mh_parser/vol_split/9 - 1Samuel/Chapter 26.xml

<div2 id="iSam.xxvii" n="xxvii" next="iSam.xxviii" prev="iSam.xxvi" progress="37.16%" title="Chapter XXVI">
<h2 id="iSam.xxvii-p0.1">F I R S T   S A M U E L</h2>
<h3 id="iSam.xxvii-p0.2">CHAP. XXVI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iSam.xxvii-p1">David's troubles from Saul here begin again; and
the clouds return after the rain, when one would have hoped the
storm had blown over, and the sky had cleared upon that side; but
after Saul had owned his fault in persecuting David, and
acknowledged David's title to the crown, yet here he revives the
persecution, so perfectly lost was he to all sense of honour and
virtue. I. The Ziphites informed him where David was (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.1" parsed="|1Sam|26|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:1">ver. 1</scripRef>), and thereupon he marched out
with a considerable force in quest of him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.2-1Sam.26.3" parsed="|1Sam|26|2|26|3" passage="1Sa 26:2,3">ver. 2, 3</scripRef>. II. David gained intelligence of
his motions (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.4" parsed="|1Sam|26|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:4">ver. 4</scripRef>), and
took a view of his camp, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.5" parsed="|1Sam|26|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:5">ver.
5</scripRef>. III. He and one of his men ventured into his camp in
the night and found him and all his guards fast asleep, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.6-1Sam.26.7" parsed="|1Sam|26|6|26|7" passage="1Sa 26:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>. IV. David, though much
urged to it by his companions, would not take away Saul's life, but
only carried off his spear and his cruse of water, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.8-1Sam.26.12" parsed="|1Sam|26|8|26|12" passage="1Sa 26:8-12">ver. 8-12</scripRef>. V. He produced these as
a further witness for him that he did not design any ill to Saul,
and reasoned with him upon his conduct, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.13-1Sam.26.20" parsed="|1Sam|26|13|26|20" passage="1Sa 26:13-20">ver. 13-20</scripRef>. VI. Saul was hereby convinced
of his error, and once more desisted from persecuting David,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.21-1Sam.26.25" parsed="|1Sam|26|21|26|25" passage="1Sa 26:21-25">ver. 21-25</scripRef>. The story
is much like that which we had (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.24.1-1Sam.24.22" parsed="|1Sam|24|1|24|22" passage="1Sa 24:1-22"><i>ch.</i> xxiv.</scripRef>). In both David is
delivered out of Saul's hand, and Saul out of David's.</p>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxvii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26" parsed="|1Sam|26|0|0|0" passage="1Sa 26" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iSam.xxvii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.1-1Sam.26.5" parsed="|1Sam|26|1|26|5" passage="1Sa 26:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.26.1-1Sam.26.5">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvii-p1.12">Saul Again Pursues David. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p1.13">b. c.</span> 1056.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvii-p2">1 And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah,
saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah,
<i>which is</i> before Jeshimon?   2 Then Saul arose, and went
down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of
Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.   3
And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which <i>is</i> before
Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw
that Saul came after him into the wilderness.   4 David
therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very
deed.   5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul
had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner
the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the
trench, and the people pitched round about him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p3">Here, 1. Saul gets information of David's
movements and acts offensively. The Ziphites came to him and told
him where David now was, in the same place where he was when they
formerly betrayed him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.23.19" parsed="|1Sam|23|19|0|0" passage="1Sa 23:19"><i>ch.</i>
xxiii. 19</scripRef>. Perhaps (though it is not mentioned) Saul had
given them intimation, under-hand, that he continued his design
against David, and would be glad of their assistance. If not, they
were very officious to Saul, aware of what would please him, and
very malicious against David, to whom they despaired of ever
reconciling themselves, and therefore they stirred up Saul (who
needed no such spur) against him, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.1" parsed="|1Sam|26|1|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. For aught we know, Saul would
have continued in the same good mind that he was in (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.24.17" parsed="|1Sam|24|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 24:17"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 17</scripRef>), and would not
have given David this fresh trouble, if the Ziphites had not put
him on. See what need we have to pray to God that, since we have so
much of the tinder of corruption in our own hearts, the sparks of
temptation may be kept far from us, lest, if they come together, we
be set on fire of hell. Saul readily caught at the information, and
went down with an army of 3000 men to the place where David hid
himself, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.2" parsed="|1Sam|26|2|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. How
soon do unsanctified hearts lose the good impressions which their
convictions have made upon them and return with the dog to their
vomit!</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p4">2. David gets information of Saul's
movements and acts defensively. He did not march out to meet and
fight him; he sought only his own safety, not Saul's ruin;
therefore he <i>abode in the wilderness</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.3" parsed="|1Sam|26|3|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), putting thereby a great force
upon himself, and curbing the bravery of his own spirit by a silent
retirement, showing more true valour than he could have done by an
irregular resistance. (1.) He had spies who informed him of Saul's
descent, <i>that he had come in very deed</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.4" parsed="|1Sam|26|4|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>); for he would not believe that
Saul would deal so basely with him till he had the utmost evidence
of it. (2.) He observed with his own eyes how Saul was encamped,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.5" parsed="|1Sam|26|5|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. He came
towards the place where Saul and his men had pitched their tents,
so near as to be able, undiscovered, to take a view of their
entrenchments, probably in the dusk of the evening.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.6-1Sam.26.12" parsed="|1Sam|26|6|26|12" passage="1Sa 26:6-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.26.6-1Sam.26.12">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvii-p4.5">David Spares Saul's Life. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p4.6">b. c.</span> 1056.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvii-p5">6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the
Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab,
saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai
said, I will go down with thee.   7 So David and Abishai came
to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the
trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner
and the people lay round about him.   8 Then said Abishai to
David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now
therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the
earth at once, and I will not <i>smite</i> him the second time.
  9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can
stretch forth his hand against the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p5.1">Lord</span>'s anointed, and be guiltless?   10
David said furthermore, <i>As</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p5.2">Lord</span> liveth, the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p5.3">Lord</span> shall smite him; or his day shall come to
die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.   11 The
<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p5.4">Lord</span> forbid that I should stretch
forth mine hand against the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p5.5">Lord</span>'s
anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that <i>is</i>
at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.   12 So
David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster;
and they gat them away, and no man saw <i>it,</i> nor knew
<i>it,</i> neither awaked: for they <i>were</i> all asleep; because
a deep sleep from the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p5.6">Lord</span> was
fallen upon them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p6">Here is, I. David's bold adventure into
Saul's camp in the night, accompanied only by his kinsman Abishai,
the son of Zeruiah. He proposed it to him and to another of his
confidants (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.6" parsed="|1Sam|26|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>),
but the other either declined it as too dangerous an enterprise, or
at least was content that Abishai, who was forward to it, should
run the risk of it rather than himself. Whether David was prompted
to do this by his own courage, or by an extraordinary impression
upon his spirits, or by the oracle, does not appear; but, like
Gideon, he ventured through the guards, with a special assurance of
the divine protection.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p7">II. The posture he found the camp in
<i>Saul lay sleeping in the trench,</i> or, as some read it, <i>in
his chariot, and in the midst of his carriages,</i> with <i>his
spear stuck in the ground</i> by him, to be ready if his quarters
should by beaten up (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.7" parsed="|1Sam|26|7|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>); and all the soldiers, even those that were appointed
to stand sentinel, were <i>fast asleep,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.12" parsed="|1Sam|26|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. Thus were their eyes closed
and their hands bound, <i>for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen
upon them;</i> something extraordinary there was in it that they
should all be asleep together, and so fast asleep that David and
Abishai walked and talked among them, and yet none of them stirred.
Sleep, when God gives it to his beloved, is their rest and
refreshment; but he can, when he pleases, make it to his enemies
their imprisonment. Thus are the <i>stout-hearted spoiled; they
have slept their sleep, and none of the men of might have found
their hands, at thy rebuke, O God of Jacob!</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.76.5-Ps.76.6" parsed="|Ps|76|5|76|6" passage="Ps 76:5,6">Ps. lxxvi. 5, 6</scripRef>. <i>It was a deep sleep from
the Lord,</i> who has the command of the powers of nature, and
makes them to serve his purposes as he pleases. Whom God will
disable, or destroy, he binds up with <i>a spirit of slumber,</i>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.8" parsed="|Rom|11|8|0|0" passage="Ro 11:8">Rom. xi. 8</scripRef>. How helpless do
Saul and all his forces lie, all, in effect, disarmed and chained!
and yet nothing is done to them; they are only rocked asleep. How
easily can God weaken the strongest, befool the wisest, and baffle
the most watchful! Let all his friends therefore trust him and all
his enemies fear him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p8">III. Abishai's request to David for a
commission to dispatch Saul with the spear that stuck at his
bolster, which (now that he lay so fair) he undertook to do at one
blow, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.8" parsed="|1Sam|26|8|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. He would
not urge David to kill him himself, because he had declined doing
this before when he had a similar opportunity; but he begged
earnestly that David would give him leave to do it, pleading that
he was his enemy, not only cruel and implacable, but false and
perfidious, whom no reason would rule nor kindness work upon, and
that <i>God had now delivered him into his hand,</i> and did in
effect bid him strike. The last advantage he had of this kind was
indeed but accidental, when Saul happened to be in the cave with
him at the same time. But in this there was something
extraordinary; the deep sleep that had fallen on Saul and all his
guards was manifestly from the Lord, so that it was a special
providence which gave him this opportunity; he ought not therefore
to let it slip.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p9">IV. David's generous refusal to suffer any
harm to be done to Saul, and in it a resolute adherence to his
principles of loyalty, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.9" parsed="|1Sam|26|9|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>. David charged Abishai not to destroy him, would not
only not do it himself, but not permit another to do it. And he
gave two reasons for it:—1. It would be a sinful affront to God's
ordinance. Saul was the Lord's anointed, king of Israel by the
special appointment and nomination of the God of Israel, the power
that was, and to resist him was to <i>resist the ordinance of
God,</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.13.2" parsed="|Rom|13|2|0|0" passage="Ro 13:2">Rom. xiii. 2</scripRef>. No
man could do it and be guiltless. The thing he feared was guilt and
his concern respected his innocence more than his safety. 2. It
would be a sinful anticipation of God's providence. God had
sufficiently shown him, in Nabal's case, that, if he left it to him
to avenge him, he would do it in due time. Encouraged therefore by
his experience in that instance, he resolves to wait till God shall
think fit to avenge him on Saul, and he will by no means <i>avenge
himself</i> (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.10" parsed="|1Sam|26|10|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>): <i>"The Lord shall smite him,</i> as he did Nabal,
with some sudden stroke, or he shall <i>die in battle</i> (as it
proved he did soon after), or, if not, <i>his day shall come to
die</i> a natural death, and I will contentedly wait till then,
rather than force my way to the promised crown by any indirect
methods." The temptation indeed was very strong; but, if he should
yield, he would sin against God, and therefore he will resist the
temptation with the utmost resolution (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.11" parsed="|1Sam|26|11|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>): "<i>The Lord forbid that I
should stretch forth my hand against the Lord's anointed;</i> no, I
will never do it, nor suffer it to be done." Thus bravely does he
prefer his conscience to his interest and trusts God with the
issue.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p10">V. The improvement he made of this
opportunity for the further evidence of his own integrity. He and
Abishai carried away the spear and cruse of water which Saul had by
his bed-side (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.12" parsed="|1Sam|26|12|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), and, which was very strange, none of all the guards
were aware of it. If a physician had given them the strongest
opiate or stupifying dose, they could not have been faster locked
up with sleep. Saul's spear which he had by him for defence, and
his cup of water which he had for his refreshment, were both stolen
from him while he slept. Thus do we lose our strength and our
comfort when we are careless, and secure, and off our watch.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvii-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.13-1Sam.26.20" parsed="|1Sam|26|13|26|20" passage="1Sa 26:13-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.26.13-1Sam.26.20">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvii-p10.3">David Expostulates with
Saul. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p10.4">b. c.</span> 1056.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvii-p11">13 Then David went over to the other side, and
stood on the top of a hill afar off; a great space <i>being</i>
between them:   14 And David cried to the people, and to Abner
the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner
answered and said, Who <i>art</i> thou <i>that</i> criest to the
king?   15 And David said to Abner, <i>Art</i> not thou a
<i>valiant</i> man? and who <i>is</i> like to thee in Israel?
wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came
one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.   16 This
thing <i>is</i> not good that thou hast done. <i>As</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p11.1">Lord</span> liveth, ye <i>are</i> worthy to die,
because ye have not kept your master, the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p11.2">Lord</span>'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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p11.3">Lord</span> 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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p11.4">Lord</span>; for they have driven me out this day from
abiding in the inheritance of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p11.5">Lord</span>, saying, Go, serve other gods.   20
Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face
of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p11.6">Lord</span>: for the king of Israel
is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in
the mountains.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p12">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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.13" parsed="|1Sam|26|13|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>), and then begins to reason with them upon what had
passed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p13">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, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.14" parsed="|1Sam|26|14|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>.
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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.15" parsed="|1Sam|26|15|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>): "<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
(<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.16" parsed="|1Sam|26|16|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>): "<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 class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p14">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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.17" parsed="|1Sam|26|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): <i>Is this thy voice, my son
David?</i> In the same manner he had expressed his relentings,
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.24.16" parsed="|1Sam|24|16|0|0" passage="1Sa 24:16"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 16</scripRef>. 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 class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p15">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>
<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.18" parsed="|1Sam|26|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.19" parsed="|1Sam|26|19|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>):
"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 than
of our own, and that with them we may honour him than 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 class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p16">2. He insists upon his own innocency:
<i>What have I done or what evil is in my hand?</i> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.18" parsed="|1Sam|26|18|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.24.17" parsed="|1Sam|24|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 24:17"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 17</scripRef>): <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 class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p17">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>" <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.20" parsed="|1Sam|26|20|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>—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! <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Jas.5.6" parsed="|Jas|5|6|0|0" passage="Jam 5:6">James
v. 6</scripRef>, <i>You have killed the just, and he doth not
resist you.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p18">4. He desires that the core of the
controversy may be searched into and some proper method taken to
bring it to an end, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.19" parsed="|1Sam|26|19|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Eph.2.16 Bible:Prov.16.7" parsed="|Eph|2|16|0|0;|Prov|16|7|0|0" passage="Eph 2:16,Pr 16:7">Eph. ii. 16; Prov. xvi.
7</scripRef>. 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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.20" parsed="|1Sam|26|20|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>), "<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>
</div><scripCom id="iSam.xxvii-p0.5" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.21-1Sam.26.25" parsed="|1Sam|26|21|26|25" passage="1Sa 26:21-25" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Sam.26.21-1Sam.26.25">
<h4 id="iSam.xxvii-p18.5">Saul Relents. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p18.6">b. c.</span> 1056.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iSam.xxvii-p19">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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p19.1">Lord</span> render
to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p19.2">Lord</span> delivered thee into <i>my</i> hand to
day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p19.3">Lord</span>'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 <span class="smallcaps" id="iSam.xxvii-p19.4">Lord</span>,
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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p20">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, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.21" parsed="|1Sam|26|21|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>. 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, <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.19 Bible:Job.28" parsed="|Job|19|0|0|0;|Job|28|0|0|0" passage="Job 19;28">Job xix. 28</scripRef>.
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 class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p21">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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.22" parsed="|1Sam|26|22|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>),
and then (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.23" parsed="|1Sam|26|23|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>),
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> <scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.28.4" parsed="|Ps|28|4|0|0" passage="Ps 28:4">Ps.
xxviii. 4</scripRef>); 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 (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.24" parsed="|1Sam|26|24|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>): "<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 class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p22">III. Saul's prediction of David's
advancement. He commends him (<scripRef id="iSam.xxvii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.25" parsed="|1Sam|26|25|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>): <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 class="indent" id="iSam.xxvii-p23"><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>
</div></div2>