mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 29.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xxx" n="xxx" next="iSam.xxxi" prev="iSam.xxix" progress="38.34%" title="Chapter XXIX">
<h2 id="iSam.xxx-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xxx-p0.2">CHAP. XXIX.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xxx-p1">How Saul, who was forsaken of God, when he was in
a strait was more and more perplexed and embarrassed with his own
counsels, we read in the foregoing chapter. In this chapter we find
how David, who kept close to God, when he was in a strait was
extricated and brought off by the providence of God, without any
contrivance of his own. We have him, I. Marching with the
Philistines, <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.1-1Sam.29.2" parsed="|1Sam|29|1|29|2" passage="1Sa 29:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>.
II. Excepted against by the lords of the Philistines, <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.3-1Sam.29.5" parsed="|1Sam|29|3|29|5" passage="1Sa 29:3-5">ver. 3-5</scripRef>. III. Happily dismissed by
Achish from that service which did so ill become him, and which yet
he knew not how to decline, <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.6-1Sam.29.11" parsed="|1Sam|29|6|29|11" passage="1Sa 29:6-11">ver.
6-11</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxx-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29" parsed="|1Sam|29|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 29" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxx-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.1-1Sam.29.5" parsed="|1Sam|29|1|29|5" passage="1Sa 29:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.29.1-1Sam.29.5">
<h4 id="iSam.xxx-p1.6">David with the Philistines. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxx-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1055.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxx-p2">1 Now the Philistines gathered together all
their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain
which <i>is</i> in Jezreel.   2 And the lords of the
Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and
his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.   3 Then said
the princes of the Philistines, What <i>do</i> these Hebrews
<i>here?</i> And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines,
<i>Is</i> not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel,
which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have
found no fault in him since he fell <i>unto me</i> unto this day?
  4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him;
and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow
return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed
him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle
he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself
unto his master? <i>should it</i> not <i>be</i> with the heads of
these men?   5 <i>Is</i> not this David, of whom they sang one
to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David
his ten thousands?</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxx-p3">Here is, I. The great strait that David was
in, which we may suppose he himself was aware of, though we read
not of his asking advice from God, nor of any project of his own to
get clear of it. The two armies of the Philistines and the
Israelites were encamped and ready to engage, <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.1" parsed="|1Sam|29|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Achish, who had been kind to
David, had obliged him to come himself and bring the forces he had
into his service. David came accordingly, and, upon a review of the
army, was found with Achish, in the post assigned him in the rear,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.2" parsed="|1Sam|29|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Now, 1. If,
when the armies engaged, he should retire, and quit his post, he
would fall under the indelible reproach, not only of cowardice and
treachery, but of base ingratitude to Achish, who had been his
protector and benefactor and had reposed a confidence in him, and
from whom he had received a very honourable commission. Such an
unprincipled thing as this he could by no means persuade himself to
do. 2. If he should, as was expected from him, fight for the
Philistines against Israel, he would incur the imputation of being
an enemy to the Israel of God and a traitor to his country, would
make his own people hate him, and unanimously oppose his coming to
the crown, as unworthy the name of an Israelite, much more the
honour and trust of a king of Israel, when he had fought against
them under the banner of the uncircumcised. If Saul should be
killed (as it proved he was) in this engagement, the fault would be
laid at David's door, as if he had killed him. So that on each side
there seemed to be both sin and scandal. This was the strait he was
in; and a great strait it was to a good man, greater to see sin
before him than to see trouble. Into this strait he brought himself
by his own unadvisedness, in quitting the land of Judah, and going
among the uncircumcised. It is strange if those that associate
themselves with wicked people, and grow intimate with them, come
off without guilt, or grief, or both. What he himself proposed to
do does not appear. Perhaps he designed to act only as keeper to
the king's head, the post assigned him (<scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.2" parsed="|1Sam|28|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:2"><i>ch.</i> xxviii. 2</scripRef>) and not to do any thing
offensively against Israel. But it would have been very hard to
come so near the brink of sin and not to fall in. Therefore, though
God might justly have left him in this difficulty, to chastise him
for his folly, yet, because his heart was upright with him, he
would <i>not suffer him to be tempted above what he was able, but
with the temptation made a way for him to escape,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.10.13" parsed="|1Cor|10|13|0|0" passage="1Co 10:13">1 Cor. x. 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxx-p4">II. A door opened for his deliverance out
of this strait. God inclined the hearts of the princes of the
Philistines to oppose his being employed in the battle, and to
insist upon his being dismissed. Thus their enmity befriended him,
when no friend he had was capable of doing him such a kindness. 1.
It was a proper question which they asked, upon the mustering of
the forces, "<i>What do these Hebrews here?</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.3" parsed="|1Sam|29|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. What confidence can we put in
them, or what service can we expect from them?" A <i>Hebrew is out
of his place,</i> and, if he has the spirit of a <i>Hebrew, is out
of his element,</i> when he is in the camp of the Philistines, and
deserves to be made uneasy there. David used to <i>hate the
congregation of evil doers,</i> however he came now to be among
them, <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.26.5" parsed="|Ps|26|5|0|0" passage="Ps 26:5">Ps. xxvi. 5</scripRef>. It was an
honourable testimony which Achish, on this occasion, gave to David.
He looked upon him as a refugee, that fled from a wrongful
prosecution in his own country, and had put himself under his
protection, whom therefore he was obliged, in justice, to take care
of, and thought he might in prudence employ; "for (says he) he has
been with me <i>these days,</i> or <i>these years,</i>" that is, a
considerable time, many days at his court and a year or two in his
country, and he never found any fault in him, nor saw any cause to
distrust his fidelity, or to think any other than that he had
heartily come over to him. By this it appears that David had
conducted himself with a great deal of caution, and had prudently
concealed the affection he still retained for his own people. We
have need to <i>walk in wisdom towards those that are without, to
keep our mouth when the wicked is before us,</i> and to be upon the
reserve. 3. Yet the princes are peremptory in it, that he must be
sent home; and they give good reasons for their insisting on it.
(1.) Because he had been an old enemy to the Philistines; witness
what was sung in honour of his triumphs over them: <i>Saul slew his
thousands, and David his ten thousands,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.5" parsed="|1Sam|29|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. "It will be a reproach to us to
harbour and trust so noted a destroyer of our people; nor can it be
thought that he will now act heartily against Saul who then acted
so vigorously with him and for him." Who would be fond of popular
praise or applause when, even that may, another time, be turned
against a man to his reproach? (2.) Because he might be a most
dangerous enemy to them, and do them more mischief then all Saul's
army could (<scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.4" parsed="|1Sam|29|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>):
"He may <i>in the battle be an adversary to us,</i> and surprise us
with an attack in the rear, while their army charges us in the
front; and we have reason to think he will do so, that, by
betraying us, he may reconcile himself to his master. Who can trust
a man who, besides his affection to his country, will think it his
interest to be false to us?" It is dangerous to put confidence in a
reconciled enemy.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxx-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.6-1Sam.29.11" parsed="|1Sam|29|6|29|11" passage="1Sa 29:6-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.29.6-1Sam.29.11">
<h4 id="iSam.xxx-p4.6">David Leaves the
Philistines. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxx-p4.7">b. c.</span> 1055.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxx-p5">6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him,
Surely, <i>as</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxx-p5.1">Lord</span> liveth,
thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me
in the host <i>is</i> good in my sight: for I have not found evil
in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day:
nevertheless the lords favour thee not.   7 Wherefore now
return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the
Philistines.   8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I
done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have
been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the
enemies of my lord the king?   9 And Achish answered and said
to David, I know that thou <i>art</i> good in my sight, as an angel
of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said,
He shall not go up with us to the battle.   10 Wherefore now
rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are
come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and
have light, depart.   11 So David and his men rose up early to
depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines.
And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxx-p6">If the reasons Achish had to trust David
were stronger than the reasons which the princes offered why they
should distrust him (as I do not see that, in policy, they were,
for the princes were certainly in the right), yet Achish was but
one of five, though the chief, and the only one that had the title
of king; accordingly, in a council of war held on this occasion, he
was over-voted, and obliged to dismiss David, though he was
extremely fond of him. Kings cannot always do as they would, nor
have such as they would about them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxx-p7">I. The discharge Achish gives him is very
honourable, and not a final discharge, but only from the present
service. 1. He signifies the great pleasure and satisfaction he had
taken in him and in his conversation: <i>Thou art good in my sight
as an angel of God,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.9" parsed="|1Sam|29|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. Wise and good men will gain respect, wherever they
go, from all that know how to make a right estimate of persons and
things, though of different professions in religion. What Achish
says of David, God, by the prophet, says <i>of the house of
David</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Zech.12.8" parsed="|Zech|12|8|0|0" passage="Zec 12:8">Zech. xii. 8</scripRef>),
that it shall be <i>as the angel of the Lord.</i> But the former is
a court-compliment; the latter is a divine promise. 2. He gives him
a testimonial of his good behaviour, <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.6" parsed="|1Sam|29|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. It is very full and in obliging
terms: "<i>Thou hast been upright,</i> and thy whole conduct has
been <i>good in my sight,</i> and <i>I have not found evil in
thee.</i>" Saul would not have given him such a testimonial, though
he had done far more service to him than Achish. God's people
should behave themselves always so inoffensively as if possible to
get the good word of all they have dealings with; and it is a debt
we owe to those who have acquitted themselves well to give them the
praise of it. 3. He lays all the blame of his dismission upon the
princes, who would by no means suffer him to continue in the camp.
"The king loves thee entirely, and would venture his life in thy
hand; <i>but the lords favour thee not,</i> and we must not
disoblige them, nor can we oppose them; therefore <i>return and go
in peace.</i>" He had better part with his favourite than occasion
a disgust among his generals and a mutiny in his army. Achish
intimates a reason why they were uneasy. It was not so much for
David's own sake as for the sake of his soldiers that attended him,
whom he calls <i>his master's servants</i> (namely, Saul's),
<scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.10" parsed="|1Sam|29|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. They could
trust him, but not them. (4.) He orders him to be gone early, as
soon as it was light (<scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.10" parsed="|1Sam|29|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>), to prevent their further resentments, and the
jealousies they would have been apt to conceive if he had
lingered.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxx-p8">II. His reception of this discourse is very
complimental; but, I fear, not without some degree of
dissimulation. "What?" says David, "must I leave <i>my lord the
king,</i> whom I am bound by office to protect, just now when he is
going to expose himself in the field? Why may not I go and <i>fight
against the enemies of my lord the king?</i>" <scripRef id="iSam.xxx-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.29.8" parsed="|1Sam|29|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 29:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. He seemed anxious to serve him
when he was at this juncture really anxious to leave him, but he
was not willing that Achish should know that he was. No one knows
how strong the temptation is to compliment and dissemble which
those are in that attend great men, and how hard it is to avoid
it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxx-p9">III. God's providence ordered it wisely and
graciously for him. For, besides that the snare was broken and he
was delivered out of the dilemma to which he was first reduced, it
proved a happy hastening of him to the relief of his own city,
which sorely wanted him, though he did not know it. Thus the
disgrace which the lords of the Philistines put upon him prove, in
more ways than one, an advantage to him. <i>The steps of a good man
are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.</i> What he
does with us we know not now, but we shall know hereafter, and
shall see it was all for good.</p>
</div></div2>