Chapter XXVI
Ver. 1-4. Saul comes to the Hill of Hachilah AGAINST David. 1. the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah—This people seem to have thought it impossil)le for David to escap(>, and therefore recommended themselves to Saul, by giving liim secret information (see on ch. 2o. 19). The knowledge of their treachery makes it appear strange that David should return to his former haunt in their neighliourhood ; but, perhaps he did it to be near Abigail's poss(^ssi()ns, and under tlio impression that Saul had become mollified. But the king had relapsed into his old enmity. Though Gibeah, as its name imports, stood on an elevated position, and the desert of Ziph, which was In the hilly region of Judea, may have been higiier than Gibeah, It was still necessary to descend in leaving the latter place; tlience Saul (v. 2) " went down to the wilderness of Zijih." 4-. David . . . sent out spies . . . and David arove and came to the place where Saul had pitched—Having obtained certain information of the locality, he seems, accompanied by his nephew (v. 6), to have hid himself, perhaps disguised, In a nelgbl)ouring wood, or hill, on the skirts of the royal camp towards night, and waited to approach It under covert of the darkness.
It results from the peculiar features of the country in many of the mountain districts. 15. David said to Abner, Art not tliou a valiant man i . . . wherefore tlien hast tlkou not kept tliy lord the kingl—The circumstance of David having penetrated to the centre of the encampment, through the circular rows of the sleeping soldiers, constituted the point of this sarcastic taunt. This new evidence of David's moderation and magnanimous forbearance, together with his earnest and kindly expostulation, softened the obduracy of Saul's heart. 11), If the Lord have stirred thee up against me—By tlie evil spirit he hatli sent, or by any spiritual otlences by which we have mutually displeased Him. let him accept an oflcring-i. e., let us conjointly oflTer a sacrifice for appeasing Ills wrath against us. if they be the children of men—The prudence, meekness, and address of David in ascribing the king's enmity to the Instigations of some malicious traducers, and not to the Jealous.v of Saul him-
self. Is wortliy of notice, saying, Go, serve other gods This was tlip drift of their conduct. By driving him from the land and ordinances of the true worship. Into foreign and heathen countries, they were exposing him to all the seductions of Idolatry. 20. as when one doth hunt a partritlge—Poojjle In the East, In hunting the partridge and other game birds, pursue them, till observing them becoming languid and fatigued, after they have been put UP two or three times, they rush upon the birds stealthily
6-2.5. Da VI d Stays Abishai from Killing Ha ul, bitt TAKIOS Ills Si'icAlt ANDCiiUSK. 5. Saul lay inthetrench, and the people pitched round about him—Among the nomad people of the I]ast, the encampmentH are usually made in a circular form, the circumference Is lined by the baggage and the men, while the chief's station is In the centre, whether he occupy a tent or not. His spear, stuck In the ground, Indicates his position. Similar was 192
t^vid Begs Ziklug of Achish. 1 SAMUEL XXVII, XXVIII. Said and the Witch of En-dor,
and knock them down with bludgeons. [Shaw's Trav-
Achish, however, seems to have thought he nad gained the confidence of David, and had a claim on his services. 2. stirely thou shalt know wliat thy sei-vant can do This answer, while it seemed to express an apparent cheerfulness in agreeing to tlie proposal, contained a studied ambiguity—a wary and politic generality. Therefore I will make thee keeper of mine Iiead—or my life ;
els.] It was e-xactly in tlii.s manner that Saul was pursuing David ; he drove him fi om time to time from his hiding-place, hoping to render him weary of his life, or obtain an opportunit.v of accomplishing his destruction. 25. so Davitl went on Uis way—jSTotwithstanding this sudden relenting of Saul, David placed no confidence in his professions or promises, Init wisely kept at a distance, and awaited the course of Providence.
i. e., captain of my body-guard—an ofiice of great trust and high honour. 3. Now Samuel was deafl, &c.—This event
is here alluded to as affording an explanation of the secret and improper methods by which Saul sought information and direction in the present crisis of his affairs. Overwlielmed in perplexity and fear, he yet found the common and legitimate channels of communication with Heaven shut against him ; and, under the impulse of that dark, distempered, superstitious spirit wliich had overmastered him, resolved, in desperation, to seek the aid of one of those fortune-telling impostors whom, in accordance with the Divine command (Leviticus 19. 31 ; 20.