.W; ch.'Z'i.'i). 1 (continued)
Saul Offers Durkl liia Dauyhter. 1 SAMUEL XIX. SauCs Huge (lyainst DavCd. within which tliis exploit was to be aclveved was not exhausted. SJ7. David slew of ttie Philisilnes two hundred men—The number was doubled, partly lo sliow ont of nil tlie cities of Israel—In the homeward march from tlie pursuit of t!ie PluHstines. This is a cliaraeter-
Istio trait of Oriental manners. On the return of friends his respect and attachment to the princess, and parity to oblige Saul to the fulfilment of his pledge. 39. Saitl vvaa yet the more afraid of David—Because Providence had visibly favoured him, by not only defeating the conspiracy against his life, but tlirough his royal alliance paving his way to the tlirone. lout! ubsent.and particularly on tlie retuxn of a victorious army, bands of women and children issue from the towns and \ inaes, to form a triumphal procession, to celel)rate the victory, and, as they go along, gratify the soldiers with dancins, instrumental music, and extempore songs.
In honour of the generals who have earned tlie highest distinction by feats of gallantry. The Hebrew women, CHAPTER XIX. therefore, were merely paying the customary gratulations to David as the deliverer of their country, but they committed a great indiscretion by praising a suli.ject at Ver. 1-7. Jonathan Discloses iiis Father's Pt;i;rw,K TO KlLl David. 1. Saul spake to Jonaifliaii Itis s<fn, and to all his servants, tli,at <iiey should kill David the expense of their sovereign. 9. Sanl eyed David— t. e , invidiou.sly, witti secret and malignant hatred.
Tlie murderous design he had secretly cherished lie now reveals to a few of his intimate friends. Jonathan was among the number. He prudently said nothing at the time, but secretly apprised David of his danger, and waiting till the morning, when his father's excited temper v/ould be cooled, stationed his friend in a place of concealment, where, overhearing the conversation, he might learn how matters really stood, and take iminer'dato
Skkks to Kili, Hni. 10. on tlie inoi-row tlie evil spii-it from (vo<l c-nnie upon Saul—This rankling thouglit bronglit on a svulden paroxysm of his mental malady. lie iiroji Tnesiietl-The term denotes one under the influence either of a good or a bad spirit. In the present it is used to express tliat Ravil was in a frea/.y. David, perceiving the symptoms, hastened, by the soothing strains of his liarp, to allay the stormy agitation of the royal mind. lint ere its mollifying influence could be felt, Saul hurled a javelin at the head of tlie young musician, tliere wns a jnvelin In Saul's linncl—Had it been followed by a fatal result, the deed would have been considered the act of an irresponsible maniac. It was repeated more than once ineffectually, and Saul became Impressed wiili a dread of David as under the special profliglit, if necessary. 4-7. Jonathan spake good of David—He told his father he was committing a great sin to plot against the life of a man who had rendered the most invaluable services to his country, and whose loyalty had been tiniformly steady and devoted. The strong remonstrances of Jonathan produced an effect on the impulsive mind of his lather. As he was still susceptible of good and honest impressions, he bound himtection of Providence.
]:V1(). Fears H!M fon his Good Success. 13. Therefore .'jaul removed liitii li-oiii liim—Sent him a way truin self by an oath to relinquish his hostile purpose; and thus, tlirough the intervention of tiie noble-minded prince, a temporary reconciliation was effected, in consequence of wliicli David was again employed in the public service. the court, wliere the principal persons, including his own son, were spell-bound with admiration of the young and pious warrior, nnd made Him CiJi>taii« over aCiioMsnnd —Gave him a military commission, which was intended
8-17. Saul's Malicious Race Bueaks Out against David. 8-10. David went out and fo'i^-^iit with the PJillistineji, and slew ttienn with a great sli-uglitor— to be an lionourable exile. But this post of duty served only to draw out before the public the extraordinary and varied qualities of his character, ^nd to give him a stronger hold of the people's affections. brilliant victory was gained over tlie public enemy. But these fresh laurels of David re-awiikeiied in the moody
17-21. He Oi-'FERS III.M iri.S DAL'GirTEK FOR A SNAKE. lireast of Saul the former spirit of envy and melancholy. On David's return to court, the temper of Saul became move fiendish than ever; the melodious strains of the harp had lost all their power to charm ; and in a paroxysm of uncontrollable frenzy he aimed a Javelin at the person of David—the missile having been fiirown with such force that it pierced the chamber wall. David providentially escaped; but the king, having now thrown off the mask and being bent on aggressive measures, ma<!e liis son-inlaw's situation everywhere perilous. 11, I'-J. Said sent messengers unto David's house to watch liim, and to slay Him—The fear of causing a com.motion in the town, or favouring his escape in tlio darlcness, seemed to have influenced the king in ordering them to patrol till the morning. This infatuation was overruled by Providence to favour David's escape; for his wife, seci'etly apprised by Jonathan, who was privy to the design, or spying persons in court livery watching the gate, let him <lown
17. Saul said to David, Beliold my elder daugliter Merab, Jier -will 1 Rive thee to wife—Though bound to this already, lie had found it convenient to forget his former promise, and now liolds it out as a new ofl'er, which would teinpt David to give additional proofs of his vah/ur. But the fickle and perfidious monarch broke his pledge at the time when the marriage was on the eve of being celebrated, and bestowed Jlerab on another man (see on 2 Samuel 21.8); an indignity as well as a wrong, which was calcidated deeply to wound the feelings and provoke the resentment of David. Perhaps it was intended to do so, that aiivantage might be taken of his indiscretion. Bat David was preserved from this snare. aO. Sliclial, Saul's daughter, loved David-This must have Uappemsl some lime after, tliey told Sacil, and the tiling please*! liini—Not from any favour to David, but he saw that it would be turned to the advancement of his malicious pmposes, and the more so when, by the tlirougti a window (see on Joshua 2. 15). 13, l*. Michol took an linage, and laid it in the bed—"An image," artful Intrigues an<l flattery of his spies, the loyal sentiments of Da vid were discovered. 35. Tlie king deslreth not any dowry—In Eastern countries the husband pnr-
HI., "the teraphim," and laid, not in the bed, but literally on the " divan ;" and "the pillows," /. e., the cushion, which usually lay at tiie back of the divan, and was stuffed with "goat's hair;" she took from its bolster or heading at the upper part of the divan; this she placed lower down, and covered with a mantle or hyke, as if to chajieH his wife either by gifts or services. As neitlier David nor his family were in circumstances to give a suitable dowry for a princess, the king intimated that he would be graciously pleased to accept some gallant deed foster a proper warmth in a patient; at the same time spreading the goat's hair skin .so as to resemble human hair in a dishevelled state. The pretext was that David lay there sick. The first messengers of Saul, keeiiing at a respectable distance, were deceived; but the imposition was detected on a closer inspf'Ction. 1.5. Ilriiig him to me in the lied—a portable couch or mattress.
In the public .service, a linndred foreskins of tlie PliilIstlnea—Such mutilations on the bodies of their slain enemies were commonly practised in ancient war, and the number told Indicated the glory of the victory. Saul's willingness to accept a public service had an air of lilxrallty, while his choice of so difficult and liazardous a Bervice seemed only putting a proper value on gaining the hand of a king's daughter. Hut he covered unprincipled malice against David under this proposal, which exhibited a zeal for God and the covenant of circumcision. 36. the days were not expired— The period
18-2:?. David I''lees to Samuel. 18-31, David fled, antl came to Kamah—.Samuel was living In great retirement, superintending the school of the prophet*, estubllslied in the little hamlet of Naloth, in the neigh-