mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 21.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xxii" n="xxii" next="iSam.xxiii" prev="iSam.xxi" progress="34.75%" title="Chapter XXI">
<h2 id="iSam.xxii-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xxii-p0.2">CHAP. XXI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xxii-p1">David has now quite taken leave both of Saul's
court and of his camp, has bidden farewell to his alter idem—his
other self, the beloved Jonathan; and henceforward to the end of
this book he is looked upon and treated as an outlaw and proclaimed
a traitor. We still find him shifting from place to place for his
own safety, and Saul pursuing him. His troubles are very
particularly related in this and the following chapters, not only
to be a key to the Psalms, but that he might be, as other prophets,
an example to the saints in all ages, "of suffering affliction, and
of patience," and especially that he might be a type of Christ,
who, being anointed to the kingdom, humbled himself, and was
therefore highly exalted. But the example of the suffering Jesus
was a copy without a blot, that of David was not so; witness the
records of this chapter, where we find David in his flight, I.
Imposing upon Abimelech the priest, to get from him both victuals
and arms, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.1-1Sam.21.9" parsed="|1Sam|21|1|21|9" passage="1Sa 21:1-9">ver. 1-9</scripRef>. II.
Imposing upon Achish, king of Gath, by feigning himself mad,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.10-1Sam.21.15" parsed="|1Sam|21|10|21|15" passage="1Sa 21:10-15">ver. 10-15</scripRef>. Justly are
troubles called temptations, for many are by them drawn into
sin.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21" parsed="|1Sam|21|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 21" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.1-1Sam.21.9" parsed="|1Sam|21|1|21|9" passage="1Sa 21:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.21.1-1Sam.21.9">
<h4 id="iSam.xxii-p1.5">David Obtains the Show-Bread; David Gets the
Sword of Goliath. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxii-p1.6">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxii-p2">1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the
priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said
unto him, Why <i>art</i> thou alone, and no man with thee?   2
And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded
me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of
the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded
thee: and I have appointed <i>my</i> servants to such and such a
place.   3 Now therefore what is under thine hand? give
<i>me</i> five <i>loaves of</i> bread in mine hand, or what there
is present.   4 And the priest answered David, and said,
<i>There is</i> no common bread under mine hand, but there is
hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from
women.   5 And David answered the priest, and said unto him,
Of a truth women <i>have been</i> kept from us about these three
days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy,
and <i>the bread is</i> in a manner common, yea, though it were
sanctified this day in the vessel.   6 So the priest gave him
hallowed <i>bread:</i> for there was no bread there but the
showbread, that was taken from before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxii-p2.1">Lord</span>, to put hot bread in the day when it was
taken away.   7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul
<i>was</i> there that day, detained before the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxii-p2.2">Lord</span>; and his name <i>was</i> Doeg, an Edomite,
the chiefest of the herdmen that <i>belonged</i> to Saul.   8
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine
hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my
weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.  
9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom
thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it <i>is here</i>
wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take
<i>it:</i> for <i>there is</i> no other save that here. And David
said, <i>There is</i> none like that; give it me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p3">Here, I. David, in distress, flies in the
tabernacle of God, now pitched at Nob, supposed to be a city in the
tribe of Benjamin. Since Shiloh was forsaken, the tabernacle was
often removed, though the ark still remained at Kirjath-jearim.
Hither David came in his flight from Saul's fury (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.1" parsed="|1Sam|21|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), and applied to
Ahimelech the priest. Samuel the prophet could not protect him,
Jonathan the prince could not. He therefore has recourse next to
Ahimelech the priest. He foresees he must now be an exile, and
therefore comes to the tabernacle, 1. To take an affecting leave of
it, for he knows not when he shall see it again, and nothing will
be more afflictive to him in his banishment than his distance from
the house of God, and his restraint from public ordinances, as
appears by many of his psalms. He had given an affectionate
farewell to his friend Jonathan, and cannot go till he has given
the like to the tabernacle. 2. To enquire of the Lord there, and to
beg direction from him in the way both of duty and safety, his case
being difficult and dangerous. That this was his business appears
<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.10" parsed="|1Sam|22|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:10"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 10</scripRef>, where
it is said that <i>Ahimelech enquired of the Lord for him,</i> as
he had done formerly, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.15" parsed="|1Sam|21|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. It is a great comfort to us in a day of trouble that
we have a God to go to, to whom we may open our case, and from whom
we may ask and expect direction.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p4">II. Ahimelech the priest is surprised to
see him in so poor an equipage; having heard that he had fallen
into disgrace at court, he looked shy upon him, as most are apt to
do upon their friends when the world frowns upon them. He was
afraid of incurring Saul's displeasure by entertaining him, and
took notice how mean a figure he now made to what he used to make:
<i>Why art thou alone?</i> He had some with him (as appears
<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Mark.2.26" parsed="|Mark|2|26|0|0" passage="Mk 2:26">Mark ii. 26</scripRef>), but they were
only his own servants; he had none of the courtiers, no persons of
quality with him, as he used to have at other times, when he came
to enquire of the Lord. He says (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.42.4" parsed="|Ps|42|4|0|0" passage="Ps 42:4">Ps.
xlii. 4</scripRef>) he was wont to <i>go with a multitude to the
house of God;</i> and, having now but two or three with him,
Ahimelech might well ask, <i>Why art thou alone?</i> He that was
suddenly advanced from the solitude of a shepherd's life to the
crowd and hurries of the camp is now as soon reduced to the
desolate condition of an exile and is <i>alone like a sparrow on
the housetop,</i> such charges are there in this world and so
uncertain are its smiles! Those that are courted to-day may be
deserted to-morrow.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p5">III. David, under pretence of being sent by
Saul upon public services, solicits Ahimelech to supply his present
wants, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.2-1Sam.21.3" parsed="|1Sam|21|2|21|3" passage="1Sa 21:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2,
3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p6">1. Here David did not behave like himself.
He told Ahimelech a gross untruth, that Saul had ordered him
business to despatch, that his attendants were dismissed to such a
place, and that he was charged to observe secresy and therefore
durst not communicate it, no, not to the priest himself. This was
all false. What shall we say to this? The scripture does not
conceal it, and we dare not justify it. It was ill done, and proved
of bad consequence; for it <i>occasioned the death of the priests
of the Lord,</i> as David reflected upon it afterwards with regret,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.22" parsed="|1Sam|22|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:22"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 22</scripRef>. It
was needless for him thus to dissemble with the priest, for we may
suppose that, if he had told him the truth, he would have sheltered
and relieved him as readily as Samuel did, and would have known the
better how to advise him and enquire of God for him. People should
be free with their faithful ministers. David was a man of great
faith and courage, and yet now both failed him, and he fell thus
foully through fear and cowardice, and both owing to the weakness
of his faith. Had he trusted God aright, he would not have used
such a sorry sinful shift as this for his own preservation. It is
written, not for our imitation, no, not in the greatest straits,
but for our admonition. <i>Let him that thinks he stands take heed
lest he fall;</i> and let us all pray daily, <i>Lord, lead us not
into temptation.</i> Let us all take occasion from this to lament,
(1.) The weakness and infirmity of good men; the best are not
perfect on this side heaven. There may be true grace where yet
there are many failings. (2.) The wickedness of bad times, which
forces good men into such straits as prove temptations too strong
for them. Oppression makes a wise man do foolishly.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p7">2. Two things David begged of Ahimelech,
<i>bread</i> and a <i>sword.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p8">(1.) He wanted bread: <i>five loaves,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.3" parsed="|1Sam|21|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Travelling was
then troublesome, when men generally carried their provisions with
them in kind, having little money and no public houses, else David
would not now have had to seek for bread. It seems David had known
the <i>seed of the righteous begging bread</i> occasionally, but
not constantly, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.25" parsed="|Ps|37|25|0|0" passage="Ps 37:25">Ps. xxxvii.
25</scripRef>. Now, [1.] The priest objected that he had none but
hallowed bread, <i>show-bread,</i> which had stood a week on the
golden table in the sanctuary, and was taken thence for the use of
the priests and their families, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.4" parsed="|1Sam|21|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. It seems the priest kept no good
house, but wanted either a heart to be hospitable or provisions
wherewithal to be so. Ahimelech thinks that the young men that
attended David might not eat of this bread unless they had for some
time abstained from women, even from their own wives; this was
required at the <i>giving of the law</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.19.15" parsed="|Exod|19|15|0|0" passage="Ex 19:15">Exod. xix. 15</scripRef>), but otherwise we never find
this made the matter of any ceremonial purity on the one side or
pollution on the other, and therefore the priest here seems to be
over-nice, not to say superstitious. [2.] David pleads that he and
those that were with him, in this case of necessity, might lawfully
eat of the hallowed bread, for they were not only able to answer
his terms of keeping from women for three days past, but <i>the
vessels</i> (that is, the bodies) <i>of the young men were
holy,</i> being <i>possessed in sanctification and honour at all
times</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.4.4-1Thess.4.5" parsed="|1Thess|4|4|4|5" passage="1Th 4:4,5">1 Thess. iv. 4,
5</scripRef>), and therefore God would take particular care of
them, that they wanted not necessary supports, and would have his
priest to do so. Being thus holy, holy things were not forbidden
them. Poor and pious Israelites were in effect priests to God, and,
rather than be starved, might feed on the bread which was
appropriated to the priests. Believers are spiritual priests, and
the offerings of the Lord shall be their inheritance; they eat the
bread of their God. He pleads that the bread is in a manner common,
now that what was primarily the religious use of it is over;
especially (as our margin reads it) <i>where there is other
bread</i> (<i>hot,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.6" parsed="|1Sam|21|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>) <i>sanctified that day in the vessel,</i> and put in
the room of it upon the table. This was David's plea, and the Son
of David approves it, and shows from it that mercy is to be
preferred to sacrifice, that ritual observance must give way to
moral duties, and that may be done in a case of an urgent
providential necessity which may not otherwise be done. He brings
it to justify his disciples in plucking the ears of corn on the
sabbath day, for which the Pharisees censured them, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.7" osisRef="Bible:Matt.12.3-Matt.12.4" parsed="|Matt|12|3|12|4" passage="Mt 12:3,4">Matt. xii. 3, 4</scripRef>. [3.] Ahimelech
hereupon supplies him: <i>He gave him hallowed bread</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.8" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.6" parsed="|1Sam|21|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), and some think it was
about this that <i>he enquired of the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.22.10" parsed="|1Sam|22|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 22:10"><i>ch.</i> xxii. 10</scripRef>. As a faithful servant
he would not dispose of his master's provisions without his
master's leave. This bread, we may suppose, was the more agreeable
to David for its being hallowed, so precious were all sacred things
to him. The show-bread was but twelve loaves in all, yet out of
these he gave David five (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p8.10" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.3" parsed="|1Sam|21|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>), though they had no more in the house; but he trusted
Providence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p9">(2.) He wanted a sword. Persons of quality,
though officers of the army, did not then wear their swords so
constantly as now they do, else surely David would not have been
without one. It was a wonder that Jonathan did not furnish him with
his, as he had before done, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.18.4" parsed="|1Sam|18|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 18:4"><i>ch.</i>
xviii. 4</scripRef>. However, it happened that he had now no
weapons with him, the reason of which he pretends to be because he
came away in haste, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.8" parsed="|1Sam|21|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. Those that are furnished with the sword of the Spirit
and the shield of faith cannot be disarmed of them, nor need they,
at any time, to be at a loss. But the priests, it seems, had no
swords: the weapons of their warfare were not carnal. There was not
a sword to be found about the tabernacle but the sword of Goliath,
which was laid up behind the ephod, as a monument of the glorious
victory David obtained over him. Probably David had an eye to that
when he asked the priest to help him with a sword; for, that being
mentioned, O! says he, <i>there is none like that, give it to
me,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.9" parsed="|1Sam|21|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. He
could not use Saul's armour, for he had not proved it; but this
sword of Goliath he had made trial of and done execution with. By
this it appears that he was now well grown in strength and stature,
that he could wear and wield such a sword as that. God had
<i>taught his hands to war,</i> so that he could do wonders,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.34" parsed="|Ps|18|34|0|0" passage="Ps 18:34">Ps. xviii. 34</scripRef>. Two things
we may observe concerning this sword:—[1.] That God had
graciously given it to him, as a pledge of his singular favour; so
that whenever he drew it, nay, whenever he looked upon it, it would
be a great support to his faith, by bringing to mind that great
instance of the particular care and countenance of the divine
providence respecting him. [2.] That he had gratefully given it
back to God, dedicating it to him and to his honour as a token of
his thankfulness; and now in his distress it stood him greatly in
stead. Note, What we devote to God's praise, and serve him with, is
most likely to redound, one way or other, to our own comfort and
benefit. What we gave we have.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p10">Thus was David well furnished with arms and
victuals; but it fell out very unhappily that there was one of
Saul's servants then attending before the Lord, <i>Doeg</i> by
name, that proved a base traitor both to David and Ahimelech. He
was by birth an Edomite (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.7" parsed="|1Sam|21|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>), and though proselyted to the Jewish religion, to get
the preferment he now had under Saul, yet he retained the ancient
and hereditary enmity of Edom to Israel. He was master of the
herds, which perhaps was then a place of as much honour as master
of the horse is now. Some occasion or other he had at this time to
wait on the priest, either to be purified from some pollution or to
pay some vow; but, whatever his business was, it is said, he was
<i>detained before the Lord.</i> He must attend and could not help
it, but he was sick of the service, <i>snuffed at it, and said,
What a weariness is it!</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.1.13" parsed="|Mal|1|13|0|0" passage="Mal 1:13">Mal. i.
13</scripRef>. He would rather have been any where else than before
the Lord, and therefore, instead of minding the business he came
about, was plotting to do David a mischief and to be revenged on
Ahimelech for detaining him. God's sanctuary could never secure
such wolves in sheep's clothing. See <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Gal.2.4" parsed="|Gal|2|4|0|0" passage="Ga 2:4">Gal. ii. 4</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.10-1Sam.21.15" parsed="|1Sam|21|10|21|15" passage="1Sa 21:10-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.21.10-1Sam.21.15">
<h4 id="iSam.xxii-p10.5">David Driven from Achish. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxii-p10.6">b. c.</span> 1057.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxii-p11">10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear
of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.   11 And the
servants of Achish said unto him, <i>Is</i> not this David the king
of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances,
saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
  12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore
afraid of Achish the king of Gath.   13 And he changed his
behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and
scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down
upon his beard.   14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo,
ye see the man is mad: wherefore <i>then</i> have ye brought him to
me?   15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this
<i>fellow</i> to play the mad man in my presence? shall this
<i>fellow</i> come into my house?</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxii-p12">David, though king elect, is here an
exile—designed to be master of vast treasures, yet just now
begging his bread—anointed to the crown, and yet here forced to
flee from his country. Thus do God's providences sometimes seem to
run counter to his promises, for the trial of his people's faith,
and the glorifying of his name, in the accomplishment of his
counsels, notwithstanding the difficulties that lay in the way.
Here is, 1. David's flight into the land of the Philistines, where
he hoped to be hid, and to remain undiscovered in the court or camp
of Achish king of Gath, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.10" parsed="|1Sam|21|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. Israel's darling is necessitated to quit the land of
Israel, and he that was the Philistine's great enemy (upon I know
not what inducements) goes to seek for shelter among them. It
should seem that as, though the Israelites loved him, yet the king
of Israel had a personal enmity to him, which obliged him to leave
his own country, so, though the Philistines hated him, yet the king
of Gath had a personal kindness for him, valuing his merit, and
perhaps the more for his killing Goliath of Gath, who, it may be,
had been no friend to Achish. To him David now went directly, as to
one he could confide in, as afterwards (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.27.2-1Sam.27.3" parsed="|1Sam|27|2|27|3" passage="1Sa 27:2,3"><i>ch.</i> xxvii. 2, 3</scripRef>), and Achish would
not have protected him but that he was afraid of disobliging his
own people. God's persecuted people have often found better usage
from Philistines than from Israelites, in the Gentile theatres than
in the Jewish synagogues. The king of Judah imprisoned Jeremiah,
and the king of Babylon set him at liberty. 2. The disgust which
the servants of Achish took at his being there, and their complaint
of it to Achish (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.11" parsed="|1Sam|21|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>): "<i>Is not this David?</i> Is not this he that has
triumphed over the Philistines? witness that burden of the song
which was so much talked of, <i>Saul has slain his thousands,</i>
but <i>David,</i> this very man, <i>his ten thousands.</i> Nay, Is
not this he that (if our intelligence from the land of Israel be
true) is, or is to be, <i>king of the land?</i>" As such, "he must
be an enemy to our country; and is it safe or honourable for us to
protect or entertain such a man?" Achish perhaps had intimated to
them that it would be policy to entertain David, because he was now
an enemy to Saul, and he might be hereafter a friend to them. It is
common for the outlaws of a nation to be sheltered by the enemies
of that nation. But the servants of Achish objected to his
politics, and thought it not at all fit that he should stay among
them. 3. The fright which this put David into. Though he had some
reason to put confidence in Achish, yet, when he perceived the
servants of Achish jealous of him, he began to be afraid that
Achish would be obliged to deliver him up to them, and he was
<i>sorely afraid</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.12" parsed="|1Sam|21|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), and perhaps he was the more apprehensive of his own
danger, when he was thus discovered, because he wore Goliath's
sword, which, we may suppose, was well known in Gath, and with
which he had reason to expect they would cut off his head, as he
had cut off Goliath's with it. David now learned by experience what
he has taught us (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.118.9" parsed="|Ps|118|9|0|0" passage="Ps 118:9">Ps. cxviii.
9</scripRef>), <i>that it is better to trust in the Lord than to
put confidence in princes.</i> Men of high degree are a lie, and,
if we make them our hope, they may prove our fear. It was at this
time that David penned <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.55.1-Ps.55.23" parsed="|Ps|55|1|55|23" passage="Ps 55:1-23">Psalm
lv.</scripRef> (<i>Michtam, a golden psalm), when the Philistines
took him in Gath,</i> where having shown before God his distresses,
he resolves (<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.3" parsed="|1Sam|21|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>),
"<i>What time I am afraid I will trust in thee;</i> and therefore
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.11" parsed="|1Sam|21|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>) <i>will not
be afraid what man can do unto me,</i> no, not the sons of giants."
4. The course he took to get out of their hands: <i>He feigned
himself mad,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.13" parsed="|1Sam|21|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 21:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. He used the gestures and fashions of a natural fool,
or one that had gone out of his wits, supposing they would be ready
enough to believe that the disgrace he had fallen into, and the
troubles he was now in, had driven him distracted. This
dissimulation of his cannot be justified (it was a mean thing thus
to disparage himself, and inconsistent with truth thus to
misrepresent himself, and therefore not becoming the honour and
sincerity of such a man as David); yet it may in some degree be
excused, for it was not a downright lie and it was like a stratagem
in war, by which he imposed upon his enemies for the preservation
of his own life. What David did here in pretence and for his own
safety, which made it partly excusable, drunkards do really, and
only to gratify a base lust: they made fools of themselves and
change their behaviour; their words and actions commonly are either
as silly and ridiculous as an idiot's or as furious and outrageous
as a madman's, which has often made me wonder that ever men of
sense and honour should allow themselves in it. 5. His escape by
this means, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.10" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.21.14-1Sam.21.15" parsed="|1Sam|21|14|21|15" passage="1Sa 21:14,15"><i>v.</i> 14,
15</scripRef>. I am apt to think Achish was aware that the delirium
was but counterfeit, but, being desirous to protect David (as we
find afterwards he was very kind to him, even when the lord of the
Philistines favoured him not, <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.11" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.28.1-1Sam.28.2 Bible:1Sam.29.6" parsed="|1Sam|28|1|28|2;|1Sam|29|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 28:1,2,29:6"><i>ch.</i> xxviii. 1, 2; xxix. 6</scripRef>), he
pretended to his servants that he really thought he was mad, and
therefore had reason to question whether it was David or no; or, if
it were, they need not fear him, what harm could he do them now
that his reason had departed from him? They suspected that Achish
was inclined to entertain him: "Not I," says he. "He is a madman.
I'll have nothing to do with him. You need not fear that I should
employ him, or give him any countenance." He humours the thing well
enough when he asks, "<i>Have I need of madmen?</i> <i>Shall this
fool come into my house?</i> I will show him no kindness, but then
you shall do him no hurt, for, if he be a madmen, he is to be
pitied." He therefore <i>drove him away,</i> as it is in the title
of <scripRef id="iSam.xxii-p12.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.34.1" parsed="|Ps|34|1|0|0" passage="Ps 34:1">Ps. xxxiv.</scripRef>, which David
penned upon this occasion, and an excellent psalm it is, and shows
that he did not change his spirit when he changed his behaviour,
but even in the greatest difficulties and hurries his <i>heart was
fixed,</i> trusting in the Lord; and he concludes that psalm with
this assurance, that <i>none of those that trust in God shall be
desolate,</i> though they may be, as he now was, solitary and
distressed, <i>persecuted, but not forsaken.</i></p>
</div></div2>