mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 22.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xxiii" n="xxiii" next="iSam.xxiv" prev="iSam.xxii" progress="35.09%" title="Chapter XXII">
<h2 id="iSam.xxiii-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xxiii-p0.2">CHAP. XXII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xxiii-p1">David, being driven from Achish, returns into the
land of Israel to be hunted by Saul. I. David sets up his standard
in the cave of Adullam, entertains his relations (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.1" parsed="|1Sam|22|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:1">ver. 1</scripRef>), enlists soldiers (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.2" parsed="|1Sam|22|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:2">ver. 2</scripRef>), but removes his aged parents
to a more quiet settlement (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.3-1Sam.22.4" parsed="|1Sam|22|3|22|4" passage="1Sa 22:3,4">ver. 3,
4</scripRef>), and has the prophet Gad for his counsellor,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.5" parsed="|1Sam|22|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:5">ver. 5</scripRef>. Saul resolves to
pursue him and find him out, complains of his servants and Jonathan
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.6-1Sam.22.8" parsed="|1Sam|22|6|22|8" passage="1Sa 22:6-8">ver. 6-8</scripRef>), and, finding
by Doeg's information that Ahimelech had been kind to David, he
ordered him and all the priests that were with him, eighty-five in
all, to be put to death, and all that belonged to them destroyed
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.9-1Sam.22.19" parsed="|1Sam|22|9|22|19" passage="1Sa 22:9-19">ver. 9-19</scripRef>) from the
barbarous execution of which sentence Abiathar escaped to David,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.20-1Sam.22.23" parsed="|1Sam|22|20|22|23" passage="1Sa 22:20-23">ver. 20-23</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxiii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22" parsed="|1Sam|22|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 22" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxiii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.1-1Sam.22.5" parsed="|1Sam|22|1|22|5" passage="1Sa 22:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.22.1-1Sam.22.5">
<h4 id="iSam.xxiii-p1.10">David in the Cave of
Adullam. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiii-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxiii-p2">1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped
to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's
house heard <i>it,</i> they went down thither to him.   2 And
every one <i>that was</i> in distress, and every one that
<i>was</i> in debt, and every one <i>that was</i> discontented,
gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them:
and there were with him about four hundred men.   3 And David
went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab,
Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, <i>and be</i>
with you, till I know what God will do for me.   4 And he
brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all
the while that David was in the hold.   5 And the prophet Gad
said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into
the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of
Hareth.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p3">Here, I. David shelters himself in the cave
of Adullam, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.1" parsed="|1Sam|22|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>.
Whether it was a natural or artificial fastness does not appear; it
is probable that the access to it was so difficult that David
thought himself able, with Goliath's sword, to keep it against all
the forces of Saul, and therefore buried himself alive in it, while
he was waiting to see (and he says here, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.3" parsed="|1Sam|22|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>) what God would do with him. The
promise of the kingdom implied a promise of preservation to it, and
yet David used proper means for his own safety, otherwise he would
have tempted God. He did not do any thing that aimed to destroy
Saul, but only to secure himself. He that might have done great
service to his country as a judge or general is here shut up in a
cave, and thrown by as a vessel in which there was no pleasure. We
must not think it strange if sometimes shining lights be thus
eclipsed and hidden under a bushel. Perhaps the apostle refers to
this instance of David, among others, when he speaks of some of the
Old-Testament worthies that <i>wandered in deserts, in dens and
caves of the earth,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.38" parsed="|Heb|11|38|0|0" passage="Heb 11:38">Heb. xi.
38</scripRef>. It was at this time that David penned <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.142.1-Ps.142.7" parsed="|Ps|142|1|142|7" passage="Ps 142:1-7">Psalm cxlii.</scripRef>, which is entitled,
<i>A prayer when David was in the cave;</i> and there he complains
that <i>no man would know him</i> and that refuge failed him, but
hopes that shortly the <i>righteous would compass him
about.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p4">II. Thither his relations flocked to him,
<i>his brethren and all his father's house,</i> to be protected by
him, to give assistance to him, and to take their lot with him.
<i>A brother is born for adversity.</i> Now, Joab, and Abishai, and
the rest of his relations, came to him, to suffer and venture with
him, in hopes shortly to be advanced with him; and they were so.
The first three of his worthies were those that first owed him when
he was in the cave, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.11.15-1Chr.11.25" parsed="|1Chr|11|15|11|25" passage="1Ch 11:15-25">1 Chron. xi.
15</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p5">III. Here he began to raise forces in his
own defence, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.2" parsed="|1Sam|22|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>.
He found by the late experiments he had made that he could not save
himself by flight, and therefore was necessitated to do it by
force, wherein he never acted offensively, never offered any
violence to his prince nor gave any disturbance to the peace of the
kingdom, but only used his forces as a guard to his own person.
But, whatever defence his soldiers were to him, they did him no
great credit, for the regiment he had was made up not of great men,
nor rich men, nor stout men, no, nor good men, but men <i>in
distress, in debt, and discontented,</i> men of broken fortunes and
restless spirits, that were put to their shifts, and knew not well
what to do with themselves. When David had fixed his headquarters
in the cave of Adullam, they came and enlisted themselves under him
to the number of about 400. See what weak instruments God sometimes
makes use of, by which to bring about his own purposes. The Son of
David is ready to receive distressed souls, that will appoint him
their captain and be commanded by him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p6">IV. He took care to settle his parents in a
place of safety. No such place could he find in all the land of
Israel while Saul was so bitterly enraged against him and all that
belonged to him for his sake; he therefore goes with them to the
king of Moab, and puts them under his protection, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.3-1Sam.22.4" parsed="|1Sam|22|3|22|4" passage="1Sa 22:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. Observe here, 1.
With what a tender concern he provided for his aged parents. It was
not fit they should be exposed either to the frights or to the
fatigues which he must expect during his struggle with Saul (their
age would by no means bear such exposure); therefore the first
thing he does is to find them a quiet habitation, whatever became
of himself. Let children learn from this to <i>show pity at home
and requite their parents</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.5.4" parsed="|1Tim|5|4|0|0" passage="1Ti 5:4">1 Tim.
v. 4</scripRef>), in every thing consulting their ease and
satisfaction. Though ever so highly preferred, and ever so much
employed, let them not forget their aged parents. 2. With what a
humble faith he expects the issue of his present distresses:
<i>Till I know what God will do for me.</i> He expresses his hopes
very modestly, as one that had entirely cast himself upon God and
committed his way to him, expecting a good issue, not from his own
arts, or arms, or merits, but from what the wisdom, power, and
goodness of God would do for him. Now David's father and mother
forsook him, but God did not, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.27.10" parsed="|Ps|27|10|0|0" passage="Ps 27:10">Ps.
xxvii. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p7">V. He had the advice and assistance of the
prophet Gad, who probably was one of the sons of the prophets that
were brought up under Samuel, and was by him recommended to David
for his chaplain or spiritual guide. Being a prophet, he would pray
for him and instruct him in the mind of God; and David, though he
was himself a prophet, was glad of his assistance. He advised him
to go into the land of Judah (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.5" parsed="|1Sam|22|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), as one that was confident of
his own innocency, and was well assured of the divine protection,
and was desirous, even in his present hard circumstances, to do
some service to his tribe and country. Let him not be ashamed to
own his own cause nor decline the succours that would be offered
him. Animated by this word, there he determined to appear publicly.
Thus are <i>the steps of a good man ordered by the Lord.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxiii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.6-1Sam.22.19" parsed="|1Sam|22|6|22|19" passage="1Sa 22:6-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.22.6-1Sam.22.19">
<h4 id="iSam.xxiii-p7.3">Saul Destroys the Lord's Priests; the City
of Nob Destroyed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiii-p7.4">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxiii-p8">6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and
the men that <i>were</i> with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under
a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants
<i>were</i> standing about him;)   7 Then Saul said unto his
servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the
son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, <i>and</i>
make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
  8 That all of you have conspired against me, and <i>there
is</i> none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the
son of Jesse, and <i>there is</i> none of you that is sorry for me,
or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against
me, to lie in wait, as at this day?   9 Then answered Doeg the
Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw
the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
  10 And he enquired of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiii-p8.1">Lord</span> for him, and gave him victuals, and gave
him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.   11 Then the king
sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his
father's house, the priests that <i>were</i> in Nob: and they came
all of them to the king.   12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou
son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I <i>am,</i> my lord.  
13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou
and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a
sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise
against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?   14 Then
Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who <i>is so</i>
faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son
in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
  15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far
from me: let not the king impute <i>any</i> thing unto his servant,
<i>nor</i> to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew
nothing of all this, less or more.   16 And the king said,
Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
  17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him,
Turn, and slay the priests of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiii-p8.2">Lord</span>; because their hand also <i>is</i> with
David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to
me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to
fall upon the priests of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiii-p8.3">Lord</span>.
  18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the
priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests,
and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a
linen ephod.   19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he
with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and
sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the
sword.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p9">We have seen the progress of David's
troubles; now here we have the progress of Saul's wickedness. He
seems to have laid aside the thoughts of all other business and to
have devoted himself wholly to the pursuit of David. He heard at
length, by the common fame of the country, that David <i>was
discovered</i> (that is, that he appeared publicly and enlisted men
into his service); and hereupon he called all his servants about
him, and sat down under a tree, or grove, in the high place at
Gibeah, with his spear in his hand for a sceptre, intimating the
force by which he designed to rule, and the present temper of his
spirit, or its distemper rather, which was to kill all that stood
in his way. In this bloody court of inquisition,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p10">I. Saul seeks for information against David
and Jonathan, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.7-1Sam.22.8" parsed="|1Sam|22|7|22|8" passage="1Sa 22:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7,
8</scripRef>. Two things he was willing to suspect and desirous to
see proved, that he might wreak his malice upon two of the best and
most excellent men he had about him:—1. That his servant David
did <i>lie in wait</i> for him and seek his life, which was utterly
false. He really sought David's life, and therefore pretended that
David sought his life, though he could not charge him with any
overt act that gave the least shadow of suspicion. 2. That his son
Jonathan stirred him up to do so, and was confederate with him in
compassing and imagining the death of the king. This also was
notoriously false. A league of friendship there was between David
and Jonathan, but no conspiracy in any evil thing; none of the
articles of their covenant carried any mischief to Saul. If
Jonathan had agreed, after the death of Saul, to resign to David,
in compliance with the revealed will of God, what harm would that
do to Saul? Yet thus the best friends to their prince and country
have often been odiously represented as enemies to both; even
Christ himself was so. Saul took it for granted that Jonathan and
David were in a plot against him, his crown and dignity, and was
displeased with his servants that they did not give him information
of it, supposing that they could not but know it; whereas really
there was no such thing. See the nature of a jealous malice, and
its pitiful arts to extort discoveries of things that are not. He
looked upon all about him as his enemies because they did not say
just as he said; and told them, (1.) That they were very unwise,
and acted against the interest both of their tribe (for they were
Benjamites, and David, if he were advanced, would bring the honour
into Judah which was now in Benjamin) and of their families; for
David would never be able to give them such rewards as he had for
them, of <i>fields and vineyards,</i> and such preferments, to be
colonels and captains. (2.) That they were unfaithful: <i>You have
conspired against me.</i> What a continual agitation and torment
are those in that give way to a spirit of jealousy! <i>If a ruler
hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.29.12" parsed="|Prov|29|12|0|0" passage="Pr 29:12">Prov. xxix. 12</scripRef>), that is, they seem
to be so in his eyes. (3.) That they were very unkind. He thought
to work upon their good nature with that word: <i>There is none of
you that is</i> so much as <i>sorry for me,</i> or <i>solicitous
for me,</i> as some read it. By these reasonings he stirred them up
to act vigorously, as the instruments of his malice, that they
might take away his suspicions of them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p11">II. Though he could not learn any thing
from his servants against David or Jonathan, yet he got information
from Doeg against Ahimelech the priest.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p12">1. An indictment is brought against
Ahimelech by Doeg, and he himself is evidence against him,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.9-1Sam.22.10" parsed="|1Sam|22|9|22|10" passage="1Sa 22:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. Perhaps
Doeg, as bad as he was, would not have given this information if
Saul had not extorted it, for had he been very forward to it he
would have done it sooner: but now he thinks they must be all
deemed traitors if none of them be accusers, and therefore tells
Saul what kindness Ahimelech had shown to David, which he himself
happened to be an eye-witness of. He had <i>enquired of God for
him</i> (which the priest used not to do but for public persons and
about public affairs) and he had furnished him with <i>bread and a
sword.</i> All this was true; but it was not the whole truth. He
ought to have told Saul further that David had made Ahimelech
believe he was then going upon the king's business; so that what
service he did to David, however it proved, was designed in honour
to Saul, and this would have cleared Ahimelech, whom Saul had in
his power, and would have thrown all the blame upon David, who was
out of his reach.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p13">2. Ahimelech is seized, or summoned rather
to appear before the king, and upon this indictment he is
arraigned. The king sent for him and all the priests who then
attended the sanctuary, whom he supposed to be aiding and abetting;
and they, not being conscious of any guilt, and therefore not
apprehensive of any danger, <i>came all of them to the king</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.11" parsed="|1Sam|22|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), and none
of them attempted to make an escape, or to flee to David for
shelter, as they would have done now that he had set up his
standard if they had been as much in his interests as Saul
suspected they were. Saul arraigns Ahimelech himself with the
utmost disdain and indignation (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.12" parsed="|1Sam|22|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>Hear now, thou son of
Ahitub;</i> not so much as calling him by his name, much less
giving him his title of distinction. By this it appears that he had
cast off the fear of God, that he showed no respect at all to his
priests, but took a pleasure in affronting them and insulting them.
Ahimelech holds up his hand at the bar in those words: "<i>Here I
am, my lord,</i> ready to hear my charge, knowing I have done no
wrong." He does not object to the jurisdiction of Saul's court, nor
insist upon an exemption as a priest, no, not though he is a high
priest, to which office that of the judge, or chief magistrate, had
not long since been annexed; but Saul having now the sovereignty
vested in him, in things pertaining to the king, even the high
priest sets himself on a level with common Israelites. <i>Let every
soul be subject</i> (even clergymen) <i>to the higher
powers.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p14">3. His indictment is read to him (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.13" parsed="|1Sam|22|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), that he, as a false
traitor, had joined himself with the son of Jesse in a plot to
depose and murder the king. "His design" (says Saul) "was to
<i>rise up against me,</i> and thou didst assist him with victuals
and arms." See what bad constructions the most innocent actions are
liable to, how unsafe those are that live under a tyrannical
government, and what reason we have to be thankful for the happy
constitution and administration of the government we are under.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p15">4. To this indictment he pleads, Not
guilty, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.14-1Sam.22.15" parsed="|1Sam|22|14|22|15" passage="1Sa 22:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14,
15</scripRef>. He owns the fact, but denies that he did it
traitorously or maliciously, or with any design against the king.
He pleads that he was so far from knowing of any quarrel between
Saul and David that he really took David to have been then as much
in favour at court as ever he had been. Observe, He does not plead
that David had told him an untruth, and with that had imposed upon
him, though really it was so, because he would not proclaim the
weakness of so good a man, no, not for his own vindication,
especially to Saul, who sought all occasions against him; but he
insists upon the settled reputation David had as the most faithful
of all the servants of Saul, the honour the king had put upon him
in marrying his daughter to him, the use the king had often made of
him, and the trust he had reposed on him: "He <i>goes at thy
bidding, and is honourable in thy house,</i> and therefore any one
would think it a meritorious piece of service to the crown to show
him respect, so far from apprehending it to be a crime." He pleads
that he had been wont to <i>enquire of God for him</i> when he was
sent by Saul upon any expedition, and did it now as innocently as
ever he had done it. He protests his abhorrence of the thought of
being in a plot against the king: "<i>Be it far from me.</i> I mind
my own business, and meddle not with state matters." He begs the
king's favour: "<i>Let him not impute</i> any crime to us;" and
concludes with a declaration of his innocency: <i>Thy servant knew
nothing of all this.</i> Could any man plead with more evidences of
sincerity? Had he been tried by a jury of honest Israelites, he
would certainly have been acquitted, for who can find any fault in
him? But,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p16">5. Saul himself gives judgment against him
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.16" parsed="|1Sam|22|16|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): <i>Thou
shalt surely die, Ahimelech,</i> as a rebel, <i>thou and all thy
father's house.</i> What could be more unjust? <i>I saw under the
sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.3.16" parsed="|Eccl|3|16|0|0" passage="Ec 3:16">Eccl. iii. 16</scripRef>. (1.) It was unjust that
Saul should himself, himself alone, give judgment in his own cause,
without any appeal to judge or prophet, to his privy council, or to
a council of war. (2.) That so fair a plea should be overruled and
rejected without any reason given, or any attempt to disprove the
allegations of it, but purely with a high hand. (3.) That sentence
should be passed so hastily and with so much precipitation, the
judge taking no time himself to consider of it, nor allowing the
prisoner any time to move in arrest of judgment. (4.) That the
sentence should be passed not only on Ahimelech, himself, who was
the only person accused by Doeg, but on <i>all his father's
house,</i> against whom nothing was alleged: must the children be
put to death for the fathers? (5.) That the sentence should be
pronounced in passion, not for the support of justice, but for the
gratification of his brutish rage.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p17">6. He issues out a warrant (a verbal
warrant only) for the immediate execution of this bloody
sentence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p18">(1.) He ordered his footmen to be the
executioners of this sentence, but they refused, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.17" parsed="|1Sam|22|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. Hereby he intended to put a
further disgrace upon the priests; they may not die by the hands of
the men of war (as <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.2.29" parsed="|1Kgs|2|29|0|0" passage="1Ki 2:29">1 Kings ii.
29</scripRef>) or his usual ministers of justice, but his footmen
must triumph over them, and wash their hands in their blood. [1.]
Never was the command of a prince more barbarously given: <i>Turn
and slay the priests of the Lord.</i> This is spoken with such an
air of impiety as can scarcely be paralleled. Had he seemed to
forget their sacred office or relation to God, and taken no notice
of that, he would thereby have intimated some regret that men of
that character should fall under his displeasure; but to call them
<i>the priests of the Lord,</i> when he ordered his footmen to cut
their throats, looked as if, upon that very account, he hated them.
God having rejected him, and ordered another to be anointed in his
room, he seems well pleased with this opportunity of being revenged
on the priests of the Lord, since God himself was out of his reach.
What wickedness will not the evil spirit hurry men to, when he gets
the dominion! He alleged, in his order that which was utterly false
and unproved to him, that they knew when David fled; whereas they
knew nothing of the matter. But malice and murder are commonly
supported with lies. [2.] Never was the command of a prince more
honourably disobeyed. The footmen had more sense and grace than
their master. Though they might expect to be turned out of their
places, if not punished and put to death for their refusal, yet,
come on them what would, they would not offer to fall upon the
priests of the Lord, such a reverence had they for their office,
and such a conviction of their innocence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p19">(2.) He ordered Doeg (the accuser) to be
the executioner, and he obeyed. One would have thought that the
footmen's refusal would awaken Saul's conscience, and that he would
not insist upon the doing of a thing so barbarous as that his
footmen startled at the thought of it. But his mind was blinded and
his heart hardened, and, if they will not do it, the hands of the
witness shall be upon the victims, <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.17.7" parsed="|Deut|17|7|0|0" passage="De 17:7">Deut. xvii. 7</scripRef>. The most bloody tyrants have
found out instruments of their cruelty as barbarous as themselves.
Doeg is no sooner commanded to fall upon the priests than he does
it willingly enough, and, meeting with no resistance, slays with
his own hand (for aught that appears) on that same day eighty-five
priests that were of the age of ministration, between twenty and
fifty, for they <i>wore a linen ephod</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.18" parsed="|1Sam|22|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), and perhaps appeared at this
time before Saul in their habits, and were slain in them. This (one
would think) was enough to satiate the most blood-thirsty; but the
horseleech of persecution still cries, "Give, give." Doeg, by
Saul's order no doubt, having murdered the priests, went to their
city Nob, and put all to the sword there (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.19" parsed="|1Sam|22|19|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), <i>men, women, and
children,</i> and the cattle too. Barbarous cruelty, and such as
one cannot think of without horror! Strange that ever it should
enter into the heart of man to be so impious, so inhuman! We may
see in this, [1.] The desperate wickedness of Saul when the Spirit
of the Lord had departed from him. Nothing so vile but those may be
hurried to it who have provoked God to give them up to their
hearts' lusts. He that was so compassionate as to spare Agag and
the cattle of the Amalekites, in disobedience to the command of
God, could now, with unrelenting bowels, see the priests of the
Lord murdered, and nothing spared of all that belonged to them. For
that sin God left him to this. [2.] The accomplishment of the
threatenings long since pronounced against the house of Eli; for
Ahimelech and his family were descendants from him. Though Saul was
unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting it.
Now God performed against Eli that at which the ears of those that
heard it must needs tingle, as he had told him that he would
<i>judge his house for ever</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.3.11-1Sam.3.13" parsed="|1Sam|3|11|3|13" passage="1Sa 3:11-13"><i>ch.</i> iii. 11-13</scripRef>. No word of God
shall fall to the ground. [3.] This may be considered as a great
judgment upon Israel, and the just punishment of their desiring a
king before the time God intended them one. How deplorable was the
state of religion at this time in Israel! Though the ark had long
been in obscurity, yet it was some comfort to them that they had
the altar, and priests to serve at it; but now to see their priests
weltering in their own blood, and the heirs of the priesthood too,
and the city of the priests made a desolation, so that the altar of
God must needs be neglected for want of attendants, and this by the
unjust and cruel order of their own king to satisfy his brutish
rage—this could not but go to the heart of all pious Israelites,
and make them wish a thousand times they had been satisfied with
the government of Samuel and his sons. The worst enemies of their
nation could not have done them a greater mischief.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxiii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.20-1Sam.22.23" parsed="|1Sam|22|20|22|23" passage="1Sa 22:20-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.22.20-1Sam.22.23">
<h4 id="iSam.xxiii-p19.6">Abiathar's Escape. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiii-p19.7">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxiii-p20">20 And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of
Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.   21
And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxiii-p20.1">Lord</span>'s priests.   22 And David said unto
Abiathar, I knew <i>it</i> that day, when Doeg the Edomite
<i>was</i> there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned
<i>the death</i> of all the persons of thy father's house.  
23 Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life
seeketh thy life: but with me thou <i>shalt be</i> in
safeguard.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxiii-p21">Here is, 1. The escape of Abiathar, the son
of Ahimelech, out of the desolations of the priests' city. Probably
when his father went to appear, upon Saul's summons, he was left at
home to attend the altar, by which means he escaped the first
execution, and, before Doeg and his bloodhounds came to Nob, he had
intelligence of the danger, and had time to shift for his own
safety. And whither should he go but to David? <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.20" parsed="|1Sam|22|20|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. Let those that suffer for the
Son of David <i>commit the keeping of their souls to him,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.4.19" parsed="|1Pet|4|19|0|0" passage="1Pe 4:19">1 Pet. iv. 19</scripRef>. 2. David's
resentment of the melancholy tidings he brought. He gave David an
account of the bloody work Saul had made among the priests of the
Lord (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.21" parsed="|1Sam|22|21|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), as
the disciples of John, when their master was beheaded, <i>went and
told Jesus,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.14.12" parsed="|Matt|14|12|0|0" passage="Mt 14:12">Matt. xiv.
12</scripRef>. And David greatly lamented the calamity itself, but
especially his being accessory to it: <i>I have occasioned the
death of all the persons of thy father's house,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.22" parsed="|1Sam|22|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. Note, It is a great
trouble to a good man to find himself in any way an occasion of the
calamities of the church and ministry. David knew Doeg's character
so well that he feared he would do some such mischief as this when
he saw him at the sanctuary: <i>I knew he would tell Saul.</i> He
calls him <i>Doeg the Edomite,</i> because he retained the heart of
an Edomite, though, by embracing the profession of the Jewish
religion, he had put on the mask of an Israelite. 3. The protection
he granted to Abiathar. He perceived him to be terrified, as he had
reason to be, and therefore bade him not to fear, he would be as
careful for him as for himself: <i>With me thou shalt be in
safeguard,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.23" parsed="|1Sam|22|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>. David, having now time to recollect himself, speaks
with assurance of his own safety, and promises that Abiathar shall
have the full benefit of his protection. It is promised to the Son
of David that God will <i>hide him in the shadow of his hand</i>
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.49.2" parsed="|Isa|49|2|0|0" passage="Isa 49:2">Isa. xlix. 2</scripRef>), and, with
him, all that are his may be sure that they shall be in safeguard,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.91.1" parsed="|Ps|91|1|0|0" passage="Ps 91:1">Ps. xci. 1</scripRef>. David had now
not only a prophet, but a priest, a high-priest, with him, to whom
he was a blessing and they to him, and both a happy omen of his
success. Yet it appears (by <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.6" parsed="|1Sam|28|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:6"><i>ch.</i>
xxviii. 6</scripRef>) that Saul had a high priest too, for he had a
urim to consult: it is supposed that he preferred Ahitub the father
of Zadok, of the family of Eleazar (<scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.10" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.6.8" parsed="|1Chr|6|8|0|0" passage="1Ch 6:8">1
Chron. vi. 8</scripRef>), for even those that hate the power of
godliness yet will not be without the form. It must not be
forgotten here that David at this time penned <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.52.1-Ps.52.9" parsed="|Ps|52|1|52|9" passage="Ps 52:1-9">Psalm lii.</scripRef>, as appears by the title of that
psalm, wherein he represents Doeg not only as malicious and
spiteful, but as false and deceitful, because though what he said
was, for the substance of it, true, yet he put false colours upon
it, with a design to do mischief. Yet even then, when the
priesthood had become as a withered branch, he looks upon himself
as a <i>green olive-tree in the house of God,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxiii-p21.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.52.8" parsed="|Ps|52|8|0|0" passage="Ps 52:8">Ps. lii. 8</scripRef>. In this great hurry and
distraction that David was continually in, yet he found both time
and a heart for communion with God, and found comfort in it.</p>
</div></div2>