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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Samuel, Chapter XXVI].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T S A M U E L</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XXVI.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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David's troubles from Saul here begin again; and the clouds return
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after the rain, when one would have hoped the storm had blown over, and
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the sky had cleared upon that side; but after Saul had owned his fault
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in persecuting David, and acknowledged David's title to the crown, yet
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here he revives the persecution, so perfectly lost was he to all sense
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of honour and virtue.
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I. The Ziphites informed him where David was
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:1">ver. 1</A>),
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and thereupon he marched out with a considerable force in quest of him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:2,3">ver. 2, 3</A>.
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II. David gained intelligence of his motions
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:4">ver. 4</A>),
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and took a view of his camp,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:5">ver. 5</A>.
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III. He and one of his men ventured into his camp in the night and
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found him and all his guards fast asleep,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:6,7">ver. 6, 7</A>.
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IV. David, though much urged to it by his companions, would not take
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away Saul's life, but only carried off his spear and his cruse of water,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:8-12">ver. 8-12</A>.
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V. He produced these as a further witness for him that he did not
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design any ill to Saul, and reasoned with him upon his conduct,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:13-20">ver. 13-20</A>.
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VI. Saul was hereby convinced of his error, and once more desisted
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from persecuting David,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:21-25">ver. 21-25</A>.
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The story is much like that which we had
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:1-22"><I>ch.</I> xxiv.</A>).
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In both David is delivered out of Saul's hand, and Saul out of
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David's.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Saul Again Pursues David.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1056.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not
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David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, <I>which is</I> before
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Jeshimon?
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2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph,
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having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek
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David in the wilderness of Ziph.
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3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which <I>is</I> before
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Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he
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saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.
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4 David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was
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come in very deed.
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5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had
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pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the
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son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench,
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and the people pitched round about him.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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1. Saul gets information of David's movements and acts offensively. The
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Ziphites came to him and told him where David now was, in the same
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place where he was when they formerly betrayed him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+23:19"><I>ch.</I> xxiii. 19</A>.
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Perhaps (though it is not mentioned) Saul had given them intimation,
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under-hand, that he continued his design against David, and would be
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glad of their assistance. If not, they were very officious to Saul,
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aware of what would please him, and very malicious against David, to
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whom they despaired of ever reconciling themselves, and therefore they
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stirred up Saul (who needed no such spur) against him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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For aught we know, Saul would have continued in the same good mind that
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he was in
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:17"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 17</A>),
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and would not have given David this fresh trouble, if the Ziphites had
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not put him on. See what need we have to pray to God that, since we
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have so much of the tinder of corruption in our own hearts, the sparks
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of temptation may be kept far from us, lest, if they come together, we
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be set on fire of hell. Saul readily caught at the information, and
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went down with an army of 3000 men to the place where David hid
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himself,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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How soon do unsanctified hearts lose the good impressions which their
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convictions have made upon them and return with the dog to their
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vomit!</P>
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<P>
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2. David gets information of Saul's movements and acts defensively. He
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did not march out to meet and fight him; he sought only his own safety,
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not Saul's ruin; therefore he <I>abode in the wilderness</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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putting thereby a great force upon himself, and curbing the bravery of
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his own spirit by a silent retirement, showing more true valour than he
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could have done by an irregular resistance.
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(1.) He had spies who informed him of Saul's descent, <I>that he had
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come in very deed</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
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for he would not believe that Saul would deal so basely with him till
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he had the utmost evidence of it.
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(2.) He observed with his own eyes how Saul was encamped,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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He came towards the place where Saul and his men had pitched their
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tents, so near as to be able, undiscovered, to take a view of their
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entrenchments, probably in the dusk of the evening.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David Spares Saul's Life.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1056.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to
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Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go
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down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go
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down with thee.
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7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and,
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behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck
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in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round
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about him.
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8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy
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into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray
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thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not
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<I>smite</I> him the second time.
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9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
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stretch forth his hand against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s anointed, and be
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guiltless?
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10 David said furthermore, <I>As</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> liveth, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> shall
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smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into
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battle, and perish.
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11 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand
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against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the
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spear that <I>is</I> at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let
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us go.
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12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's
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bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw <I>it,</I> nor knew
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<I>it,</I> neither awaked: for they <I>were</I> all asleep; because a deep
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sleep from the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> was fallen upon them.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. David's bold adventure into Saul's camp in the night, accompanied
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only by his kinsman Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He proposed it to him
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and to another of his confidants
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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but the other either declined it as too dangerous an enterprise, or at
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least was content that Abishai, who was forward to it, should run the
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risk of it rather than himself. Whether David was prompted to do this
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by his own courage, or by an extraordinary impression upon his spirits,
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or by the oracle, does not appear; but, like Gideon, he ventured
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through the guards, with a special assurance of the divine
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protection.</P>
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<P>
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II. The posture he found the camp in <I>Saul lay sleeping in the
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trench,</I> or, as some read it, <I>in his chariot, and in the midst of
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his carriages,</I> with <I>his spear stuck in the ground</I> by him, to
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be ready if his quarters should by beaten up
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>);
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and all the soldiers, even those that were appointed to stand sentinel,
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were <I>fast asleep,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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Thus were their eyes closed and their hands bound, <I>for a deep sleep
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from the Lord had fallen upon them;</I> something extraordinary there
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was in it that they should all be asleep together, and so fast asleep
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that David and Abishai walked and talked among them, and yet none of
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them stirred. Sleep, when God gives it to his beloved, is their rest
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and refreshment; but he can, when he pleases, make it to his enemies
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their imprisonment. Thus are the <I>stout-hearted spoiled; they have
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slept their sleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands,
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at thy rebuke, O God of Jacob!</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+76:5,6">Ps. lxxvi. 5, 6</A>.
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<I>It was a deep sleep from the Lord,</I> who has the command of the
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powers of nature, and makes them to serve his purposes as he pleases.
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Whom God will disable, or destroy, he binds up with <I>a spirit of
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slumber,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:8">Rom. xi. 8</A>.
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How helpless do Saul and all his forces lie, all, in effect, disarmed
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and chained! and yet nothing is done to them; they are only rocked
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asleep. How easily can God weaken the strongest, befool the wisest,
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and baffle the most watchful! Let all his friends therefore trust him
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and all his enemies fear him.</P>
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<P>
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III. Abishai's request to David for a commission to dispatch Saul with
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the spear that stuck at his bolster, which (now that he lay so fair) he
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undertook to do at one blow,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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He would not urge David to kill him himself, because he had declined
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doing this before when he had a similar opportunity; but he begged
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earnestly that David would give him leave to do it, pleading that he
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was his enemy, not only cruel and implacable, but false and perfidious,
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whom no reason would rule nor kindness work upon, and that <I>God had
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now delivered him into his hand,</I> and did in effect bid him strike.
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The last advantage he had of this kind was indeed but accidental, when
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Saul happened to be in the cave with him at the same time. But in this
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there was something extraordinary; the deep sleep that had fallen on
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Saul and all his guards was manifestly from the Lord, so that it was a
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special providence which gave him this opportunity; he ought not
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therefore to let it slip.</P>
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<P>
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IV. David's generous refusal to suffer any harm to be done to Saul, and
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in it a resolute adherence to his principles of loyalty,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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David charged Abishai not to destroy him, would not only not do it
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himself, but not permit another to do it. And he gave two reasons for
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it:--
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1. It would be a sinful affront to God's ordinance. Saul was the Lord's
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anointed, king of Israel by the special appointment and nomination of
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the God of Israel, the power that was, and to resist him was to
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<I>resist the ordinance of God,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:2">Rom. xiii. 2</A>.
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No man could do it and be guiltless. The thing he feared was guilt and
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his concern respected his innocence more than his safety.
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2. It would be a sinful anticipation of God's providence. God had
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sufficiently shown him, in Nabal's case, that, if he left it to him to
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avenge him, he would do it in due time. Encouraged therefore by his
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experience in that instance, he resolves to wait till God shall think
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fit to avenge him on Saul, and he will by no means <I>avenge
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himself</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
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<I>"The Lord shall smite him,</I> as he did Nabal, with some sudden
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stroke, or he shall <I>die in battle</I> (as it proved he did soon
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after), or, if not, <I>his day shall come to die</I> a natural death,
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and I will contentedly wait till then, rather than force my way to the
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promised crown by any indirect methods." The temptation indeed was very
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strong; but, if he should yield, he would sin against God, and
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therefore he will resist the temptation with the utmost resolution
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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"<I>The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the
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Lord's anointed;</I> no, I will never do it, nor suffer it to be done."
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Thus bravely does he prefer his conscience to his interest and trusts
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God with the issue.</P>
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<P>
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V. The improvement he made of this opportunity for the further evidence
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of his own integrity. He and Abishai carried away the spear and cruse
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of water which Saul had by his bed-side
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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and, which was very strange, none of all the guards were aware of it.
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If a physician had given them the strongest opiate or stupifying dose,
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they could not have been faster locked up with sleep. Saul's spear
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which he had by him for defence, and his cup of water which he had for
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his refreshment, were both stolen from him while he slept. Thus do we
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lose our strength and our comfort when we are careless, and secure, and
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off our watch.</P>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa26_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>David Expostulates with Saul.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1056.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
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</TABLE>
|
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|
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>13 Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top
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of a hill afar off; a great space <I>being</I> between them:
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14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner,
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saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said,
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Who <I>art</I> thou <I>that</I> criest to the king?
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15 And David said to Abner, <I>Art</I> not thou a <I>valiant</I> man? and
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who <I>is</I> like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not
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kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to
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destroy the king thy lord.
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16 This thing <I>is</I> not good that thou hast done. <I>As</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
|
|
liveth, ye <I>are</I> worthy to die, because ye have not kept your
|
|
master, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s anointed. And now see where the king's spear
|
|
<I>is,</I> and the cruse of water that <I>was</I> at his bolster.
|
|
17 And Saul knew David's voice, and said, <I>Is</I> this thy voice,
|
|
my son David? And David said, <I>It is</I> my voice, my lord, O king.
|
|
18 And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his
|
|
servant? for what have I done? or what evil <I>is</I> in mine hand?
|
|
19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the
|
|
words of his servant. If the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> have stirred thee up against
|
|
me, let him accept an offering: but if <I>they be</I> the children of
|
|
men, cursed <I>be</I> they before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; for they have driven me
|
|
out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, saying,
|
|
Go, serve other gods.
|
|
20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the
|
|
face of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a
|
|
flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
David having got safely from Saul's camp himself, and having brought
|
|
with him proofs sufficient that he had been there, posts himself
|
|
conveniently, so that they might hear him and yet not reach him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and then begins to reason with them upon what had passed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. He reasons ironically with Abner, and keenly banters him. David knew
|
|
well that it was from the mighty power of God that Abner and the rest
|
|
of the guards were cast into so deep a sleep, and that God's immediate
|
|
hand was in it; but he reproaches Abner as unworthy to be captain of
|
|
the lifeguards, since he could sleep when the king his master lay so
|
|
much exposed. By this it appears that the hand of God locked them up in
|
|
this deep sleep that, as soon as ever David had got out of danger, a
|
|
very little thing awakened them, even David's voice at a great distance
|
|
roused them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Abner got up (we may suppose it early in a summer's morning) and
|
|
enquired who called, and disturbed the king's repose. "It is I," says
|
|
David, and then he upbraids him with his sleeping when he should have
|
|
been upon his guard. Perhaps Abner, looking upon David as a despicable
|
|
enemy and one that there was no danger from, had neglected to set a
|
|
watch; however, he himself ought to have been more wakeful. David, to
|
|
put him into confusion, told him,
|
|
|
|
1. That he had lost his honour
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Art not thou a man?</I> (so the word is), a man in office, that art
|
|
bound, by the duty of thy place, to inspect the soldiery? Art not thou
|
|
in reputation for a valiant man? So thou wouldst be esteemed, a man of
|
|
such courage and conduct that there is none like thee; but now thou art
|
|
shamed for ever. Thou a general! Thou, a sluggard!"
|
|
|
|
2. That he deserved to lose his head
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>You are all worthy to die,</I> by martial law, for being off your
|
|
guard, when you had the king himself asleep in the midst of you.
|
|
<I>Ecce signum--Behold this token.</I> See where the king's spear is,
|
|
in the hand of him whom the king himself is pleased to count his enemy.
|
|
Those that took away this might as easily and safely have taken away
|
|
his life. Now see who are the king's best friends, you that neglected
|
|
him and left him exposed or I that protected him when he was exposed.
|
|
You pursue me as worthy to die, and irritate Saul against me; but who
|
|
is worthy to die now?" Note, Sometimes those that unjustly condemn
|
|
others are justly left to fall into condemnation themselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. He reasons seriously and affectionately with Saul. By this time he
|
|
was so well awake as to hear what was said, and to discern who said it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Is this thy voice, my son David?</I> In the same manner he had
|
|
expressed his relentings,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:16"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had given his wife to another and yet calls him <I>son,</I> thirsted
|
|
after his blood and yet is glad to hear his voice. Those are bad indeed
|
|
that have never any convictions of good, nor ever sincerely utter good
|
|
expressions. And now David has as fair an opportunity of reaching
|
|
Saul's conscience as he had just now of taking away his life. This he
|
|
lays hold on, though not of that, and enters into a close argument with
|
|
him, concerning the trouble he still continued to give him,
|
|
endeavouring to persuade him to let fall the prosecution and be
|
|
reconciled.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He complains of the very melancholy condition he was brought into by
|
|
the enmity of Saul against him. Two things he laments:--
|
|
|
|
(1.) That he was driven from his master and from his business: "<I>My
|
|
lord pursues after his servant,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
How gladly would I serve thee as formerly if my service might be
|
|
accepted! but, instead of being owned as a servant, I am pursued as a
|
|
rebel, and my lord is my enemy, and he whom I would follow with respect
|
|
compels me to flee from him."
|
|
|
|
(2.) That he was driven from his God and from his religion; and this
|
|
was a much greater grievance than the former
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
"They have <I>driven me out from the inheritance of the Lord,</I> have
|
|
made Canaan too hot for me, at least the inhabited parts of it, have
|
|
forced me into the deserts and mountains, and will, ere long, oblige me
|
|
entirely to quit the country." And that which troubled him was not so
|
|
much that he was driven out from his own inheritance as that he was
|
|
driven out from the <I>inheritance of the Lord,</I> the holy land. It
|
|
should be more comfortable to us to think of God's title to our estates
|
|
and his interest in them then of our own, and that with them we may
|
|
honour him then that with them we may maintain ourselves. Nor was it so
|
|
much his trouble that he was constrained to live among strangers as
|
|
that he was constrained to live among the worshippers of strange gods
|
|
and was thereby thrust into temptation to join with them in their
|
|
idolatrous worship. His enemies did, in effect, send him to <I>go and
|
|
serve other gods,</I> and perhaps he had heard that some of them had
|
|
spoken to that purport of him. Those that forbid our attendance on
|
|
God's ordinances do what in them lies to estrange us from God and to
|
|
make us heathens. If David had not been a man of extraordinary grace,
|
|
and firmness to his religion, the ill usage he met with from his own
|
|
prince and people, who were Israelites and worshippers of the true God,
|
|
would have prejudiced him against the religion they professed and have
|
|
driven him to communicate with idolaters. "If these be Israelites," he
|
|
might have said, "let me live and die with Philistines;" and no thanks
|
|
to them that their conduct had not that effect. We are to reckon that
|
|
the greatest injury that can be done us which exposes us to sin. Of
|
|
those who thus led David into temptation he here says, <I>Cursed be
|
|
they before the Lord.</I> Those fall under a curse that thrust out
|
|
those whom God receives, and send those to the devil who are dear to
|
|
God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He insists upon his own innocency: <I>What have I done or what evil
|
|
is in my hand?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
He had the testimony of his conscience for him that he had never done
|
|
nor ever designed any mischief to the person, honour, or government, of
|
|
his prince, nor to any of the interests of his country. He had lately
|
|
had Saul's own testimony concerning him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+24:17"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Thou art more righteous than I.</I> It was very unreasonable and
|
|
wicked for Saul to pursue him as a criminal, when he could not charge
|
|
him with any crime.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. He endeavours to convince Saul that his pursuit of him is not only
|
|
wrong, but mean, and much below him: "<I>The king of Israel,</I> whose
|
|
dignity is great, and who has so much other work to do, <I>has come out
|
|
to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the
|
|
mountains,</I>"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>--a
|
|
|
|
poor game for the king of Israel to pursue. He compares himself to a
|
|
partridge, a very innocent harmless bird, which, when attempts are made
|
|
upon its life, flies if it can, but makes no resistance. And would Saul
|
|
bring the flower of his army into the field only to hunt one poor
|
|
partridge? What a disparagement was this to his honour! What a stain
|
|
would it be on his memory to trample upon so weak and patient as well
|
|
as so innocent an enemy!
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+5:6">James v. 6</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>You have killed the just, and he doth not resist you.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. He desires that the core of the controversy may be searched into and
|
|
some proper method taken to bring it to an end,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Saul himself could not say that justice put him on thus to persecute
|
|
David, or that he was obliged to do it for the public safety. David was
|
|
not willing to say (though it was very true) that Saul's own envy and
|
|
malice put him on to do it; and therefore he concludes it must be
|
|
attributed either to the righteous judgment of God or to the
|
|
unrighteous designs of evil men. Now,
|
|
|
|
(1.) "<I>If the Lord have stirred thee up against me,</I> either in
|
|
displeasure to me (taking this way to punish me for my sins against
|
|
him, though, as to thee, I am guiltless) or in displeasure to thee, if
|
|
it be the effect of that evil spirit from the Lord which troubles thee,
|
|
<I>let him accept an offering</I> from us both--let us join in making
|
|
our peace with God, reconciling ourselves to him, which may be done, by
|
|
sacrifice; and then I hope the sin will be pardoned, whatever it is,
|
|
and the trouble, which is so great a vexation both to thee and me, will
|
|
come to an end." See the right method of peace-making; let us first
|
|
make God our friend by Christ the great Sacrifice, and then all other
|
|
enmities shall be slain,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+2:16,Pr+16:7">Eph. ii. 16; Prov. xvi. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
But,
|
|
|
|
(2.) "If thou art incited to it by wicked men, that incense thee
|
|
against me, <I>cursed be they before the Lord,</I>" that is, they are
|
|
very wicked people, and it is fit that they should be abandoned as
|
|
such, and excluded from the king's court and councils. He decently lays
|
|
the blame upon the evil counsellors who advised the king to that which
|
|
was dishonourable and dishonest, and insists upon it that they be
|
|
removed from about him and forbidden his presence, as men cursed before
|
|
the Lord, and then he hoped he should gain his petition, which is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
"<I>Let not my blood fall to the earth,</I> as thou threatenest, for it
|
|
is <I>before the face of the Lord,</I> who will take cognizance of the
|
|
wrong and avenge it." Thus pathetically does David plead with Saul for
|
|
his life, and, in order to that, for his favourable opinion of him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa26_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa26_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa26_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa26_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="1Sa26_25"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Saul Relents.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1056.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I
|
|
will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine
|
|
eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred
|
|
exceedingly.
|
|
22 And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and
|
|
let one of the young men come over and fetch it.
|
|
23 The L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> render to every man his righteousness and his
|
|
faithfulness: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> delivered thee into <I>my</I> hand to day,
|
|
but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s
|
|
anointed.
|
|
24 And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine
|
|
eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, and
|
|
let him deliver me out of all tribulation.
|
|
25 Then Saul said to David, Blessed <I>be</I> thou, my son David:
|
|
thou shalt both do great <I>things,</I> and also shalt still prevail.
|
|
So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. Saul's penitent confession of his fault and folly in persecuting
|
|
David and his promise to do so no more. This second instance of David's
|
|
respect to him wrought more upon him than the former, and extorted from
|
|
him better acknowledgements,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. He owns himself melted and quite overcome by David's kindness to
|
|
him: "<I>My soul was precious in thy eyes this day,</I> which, I
|
|
thought, had been odious!"
|
|
|
|
2. He acknowledges he has done very wrong to persecute him, that he has
|
|
therein acted against God's law (<I>I have sinned</I>), and against his
|
|
own interest (<I>I have played the fool</I>), in pursuing him as an
|
|
enemy who would have been one of his best friends, if he could but have
|
|
thought so. "Herein (says he) I have <I>erred exceedingly,</I> and
|
|
wronged both thee and myself." Note, Those that sin play the fool and
|
|
err exceedingly, those especially that hate and persecute God's people,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+19;28">Job xix. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. He invites him to court again: <I>Return, my son David.</I> Those
|
|
that have understanding will see it to be their interest to have those
|
|
about them that <I>behave themselves wisely,</I> as David did, and have
|
|
God with them.
|
|
|
|
4. He promises him that he will not persecute him as he has done, but
|
|
protect him: <I>I will no more do thee harm.</I> We have reason to
|
|
think, according to the mind he was now in, that he meant as he said,
|
|
and yet neither his confession nor his promise of amendment came from a
|
|
principle of true repentance.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. David's improvement of Saul's convictions and confessions and the
|
|
evidence he had to produce of his own sincerity. He desired that one of
|
|
the footmen might fetch the spear
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
and then
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
1. He appeals to God as judge of the controversy: <I>The Lord render to
|
|
every man his righteousness.</I> David, by faith, is sure that he will
|
|
do it because he infallibly knows the true characters of all persons
|
|
and actions and is inflexibly just to render to every man according to
|
|
his work, and, by prayer, he desires he would do it. Herein he does, in
|
|
effect, pray against Saul, who had dealt unrighteously and unfaithfully
|
|
with him (<I>Give them according to their deeds,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+28:4">Ps. xxviii. 4</A>);
|
|
|
|
but he principally intends it as a prayer for himself, that God would
|
|
protect him in his righteousness and faithfulness, and also reward him,
|
|
since Saul so ill requited him.
|
|
|
|
2. He reminds Saul again of the proof he had now given of his respect
|
|
to him from a principle of loyalty: <I>I would not stretch forth my
|
|
hand against the Lord's anointed,</I> intimating to Saul that the
|
|
anointing oil was his protection, for which he was indebted to the Lord
|
|
and ought to express his gratitude to him (had he been a common person
|
|
David would not have been so tender of him), perhaps with this further
|
|
implication, that Saul knew, or had reason to think, David was the
|
|
Lord's anointed too, and therefore, by the same rule, Saul ought to be
|
|
as tender of David's life as David had been of his.
|
|
|
|
3. Not relying much upon Saul's promises, he puts himself under God's
|
|
protection and begs his favour
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Let my life be much set by in the eyes of the Lord,</I> how light
|
|
soever thou makest of it." Thus, for his kindness to Saul, he takes God
|
|
to be his paymaster, which those may with a holy confidence do that
|
|
<I>do well and suffer for it.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Saul's prediction of David's advancement. He commends him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+26:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Blessed be thou, my son David.</I> So strong was the conviction Saul
|
|
was now under of David's honesty that he was not ashamed to condemn
|
|
himself and applaud David, even in the hearing of his own soldiers, who
|
|
could not but blush to think that they had come out so furiously
|
|
against a man whom their master, when he meets him, caresses thus. He
|
|
foretels his victories, and his elevation at last: <I>Thou shalt do
|
|
great things.</I> Note, Those who make conscience of doing that which
|
|
is truly good may come, by the divine assistance, to do that which is
|
|
truly great. He adds, "<I>Thou shalt also still prevail,</I> more and
|
|
more," he means against himself, but is loth to speak that out. The
|
|
princely qualities which appeared in David--his generosity in sparing
|
|
Saul, his military authority in reprimanding Abner for sleeping, his
|
|
care of the public good, and the signal tokens of God's presence with
|
|
him--convinced Saul that he would certainly be advanced to the throne at
|
|
last, according to the prophecies concerning him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> A palliative cure being thus made of the wound, they
|
|
parted friends. Saul returned to Gibeah <I>re infecta--without
|
|
accomplishing his design,</I> and ashamed of the expedition he had
|
|
made; but David could not take his word so far as to return with him.
|
|
Those that have once been false are not easily trusted another time.
|
|
Therefore <I>David went on his way.</I> And, after this parting, it
|
|
does not appear that ever Saul and David saw one another again.</P>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
|
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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