_A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060._ The Ziphites inform Saul of David, who pursues him again, 1 Samuel 26:1. David sends out spies, and views his camp, 1 Samuel 26:4; 1 Samuel 26:5. Comes to him, bring asleep, and takes his spear and cruise of water, 1 Samuel 26:6. Reasons with him upon it, 1 Samuel 26:13. Sau... [ Continue Reading ]
_Doth not David hide himself with us?_ The number of men whom David supported would not allow him to continue long in the same place, and therefore he was often obliged to shift his quarters for subsistence. We now find him again in the wilderness of Ziph. How much time had elapsed between his marri... [ Continue Reading ]
_David came to the place where Saul had pitched_ Within sight of it; where he might observe how he lay. _Saul lay in a trench_ Hebrews במעגל _bammanggal_, in the carriage, or rather, within the circle of the carriages, that he might be safe from any sudden attack.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ahimelech the Hittite_ A valiant man of that nation, who was a proselyte to the Jewish religion; and not only followed David, but was always near to his person. _Abishai_ Brother to Joab, the son of Zeruiah, David's sister. His father is not named, either because he was now dead, or because he was... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now, therefore, let me smite him_ Although David would not kill him himself, when he had the like opportunity, 1 Samuel 24:4; yet Abishai thought he might give him leave to do it; and he pledged himself to nail him to the ground with his spear at one thrust, so that he should make no noise by cryin... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord shall smite him_, &c. David leaves it to the sovereign will and pleasure of God to put an end to Saul's life when he saw best; either by a sudden stroke, or in the course of nature, or by causing him to fall in battle. _Take the spear_ Which will show where we have been, and what we could... [ Continue Reading ]
_And stood on the top of a hill_ On such a rock or precipice that there was no coming to him but by taking a circuit round. So that it might be said, in respect of the way whereby only they could come to him, that he stood _afar off_, and that there was a great distance between them; and yet, though... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore hast thou not kept_, &c. Observed better military discipline for the preservation of the king's person? _There came one of the people_ Into the king's camp, and had a fair opportunity to destroy him. _Because ye have not kept your master_ Guarded him better from any danger. It is probable... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the Lord hath stirred thee up against me_ If he hath, by the evil spirit which he hath sent, or by his secret providence, directed thy rage against me for the punishment of thine or my sins; _let him accept an offering_ Let us offer up a sacrifice to him to appease his wrath against us. _They ha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before the face of the Lord_ The Lord seeing it, and being the avenger. Remember, if thou dost it, God, the judge of all men, observes and will call thee to account for it, though I will not avenge myself. _Is come out to seek a flea_ Is come out for a purpose beneath him, and not of importance eno... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Saul, I have sinned_ This second instance of David's tenderness wrought more upon Saul than the former. He owns himself melted, and quite overcome by David's kindness to him. _My soul was precious in thine eyes_ which I thought had been odious. He acknowledges he had done very ill to pers... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold the king's spear_, &c. He did not think it proper to put himself in Saul's power by going and presenting it himself to him. _The Lord render to every man his righteousness_ In these words David shows the assurance he had that, however Saul dealt by him, the Lord would vindicate his cause on... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be thou, my son David_ Saul perceived that it was in vain to contend any longer against David, whom he saw God intended for great things. And so strong was his conviction now of this, as well as of his own sin and folly, that he could not forbear blessing him, foretelling his success, appla... [ Continue Reading ]