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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Samuel, Chapter XXVII].</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. XXVII.</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 was a man after God's own heart, and yet he had his faults, which
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are recorded, not for our imitation, but for our admonition; witness
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the story of this chapter, in which, though,
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I. We find, to his praise, that he prudently took care of his own
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safety and his family's
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:2-4">ver. 2-4</A>)
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and valiantly fought Israel's battles against the Canaanites
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:8-9">ver. 8-9</A>),
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yet,
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II. We find, to his dishonour,
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1. That he began to despair of his deliverance,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:1">ver. 1</A>.
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2. That he deserted his own country, and went to dwell in the land of
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the Philistines,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:1,5-7">ver. 1, 5-7</A>.
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3. That he imposed upon Achish with an equivocation, if not a lie,
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concerning his expedition,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:10-12">ver. 10-12</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_7"> </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>David Returns to Gath.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1055.</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 David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by
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the hand of Saul: <I>there is</I> nothing better for me than that I
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should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul
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shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel:
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so shall I escape out of his hand.
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2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men
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that <I>were</I> with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.
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3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every
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man with his household, <I>even</I> David with his two wives, Ahinoam
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the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
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4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he
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sought no more again for him.
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5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in
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thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country,
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that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the
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royal city with thee?
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6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag
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pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
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7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the
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Philistines was a full year and four months.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The prevalency of David's fear, which was the effect of the weakness
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of his faith
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>):
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<I>He said to his heart</I> (so it may be read), in his communings with
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it concerning his present condition, <I>I shall now perish one day by
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the hand of Saul.</I> He represented to himself the restless rage and
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malice of Saul (who could not be wrought into a reconciliation) and the
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treachery of his own countrymen, witness that of the Ziphites, once and
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again; he looked upon his own forces, and observed how few they were,
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and that no recruits had come in to him for a great while, nor could he
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perceive that he got any ground; and hence, in a melancholy mood, he
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draws this dark conclusion: <I>I shall one day perish by the hand of
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Saul.</I> But, <I>O thou of little faith! wherefore dost thou
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doubt?</I> Was he not anointed to be king? Did not that imply an
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assurance that he should be preserved to the kingdom? Though he had no
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reason to trust Saul's promises, had he not all the reason in the world
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to trust the promises of God? His experience of the particular care
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Providence took of him ought to have encouraged him. He that has
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delivered does and will. But unbelief is a sin that easily besets even
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good men. When <I>without are fightings, within are fears,</I> and it
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is a hard matter to get over them. <I>Lord, increase our faith!</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The resolution he came to hereupon. Now that Saul had, for this
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time, returned to his place, he determined to take this opportunity of
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retiring into the Philistines' country. Consulting his own heart only,
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and not the ephod or the prophet, he concludes, <I>There is nothing
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better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the
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Philistines.</I> Long trials are in danger of tiring the faith and
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patience even of very good men. Now,
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1. Saul was an enemy to himself and his kingdom in driving David to
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this extremity. He weakened his own interest when he expelled from his
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service, and forced into the service of his enemies, so great a general
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as David was, and so brave a regiment as he had the command of.
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2. David was no friend to himself in taking this course. God had
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appointed him to set up his standard <I>in the land of Judah,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+22:5"><I>ch.</I> xxii. 5</A>.
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There God had wonderfully preserved him, and employed him sometimes for
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the good of his country; why then should he think of deserting his
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post? How could he expect the protection of the God of Israel if he
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went out of the borders of the land of Israel? Could he expect to be
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safe among the Philistines, out of whose hands he had lately escaped so
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narrowly by feigning himself mad? Would he receive obligations from
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those now whom he knew he must not return kindness to when he should
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come to be king, but be under an obligation to make war upon? Hereby he
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would gratify his enemies, who bade him go and serve other gods that
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they might have wherewith to reproach him, and very much weaken the
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hands of his friends, who would not have wherewith to answer that
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reproach. See what need we have to pray, <I>Lord, lead us not into
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temptation.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. The kind reception he had at Gath. Achish bade him welcome, partly
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out of generosity, being proud of entertaining so brave a man, partly
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out of policy, hoping to engage him for ever to his service, and that
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his example would invite many more to desert and come over to him. No
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doubt he gave David a solemn promise of protection, which he could rely
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upon when he could not trust Saul's promises. We may blush to think
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that the word of a Philistine should go further than the word of an
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Israelite, who, if an Israelite indeed, would be without guile, and
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that the city of Gath should be a place of refuge for a good man when
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the cities of Israel refuse him a safe abode. David,
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1. Brought his men with him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>)
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that they might guard him, and might themselves be safe where he was,
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and to recommend himself the more to Achish, who hoped to have service
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out of him.
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2. He brought his family with him, his <I>wives</I> and <I>his
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household,</I> so did all <I>his men,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:2,3"><I>v.</I> 2, 3</A>.
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Masters of families ought to take care of those that are committed to
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them, to protect and provide for those of their own house, and to
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<I>dwell with them as men of knowledge.</I></P>
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<P>
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IV. Saul's desisting from the further prosecution of him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>He sought no more again for him;</I> this intimates that
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notwithstanding the professions of repentance he had lately made, if he
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had had David in his reach, he would have aimed another blow. But,
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because he dares not come where he is, he resolves to let him alone.
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Thus many seem to leave their sins, but really their sins leave them;
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they would persist in them if they could. Saul sought no more for him,
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contenting himself with his banishment, since he could not have his
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blood, and hoping, it may be (as he had done,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+18:25"><I>ch.</I> xviii. 25</A>),
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that he would, some time or other, <I>fall by the hand of the
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Philistines;</I> and, though he would rather have the pleasure of
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destroying him himself, yet, if they do it, he will be satisfied, so
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that it be done effectually.</P>
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<P>
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V. David's removal from Gath to Ziklag.</P>
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<P>
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1. David's request for leave to remove was prudent and very modest,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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(1.) It was really prudent. David knew what it was to be envied in the
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court of Saul, and had much more reason to fear in the court of Achish,
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and therefore declines preferment there, and wishes for a settlement in
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the country, where he might be private, more within himself, and less
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in other people's way. In a town of his own he might have the more free
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exercise of his religion, and keep his men better to it, and not have
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his righteous soul vexed, as it was at Gath, with the idolatries of the
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Philistines.
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(2.) As it was presented to Achish it was very modest. He does not
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prescribe to him what place he should assign him, only begs it may be
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in some town in the country, where he pleased (beggars must not be
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choosers); but he gives this for a reason, "<I>Why should thy servant
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dwell in the royal city,</I> to crowd thee, and disoblige those about
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thee?" Note, Those that would stand fast must not covet to stand high;
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and humble souls aim not to dwell in royal cities.</P>
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<P>
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2. The grant which Achish made to him, upon that request, was very
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generous and kind
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:6,7"><I>v.</I> 6, 7</A>):
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<I>Achish gave him Ziklag.</I> Hereby,
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(1.) Israel recovered their ancient right; for Ziklag was in the lot of
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the tribe of Judah
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+15:31">Josh. xv. 31</A>),
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and afterwards, out of that lot, was assigned, with some other cities,
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to Simeon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+19:5">Josh. xix. 5</A>.
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But either it was never subdued, or the Philistines had, in some
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struggle with Israel, made themselves masters of it. Perhaps they had
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got it unjustly, and Achish, being a man of sense and honour, took this
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occasion to restore it. <I>The righteous God judgeth righteously.</I>
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(2.) David gained a commodious settlement, not only at a distance from
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Gath, but bordering upon Israel, where he might keep up a
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correspondence with his own countrymen, and whither they might resort
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to him at the revolution that was now approaching. Though we do not
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find that he augmented his forces at all while Saul lived (for,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+30:10"><I>ch.</I> xxx. 10</A>,
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he had but his <I>six hundred men</I>), yet, immediately after Saul's
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death, that was the rendezvous of his friends. Nay, it should seem,
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while he kept himself close because of Saul, multitudes resorted to
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him, at least to assure him of their sincere intentions,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+12:1-22">1 Chron. xii. 1-22</A>.
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And this further advantage David gained, that Ziklag was annexed to the
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crown, at least the royalty of it pertained to the kings of Judah, ever
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after,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Note, There is nothing lost by humility and modesty, and a willingness
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to retire. Real advantages follow those that flee from imaginary
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honours. Here David continued for some days, even <I>four months,</I>
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as it may very well be read
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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or some days above four months: the LXX. reads it, <I>some months;</I>
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so long he waited for the set time of his accession to the throne; for
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<I>he that believeth shall not make haste.</I></P>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Sa27_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 Smites the Amalekites.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1055.</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>8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites,
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and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those <I>nations were</I> of
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old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto
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the land of Egypt.
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9 And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman
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alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and
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the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.
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10 And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And
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David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of
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the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.
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11 And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring
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<I>tidings</I> to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying,
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So did David, and so <I>will be</I> his manner all the while he
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dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.
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12 And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people
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Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for
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ever.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here is an account of David's actions while he was in the land of the
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Philistines, a fierce attack he made upon some remains of the devoted
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nations, his success in it, and the representation he gave of it to
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Achish.
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1. We may acquit him of injustice and cruelty in this action because
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those people whom he cut off were such as heaven had long since doomed
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to destruction, and he that did it was one whom heaven had ordained to
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dominion; so that the thing was very fit to be done, and he was very
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fit to do it. It was not for him that was anointed to fight the Lord's
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battles to sit still in sloth, however he might think fit, in modesty,
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to retire. He desired to be safe from Saul only that he might expose
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himself for Israel. He avenged an old quarrel that God had with these
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nations, and at the same time fetched in provisions for himself and his
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army, for by their swords they must live. The Amalekites were to be all
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cut off. Probably the Geshurites and Gezrites were branches of Amalek.
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Saul was rejected for sparing them, David makes up the deficiency of
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his obedience before he succeeds him. He smote them, and <I>left none
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alive,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
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The service paid itself, for they carried off abundance of spoil, which
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served for the subsistence of David's forces.
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2. Yet we cannot acquit him of dissimulation with Achish in the
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account he gave him of this expedition.
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(1.) David, it seems, was not willing that he should know the truth,
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and therefore spared none to carry tidings to Gath
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>),
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not because he was ashamed of what he had done as a bad thing, but
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because he was afraid, if the Philistines knew it, they would be
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apprehensive of danger to themselves or their allies by harbouring him
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among them and would expel him from their coasts. It would be easy to
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conclude, <I>If so he did, so will be his manner,</I> and therefore he
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industriously conceals it from them, which, it seems, he could do by
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putting them all to the sword, for none of their neighbours would
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inform against him, nor perhaps would soon come to the knowledge of
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what was done, intelligence not being so readily communicated then as
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now.
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(2.) He hid it from Achish with an equivocation not at all becoming his
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character. Being asked which way he had made his sally, he answered,
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<I>Against the south of Judah,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+27:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
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It was true he had invaded those countries that lay south of Judah, but
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he made Achish believe he had invaded those that lay south in Judah,
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the Ziphites for example, that had once and again betrayed him; so
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Achish understood him, and thence inferred that he <I>had made his
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people Israel to abhor him,</I> and so riveted himself in the interest
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of Achish. The fidelity of Achish to him, his good opinion of him, and
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the confidence he put in him, aggravate his sin in deceiving him thus,
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which, with some other such instances, David seems penitently to
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reflect upon when he prays, <I>Remove from me the way of lying.</I></P>
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