Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
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 pracv/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, lie Iiold, 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 so Kliers, 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 mental 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.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Ver. 1-5. David Marching with thk Philistines to Fight with Israkl,. 1. Aphek— (Joshua 12.8), in tlie tribe of Issachar, and In the plain of Esdraelon. A person who compares the Bible account of Saul's last battle with the Philistines, with the region around Gilboa, has the same sort of evidence that the account relates what is true, that a person would have that such a battle as Waterloo really took place. Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem, En-dor, are all found, still bearing the same names. They lie within sight of each other. Aphek is the only one of the cluster not yet identified. Jezreel on the northern slope of Gilboa, and at the distance of twenty minutes to the east, is a large fountain, and a smaller one still nearer if feel)le or sick, his master will leave him to perish rather than encninber himself with any ;idditlonal burden. Tliis Egj-ptian seems to have recently fallen into the hands of an Amalekite, an<l I lis master having belonged to Mie marauding party that had made the attack on Ziklag, he could giveuseful information ns to the cour.ve taken by them on their return. 14. the Cherethi»«si— i. e.. The Philistines (Ezekiil 2.1. Ifi; Zeplianiah 2.5). l.l. Swear unto me by God—Whether there was still amongst these itlolatrons tribes a lingering belief In one G(hI, or this Egyptian wished to bind David by the God whom the Hebrews worshlppiHi, thesolemn sanction of tin oath was mutually recognized.
just the position which a chieftain would select, both on account of its elevation and the supply of water needed for his troops. [Hackett's Scripture Illustrated.] 'Z. David and ills men passed on in tlie rereward with Acliisli—As the commander of the life-guards of Achish, who was general of this invading army of the Philistines. 3. tliese days or these years— He had now been a full year and four months (eh. 27. 7), and also some years before. It has been thought that David kept up a private correspondence with this Philistine prince, either on nrcount of his native generosity, or in the anticipation that an asylum in his territories would sooner or later be nee<led. 4. the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him—It must be considered a happy circumstance in the overruling providence of God to rescue David out of the dangerous dilemma In which he was now placed. But David is not free from censure in his professions to Achish (i\ 8), to do what is most probable he had not the smallest purpose of doing—of fighting with Achish against his enemies. It is just an Instance of the unhappy consequences into wlilch a false step—a departure from the straight course of duty—will betray every one who commits it. 9. notwlthgtandin;; the princes of the Philistine have said—The Philistine government had constitutional checks—or at least the king was not an absolute sovereign ; but his authority was limited—his proceedings liable to be controlled by "the powerful barons of that rude and early period—much as the kings of Europe in the Middle Ages were by the proud and lawless aristocracy
And Recoveiw his Two Wives and all the Spoil. 10. they were spread nl>road npou all the eartli—Believing that David and all his men of war were far away, engaged with the Philistine expedition, they deemed themselves perfectly secure, and abandoned tlu-mselves to all manner of barbaric revelry. The promise made in answer to the devout inquiries of David (v. 8) was fulfilled. The marauders were surprised and panicstricken. A great slaughter ensued—the people as well as the booty taken from Ziklag was recovered, and hesides a great amount of spoil which they had collected in a wide, freebooling excursion, iil. David came to the two hundred men which were so faint, that they could not follow—This unexpected accession of spoil was nearly proving an occasion of quarrel through the selfish cupidity of some of his followers, and serious consequences might have ensued had they not been prevented by the jirudence of the leader, who enacted iti as a standing ordinance — the equitable rule— that all the soldiers should share alike isee on Numbers ,"1.11,27).
which surrounded them." [Chalmers.]
'ZG. when David came to Ziklas;, lie scut of the spoil to the ciders of .Tudnh—This was Intended as an acknowlcdgineiil to the leacling men in those towns and villages of .ludah which had ministered to his neces.sitleS In the course of his various wanderings. It was the dictate of an amiable and grateful heart; and the etl'ect of this well-limed liberality was to bring a large accession of numbers to his camp (1 L'liron'cles 12.22). The enumeration of these places sliows what a numerous and
CHAPTER XXX.
Ver. 1-5. The Amalekites Si'oil Ziklao. 1. the Amalfkites l»ad invaded tlie south, and Ziklaff—Wli ilo the strength of the Philistine foi-ces was poured out of tlieir country into the plain of Esdraelon, the Anialekite marandei'S seized the opportunity of the def(;nccU'ss state of Philisfia to Invade the .southern terrltoi-y. Of cotn-se, David's town suffered from the ravages of these nomad plunderers, in revenge for his recent raid upon llielr territory. 'A. they ilew not any, either great or small, l>nt carried them away captive — Their conduct seems to Stand In favourable contrast to that of David (eh. 07. 11). liut their apparent clemency did notarise from luimane Con.slderatl(>ns. It Is traceal)Ie to the ancient war usages of the East., where the men of war, on the caiiiure of a city, were unsparingly put to death, but there were no
Influential party of adherents to his cause he could count within his own tribe.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Ver. 1-7. Saul having Lost his Army at (Gilboa, and ms Sons ni'UNa Slain, hk and his .\k»ioukBr.AREU Kill tukmsblvks. 1. Now the Phillsdncs
TUlinyx Brouyht of SauTs Death. 2 SAMUEL I. David Laments Saul and Jonathcm.
fougltt ngainst Israel— In a regular engagement, in
In the towns and villages there to take fright and flee, for had they waited the arrival of the victors, they must, according to the war-usages of the time, have been deprived either of their liberty or their lives.
V. liicli the two armies met (ch. is. 1-4), the Israelites were forced to gi ve way, being annoyed by the arrows of tlie enemy, which, destroying them at a distance before they came to close combat, tlirew tliem Into panic and disorder. Talcing advantage of tlie lieights of Mount Gilboa, they attempted to rally, but in vain. Saul and liis sons fought like heroes; but the onset of tlie Pliilistines being at length mainly directed against the quarter wliere they were, Jonatlian and two brotliers, Abinadab or Isliui (ch. U. -19) aud Melcliislma, overpowered by numlers, were killed on the spot. 3. the battle went sore a.galnst
8-10. The Phimstines TiitUMiH over their Dead Bodies. 8. on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, tliey found Saiil and liis three sons fallen—On discovering the corpses of the .slaughtered princes on the battle-field, the enemy reserved them for special indignities. They consecrated the armour of the king and his sons to the temple of Ashtarotli, fastened their bodies on the temple of Shen, while they fixed the royal heads ignominiously In the temple of Dagon (1 Chronicles 10.10); thus dividing the glory among their several deities. 10. to the wall—(2 Samuel 21. 12)—" the street" of Beth-shan. The street was called from the temple which stood in It. And they had to go along It to the wall of the city (see Joshua 17. 11).
Saiil, &c. — Ue seems to have bravely maintained liis ground for some time longer; but exiiausted witli fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading tliat if lie fell alive into the enemy's hands, they would insolently maltreat him (Joshua 8. 29; 10. 24; Judges 8. 21), he requested his armourbearer to despatch him, which, ho-wever, that officer refused to do. Saul then falling on tlie point of his sword killed himself; and the armour-bearer, who, according to Jewish writers, was Doeg, following the example of his master, put an end to his life also. They died by one and the same sword—the very weapon with whicli they had massacred the Lord's servants at Nob. 6. So Saul died (see on 1 Chronicles 10. 13, 14; Hosea 18. 11), aiid his three sons—The influence of a directing Providence is evidently to be traced in permitting the death of Saul's three eldest and most energetic sons, particularly that of Jonathan, for whom, had he survived his father, a strong party would undoubtedly have risen, and thus obstructed the path of David to the throne, and all Ills men, tliat same day together—His servants oibody-guard (1 Cliron-
11-13. The Men of Jabesh-gilead Recover the Bodies, and Bury them at Jabesh. 11-13. the inliabitants of Jabesh-gilead lieard of that which tlic Philistines l»ad done—Mindful of the important and timely services Saul had rendered them, they gratefully and heroically resolved not to sul Ter such indignities to be inflicted on the remains of the royal family. 13. they went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons—Considering that Beth-shan is an hour and a half's distance, and by a narrow upland passage, to the west of the Jordan—the whole being a, journey from Jabesh-gllead of about ten miles, they must have made all expedition to travel thither to carry off the headless bodies, and return to their own side of the Jordan In the course of a single night, burnt tli<.™— This was not a Hebrew custom. It was probably resorted
Icles 10. 6). 7 . tlie men of Israel thiat were on the other Bide of the valley—Probably the valley of Jezreel—the largest and southernmost of the valley.? that run between Little Hermon and the ridges of the Gilboa range direct Into the Jordan valley. It was very natural for the people to on this occasion to prevent all risk of the Bethshanites coming to disinter the I'oyal remains for further insult.
THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL,
otherwise called THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS.
the elbow; an ancient mark of ro.yal dignity. It is still worn by kings in some Eastern countries. 13-15. David said unto the young man, Wlicnce art tliouT—The man had at the outset stated who he was. But the question was nov/ formally and judicially put. The punishment inflicted on the Amalekites may seem too severe, but the respect paid lo kings in the West must not bo regarded as the standard for tha t which the East may think due to royal station. David's reverence for Saul, asi the Lord's anointed, was in his mind a principle on which he had faithfully acted on several occasions of great temptation. In present circumstances it was especially Important that his principle should be publicly known ; and to free himself from the imputation of being in any way accessory to the execral)le crime of regicide was the part of a righteous judge, no less than of a good politician.
CHAPTER I.
Ver. 1-lC. An .Vjialekite Brings Tidinos of Saul's Dbath. 1. I>avld abode two days in Zilclag—Though greatly reduced by the Amalekite incendiaries, that town Bras not so comp IeteI,v sacked and destro.ved, but David and his 600 followers, with their families, could still tind some accommodation. !i-l!J. a man came out of tlie camp from Sanl—.\s the narrative of Saul's death, given in the last chapter, is inspired, It must be considered the true account, and the Ainalekite's story a f5(tt!on of his own, invented to ingratiate himself with David, the presumptive successor to the throne. David's question, "How went the matter?" evinces the deep Interest he took In the war—an interoKt that sprang from feelings of high and generous patriotism—not from views of ambition. The .\rr.aleklte, however,.|udging him to be actuated by a selfish principle, fabricated a story Improbable and inconsistent, which he thought would procure him a reward. Having probably witnessed the suicidal act of Saul, he thought of turning It to his own account, and sut Tered the penalty of his grievousl.v mistaken calculation (cf. I). 9 with 1 Samuel 31.4,5). 10. liie crown-
17-27. David I/aments Saul and Jonathan. IT, David lamented with tltls lamentation—It has always been customary for Eastern people, on the death of great kings and warriors, to celebrate their qualities and deeds In funeral songs. This Initniti'.ble pathetic elegy Is sujjposed b.v many writers to have become a national warsong, and to have been taught to the young Israelites under the name of "The Bow," In conformity with the practice of Hebrew and many classical writers hi giving small metallic cap or wreath, which encin-Ied the temples, serving the purpose of a helmet, with a very small horn projecting In front, as the embl<;m of power, tlie bracelet that wua on his arm—The armlet worn above titles to their songs from the principal theme (Psalm