_SAMUEL ANOINTS DAVID TO BE KING: THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD COMES UPON DAVID, AND DEPARTS FROM SAUL, WHO IS TROUBLED WITH AN EVIL SPIRIT: DAVID COMES TO SAUL, AND WHILE HE PLAYS UPON THE HARP, THE EVIL SPIRIT DEPARTS FROM SAUL._ _Before Christ 1063._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAMUEL SAID, HOW CAN I GO, &C.— Though the principal design of Samuel's journey to Bethlehem was, to anoint the son of Jesse; yet was there no falsehood in saying, according to the instruction given him by the Lord, that he came to sacrifice. God, who is truth itself, can never enjoin a lie. As... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN, JESSE MADE SEVEN OF HIS SONS— _Thus Jesse made,_ &c. Waterland.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW HE WAS RUDDY, AND WITHAL, &C.— _His hair was yellow, his face beautiful, and his form elegant._ Houb.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE MIDST OF HIS BRETHREN— _Secretly, from his brethren._ Wat. This translation of Dr. Waterland's seems just; as Samuel was afraid to have the purpose of his commission known, and as it plainly appears from Eliab's treatment of David, ch. 1 Samuel 17:28 that he did not know him to be the king el... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD DEPARTED FROM SAUL— Or, as the word might have been rendered, _had departed from Saul._ But what spirit? Not the prophetic spirit which he received according to Samuel's prediction, which ceased instantly when his prophesying was ended: not the spirit to render him incapable o... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL'S SERVANTS SAID, &C.— The remainder of this chapter is undoubtedly an anticipation, but introduced by the sacred historian very properly and very naturally; for, having related at large how God had rejected Saul, and anointed David, he goes on (as it was a matter of the utmost moment in a relig... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL SENT MESSENGERS UNTO JESSE, &C.— The explanation of the chronology of this book given in the foregoing note, renders every difficulty clear and easy. David had vanquished the Philistine, was become a favourite of the people, and on that account the object of Saul's jealousy; to avoid the ill ef... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS ARMOUR-BEARER— The literal rendering of the original word כלים נשׂא _nose kelim_ is, _bearer of the instruments or weapons._ Of these there were three different sorts; the shield, the spear, and the sword. Of these _bearers of arms,_ princes and generals had many: Joab had ten, Saul seems to hav... [ Continue Reading ]