could hardly be

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less than 150 pounds, nor more than 200. The weight of his spear's head was probably from 16 to 24 pounds.

12. the man went among men for an old man] He was accounted an old man, and therefore was excused from going to the war.

18.take their pledge.] This pledge was probably something used as a token that the person who brought it, was sent by them to let their father know that they began to want a supply of provision. David therefore is ordered to take this pledge and return it to his brothers, that they might have it to send again if necessary.

28.-Eliab's anger was kindled against David,] Eliab, full of envy and indignation lest David should achieve what he himself had not dared to undertake, reproved him with the most taunting questions, as if nothing but vain curiosity had brought him thither.

29.-Is there not a cause?] Is there not just cause for my offering myself to encounter this giant, since none other dares to take away this reproach from Israel, and our God?

39.—he assayed to go; for he had not proved it.] He put on the armour to try how it would suit him, not having been accustomed to such before.

46. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand;] In saying this, Davdoes not vainly boast beforehand of the victory, as Goliath had done; but being full of faith, he praised the Divine Omnipotence, and prophesied of an assured victory. It is plain that, even at this time, David was inspired with a large measure of the Spirit of God.

CHAP. XVIII.

Verse 1.-it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking-that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David,] Jonathan was so taken with the prudence and modesty of David's discourse and behaviour, that his soul was knit in affection with that of David.

2.-Saul-would let him go no more home &c.] He took him with him to court, instead of letting him return to his father's house.

3.-made a covenant,] Entered into a solemn league of mutual friendship.

9.-Saul eyed David] Looked upon him, as one whom he envied, hated, and feared.

10.-he prophesied in the midst of the house :] He sung some sacred songs before the whole court; which he did perhaps, that David might suspect no danger from him. Perhaps too, his mind being disturbed with various roving thoughts about his own condition and about David, he was made by God to foretell that David would be heir of his kingdom.

15.-when Saul saw that he behaved himself very

wisely, he was afraid of him.] His fears increased as he saw David still grow so prudent, that no exception could be taken to his behaviour.

17.-Saul said to David,my elder daughter Merab,-will I give thee to wife:] Notwithstanding Saul's hatred of David, he felt obliged to give him his daughter in marriage, in consequence of the promise he had publickly made to him that should kill Goliath.

21.-that she may be a snare to him,] That David might perish in some of the dangers, to which he was to be exposed, as the condition of having her to wife. For Saul required David, instead of his giving any dowry for his wife, (as was usual among the Hebrews,) to slay an hundred Philis tines, ver. 25.

-Thou shalt-be my son in law in the one of the twain.] By marrying one of his two daughters: for though David was disappointed in one of them, yet Saul's promise was fulfilled if he married the other.

26.—the days were not expired.] The days for fulfilling the condition were not yet expired.

CHAP. XIX.

Verse 5.-he did put his life in his hand,] That is, exposed himself to great danger, when he encountered Goliath.

17.-He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?] Michal falsely pretends, that she attempted to detain her husband, but that he threat. ened to kill her, if she did. The conjugal fidelity and affection displayed by her on this occasion are much obscured by this falsehood, which she told, to the disgrace of her husband, to excuse herself to her father.

20.-they also prophesied.] They no sooner arrived, and heard the prophets singing their divine hymns, than they were inspired with the same spirit, sang praises to God in the same strain, and had no inclination left to meddle with David.

23.-and prophesied,] This word may denote those actions, motions, and distortions, which prophets in their inspirations were wont to exhibit. But in this place, prophesying is generally supposed to signify Saul's singing psalms or hymns of praise and thanksgiving; which he was compelled to do, even against his will, to teach him the vanity of his designs against David, and to shew that, in them he fought against God.

We have here a pleasing instance of the care of Providence over persecuted virtue, and of the weakness of human malice towards those whom God is determined to preserve.

24.-lay down naked] In this expression, and others of the same import, Isai. xx. 2. Mic. i. 8. we are not to understand that the persons were

entirely naked, but only that they took off a part of their clothing, or their upper garment. Saul probably on this occasion took off his military habit and royal robe, and thus appeared like the rest of the prophets, a plain, disarmed, and therefore naked man.

- Wherefore they say, Is Saul also &c.] This proverb was used to express any thing unlooked for, and improbable. See note at Chap. x. ver. 12.

CHAP. XX.

Verse 14.-the kindness of the Lord.] The kindness covenanted between us before the Lord. Chap. xviii. 8.

15.-thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house] Jonathan implores David to continue his kindness to him and his posterity, after David should be raised to the throne and all his enemies destroyed.

Jonathan was persuaded that David would one day sit upon the throne, and yet he was not in the least jealous of him, because he knew it was the will of God. These sentiments of Jonathan express the greatness of his soul, and give a proof of his piety. True and solid friendship is founded upon virtue; and instead of being jealous of the advantages of our friends, makes their happiness our joy, and our satisfaction.

23.-the Lord be between thee and me] As a witness and avenger, if we keep not the covenant we have made of perpetual friendship.

26. he is not clean;] He thought that he had fallen into some legal uncleanness, which prevented him from attending.

30.--Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman,] Or rather, Thou son of perverse rebellion; that is, Thou perverse rebel.

-unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?] For the world would think that he was not the son of Saul, because he loved so greatly a person whom Saul so thoroughly hated.-Or the meaning is, This thy favour to David will be to thy own wrong and shame, by depriving thee of the kingdom, as if thou wert base. born; and to the shame of thy mother, who will by this act be proclaimed an adulteress, and a dishonourer of my bed.

40.-his artillery] His weapons, his bow and

arrows.

41.-until David exceeded.] Proceeded to an excess of grief, being about to become an exile from his friend, his wife, his kindred, and people, and the sacred solemnities of his religion,

CHAP. XXI.

Verse 1.-Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David,] Seeing him without his usual attend

ants, and having heard, perhaps, of the king's displeasure against him.

2. The king hath commanded me a business, &c.] We are not hence to take an example of speaking untruths, but to deplore the wickedness of the world; since the most excellent men have sometimes been induced to tell a falsehood, for the purpose of preserving their lives.

3.--what is under thine hand?] He desires to know what he was able to do for him to supply his wants.

4.-hallowed bread;] That is, the shewbread, which was to be eaten by none but the priests and their families; and which Ahimelech permits David and his men to eat, provided they were in the same state of legal cleanness which was required of the priests.

5.-yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.] Or, as the words may be translated, especially when this day there is other sanctified. He means, new bread was set upon the table, so that what was taken off was now become the food not only of the priest, but of his whole family, and so was in a manner common bread, and might be given to David and his men in their present necessity. Our Saviour Himself teaches that invincible necessity may dispense with ritual laws. Matt. xii. 3, 4,

7.-detained before the Lord;] Detained at the tabernacle by some vow, or other religious performance to which he had obliged himself,

10.-went to Achish the king of Gath.] Such was David's miserable condition, that he was forced to flee for protection to those whom he had reason to think were his bitter enemies: Gath was the city of Goliath, whose sword David now had about him.

CHAP. XXII,

Verse 1.-the cave Adullam:] This was a strong hold in the tribe of Judah. It was on David's happy escape from the Philistines on this occasion, that he wrote the xxxivth psalm.

2.-every one that was in debt,and-discontented, gathered themselves unto him;] David probably felt himself obliged to take this course in his defence, that he might not be suddenly surprised by any party Saul might bring against him; and he adopted it, without the least intention of raising a rebellion against Saul, or of doing him an injury; much less of injuring his country.

15. Did Ithen begin to enquire of God for him?] He says that, in consulting the oracle then, he did no more than he had often done before, in duty to Saul, without being blamed; for he conceived that David his servant and son was employed on his business.

10.-the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword,] In this destruction of the priests was fulfilled the word of God against the house of Eli, as mentioned in Chap. ii. and iii.

Such was the strange and irregular temper of Saul, that he destroyed the innocent and spared the guilty: he exterminated those whom he was obliged by the oath of God to protect; and shewed mercy to the Amalakites, whom God had commanded him to destroy. But howsoever faulty and strange this conduct may seem in him, the case is too frequently not unlike with us all. How apt are we to gratify our passions at the expense of our duty! How earnest to serve the world, our lusts, and our interests; but how cold, languid, and partial, in obeying the most positive commands of God!

Verse 5.So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.] This is one of the noblest adventures of David's life. Another man in his place would have rejoiced at this invasion, and perhaps encouraged it, and this both from self-preservation and policy; because he had nothing to fear for himself while Saul had such an enemy on his hands, and because the distress of the country was most likely to bring Saul to reason. But David was governed by no such narrow views; and neither safety nor honour was desirable to him, when purchased by the distress of his country and friends.

Verse 3.-went in to cover his feet:] Went in to take some sleep. See note on Judg. iii. 24.

5.-David's heart smote him,] He was inwardly troubled at having done au evil thing, it being deemed an indignity to a prince to have his royal robe so disfigured.

This example of David, who refusing to return evil for evil to his greatest enemy, spared Saul after all the provocations he had received from him, abundantly shews us that the persons of kings are sucred and inviolable.

13.- wickedness proceedeth from the wicked:] Men may be known by their actions. David means to say, if I were as bad as I am represented, I should not have hesitated to kill thee, when thou wert in my power. But I will never commit such a crime. It is for wicked men to do this: but I am noue of them.

14.-after a dead dog, &c.] David represents himself as a contemptible person, that he might

convince Saul it was not for his honour to take away his life.

CHAP. XXV.

Verse 7.-now I have heard that thou hast shearers:] That is, that he was shearing his sheep, on which occasion it was usual to make a feast for the family and the persons employed.

8.-whatsoever cometh to thine hand] What thou canst spare.

10.-there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his muster.] He insolently reproaches them as a company of fugitives and vagabonds; and taxes David secretly with infidelity to his master Saul.

13.-abode by the stuff.] Remained in the wil derness to guard their property. 17.-he is such a son of Belial, wilful and obstinate.

18.-two bottles of wine,]

Nabal is so

Not such bottles as

are now in use, which would be nothing among David's company; but two skins or leathern bags of wine, which were used in eastern countries, being carried on asses and camels. Two such vessels as these might hold a quantity of wine proportioned to the rest of the present.

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22.-if I leave-to him by the morning light any &c.] If I leave to him any male alive. 25.-as his name is, so is he;] Nabal" in Hebrew signifies a foolish man. She represents him as a man that offended rather out of folly than from malice, which might plead some excuse for his rudeness.

27.—this blessing] This present or gift. 29.-shall be bound in the bundle of life] That is, shall be preserved; for we are wont to bind up in bundles those things which we would not have lost or scattered about. "And the souls of thine enemies, them shall He sling out;" an expression which implies, that they shall be cast away, or destroyed.

32. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, &c.] Some perhaps might think that the ungrateful conduct of Nabal, heightened by reproachful language, would have warranted the sharpest revenge. But vengeance is so peculiarly the prerogative of the Almighty, that no consideration whatever can warrant the best of men in indulging such a feeling. On this occasion, David being seasonably prevented from imbruing his hand in blood, breaks forth into the praises and thanksgivings here expressed; which serve to teach us the important truth, that the prevention of sin is one of the greatest mercies which God can vouchsafe to us in this world. We ought therefore to thank God when He keeps us from offending against His laws, and executing our evil intentions,

37.-his heart died within him, and he became as stone.] His heart became insensible to all feeljog, and a numbness pervaded his whole body.

We have in this example an awful warning against the sins of gluttony and drunkenness, which not only destroy the health of the body, but harden the heart, and render it dead to all sense of duty.

39.-when David heard that Nabul was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, &c.] David does not rejoice in the death of Nabal, who was a worthless wretch; but in the justice of God, who shewed in this instance that right will be done to men, provided they have patience, without their taking vengeance into their own hands.

In the whole of this affair with Nabal, it must be allowed, that David's passion, and his oath to destroy Nabal and his family, are by no means to be vindicated: although the provocation given him was great, yet the oath was rash, and the resolution cruel. It is clear that David himself in his calmer moments, highly disapproved of such conduct, for he blesses the Lord for having kept him from evil.

CHAP. XXVI.

Verse 5.-Saul lay in the trench,] Or, as the words may be translated, in the midst of his carriages, that is, in a place surrounded by the carriages.

9.-who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?] Although David was himself anointed king, and cruelly persecuted by Saul; and though he might have pleaded necessity and providence as much as any persons ever could (when Saul was thus strangely delivered into his hands), yet we see what opinion he had of the sacredness of the person of even a bad king. It was not his modesty or policy which kept him from injuring Saul, for he expressly declares, that it was the sin of so doing which kept him from it. He knew it was sufficient to leave the judgment of Saul's conduct to God.

19. If the Lord have stirred thee up 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 God hath excited you against me on the score of any guilt for which I deserve to die, I am ready to be sacrificed in atonement for it. 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 thy obstinate and malicious spirit.

-saying, Go, serve other gods.] David complains that the malice of his enemies obliged him to fly his country, and seek refuge in a nation of another religion; which was in effect like saying to him, "go serve other gods."

20. let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the Lord:] Let me not die by thy hands, for God cannot but see and avenge such wicked

ness.

10.

CHAP. XXVII.

Verse 1.-David said-1 shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul:] These thoughts seem to have entered into David's heart in a melancholy fit, when he was under some great depression of spirit; for as he had God's promise that he should become king of Israel, he had the strongest possible reason to believe, that Saul would never be able to compass his design against him. -a road] Or an excursion. —Against the south of Judah, &c.] swers Achish artfully in these ambiguous words; that he might understand him to have assaulted the land of Judah itself, whereas he had in reality assaulted the people who bordered on the parts he mentioned. It is hard to reconcile this management with justice, truth, or gratitude: neither are we bound to justify or approve all the actions even of good men recorded in Scripture.

David an

12. He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.] The enmity between him and his own people being, as Achish thought, irreconcilable, he must make him his friend by faithful service for

ever.

CHAP. XXVIII.

Verse 2.-keeper of mine head] Captain of his guard, or some great officer near his person.

6.-when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not,] Danger and distress frightened this hardened sinner, and compelled him to " enquire of the Lord;" but as it was not a real sorrow for his sins that troubled him, but a fear of the destruction just falling upon him, God answers not his prayers and enquiries. There is a certain degree of longsuffering and forbearance, beyond which even the Divine goodness will not extend. Provocations may proceed to such a height as to leave no room for further mercy. God will then withdraw His Grace, deserting the impenitent hardened wretch, and abandoning him to the wild pursuit of his own inventions. This is a matter of dreadful consideration to all impenitent offenders; and yet it should not be a discouragement to any man against repenting: because the very disposition or inclination to repentance is a hopeful symptom and a promising argument in his favour, that his day of grace is not past, and that it is not too late

to return.

7.-a woman that hath a familiar spirit,] A woman famed for raising up ghosts (as the world

DD