And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David [is] in the wilderness of Engedi. Ver. 1. _It was told him, saying._] They that told him knew what would please him - they found him out some new game: they knew his implacable sp... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. Ver. 2. _Upon the rocks of the wild goats._] _Per rupes rupicaprarum:_ where they ventured their necks at every step almost, so steep and craggy were those cliffs. The wi... [ Continue Reading ]
And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where [was] a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. Ver. 3. _And Saul went in to cover his feet._] To ease nature. See Judges 3:24, _See Trapp on "_ Jdg 3:24 _"_ Alexander Medices, duke of Florenc... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily._ Ver. 4. _Behold the day of which the... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. Ver. 5. David's heart smote,] _i.e., _ His conscience, which keeps court in every faculty of the soul, checked him: such was his tenderness then. Bee masters tell us that those are the best hives that... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he [is] the anointed of the LORD. Ver. 6. _The Lord forbid that I should do this thing._] Thus he blesseth himself from such a disloyalty to his... [ Continue Reading ]
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on [his] way. Ver. 7. _So David stayed his servants._] _Dispescuit, diffidit:_ He staved them off, when they rose from both sides of the cave to lay violent hands up... [ Continue Reading ]
David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. Ver. 8. _And went out of the cave._] That by his just apology he might make his own innocency to triump... [ Continue Reading ]
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt? Ver. 9. Wherefore hearest thou men's words?] The tale hearer is no less faulty than the tale bearer; for as this carrieth the devil in his tongue, so doth that other in his ear. David blameth not so... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and [some] bade [me] kill thee: but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he [is] the LORD'S anointed. Ver. 10. _Behold, this day thine eye... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that [there is] neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it._ Ver. 11. _... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. Ver. 12. _The Lord judge between me and thee._] He appealeth to God the righteous Judge: as did Athanasius, when Constantine the Arian emperor sent him into banishment, _Iudicet Dominus inter m... [ Continue Reading ]
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. Ver. 13. _Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked._] They are carried away even as they are led, 1Co 12:2 they act as they are acted and agitated by the devil Eph 2:2 and their lusts. Ti... [ Continue Reading ]
After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea. Ver. 14. _After a dead dog, after a flea._] _Egregiam vero laudem,_ a great praise, a great purchase sure, to kill a dead dog, to fight with a flea! Is this an employment fit for a king? an explo... [ Continue Reading ]
_The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand._ Ver. 15. _The Lord therefore be judge, and judge._] See 1 Samuel 24:12 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, [Is] this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. Ver. 16. _And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept._] As overcome with David's kindness, whose innocency now triumphed in Saul'... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said to David, Thou [art] more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. Ver. 17. _Thou art more righteows than I._] This is a great mercy of God, and a great comfort to the godly, that their persecutors, convinced in their own consciences, are efts... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. Ver. 18. _And thou hast showed this day._] Saul being melted by those coals of kindness which David had heaped on his head, poureth out himself in... [ Continue Reading ]
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. Ver. 19. _For if a man find his enemy; will he let him go well away?_] Not likely, unless he be more than a natural man; for we are all revengeful enough. Aristot... [ Continue Reading ]
And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Ver. 20. _And now, behold, I know well._] How knew he this? _Nimirum ex ipsis Davidis moribus,_ saith Chrysostom. Surely by David's kingly virtues, and good success, where... [ Continue Reading ]
Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. Ver. 21. _That thou wilt not cut off my seed._] His care of posterity's good was commendable; but till now he had taken a very ill course for them;... [ Continue Reading ]
And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold. Ver. 22. _And David sware unto Saul._] The same in effect that he had sworn before to Jonathan. _ And Saul went home._] Convinced, but not converted; _Punctus et repunctus, minime tamen ad resipiscentia... [ Continue Reading ]