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 Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. Ver. 1. _How long wilt thou mourn for Saul?_] Mourn he... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 2. _And Samuel said, How can I go?_] This he might ask, not so much out of diffidence - for he was old and experienced; and if Solon co... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 3. _And call Jesse to the sacrifice._] Who was grandchild to Ruth the Moabitess, Rth 4:22 now grown a great lady in Bethlehem, great-grandmother to the king of I... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably? Ver. 4. _And the elders of the town trembled at his coming._] Not because they feared him, but themselves, lest guilty of some great sin, or in danger... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice. Ver. 5. _I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord._] This prophets might do, either upon occasion, or without, fo... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed [is] before him. Ver. 6. _He looked on Eliab._] Who was of a goodly stature and presence, but proud and uncourteous. 1Sa 17:28 _Fronti nulla fides._ Samuel had seen how ill Saul proved, though pr... [ Continue Reading ]
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 the LORD looketh on the heart. Ver. 7. _Because I have refused him._] _Licet primogenitum, p... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Ver. 8. _Then Jesse._] Who was now made of the council.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. Ver. 9. _Then Jesse made Shammah._] Called elsewhere Shimeah; 2Sa 13:3 and Shimma. 1Ch 2:13... [ Continue Reading ]
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. Ver. 10. _Again, Jesse made seven of his sons._] For he had eight in all, 1Sa 17:12 though one of them likely died without issue, and is not therefore reckoned. 1Ch 2:13... [ Continue Reading ]
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 sit down till he come hither. Ver. 11. _Are here all thy children?_] God will say to such as mak... [ Continue Reading ]
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he [was] ruddy, [and] withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this [is] he. Ver. 12. _Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance._] Not _rufus,_ red haired, as Pellicau and Junius render it... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. Ver. 13. _Then Samuel took the horn of oil._] Not a cruse or phial, as when Saul and Jehu were anointed, to show t... [ Continue Reading ]
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. Ver. 14. _But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul._] He lost his royal abilities and achievements; he that was before _in bellis acer et victor, factus est imbellis, ignavus, iners, nec quidquam prae... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Ver. 15. And Saul's servants.] That is, His physicians. "And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians." Gen 50:2 Yεραποντας θεραπευοντας .... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _Let our lord now command._] Here the go... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me. Ver. 17. _Provide me now a man._] Not a wise man, as they call wizards, or a white witch, - Saul, as bad as he was, was yet an utter enemy to such, 1Sa 28:9 - but a man that can play well. _Musica maest... [ Continue Reading ]
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him. Ver. 18. _Then answered one of the servants._] Junius... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which [is] with the sheep. Ver. 19. _Which is with the sheep._] Saul might easily remember that himself was once of a like employment, and not now so contemptuously speak of it, as if David should therefore be sent him, bec... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 20. _And Jesse took an ass laden with bread._] Great men love and look for presents, whereby men testify their respects unto them. _Reges Parthos non potest quisquam salutar... [ Continue Reading ]
And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. Ver. 21. _And he loved him greatly._] But better he had loved him little, so he had loved him long. Trust not in princes. Psa 146:3 Alvarez de Luna told them that admired his fortune and great fa... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. Ver. 22. _Let David, I pray thee._] This kindness lasted not long; for David was sent home again shortly after, and loves his hook the better since he saw the court. _a_ a _Magis caulam q... [ Continue Reading ]
_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._ Ver. 23. _David took a harp._] This music disabled the instrument of Saul's distemper - melancholy, _a... [ Continue Reading ]