And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. Ver. 1. _And it came to pass in those days._] When Saul's sin was no... [ Continue Reading ]
And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever. Ver. 2. _Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do._] But whether for Achish or against him, he saith not. Indeed, he could do neither wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. Ver. 3. _Now Samuel was dead._] See 1 Samuel 25:1 . _ And all Israel had lamented him._] This is one of the... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. Ver. 4. _And pitched in Shunem._] A city in the tribe of Issachar, ennobled afterwards by the good Shunamite with whom Elisha hosted. 2Ki 4:8 _ Pitch... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. Ver. 5. _He was afraid._] "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness surpriseth the hypocrites": and they run away, if they could tell whither, with these words in their mouths, "Who among us shall dwell... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Ver. 6. _And when Saul inquired of the Lord._] Which he did not with a true heart, Heb 10:23 and _Ficta pro factis non habentur,_ saith the Civilian: _Nec videtur fieri quod non legitime... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, [there is] a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. Ver. 7. _Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit._] One Rufus I read of, who pa... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee. Ver. 8. _And Saul disguised himself._] As well he might... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? Ver. 9. _Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done._] This speech could n... [ Continue Reading ]
And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, [As] the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. Ver. 10. _And Saul sware to her by the Lord._] A most wicked abuse of God's holy name: but this was ordinary with Saul, whom we have before noted for a great swearer and forswea... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. Ver. 11. _Bring me up Samuel,_] _i.e., _ _Spectrum Samuelis,_ an apparition of Saumel. Saul neglected to hearken to Samuel while he was alive, and now would fain advise with him after his death. _Haec est fortuna... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou [art] Saul. Ver. 12. _And when the woman saw Samuel._] That is, The devil in Samuel's mantle. Who also told her that it was Saul, whence her outcry.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. Ver. 13. _For what sawest thou?_] He then was not an eye-witness at first, the witch being in _secretario,_ saith the Gloss, in a secret place by herself, working he... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto her, What form [is] he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he [is] covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it [was] Samuel, and he stooped with [his] face to the ground, and bowed himself. Ver. 14. _What form is he of?_] Heb., What is his form? for as yet Saul saw hi... [ Continue Reading ]
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? Ver. 16. _Wherefore then dost thou ask of me?_] Samuel himself could not have spoken more gravely, severely, divinely, than this fiend doth. _a_ Well may lewd men be good preacher... [ Continue Reading ]
And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, [even] to David: Ver. 17. _And the Lord hath done to him,_] _i.e., _ To him you knew of, to David his darling. Or, The Lord hath done for himself, that is, for the... [ Continue Reading ]
Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. Ver. 18. _Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord._] This disobedience the devil had once tempted him unto, and now he layeth it in his d... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow [shalt] thou and thy sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. Ver. 19. _Moreover the Lord will also._] See how Satan layeth load enough upo... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. Ver. 20. _Then Saul fell straightway all along._] Like an ox, _totus totus, quantus quantus; _ Heb., In... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. Ver. 21. _And the woman came unto Saul._] Though she were a wicked woman... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. Ver. 22. _Let me set a morsel of bread before thee,_] _i.e., _ Some such poor fare as I have at hand.... [ Continue Reading ]
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. Ver. 23. _I will not eat._] If the message of death made Hezekiah weep, Isa 38:3 and the approach of it was _mar m... [ Continue Reading ]
And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded [it], and did bake unleavened bread thereof: Ver. 24. _And she hasted, and killed it._] That he might go safe out of her house, and she not be questioned for his death, as she might have been if he... [ Continue Reading ]