Chapter XXVII
Ver. 1-t. Saul, IIearimq that David was Fled to Gath, Seeks no mork fou Him. 1. D.ivlcl snicl i:i VAs heart. Tliere is uotliiiig better for me tliaii that I BhoulO ipeedily esc»i>e iikto the land of the Philistines —This resolution of David's was, in every respect, wrong:
1. Because it was removing from the place where the Divine oracle intimated him to remain (ch. 22. 5) ; 2. It was rushing into the idolatrous land, for driving him into which he had denounced an imprecation on his enemies
6, 27; Deuteronomy 18. 11), he had set himself, formerly, to exterminate from his kingdom. *. tlie Philistines pitched in Shunem—Having collected their forces for a last grand' effort, they marched up from the sea-coast, and encamped in the " valley of Jezreel." The spot on which their encampment was fixed was Shunem (Joshua 19. 18}, now Sulem, a village which still exists on the slope of a range called "Little Hermon." On the opposite side, on the rise of Mount Gilboa, hard by " the spring of Jezreel," was Saul's army—the Israelites, according to their wont, keeping to the heights, while their enemies clung to the plain.
(ch. 26. 19) ; and it was a withdi'awal of his counsel and aid from God's people. It was a movement, however, overruled by Providence to detach him from his country and to let the disasters impending over Saul and Uis followers be brought on by the Philistines. 3. Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gatli—Tlie popular description of this king's family creates a presumption that he was a dilferent king from the reigning sovereign on David's first visit to Gath. Whether David had received a special invitation from him or a mere permission to enter his territories, cannot be determined. It is probable that the former was the case; as from the universal notoriety given to the feud between Saul and David, which had now become irreconcilable, it might appear to Achisli good policy to harbour him as a guest, and so the Ijetter pave the way for the hostile measures against Israel which the Philistines were at this time meditating.
7-2o. Saul Seeks to a Witch, who, being Encouraged BY Him, Raises Up Samuel. 7. Saul said unto his servants, Seelc me a woman that hath a familiar spirit—From' the energetic measures which he himself had taken for extirpating the dealers in magical arts, the profession having been declared a capital ofl'ence, h.s most attached courtiers might have had reason to doubt the possibility of gratifying their master's wish. Anxiou.s inquiries, however, led to the discovery of a woman living very secluded in the neighbourhood, who had Ih.e credit of possessing the forbidden powers; and to her house he repaired by night in disguise, accompanied by two faithful servants. En-dor— "the fountain of the circle" — that figure being constantly affected by magicians—was situated directly on the other side of the Gilboa range, opposite Tabor; so that, in this midnight adventure, Saul had to pass over the shoulder of the ridge on which the Philistines were encamped. 8. bring me him up whom I shall name unto thee—This pytlioness united to the arts of divination a claim to be considered a necromancer (Deuteronomy 18. 11) ; and it was her supposed power in calling back the dead of which Saul was desirous to avail himself. Though she at first refuse-d to listen to his request, she accepted his pledge, that no risk would be incurred by her compliance—and it Is probable that his extraordinary stature, the deference paid him by his attendants, the easy distance of his camp from En-dor and the proposal to call up the great prophet and flrsl. magistrate in Israel—a proposal which no private individual would venture to make, had awakened her suspicions as to the true character and rank of her visitor. The story has led to much discussion whether there was a real appearance of Samuel or not. On the one hand, the woman's profession, which was forbidden by the Divine law, the refusal of God to answer Saul by any divinely constituted means, the well-known age, figure, and dress of Samuel, which she could easily represent herself, or by an accomplice — his apparition being evidently at .some distance, being mufHed, and not actually seen by Saul, whose attitude of prostrate homage, moreover, must have prevented him distinguishing the person though he had been near, and the voice seemingly issuing out of the ground, and coming along to Saul—and the vagueness of the Information, imparted much which might have been reached by natural conjecture as to the probable result of the approaching conflict — the woman's representation have led many to think that this was a mere deception.
5-12. David Begs Ziklag of Achlsh. 6. Xet them give me a place in some town in tlie country—It was a prudent arrangement on the part of David; for it would prevent him being an object of jealous suspicion, or of mischievous plots among the Philistines. It would place his followers more beyond the risk of contamination by the idolatries of the court and capital ; and It would give liim an opportunity of making reprisals on the freebooting tribes that infested the common border of Israel and the Philistines. 6. Ziklag—Though originally assigned to Judah (Joshua 15. 31), and subsequently to Simeon (Joshua 19. 5), this town had never been possessed by the Israelites. It belonged to the Philistines, who gave it to David. 8-12. David went up and invaded the GcshurItes—(see Joshua 13. 2.) and tlte Gezerites—or the Gerizi [Gesenius], (Joshua 12. 12), some Arab horde which had once encamped there, and the Amalekites—Part of the district occupied by them lay on the south of the land of Israel (Judges 5.11; 12.15). 10. Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to-day 1— i. e., raid, an hostile excursion for seizing cattle and other booty. David said, Against the soutli of Judah, and against the soutli of the Jerahmeclites—Jerahmeel was the great-grandson of Judah, and his posterity occupied the southern portion of that tribal doma'in. the south of the Kcnites—The posterity of Jethro, who occupied the south of Judah (Judges 1. 16; Numbers 24. 21). The deceit practised upon his royal host, and the indiscriminate slaughtei' eommltted, lest any one should escape to tell the tale, exhibit an unfavourable view of this part of David's history.
CHAPTER XXVIII. Ver. 1-6. AcHisn's Confidence IN David. 1. ThePliilIstlnes gathered their armies togetlier for warfare against Israel—The death of Samuel, the general dissatisfaction with Saul, and the absence of David, instigated the cupidity of those restless enemies of Israel. Achish »«ld to l>aTid, Know tliou assuredly tliat thou sliiilt go out with mc to Ijattlc—This was evidently to try him.
T7»e Amalekites Spoil Ziklag, 1 SAMUEL XXIX—XXXI. bul are Defeated hy David.
On the other haml, many eminent writers (considering that tlie apparition came before lier arts were put in prac-
v/arriors in Ziklag at the time, ami the women and boyu were reserved for slaves, and the old people were spared out of respect to age. 3. they eaiue to the city, and, lieIiold, it was bnrut with tire—The language implies tliat the smoke of llie conflagration was still visible, and the sacking very recent.
tice; that s!ie lierself was surprised and alarmed; that the prediction of Saul's own deatli, and the defeat of his forces was conlidently made), are of opinion that Samuc-1
really appeared. 34. tJie woman liad a fat calf, aiitl
0-13. But David, Encouraged by God, Pursues Them. 6. David was greatly distressi'.-d — He had reason, not only on his own personal account (i). 5), but on account of the vehement outcry and insurrectiotiary threats against hitn for having left the place so defenceless, tliat the families of his men fell an unresisting prey to tlie enemy. Under the pressure of so unexpected and widespread a calamity, of which he was upbraided as tlie indirect occasion, the spirit of any otlicr leader guided by ordinary motives would h.ave sunk; "but David encouraged himself in the Lord his G(xl." His faith supplied him with inward resources of comfort and energy, and through the seasonable inquiries he made by Urim, he inspired confidence by ordering an immediate pursuit of the plunderers. 9. came to the brook Besor—NowWady Gaza, a winter torrent, a little to the south of Gaza. The bank of a stream naturally offered a convenient rest to the soKliers, who, tlirough fatigue, were unable to continue the pursuit. 11-15. they fonnrt an E}^-ptian in the field, and brought him to David—Old and homeborn slaves are usually treated with great kindness. But a purchased or captured slave must look to himself; for,
sine UastMl ai»d killed it, itc—(see on Genesis IS. 1-S). Tliiii tliey rose up, and went away tliat nigttt—Exhausted Ijy long abstinence, and overwhelmed with men-
tal distress, and now driven to despair, the cold sweat broke on his anxious brow, and he had sunk helpless on the ground. But the kind attentions of the woman and
hi.s servants having revived him, he returned to tlie camp
to await his doom.