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A. M. 2888. A. C. 1116; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4301. A. C. 1110. 1 SAM. i. TO THE END.

people, from whom he apprehended a revolt, as to join | upon him, and settled at last in a confirmed melancholy, with him in worship to God, which Samuel consented to but such an one as was frequently attended with violent do: but before he departed, he ordered Agag, who by perturbations, and sometimes with direct frenzy. In this this time began to hope for mercy, to be brought forth condition, some of his courtiers advised him to music, to him, and himself, with his own hands, fell upon him, which would be of some use to lull his disturbed mind to and slew him. rest; and accordingly recommended David, not only as an excellent master this way, but a man of other rare qualifications, both internal and external, enough to engage his favour.

This was the last interview which Samuel had with Saul: for, after this action, he retired to his house at Ramah, where, though he visited Saul no more, he ceased not to lament the sad condition into which he was fallen. It was not long, however, before God awoke him out of his pensive mood, and sent him to Bethlehem, under colour of sacrificing there, to anoint David, the son of Jesse, king and successor to Saul. Jesse had eight sons, and when Samuel came to his house, seven of them were brought before him, Eliab, the eldest, was a goodly personage, and him the prophet supposed, at first sight, to have been the person whom God had pitched upon to succeed Saul; but being instructed otherwise, and upon inquiry, finding that Jesse had another son, who at that time was in the fields keeping the sheep, he ordered him to be sent for; and as he was a very fair and beautiful youth, immediately upon his entering the room, he perceived that he was the person whom God had made choice of; and accordingly he took an opportunity, and a singling him out from the rest of his brethren, poured oil on his head, and anointed him king. Nor was the ceremony useless; for from that time forward David found himself inwardly possessed with a spirit of wisdom, and prudence, and courage, and other qualifications both of body and mind that are requisite in a prince.

Saul, in the mean time, declined more and more in the favour of God; and as he was naturally of a timorous and suspicious temper, an unhappy turn of mind grew

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Upon this recommendation he was sent for to court, c where Saul was greatly taken with the beauty of his person; but when he heard him exercise his skill upon the harp, he was pleased above measure, and quite transported from all uneasy and melancholy thoughts. & Saul, in short, conceived such a kindness for David for having cured him of his malady, that he made him one of his armour-bearers, though David, when he found the king better, returned to his father's house again. e

The Philistines not long before had received a remarkable defeat from Saul; but having now recruited their forces, they came and encamped between ♬ Succoth and Azekah, while Saul, with his army, took ground upon the hill that is above the valley of Elah, which separated the two camps. While the armies lay thus facing each other a champion named Goliath, of a prodigious gigantic stature, & being full ten feet high, with arms

It seems to

e 1 Sam, vi. 17. This command of Saul might originate in a desire to obtain such a person as might by his skill in playing equally contribute to his gratification and state. have formed a part of royal eastern magnificence, to have had men of this description about the court. "Professed storytellers," it may also be observed, "are of early date in the east. Even at this day men of rank have generally one or more, male or female, amongst their attendants, who amuse them and their women, when melancholy, vexed, or indisposed; and they are generally employed to lull them to sleep. Many of their tales are highly amusing, especially those of Persian origin, or such as have been written on their model. They were thought so dangerous by Mahommed, that he expressly prohibited them in the Koran."Richardson's Dissertation on the Manners of the East, p. 69. and Forbes's Oriental Memoirs, vol. iii. p. 182.—Ed.

d 1 Sam. xvi. 23. The power of music upon the affections is very great. Its effect upon Saul was no more than it has produced in many other instances. Timotheus the musician could excite Alexander the Great to arms by the Phrygian sound, and allay his fury with another tune, and excite him to merriment. So Eric, king of Denmark, by a certain musician, could be driven to such a fury as to kill some of his best and most trusty servants.-Is. Vossius de Poematum cantu et rythmi viribus. -ED.

a Our translation says, that Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brethren,' and for this it is pretended, that as this unction was a solemn act, and the only title which David had to the kingdom, it was necessary to have it done in the presence of some witnesses, for which purpose none were more proper than those of his own family. But it is plain, from his brother Eliab's treating him after this, (1 Sam. xvii. 28.) that he was not privy to his being anointed king-elect over God's people; and therefore, since the words will equally bear the sense of from the midst,' as well as in the midst of his brethren,' it is more reasonable to suppose, that as this was the ceremony of his designation to the kingdom only, few or none except his father perhaps, were admitted to it. And there was the less reason for witnesses upon this occasion, because David never laid claim to the crown till e It seems very doubtful whether this was the case. The text after Saul's decease, and was then, at two several times, first, in this part is confused and unsatisfactory, see note on this subwhen he was made king over the tribe of Judah, and second,ject in the following chapter.-ED. wnen made king over all the tribes of Israel, anointed publicly. -Calmet's and Patrick's Commentary, and Howell's History, in the uotes.

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6 They who credit the scripture history in this affair, will easily account for these extraordinary accomplishments and improvements; for that assures us, that the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward,' (1 Sam. xvi. 13.) and I should be glad to learn from those who do not credit this circumstance of the history, in the strict sense of the text, how otherwise they can account for these extraordinary effects and endowments which immediately ensued on David's designation to the throne; how a designation to empire, I say, which, in its ordinary course, is too apt to corrupt, debase, and overset with vanity, should raise an obscure youth, uneducated, and little accounted of, even in the esteem of a parent's partiality, in an obscure age and country, without the advantage either of instruction or example, into the greatest musician, the noblest poet, and the most consuminate hero of all antiquity.-The Life of David, by the Author of Revelation Examined.

f Succoth and Azekah lay to the south of Jerusalem, and the east of Bethlehem, about four leagues from the former, and five from the latter; and the ancient valley of Elah must consequently lie not far distant from them, though later travellers place it at no more than a league's distance from Jerusalem.—Calmet's Commentary.

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g The words in the text are, whose height was six cubits and a span;' so that taking a cubit to be twenty inches and a half, and a span to be three inches, and a little more, the whole will amount to about twelve feet and an half: a stature above as tall again as usual! The lowest computation of the cubit however brings it to near ten feet, which is the standard that we have set it at; though it must not be dissembled, that both the Septuagint and Josephus have reduced it to little more than eight feet, which badly comports with the weight and vastness of his armour, though it might suit their design perhaps, in accommodating their account to the credibility of their heathen readers. But be that as it will, several authors, to show this vast size of the man not to be beyond the bounds of probability, have written,

A. M. 2888. A. C. 1116; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4301. A. C. 1110. 1 SAM. i. TO THE END.

b

and armour proportionable, came out of the camp of the Philistines for forty days successively, and challenged any one of the Israelites to a single combat. a This single combat was to decide the fate of the war: but none of the Israelites durst adventure upon it, until David, who happened at this time to come to the camp, with provisions for his three elder brethren, that were then in the service, seeing this great gigantic creature thus vaunt himself, and hearing withal what reward the king had promised to the person that should kill him, namely, that he would give him his daughter in marriage and ennoble his family, was moved by a divine impulse to accept of the challenge, which he some ways discovered to the standers by. His eldest brother, Eliab,

hearing such words drop from him, took him, and reproved him for his rashness; but, as his declaration, by this time, had reached the king's ears, the king sent for him, and having surveyed his youth, told him with concern, that he feared he would never be able to encounter a man that was so much older and stronger, and a soldier from his cradle. But to this David replied, that he had already done as great things as killing this giant could possibly be; that he had slain a lion and a bear with his bare hands; and therefore did not doubt, but that the same almighty power which delivered him then, would not fail to shield and protect him now.

Saul was not a little pleased with this gallant answer; and, to equip him as well as he could for the combat, offered him his own armour: but when David had put it ex professo de gigantibus, among whom Hermannus Conringius, on, he found it too large and cumbersome; and therein his book de antiquo statu Holmstadii, and in another de hubitu fore, taking only his staff, a sling, and five smooth corporum Germanorum, have demonstrated, that the ancient Germans were of a vast size, even as Cæsar, de bello Gall. tes- stones, which he picked out of the brook that ran by, he tifies of them, by calling them men of a huge greatness of advanced towards the Philistine, who, perceiving him to body. Nay, even Josephus himself, who is quoted for denying be but a youth, and of a fair effeminate complexion, took the existence of giants, furnishes us with an argument in their the thing as done in contempt and derision of him; and behalf, when he gives us an account of some bones of a prodigious size which were found in Hebron; as Acosta, in his History therefore he cursed him by his gods, Dagon and Ashtaof the Indies, (b. 1. c. 10.) makes mention of bones of an incred-roth, and vowed to cut him in pieces, the very moment ible bigness, and of a race of giants of such an height, that an he came at him. But David's reply was of another ordinary man could scarce reach their knees.-Le Clerc's and kind, namely, that he came against him, not in any conPatrick's Commentary, Calmet's Dictionary, under the word Goliath; and Dissertation of the giants. fidence of his own strength, but in the name of that God whose name he had blasphemed, and power defied.ƒ And with these words he let fly a stone at him, with such force and direction, that it hit him on his forehead, and piercing his brain, sunk into it, so that he fell flat on

a The words in which Goliath's challenge is expressed, are these: Why are you come out to set your battle in array? Am I not a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me: if he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then ye shall be our servants, and serve us.' (1 Sam. xvii. 8.) Antiquity furnishes us with examples of several such like combats as Goliath here proposes, but with none more remarkable than that between the Horatii and Curiatii, related by Livy, b. 1. c. 23. "In which case,' as Grotius expresses himself, (On the Law of War and Peace, b. 2. c. 23.) "though the champions perhaps cannot, with all the innocence imaginable, engage in the combat, yet their respective states may, at least allow of it, as a less evil; as an expedient whereby a decision is made, without the effusion of much blood, or any considerable loss on either side, which of the two nations shall have the dominion over the other. "Strabo," says he, "makes mention of this as an ancient custom among the Greeks; and Eneas appeals to the Latins, whether it is not highly just and equitable, that he and Turnus should determine the controversy between them even in this manner." But whether there was any combat stipulated to be decisive of the quarrel between the two contending nations, it is certain that this speech of Goliath's was a mere bravado, proceeding from a high opinion he had of his own matchless strength, as if he had been the whole support of the nation, which was to stand or fall together with him. For that he had no authority from the princes of the Philistines to make any such declaration, is evident from the event; since so far were the Philistines from yielding themselves slaves to the Hebrews, upon the death of this champion, that they made the best of their way into their own country, and there defended themselves, and fought many battles with them afterwards.-Saurin's Dissertation, vol. 4. Dis. 32. and Patrick's and Le Clerc's Commentaries.

6 In those days it was customary for men to serve their king and country in the wars at their own expense; and therefore, Jesse sent a supply of provisions to such of his sons as were in the service: but since he had other sons at home, while David was chiefly in the fields, it seems to be a divine direction that he sent him from the sheep upon this errand.

e This was no bad policy in Saul to promise largely upon so important an occasion, forasmuch as Caleb won Kirjath-sepher, by offering his daughter in marriage to the person that should take it. And David himself, when he came to the crown, encouraged his soldiers to assault the strong fort of Sion, by promising to make him commander-in-chief of all his forces who should first enter it.-Patrick's Commentary.

d Josephus introduces David as reasoning with the king in this manner: "David perceiving," says he, "that Saul took his measures from the common reason of other encounters, gave the king to understand, That this was not so much a challenge to the army, as a defiance to Heaven itself; neither was the combat to be taken, in truth, for a trial of skill between Goliath and David, but between Goliath and the Lord of hosts, "For it is not my arm,' says he, that fights the battle, but the power of a gracious and invincible God, that many times brings to pass, even by the weakest instruments, the noblest of his divine purposes, for his greater glory.”—Jewish Antiquities, b. 6.

c. 10.

e Smooth stones, one would think, part best from the sling, and, as they meet with the least obstruction from the air, fly with the greatest rapidity, and in the most direct line; and yet Ludovicus de Dieu, is of a quite contrary opinion, namely, that rough and sharp stones were properer for David's purpose; whereupon he translates the words 'five pieces of stone,' as the Hebrew indeed, without its punctuation, will bear. But it is in vain to be nice and elaborate about trifles, since of what form soever the stone which penetrated Goliath's forehead was, it is plain, that it had both the direction and rapidity of its motion from the hand of God.

f 1 Sam. xvii, 45. The decision of national controversies by the duels of the chiefs, was frequent in ancient times. That between the Horatii and Curiatii is well known: and even before that, Romulus and Aruns, king of the Ceninenses, ended their national quarrel by the like method; Romulus killing his adversary, taking his capital, and dedicating the spoils to Jupiter Feretrius.-Val. Max., b. viii. c. 2. s. 3. Chandler's Life of David, vol. 1. p. 70, note.-En.

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g If it should be asked how this possibly could be, when Goliatis was armed so completely, and in particular, is said to have had an helmet of brass upon his head?' It is but supposing that this arrogant champion, in disdain of his inferior combatant, might come negligently towards him, with his helmet turned back, and his forehead bare. It is highly probable, that when he made his menacing speech to David, he might turn back his helmet, both to speak and be heard more distinctly; and there was no such terror in David's appearance, as might induce him to cover his forehead again. But admitting he did not, it is but

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A. M. 2888. A. C. 1116; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4301. A. C. 1110. I SAM. i. TO THE END. his face, and David ran up to him, and with the giant's contracted the tenderest and most endearing friendship sword cut off his head; a at the sight of which the Phi- with him, which lasted as long as they two lived together; listines' army fled, and were pursued by the Hebrews as but in their return home from this expedition, one thing far as the gates of Ekron with a very great slaughter. happened which occasioned Saul's jealousy. Among When Saul saw David marching against the Philis- the crowds that came out to meet them, and to grace d who sung tines, he inquired of Abner, who he was? which Abner their triumph, there was a chorus of women, could not resolve him; but upon his return from victory, to the musical instruments upon which they played, a introduced him to the king, with the champion's head in certain song, whose chief burden was, Saul has slain his hand. The king received him with the highest his thousands, and e David his ten thousands ;' which so applauses; and upon his inquiry, David informed him, enraged Saul against David, that from that time he that he was the son of Jesse the Bethlemite. Every never looked on him with a gracious eye. For though one entertained indeed a high conception for the he thought proper to retain him in his service, and, for author of so great an action, but none expressed so the present, conferred upon him some command in the entire a satisfaction as did Jonathan, who, being him- army; yet the reward for his killing Goliath, which was self a prince of extraordinary bravery, was so taken with to be the marriage of his eldest daughter, he deprived his courage and conduct in this engagement that he e him of by giving her to another.

b

supposing that David levelled his stone so right, as to hit the place which was left open for his adversary's eyes, or threw it with such a violent force, as would penetrate both helmet and head together. To make these suppositions more probable, we need only remember what we read in Judges xx. 16., of no less than seven hundred men in one place, who were so expert with their left hands, that every one could sling stones to a hairbreadth, and not miss; or what we read in Diodorus Siculus, b. 5., of some slingers, who threw stones with such violence that nothing could resist their impression; and that when they made use of lead instead of stone, the very lead would melt in the air as it flew, by reason of the rapidity of the motion which they gave it. (Patrick's and Calmet's Commentaries.)—"The arms which the Achreans chiefly used were slings. They were trained to the art from their infancy, by slinging from a great distance at a circular mark of a moderate circumference. By long practice they took so nice an aim, that they were sure to hit their enemies not only on the head, but on any part of the face they chose. Their slings were of a different kind from the Balearians, whom they far surpassed in dexterity."-Polybius, P.

125.-ED.

a 1 Sam. xvii. 51. Niebuhr presents us with a very similar scene in his Description of Arabia, p. 263, where the son of an Arab chief kills his father's enemy and rival, and according to the custom of the Arabs, cuts off his head, and carries it in triumph to his father. In a note he adds, cutting off the head of a slain enemy, and carrying it in triumph, is an ancient custom. Xenophon remarks that it was practised by the Chalybes, (b. iv.) Herodotus attributes it to the Scythians, (b. iv. c. 60.)-ED.

The text says, (1 Sam. xviii. 3, 4.) Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow, and to his girdle. It was anciently a custom to make such military presents as these to brave adventurers. Besides the present instance of the kind, two others may be

quoted: the first is from Homer.

"Next him Ulysses took a shining sword, A bow and quiver, with bright arrows stored; A well proved casque, with leather braces bound, (Thy gift, Meriones,) his temples crown'd."

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He dying, to his heir bequeath'd the prize;
Till by his conq'ring Ardean troops oppress'd,

He fell, and they the glorious gift possessed."-Æn. b. 9.-ED.
c Plutarch, in his book On Intense Friendship, makes mention
of several great men such as Theseus and Pirithous; Achilles
and Patroclus; Orestes and Pylades; Pythias and Damon, &c.,
who were joined together in the yoke of friendship, as he calls it:
but none of these were comparable to what we read of Jonathan
and David, who entered into the most sacred bonds of mutual

When Saul returned to his own house, the same spirit of melancholy came upon him as before; and while David was touching his harp before him as usual, in order to alleviate his malady, the outrageous king threw a javelin at him with such fury, as would certainly have destroyed him, had not providence turned it aside. Hereupon David thought proper to withdraw; yet Saul would still continue him in his service, to have the more opportunities against his life.

It happened, too, that by this time his second daughter, whose name was Michal, had entertained kind thoughts of David, which her father was not unconscious of; and therefore he signified to him, that upon condition he would kill him an hundred Philistines, (but not without some hopes of himself falling in the attempt,) he should have the honour to become the king's son-in-law. David accepted the condition, though he could not but perceive the latent malice of it; and taking some choice men along with him, invaded the Philistines, slew double the number of them, and for a testimony thereof, sent their

assistance and defence, to their very death, and of kindness to their posterity, even after either of them should be dead. JonaDavid such a greatness of soul, such a constancy of mind, and than, in particular, through the whole story, shows towards disinterestedness of heart, as few romances can produce examples of.-Calmet's and Patrick's Commentaries.

continues in the east.

d 1 Sam. xviii. 6. The dancing and playing on instruments of music before persons of distinction, when they pass near the dwelling places of such as are engaged in country business, still This was practised by some persons in compliment to the Baron Du Tott. He says, (Memoirs, part 4. P. 131), "I took care to cover my escort with my small troop of Europeans, and we continued to march on in this order, which had no very hostile appearance, when we perceived a motion in the enemy's camp, from which several of the Turcomen advanced to meet us; and I soon had the musicians of the different hordes playing and dancing before me, all the time we were passing by the side of their camp.”—Harmer, vol. 3. p. 292.-ED.

e Namely, in his killing Goliath; for all the conquest gained afterwards was no more than the consequence of his death. f This was a high affront to David, and one of the greatest injuries that could be done him; however, for the present, he thought proper to dissemble it. How Jonathan resented this usage, we are nowhere told. It is likely, that his duty to his father made him prevail with David to take it patiently, as coming from a man who was sometimes beside himself, and knew not well what he did: and that David might be the more inclinable to do this, as having some intimations given him of the good esteem which the second daughter began to entertain of him.—Patrick's Commentary.

g The reason why Saul exacted the foreskins of David was, to prevent all cheat or collusion in the matter, and that he might

A. M. 2888. A. C. 1116; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4301. A. C. 1110. 1 SAM. i. TO THE END.

foreskins, according to covenant, to the king; so that, all things being thus gallantly accomplished, and in so public a manner, the king could not refuse him his daughter, but at the same time laid many other schemes to take away his life.

b

Nay, to such desperate lengths did his jealousy run him, that he, casting off all disguise, a commanded his son Jonathan, and some of the principal men of his court, at any rate to despatch David; which Jonathan all along took care to acquaint him with, and at the same time, advised him to provide himself with some place of safe retreat, until he should have an opportunity of expostulating the matter with his father; which accordingly he did, and with so good success, that his father was, seemingly at least, reconciled to David; and Jonathan next day introduced him into his presence: but the increase of David's fame, upon several defeats given the Philistines, still renewing and increasing Saul's jealousy, would not suffer this reconciliation to last long. Saul was taken with another fit of phrenzy, and David was desired to play to him: but while he was employed in tuning his harp, the other took an opportunity, as he had done before, of darting a javelin at him, which David, having a watchful eye upon him, nimbly declined, and so retired to his own house.

be sure they were Philistines only whom he killed. Had he demanded the heads only of so many men, David he might think, might perhaps cut off those of his own subjects, and bring them instead of the Philistines; but now, the Philistines being the only neighbouring people who were uncircumcised, (for the Arabians, as descended from Ishmael, and all the other nations which sprung from Esau, were circumcised, as well as the Hebrews,) in producing their foreskins there could be no deception. Besides that, this would be a gross insult upon the Philistines in general, to whom Saul was desirous to make David as odious as possible, that, at one time or other, he might fall into their hands,-Calmet's Commentary.

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Thither the king sent his guards, as soon as it was light, to apprehend him; but by the contrivance of his wife Michal, who let him down from a window, he made his escape, and by the benefit of a dark night, came to his old friend Samuel at Ramah, to whom he told all his complaints, and with whom, for the better security of his person, he went to Najob, which was a school or college of the prophets, and there dwelt.

It was not long before Saul had intelligence of his abode, and sent a party of soldiers to apprehend him ; but they, upon their arrival at the place, where they found Samuel teaching and instructing the younger prophets, were seized with a prophetic spirit, and returned not again. After these, he sent fresh messengers, and after them others again; but no sooner were they come within the verge of the place, but they all began to be affected in like manner. Saul at length, impatient of these delays, went himself; but as he drew near to Najoh, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he went along e prophesying, until he came to the place where Samuel and David were, and there ƒ stripping

c When these schools of the prophets were at first instituted is nowhere indicated in Scripture: but, as the first mention we find of them is in Samuel's time, we can hardly suppose, that they were much prior to it. It may be presumed, therefore, that the sad degeneracy of the priesthood, at first occasioned the institution of these places, for the better education of those that were to succeed in the sacred ministry, whether as prophets or priests. According to the places that are specified in Scripture, (1 Sam. x. 5, 10, and xix. 20; 2 Kings ii. 5., iv. 38. and xxii. 14.) they were first erected in the cities of the Levites, which, for the more convenient instruction of the people, were dispersed up and down in the several tribes of Israel. In these places the prophets had convenient colleges built, whereof Najoh seems to be one, for their abode; and living in communities, had some one of distinguished note, very probably by divine election, set over them to be their head or president. Here it was, that they studied the law, and learned to expound the several precepts of it. Here it was, that, by previous exercise, they qualified themselves for the reception of the spirit of prophecy, whenever it should please God to send it upon them. Here it was, that they were instructed in the sacred art of psalmody, or, as the Scripture calls it, (1 Chron. xxv. 1, 7.) in prophesying with harps, with psal

a It is strange, that Saul should speak to Jonathan to murder David, if he knew the friendship he had for him; and he could not be ignorant of it, since, in 1 Sam. xviii. 3, 4., he had made so public a declaration of it. But he imagined, perhaps, that his love to a father would overcome his love to a friend; and, taking an estimate from himself, might think it no mean incite-teries, and cymbals.' And hence it was, that when any blessings ment to his son, that David was going to deprive not only the father of the present possession, but the son likewise of the right of succession to the throne of Israel. But whatever Saul's reasons might be for desiring Jonathan's assistance in so vile a fact, it is plain that there was a peculiar providence of God in his disclosing himself so freely on this head, since thereby David came to a right information of his danger.-Patrick's Commentary.

The speech which Josephus puts in Jonathan's mouth upon this occasion, is expressed in these terms:-"You have conceived, Sir, a terrible displeasure against this young man, and given orders for his death; but upon what provocation, or for what fault, great or little, I cannot apprehend. He is a person to whom we stand indebted for our safety, and the destruction of the Philistines; for vindicating the honour of our nation from the scandal of a forty days' affront, in the challenge of a giant, whom not a creature, but this innocent youth, had a heart to encounter; a person who purchased my sister for his wife at your own price; and, in fine, a person entitled to your esteem and tenderness, both as a brave man, and a member of your own family. Be pleased to consider, then, what injury you do your own daughter, in making her feel the mortification of being a widow, before she enjoys the blessing of being a mother. Be pleased to remember who it was that cured you of your dark melancholic fits, and by that means laid an obligation upon the whole family; and who it was that, next under God, delivered us from our implacable enemies. These, Sir, are benefits never to be forgotten, without the infamy of the blackest ingratitude." -Jewish Antiquities, b. 6. c. 13.

were to be promised, judgments denounced, or extraordinary events predicted, the messengers were generally chosen; so that these colleges were seminaries of divine knowledge, and nurseries of that race of prophets which succeeded from Samuel to the time of Malachi.—Stillingfleet's Orig. Sacra; Wheatly on the Schools of the Prophets; and Jacob abting, de Repub, Heb.

d Such was Saul's implacable hatred to David, that it had abolished, not only all respect and reverence to Samuel, under whose protection David then was, but all regard likewise to the college of the prophets, which in those days had obtained the privilege of a sanctuary.-Patrick's Commentary, and Grotius on the Law of War and Peace, b. 3. c. 11.

e This is a word of an extensive signification, and may denote sometimes such actions, motions, and distortions, as prophets, in their inspiration, are wont to express "Things dubious, while led on in an inspired course; for when the spirit is present in the heart, man becomes frantic;" (Sen. in Medea:) which, perhaps, may be very justly applied to Saul upon this occasion. But the generality of interpreters, in this place, take prophesying' to signify Saul's singing of psalms, or hymns of thanksgiving and praise, which even against his will he was compelled to do, to teach him the vanity of his designs against David, and that in them he fought against God himself.-Calmet's Commentary on 1 Sam. xviii. 10; and Poole's Annotations on xix. 23. ƒ The words in our translation are, And he stripped off his clothes also, and lay down naked, all that day, and all that night. (1 Sam. xix. 24.) In which words, and some other portions of the like import, we are not to imagine that the persons there

A. M. 2888. A. C. 1116; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4301. A. C. 1110. 1 SAM. i. TO THE END.

himself of his upper garments, he lay, as it were in an, Saul returned from Naioth to celebrate; but as he obecstasy, almost naked on the ground, all that day and served that David's seat at the table had for two days the next night. been empty, he inquired of Jonathan & what was become of the son of Jesse, as he called him in contempt. Jonathan told him that he had given him leave to go to an anniversary feast of his family at Bethlehem ; whereupon Saul, suspecting very probably the reality of his answer, fell into a passion with his son, and upbraided him with his friendship for David, which, as he told him, would prove fatal to himself, and injurious to his succession; and therefore he commanded him to produce him; for resolved he was, that this rival of theirs should die. Jonathan was going to interpose something in vindication of his friend, and the unreasonableness of his father's indignation against him, which provoked his father to such a degree, that, forgetting all ties of paternal love, he threw a javelin at him with an intent to kill him, ƒ

David took this opportunity to make a private visit to his friend Jonathan, with whom he expostulated his father's unkindness, which the other could no ways excuse, only he assured him of his best a offices; that he would make what discovery he could of his father's designs against him, and not fail to acquaint him with them. In the mean time he renewed the league of friendship that was between them, and directed him where to conceal himself for a day or two, until he could learn, whether it was proper for him to appear or no; which he was to signify to him by his shooting some arrows, in such a manner as they concluded on, and so mutually embracing, they parted.

The feast of the new-moon was now come, which

spoken of were entirely naked, but only that they were divested some external habit or other, which, upon certain occasions, they might lay aside. For, whereas it is said of some prophets, (Is. xx. 2. and Mic. i. 8.) that they went about naked, we can hardly think that they could be guilty of so much indecency, and especially by the express order of God, who had always testified his abhorrence of nudity, and enjoined his priests the use of several garments to cover the body, that thus they might be distinguished from the pagan priests, who were not ashamed to appear naked. The words in the original, therefore, which we render naked,' or 'to be naked,' signify no more, than either to have part of the body uncovered, or to be without a gown or upper garment, which the Romans called toga, and, according to the custom of the eastern people, was wont to be put on when they went abroad, or made any public appearance. And there fore it was some such vestment as this, or perhaps his military accoutrements, which Saul, upon this occasion, put off; and that this was enough to denominate him naked, is manifest from what Aurelius Victor, speaking of those who were sent to Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, to bring him to the senate to be made dictator, says, That they found him naked, ploughing on the other side of Tiber; whereas Livy, who relates the same story, observes that he called to his wife Rucca for his gown, or toga, that he might appear fit to keep them company.-Essay towards a New Translation.

a The speech which Josephus puts in Jonathan's mouth, upon this occasion is very tender and pathetic:-"That God, who fills and governs the universe, and knows the thoughts of my heart in the very conception of them; that God," says he, "be witness to the faith that is vowed and promised betwixt us; that I will never give over searching into, and sifting the private deliberations and purposes of my father, till I have discovered the bottom of his heart, and whether there be any secret rancour in his thoughts, or not, that may work to your prejudice. And if I shall be able to make any thing out at last, whether it be for or against you, it shall be the first thing I do to give you information of it. The Searcher of hearts will bear me witness that this is true, and that I have ever made it my earnest prayer to Almighty God, to bless and prosper you in your person and designs, and you may assure yourself, that he will be as gracious to you for the future, as he has been hitherto, and lay all your enemies at your feet. In the mean while, pray, be sure to keep these things in memory, and when I am gone, to take care of my poor children.-Jewish Antiquities, b. 6. c. 14.

to Juno, to whom sacrifices, at this time, were offered.-Calmet's Commentary. 1 Sam. xx. 5. "[As soon as the new-moon was either consecrated or appointed to be observed, notice was given by the Sanhedrim to the rest of the nation, what day had been fixed for the new-moon, or first day of the month, because that was to be the rule and measure, according to which they were obliged to keep their feasts and fasts in every month respectively. This notice was given to them in time of peace, by firing beacons set up for that purpose, (which was looked upon as the readiest way of communication,) but in time of war, when all places were full of enemies, who made use of beacons to amuse our nation with, it was thought fit to discontinue it, and to delegate some men on purpose to go and signify it to as many as they possibly could reach, before the time commanded for the observation of the feast or fast was expired.”]—Lewis' Rites and Ceremonies of the Jews, p. 25.-Ed.

c That sitting at table was an ancienter custom than either lying or leaning at meat, is obvious from this passage. The Egyptians, when they ate at Joseph's entertainment, sat at table, and so did the Hebrews. Homer always introduces his heroes in this posture; and that this was the known custom among the ancient people of Italy, Virgil, in these words, testifies: "Our ancestors were always accustomed to sit at their meals."-Æneid. 7. It is not to be dissembled, however, that very early, and even in the times of Saul, the use of table beds, or beds to lie or lean upon at meals, had obtained among the Jews, for when the witch of Endor, with much entreaty, prevailed with Saul to take a little refreshment, it is said, that 'he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed,' 1 Sam. xxviii. 23.-Calmet's Commentary. d It may seem a little strange, that Saul, who had so often endeavoured to kill David, and was now just returned from an expedition undertaken against his life, should ever expect to see him at his table any more. But he might think, perhaps, that David was inclinable to overlook all that had passed, as the effect of his frenzy and melancholy; that now he had been prophesying at Naioth, he was returned to a sound mind, and become a new man; and that, because after the first javelin darted at him, David had ventured into his presence again, he might, for the future, be guilty of the like indiscretion.-Calmet's Commentary.

e If it be asked, how it came to pass that Saul always had a javelin or spear in readiness as on this and other occasions, to execute his evil purposes? The answer is, that spears were the sceptres of those ages, which kings always carried in their hands. That they always carried the sceptres in their hands appears from Homer, and that these sceptres were spears is evident from Justin, (b. 23. c. 3.) where speaking of the first age of the Romans, which Dr Patrick thinks was about the age of Saul, he tells us that as yet, in these times, kings had spears as ensigns of royalty, which the Greeks called sceptres.-The Life of David, by the Author of Revelation Examined.

b The Jewish months were lunar, and never began before the moon appeared above the horizon; for which purpose there were certain persons placed upon the mountains, some time before the new-moon was expected, to give notice by the sound of an horn, when it first appeared, that so the news thereof might immediately be carried to Jerusalem. But lest there should be any mistake in this method of making their observation, from f 1 Sam. xx. 30. Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman.' this example of Saul's, it is supposed, that they celebrated this In the east, when they are angry with a person, they abuse and festival for two days together. Whether the heathens had this vilify his parents. Saul thought of nothing but venting his rite from the Jews or not, it is certain, that other nations had anger against Jonathan, nor had any design to reproach his wife feasts at the beginning of every month, and that, with the Ro-personally: the mention of her was only a vehicle by which, acmans, the calends in particular were festival days, consecrated cording to oriental modes, he was to convey his resentment

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