Commentary on 1Samuel Part 5 (No. F009v)

Chapter 25

Death of Samuel

¹Now Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah.

David and the Wife of Nabal

Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. ²And there was a man in Maon, whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. ³Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was of good understanding and beautiful, but the man was churlish and ill-behaved; he was a Calebite. ⁴David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. ⁵So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. ⁶And thus you shall salute him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. ⁷I hear that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing, all the time they were in Carmel. ⁸Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes; for we come on a feast day. Pray, give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’” ⁹When David’s young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David; and then they waited. ¹⁰And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who are breaking away from their masters. ¹¹Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?” ¹²So David’s young men turned away, and came back and told him all this. ¹³And David said to his men, “Every man gird on his sword!” And every man of them girded on his sword; David also girded on his sword; and about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage. ¹⁴But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed at them. ¹⁵Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them; ¹⁶they were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. ¹⁷Now therefore know this and consider what you should do; for evil is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is so ill-natured that one cannot speak to him.” ¹⁸Then Ab′igail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two skins of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. ¹⁹And she said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. ²⁰And as she rode on the ass, and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them. ²¹Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; and he has returned me evil for good. ²²God do so to Davidand more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.” ²³When Abigail saw David, she made haste, and alighted from the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed to the ground. ²⁴She fell at his feet and said, “Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; pray let your handmaid speak in your ears, and hear the words of your handmaid. ²⁵Let not my lord regard this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabalis his name, and folly is with him; but I your handmaid did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. ²⁶Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, seeing the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt, and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. ²⁷And now let this present which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. ²⁸Pray forgive the trespass of your handmaid; for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. ²⁹If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. ³⁰And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel, ³¹my lord shall have no cause of grief, or pangs of conscience, for having shed blood without cause or for my lord taking vengeance himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid.” ³²And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! ³³Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand! ³⁴For as surely as the Lord the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had made haste and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” ³⁵Then David received from her hand what she had brought him; and he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house; see, I have hearkened to your voice, and I have granted your petition.” ³⁶And Abigail came to Nabal; and lo, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she told him nothing at all until the morning light. ³⁷And in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. ³⁸And about ten days later the Lord smote Nabal; and he died. ³⁹When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil; the Lord has returned the evil-doing of Nabal upon his own head.” Then David sent and wooed Abigail, to make her his wife. ⁴⁰And when the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.” ⁴¹And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground, and said, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” ⁴²And Abigail made haste and rose and mounted on an ass, and her five maidens attended her; she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. ⁴³David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and both of them became his wives. ⁴⁴Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

Intent of Chapter 25

David, Nabal and Abigail

v. 1 All Israel mourned for him. This statement can be taken as the whole nation mourned and did him honour, as for almost eighty years he went in and out amongst them as prophet, judge and counsellor to the king.

“They buried him in his house”, cannot be taken literally as would be inconsistent with the ceremonial purity laws (Num. 19:16), but was rather buried in a court attached to the house or in the garden see (2Kgs. 21:18).

Ramah was Samuel’s city where he was born. David upon hearing this went to the wilderness of Paran situated in the southernmost part of the peninsula of Arabia, a little to the west of Mount Sinai.

v. 2 Maon is in the hill country of Judah, a small town near Carmel mentioned in Josh. 15:55 and 1Sam. 15:12.

Business, “occupation” (see Gen. 47:3 and Ecc. 4:3 translate as “work”)

“Rich” as has great wealth in sheep and goats, which fed upon the pastureland which forms the elevated plateau of Carmel, where he was shearing his sheep, usually a time of lavish hospitality (2Sam. 13:23,24).

v. 3 Nabal, (i.e. fool): (see Ps. 14.1; Prov. 30.22) this was not his proper name but a surname; a popular designate on account of his folly. He had no sense of honour or honesty; he was churlish, cross and ill-humoured; he was evil in his doings, hard and oppressive. He sprang from the family of Caleb (Jos. 15.13 and 1Sam. 30:14).

His wife Abigail signifies the joy of her father; or one who gives joy.

vv. 4-6 David was some distance southward of Carmel, but it was worthwhile to send men to Nabal’s sheep shearing as he had a numerous force to look after. He sent ten men showing he expected a liberal gift of food. He tells them to greet Nabal in his name, and to tell Nabal peace be to you and to your house and all that you have.

vv. 7-8 in these verses he gets to the object of the visit: Your shepherds have been with us; we have done them no harm, nothing was missed by them. David’s men had rendered them various services, protected them and their flocks.

Therefore, let the young men find favour in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day (Gen. 38:12-13; 2Sam. 23:24); a day of festivity and rejoicing (cf. Est. 8:17) pray give whatever you have at hand to your servant, and to your son David. With the expression “your son” David claims Nabal’s fatherly goodwill.

v. 9 David’s young men said all this to Nabal then they waited, or better rendered they sat down as is the custom in the east.

v. 10 Nabal answers David’s men in a very haughty manner, asking who David is, and who is the son of Jesse? This second question betrays him and plainly shows he did know him. He asks this question in contempt, calling him the “son of Jesse”, as Saul often did (1Sam. 20:27).

v. 11 the use of the word my water shows that water was a scarce commodity and very precious in many parts of the East (cf. Jos. 15:19).

vv. 12-13 Gird you on every man his sword, this showed how earnest David was and how bent he was in wiping out the insult of Nabal in blood.

vv. 14-17 One of the young men. Hebrew, “a lad of the lads” i.e. one of the servants (cf. 1Sam 1:24; 1Sam. 2:17). to salute, Hebrew, “to bless (1Sam. 13:10; 2Kgs. 4:29). He railed on them. Literally, “flew upon them like a bird of prey”. We suffered no harm, literally, “not put to shame,” compare verse 7. We suffered no harm, we did not miss anything as long as we went with them they were a wall to us (Job 1:15,17) i.e. a sure protection against wild beasts and Amalekites. Evil (1Sam 20:9) man. Belial (not a proper name) signifies worthlessness also wilful and obstinate so that his servants dared not try to reason with him but appealed to Abigail (1Sam. 1:16).

vv. 18-20 Abigail takes a great store of provisions, i.e. such as two hundred loaves of bread, clusters of raisins, wine and parched corn (cf. 1Chr. 12:40) this shows that Nabal was a great man. Abigail’s prudence and haste was the means by saving herself and her family; she did this of her own accord, because it was a great necessity.

On an ass she came down under cover of the mountain, most probably a defile between two hills, which is called ‘the covert’. David and his men came toward her.

v. 21 David justifies his fierce anger by referring to the services he had rendered “Surely in vain have I guarded” only to be deceived and disappointed.

v. 22 God do so to David and more also, see the Hebrew for the meaning; so do God unto the enemies of David (1Sam. 25:16 and 1Sam. 3:17).

If I leave…any, David vows to exterminate the family and leave none alive (cf. Deut. 20:13).

vv. 23-25 Abigail… fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground (2Kings 4:27). This abject obeisance could be grounded in her belief she was addressing Yahovah’s anointed and the future king of Israel. “Upon me alone” Abigail represents herself as the person guilty on whom the punishment must fall, as she says “regard not this ill-natured fellow, Nabal” i.e. fool, is a sign that folly is with him. As a fool he is scarcely accountable for his doings. “Saw not the young men” therefore was not able to save them from her husband’s rudeness.

vv. 26-27 “seeing the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt, and from taking vengeance with your own hand” nothing could be spoken to David with more effect, to turn away his wrath than affirming it was Yahovah who made her come to prevent bloodshed. She continues “let your enemies be as Nabal”, insignificant fools. “Present” i.e. gift or blessing (2Kgs. 5:15; 2Cor. 9:5) which your handmaid has brought, let it be given to your young men.” She does not presume to offer it for David’s own use.

v. 28 “the trespass of your handmaid” she reverts to her words in verse 24 that the blame and punishment must rest on her. “For the Lord” Abigail is convicted that David will succeed to the kingdom, when, as she points out in 1Sam. 25:30-31 such an act of violence as he was going to commit would be a burden on his conscience.

“Will certainly make my lord a sure house” Will establish him and his posterity on the throne (2Sam 7:16).

“Evil hath not been found in you” (1Sam. 24:11) (Ps. 7:3)

vv. 29-31 “If men rise” Rather, “And should any one arise to pursue you”, the reference is to Saul, but also in general. “Bound in the bundle of the living” The metaphor is taken from the habit of binding up valuables in a bag or bundle (Gen. 42:35). “He shall sling out” to express total rejection (Jer. 10:18) “as from the hollow of a sling” the pan or centre of the sling which the stone is placed in.

“Appointed you prince” same words used in 1Sam. 13:14; 9:16; 10:1.

“Grief” The Hebrew word occurs nowhere else, most probably means stumbling block. Such a crime as David had meditated would have remained as an obstacle in the way of his enjoying a clear conscience.

vv. 32-35 “blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel”, David rightly recognises that the intervention of providence has saved him from a foolish and wicked revenge. Compare his Psalm 19:13.

David is thankful and acknowledges Abigail was sent i.e. stirred up to come by Yahovah the God of Israel. He also commends her advice, literally, her “taste” i.e. wisdom, discretion. He also solemnly assures her on oath that nothing could have saved Nabal and all the males of his household from death. He accepts her present (Gen. 19:21) and dismisses her with assurance that all was forgiven.

25:36-38 “like the feast of a king” his shearing revel (2Sam. 13:23) “he was very drunk” (Pro. 23:30). “His wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as stone.” He had an outburst of passion on hearing this i.e. He was thwarted, bringing on a fit of apoplexy or a stroke or was so terrified as to the danger that he was exposed to. “About ten days later the Lord smote Nabal” (1Sam. 26:10; 2Chr. 13:20). His death was a divine judgement.

vv. 39-42 “Blessed…, this was another instance of human infirmity in David. “Avenged the insult” exacted from Nabal a due penalty for the insult received (1Sam. 24:15). “has kept back his servant from evil” (1Sam. 25:33); this is a striking contrast between David and Nabal, “the Lord has returned the evil-doing of Nabal upon his own head”.

“Wooed Abigail to make her his wife.” It seems legally that a widow’s mourning was seven days, David, on hearing of Nabal’s death, sent messengers to ask her in marriage, which she accepts with deep reverence. “And bowed with her face to the ground” and replies, “to wash the feet of the servants of my lord” (Mark 1:7).

v. 43 “took Ahin’o-am” Married her before he took Abigail (2Sam. 3:2) “of Jezreel” a city in the mountains of Judah near Carmel and Juttah (Jos. 15:55-56).

vv. 44-45 Michal, Saul’s daughter taken from David and given to Palti the son of La’ish, called Pal’ti-el (2Sam. 3:15). “Gallim” described in Isaiah 10:30 as situated between Gibeah of Saul and Jerusalem.

Chapter 26

David Spares Saul’s Life a Second Time

¹Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon ²So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. ³And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness; and when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, ⁴David sent out spies, and learned of a certainty that Saul had come. ⁵Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army; Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. ⁶Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” ⁷So David and Abishai went to the army by night; and there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him. ⁸Then said Abishai to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day; now therefore let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” ⁹But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?” ¹⁰And David said, “As the LORD lives, the LORD will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish. ¹¹The LORD forbid that I should put forth my hand against the LORD’s anointed; but take now the spear that is at his head, and the jar of water, and let us go.” ¹²So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head; and they went away. No man saw it, or knew it, nor did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them. ¹³Then David went over to the other side, and stood afar off on the top of the mountain, with a great space between them; ¹⁴and David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you that calls to the king?” ¹⁵And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. ¹⁶This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.” ¹⁷Saul recognized David’s voice, and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” ¹⁸And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What guilt is on my hands? ¹⁹Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ ²⁰Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to seek my life, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” ²¹Then Saul said, “I have done wrong; return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day; behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.” ²²And David made answer, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and fetch it. ²³The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put forth my hand against the LORD’s anointed. ²⁴Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” ²⁵Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Intent of Chapter 26

David Spares Saul’s life a Second Time

v. 1 “and the Ziphites came”. There is an account related in 1Sam. 23:19-24, “the hill of Hachilah”. (1Sam. 23:19). This could be the same account.

v. 2 “Ziph” is at Horesh (1Sam. 23:15). “Saul’s march with 3000 men” (1Sam. 24:2), this was the number of the standing army (1Sam. 13:2).

vv. 3-4 “Saul encamped beside the road”, which is close to some well-known road. “He saw” learned or was told by his scouts; David learned of a certainty that Saul had come.

v. 5 “David arose”, David could scarce believe that Saul would pursue him a second time. “Saul was lying within the encampment” (see 1Sam. 17:20) surrounded by Abner, commander of his army, while the army encamped around him.

v. 6 “Ahimelech the Hittite” not mentioned elsewhere. “Abishai the son of Zeru’iah.” Abishai saved David’s life in one of the Philistine wars (2Sam. 21:17); shared the command of the army with his brother Joab (2Sam. 10:10); and with him implicated in the murder of Abner (2Sam. 3:30). He and Joab remained faithful to David in Absolom’s rebellion (2Sam. 16:9; 2Sam. 18:2) “Who will go down” Abishai promptly offers his service.

vv. 7-8 “with his spear stuck in the ground at his head” (1Sam. 26:11; 1Sam. 26:16) as a sign that Saul was sleeping there, for the spear served Saul as a scepter (1Sam. 18:10). “God has given your enemy” “now let me pin him to the earth with one stroke.” one stroke” the Hebrew “once” Abishai would pierce him through with a single stroke so no second blow would be necessary, this would be to prevent an outcry.

vv. 9-11 “Do not destroy him; for who can put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (Ex. 21:19; Num. 5:31); “as the Lord lives the Lord will smite him, or his day, etc. meaning the Lord will smite him; whenever he falls it will be the Lord’s doing (2Kgs. 15:5); “jar of water” as in (1Kgs. 19:6)

v. 12 “deep sleep” The word is especially used of supernaturally caused sleep as in Gen. 2:21; Gen. 15:12.

vv. 13-16 “a great space between them” David trusted Saul less now. David called to the army, and to Abner, who asks, “who calls to the king?” David replies, “Are you not a man? (comp. 1Sam. 2:9). No special valour was needed; one worthy of the name of man ought to have guarded his master better. “Who is like you”- Hebrew, “who is as you”- in Israel? Abner was powerful and highly placed as commander in chief; he ought to have shown himself worthy of pre-eminence. For neglecting his duty and exposing the king to danger, he and his people were worthy to die (1Sam. 20:31). David shows that someone came to destroy the king by showing proof, the king’s spear and jar of water.

vv. 17-19 “is this your voice my son” (1Sam. 24:16) in the darkness the only way of recognizing David was by his voice. “If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me” This is one of many passages indicative of the intensity with which the Israelites had grasped the idea of the omnipresence of the deity, and of His being the one power by whose energy all things exist and all acts are done (see 1Sam. 2:2). “may He accept an offering” Hebrew, “would smell it” because the offering consists of flour and frankincense and was burnt for a sweet odour before God (Gen. 8:21; Ps. 51:18-19). “But if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord” (1Sam. 24:9) because by forcing him to leave the covenant land of Israel they virtually say to him, “go serve other gods.” David was a very religious person not only in private worship, but taking part in the public worship of the Deity (Ps. 42:2-3; 63:2; 84:2-11; 143:6)

v. 20 “Let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord” The point of David’s appeal is not that his life might be spared, but that he may be driven far from the land where the Lord manifests Himself. “For the king of Israel has come out to seek my life”. Hebrew - “a single flea” as in 1Sam. 24:14. “Hunts a partridge” No one would think it worth his while to hunt a single partridge.

v. 21 “I have done wrong” here Saul’s answer is very different from 1Sam. 24:16-21 where the magnanimity of David in sparing his life. Here is a sense of vexation and annoyance at himself as his purpose and military arrangements had been frustrated and been so unsoldierlike, as he says: “I have played the fool”.

vv. 22-24 “Here is the spear, O king! “Let one of the young men come over and fetch it” David did not think it proper to put himself in Saul’s power by presenting it himself. “The Lord Rewards everyman for his righteousness” in these words David shows the assurance he had that, however Saul dealt with him, the Lord would vindicate his cause on account of his integrity and righteous dealing. “So may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord” (Ps. 7:8; 18:20). David prays that God would show him similar mercy, and that he would be delivered out of all his troubles (Ps. 34:17; 54:7).

v. 25 “You will do many things and succeed in them” Saul is here again among the prophets; “David went his way, and Saul returned to his place” most probably to his home in Gibeah. Thus they parted and never saw each other again.

Chapter 27

David Serves King Achish of Gath

¹And David said in his heart, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” ²So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. ³And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. ⁴And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he sought for him no more. ⁵Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there; for why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” ⁶So that day Achish gave him Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. ⁷And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. ⁸Now David and his men went up, and made raids upon the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. ⁹And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the asses, the camels, and the garments, and came back to Achish. ¹⁰When Achish asked, “Against whom have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Ken′ites.” ¹¹And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, thinking, “Lest they should tell about us, and say, ‘So David has done.’”Such was his custom all the while he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. ¹²And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself utterly abhorred by his people Israel; therefore he shall be my servant always.”

Intent of Chapter 27

David’s flight to Achish, and residence at Ziklag

v. 1 “And David said in his heart”. Hebrew, “to his heart” to himself see (1Sam 1:13), “I shall perish by the hand” the verb is used in 1Sam. 12:25 and 1Sam. 26:10; but instead of by the hand the Hebrew has ‘into the hand.’ So it could be rendered “I shall someday fall into the hand of Saul”. “Escape to the land of the Philistines” this is the result anticipated in 1Sam. 26:19 and has come to pass.

v. 2 the six hundred men. - This was the original number that formed the nucleus force, but the number would have been far greater as they all had families and many warriors would have also joined. A’chish, the son of Ma’och, king of Gath, seems to be the same as the A’chish of 1Sam. 21:10 and identical to the A’chish, son of Ma’och in 1Kgs. 2:39. A’chish must have lived to a good old age, as referring to 1Chr. 18:1 David conquered the Philistines and took the towns of Gath and others, and it would seem that he permitted A’chish to remain as a tributary king.

v. 3 and David dwelt with A’chish at Gad. His reception by the Philistines seems to be most kindly. Most probably as was the head of a trained and devoted army. Every man with his household (cf. 1Sam. 30:3; 2Sam. 2:3).

v. 4 and when it was told Saul - this statement shows that Saul had not ceased in his pursuit of David to seek his life.

vv. 5-6 “If I have found favour in your eyes,” the real reason David wanted his own place was to conduct his forays and other affairs from his Philistine friends. David requests A’chish – “let a place be given me in one of the country towns” David intended to keep and preserve his people, both from the vices and the different religion of the Philistines. A’chish gave him Ziklag, a small place assigned first of all to Judah (Jos. 15:31) but subsequently to Simeon (Jos. 19:5).

v. 7 David dwelt in the country of the Philistines for a year and four months - he says this statement of time is historical proof of the whole narrative. The Hebrew expression translated “a year” is a singular one: yamim- literally, days - a collective term, used in Lev. 25:29; 1Sam. 1:3; 2:19 to signify a term or period of days. A year, Hebrew, “days” Rashi argues in favour of it meaning some days.

v. 8 Went up - The expression is strictly accurate. The tribes against which David went dwelt on higher ground than Ziklag.

Gesh’urites - A tribe dwelling south of Philistia, near the Amalekites (Josh. 13:2) to be distinguished from the Geshurites in Syria (2Sam. 15:8). Gir’zites - this tribe has been conjectured to be an ancient Arab tribe that wandered up northwards and gave its name to Mount Gerizim. Amal’ekites - such remnants of them as had escaped from Saul’s sword (1Sam. 15:8). The inhabitants of the land from of old – see Ex. 17:8ff of the attack by the Amal’ekites on Israel in the march from Egypt in the exodus. These nations inhabited the land from Telem until you come to Shur, and into the land of Egypt. Telem, mentioned in 1Sam. 15:4 as the southernmost city of Israel.

vv. 9-10 David smote the land - made in part to occupy David’s men, but also to obtain the means of subsistence. It also brought David great renown, for in 1Chr. 12:1-22 warriors came to him from great distances to swell his ranks. David came back to A’chish - to give him his portion of the plunder. David made many such expeditions against the other tribes denoted by the question from A’chish, “Against whom have you made a raid today?” David would say “Against the Negeb of Judah” or “Against the Negeb of the Jerah’meelites” who were the descendants of Jerahmeel the son of Hezron (1Chr. 2:9; 2:25) who were settled on the southern frontier of Judah, or “Against the Negeb of the Ken’ites” who were in an alliance with Israel (1Sam. 15:6).

v. 11 David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath - The tribes evidently lived in the neighborhood of the southern boundary of Judah, so that he could represent his expeditions as made against his own countrymen.

v. 12 A’chish believed David - connect 1Sam. 27:12 with 1Sam. 27:10; thinking “he has made himself utterly abhorred” i.e. brought himself into ill odour, hated (see 1Sam. 13:4) by his own countrymen and would now be his permanent vassal.

Chapter 28

¹In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” ²David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

Saul Consults a Medium

³Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the wizards out of the land. ⁴The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. ⁵When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. ⁷Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at Endor.” ⁸So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments, and went, he and two men with him; and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit, and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” ⁹The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?” ¹⁰But Saul swore to her by the LORD, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” ¹¹Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” ¹²When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” ¹³The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” ¹⁴He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. ¹⁵Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress; for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” ¹⁶And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. ¹⁸Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. ¹⁹Moreover the LORD will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.” ²⁰Then Saul fell at once full length upon the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. ²¹And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your handmaid has hearkened to you; I have taken my life in my hand, and have hearkened to what you have said to me. ²²Now therefore, you also hearken to your handmaid; let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” ²³He refused, and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he hearkened to their words. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. ²⁴Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour, and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, ²⁵and she put it before Saul and his servants; and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

Intent of Chapter 28

Saul consults the medium of Endor

vv. 1-2 Philistines gathered their forces - This was, as Josephus observed, a war upon a much larger scale than any that had been carried out since the defeat of the Philistines in the valley of Elah. Sir Isaac Newton judges that vast numbers of men were recruited who were driven out of Egypt by Amasis at about this time. This invasion came from the north. A’chish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army” David’s reply “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” This reply was very ambiguous, but most probably understood by A’chish as a boastful assent. The words “what your servant can do” contained no promise of faithful assistance in the war with the Israelites. A’chish accepts David’s reply as a profession of loyalty for he replies “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life”

v. 3 Now Samuel had died see (1Sam. 25:1). Saul’s expulsion of the mediums and wizards was probably done early in his reign as alluded to in 1Sam. 15:22-23. This was also in accordance with the law (Ex. 22:18 and Lev. 19:31; 20:27).

v. 4 The Philistines assembled - this was a gathering of the whole force of the confederacy as is made clear from 1Sam. 28:1 (see also 1Sam. 29:1-2). The Philistines encamped at Shunem (Jos. 19:18; 2 Kgs. 4:8) a village in the tribe of Issachar; now called Solam. This is opposite Jezreel and Mount Gilboa, having the deep broad valley of Jezreel between, and overlooking the whole western plain to Carmel. Shunem mentioned in 1Kgs. 1:3 and 1Sam. 4:8. Gilbo’a now called Jebel Fukoak, a mountainous tract on the east of the Plain of Esdraelon.

vv. 5-6 When Saul saw - It is plain from this that the Philistines had not forced their way through Israelite territory; for this evidently is Saul’s first sight of them. He was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. This remark firstly shows that he realizes that he is greatly outnumbered but more importantly when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets so he must have finally realized that God had forsaken him. See 1Chr. 10:13-14 for his unfaithfulness.

vv. 7-8 Saul says to his servants “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium - a familiar spirit literally possessor of an Orb (see Acts 16:16). Endor means fountain of the dwelling and was on the northern slope of the Little Hermon (Ps. 83:10). Saul disguises himself to get to Endor as the Philistine had pitched at Shunem on the southern slopes of the mountain, and Saul’s army was at Jezreel, so he had to pass the Philistine camp, a dangerous journey. “Devine for me by a spirit” - divination was strictly forbidden (Deut. 18:10; 14). This must have been a very lucrative profession, as the danger involved in this practice was very great. “Bring up for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name.” Saul most probably expected to hear a voice.

vv. 9-10 “Surely you know what Saul has done” Saul in the earlier part of his reign had been zealous for the Mosaic Law. Evidently, she was afraid that the unknown visitor for this is evident from (1Sam. 28:12) was laying a snare for her to put her to death by the law of Leviticus 20:27. Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives” there would be no punishment. This shows how hardened the heart of Saul had become against the Laws of God.

v. 11 “Whom shall I bring up for you” - the woman now asserts her ability to call up the spirits of the dead.” Bring up Samuel for me” Saul in asking this shows his self-will to be broken and that he is in utter despair and distress and asks for Samuel who was formerly his mentor and friend, showing him kindness and compassion which he seeks now in his distress.

v. 12 When the women saw Samuel – Evidently the last thing she expected was anything but the usual illusion she created. But she saw something which she never dreamed of seeing. What she saw was an Elohim (a god) she was evidently amazed and appalled by her enchantment and unprepared by her intensified perception in a state of clairvoyance, she cries out “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”

v. 13 The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?’ This question shows that Saul did not see anything, she replies “I see a god coming up out of the earth”- The Hebrew word for god is Elohim when not applied to the one true GOD. If it was the one true GOD then it would be rendered Ha Elohim meaning The GOD. So she saw a spirit being (Ps. 82:1-7). This could be the great angel of Yahovah, Yahoshua the Christ, coming as GOD’s messenger.

All men upon death go to the grave (sheol) and know, hear and feel nothing, but wait for either the first or second resurrection. See papers, The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143), Heaven Hell or the First Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143A) also No. 143B , The Soul (No. 092) and No.143E

v. 14 Saul asks her: “what is his appearance?” As per verse 13 he still sees nothing. Her reply “An old man is coming up; and he is wrapped in a robe”- Hebrew for robe is mell (1Sam. 2:19). Samuel seems never to have worn a prophetic mantel but a robe therefore distinctive in dress (1Sam. 15:27). When she says “an old man” Saul concludes that this is Samuel, who he asked for in v. 11 He then bowed with his face to the ground and did obeisance.

v. 15 Samuel says to Saul “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” This is the Elohim that the woman (medium) saw in v. 13. Saul replies that he is in great distress as the Philistines are warring against him and that GOD has turned away from him, not answering him by prophets or dreams and requires of Samuel to tell him what to do.

vv. 16-18 Samuel’s replies, if the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy why ask me? Enemy is only found in Ps. 139:20. “The lord has done to you as he spoke to me; for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David” (see 1Sam. 15:28; 16:13-14). “Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord” nor carry out the order to destroy Am’alek (1Sam. 15:17-21,26).

v. 19 The statement from the Elohim, that the Lord will give the army of Israel, Saul and his sons into the hands of the Philistines on the morrow, states three crushing judgments. The guilt of the king involves the nation also in punishment, the violent death of Saul and his two sons and the sacking of the army (1Sam. 31:8; 2Sam. 1:10).

v. 20 Saul fell immediately full length upon the ground - It must be understood that Saul listened to the words spoken to him in an attitude of humble reverence as he perceived he was in the presence of Samuel (1Sam. 28:14) but receiving this judgment he was crushed with terror, dismay and also weakened by fasting and the rough night’s walk from Mount Gilboa to Endor.

vv. 21-22 the story is concluded in these last verses, “I have taken my life in my hand” - she was a medium which rendered her liable to the punishment of death. Though a grievous sinner, she is struck with pity for the stricken king and with kind words and actions does her best to recover him from his death-like swoon. “Let me put a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”

vv. 23-25 He refuses by saying “I will not eat” he is further urged by his servants and the medium. He takes their advice arises from the earth and sits on the bed, probably a divan or cushion which in the east serves as a seat by day and a bed at night (Est. 1:6; Eze. 23:41). She had a fatted calf in the house which she quickly kills - (Gen. 18:7), bakes unleavened bread as she is in haste and has no time to leaven it. Saul and his servants eat, rise up and depart that same night.

Concluding note: Saul was terrified, but he shows no remorse or repentance; he was hardened by sin and expresses no grief or pain, either on his account or for the fate of his sons and his people. In stolid desperation he went to meet his fate.

Chapter 29

The Philistines Reject David

¹Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek; and the Israelites were encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel. ²As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish, ³the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is not this David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” ⁴But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him; and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him; he shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? ⁵Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” ⁶Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign; for I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless the lords do not approve of you. ⁷So go back now; and go peaceably, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.” ⁸And David said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” ⁹And Achish made answer to David, “I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’ ¹⁰Now then rise early in the morning with the servants of your lord who came with you; and start early in the morning, and depart as soon as you have light.” ¹¹So David set out with his men early in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Intent of Chapter 29

Philistine rulers object to David’s presence among the Philistine army

vv. 1-3 Achish defends David before the Philistine leaders.

Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies: The battle lines were drawn in the previous chapter when the Philistines made a deep incursion into Israelite territory. The Philistines intended to deliver a death-blow to Israel and the two armies squared off in anticipation of battle.

The lords of the Philistines passed in review, David and his men passed in review at the rear: David is among the Philistines because when he was discouraged, he left the people of God and the land of Israel and cast his lot with the Philistines instead (1Sam 27). David now finds himself in a place he thought he would never be: among the ungodly, ready to fight against God’s people.

What are these Hebrews doing here? Leaders among the Philistines looked at David and his men and said, “They don’t belong with us. They are Hebrews. They worship another god. They shouldn’t fight with us.” The Philistine leaders could see what David was blind to. David started to think and act like a Philistine and was ready to fight with them against the people of God. But the Philistine leaders could see that this wasn’t right, even when David couldn’t. The Philistine leaders knew who David really was – that is, a Hebrew, one of God’s people. David seems to have forgotten this, but the Philistine leaders knew. David would have never slipped into this sinful place if he remembered who he really was and what his destiny was. “Is this not David…who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.” It is a sad thing that a Philistine ruler defended David so confidently. David identified himself so much with the ungodly that Achish knew he had David in his pocket. Hearing these words from Achish should have grieved David. To hear an ungodly ruler say, “David has been with me” and “I have found no fault in him” and “he defected to me” should have been a great wake-up call to David. It is as if an ungodly coworker insisted to others that you really weren’t a Christian after all because they saw how you lived. It is also important to see that Achish wasn’t just making this up. David said as much in 1Sam 28:1-2 and Achish had reason to believe that David would fight with him.

vv. 4-5 But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him: The other Philistine leaders were not in agreement with Achish at all. They didn’t trust David and they feared he would turn against the Philistines in battle, to bring himself back into Saul’s favor.

Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: The faith-filled victory over Goliath seemed like a distant memory for a backslidden David, but the Philistines remembered it well. The song of David’s victory came back to haunt him again.

vv. 6-7 Achish tells David to go home.

Surely, as the LORD lives: This is unexpected in a Philistine oath; can it be that Achish has committed himself to David’s Lord, or is he being courteous to David in not swearing by Philistine gods? The latter is perhaps more likely.

Nevertheless, the lords do not favor you: David thought he couldn’t be happy or at peace in the land of Israel (1Sam 27:1). Now he finds that his “Philistine friends” won’t accept him either. David has no home; he is trying to live in both worlds, so he has no home in either world. No doubt, David didn’t like being rejected by the Philistine rulers. Not many people like rejection. But God would use the rejection of ungodly people in David’s life. Many people are hesitant to live devotedly for Eloah because they are afraid of the rejection of the ungodly. How much better it is to be all out for God, and to trust that if the ungodly reject us, God will use it for good – for our good and for theirs. In many ways, David was in the worst place for any child of God. He had too much of the world in him to be at peace in the LORD, and he had too much of the LORD in him to be at peace in the world. God spoke to David through this, but David had to listen. That you may not displease the lords of the Philistines: David used to displease the lords of the Philistines all the time. He used to be a mighty warrior for the cause of God, and he used to strike fear in the heart of every enemy of God. Now, David is concerned about displeasing the lords of the Philistines. Is this the same David who fought Goliath? Could you imagine someone coming to David before that battle, and saying, “Excuse me, David. I don’t think you should do that. You might displease the lords of the Philistines.” What do you think David’s response would be? He might say, “Of course I will displease the lords of the Philistines”. But all that was a distant memory in this time of backsliding and compromise for David.

vv. 8-10 David appeals to Achish, as he seems genuinely disappointed that he will not be able to fight for the Philistines against Israel.

David wanted to fight with the Philistines against Israel but God wouldn’t let him. David’s heart was in a bad place, but God didn’t abandon him. We should praise God for the times when He keeps us from sinning as badly as we might want to.

v. 11 David returns to Ziklag and the Philistine army prepares to meet Saul. The Holy Spirit made it clear to David. All these events were a wake-up call. David should have heard God speaking in many ways, but he didn’t. Instead, he made his return to the land of the Philistines. It would take a dramatic crisis to bring David back to where he should be.

Chapter 30

David Avenges the Destruction of Ziklag

¹Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid upon the Negeb and upon Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag, and burned it with fire, ²and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great; they killed no one, but carried them off, and went their way. ³And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ⁴Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept, until they had no more strength to weep. ⁵David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. ⁷And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ⁸And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue; for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” ⁹So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind. ¹⁰But David went on with the pursuit, he and four hundred men; two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor. ¹¹They found an Egyptian in the open country, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, they gave him water to drink, ¹²and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived; for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights. ¹³And David said to him, “To whom do you belong? And where are you from?” He said, “I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago. ¹⁴We had made a raid upon the Negeb of the Cherethites and upon that which belongs to Judah and upon the Negeb of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.” ¹⁵And David said to him, “Will you take me down to this band?” And he said, “Swear to me by God, that you will not kill me, or deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this band.” ¹⁶And when he had taken him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. ¹⁷And David smote them from twilight until the evening of the next day; and not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled. ¹⁸David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives. ¹⁹Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David brought back all. ²⁰David also captured all the flocks and herds; and the people drove those cattle before him, and said, “This is David’s spoil.” ²¹Then David came to the two hundred men, who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the brook Besor; and they went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him; and when David drew near to the people he saluted them. ²²Then all the wicked and base fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil which we have recovered, except that each man may lead away his wife and children, and depart.” ²³But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us; he has preserved us and given into our hand the band that came against us. ²⁴Who would listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down into the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.” ²⁵And from that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day. ²⁶When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, “Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD”; ²⁷it was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir, ²⁸in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa, ²⁹in Racal, in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, in the cities of the Kenites, ³⁰in Hormah, in Borashan, in Athach, ³¹in Hebron, for all the places where David and his men had roamed.

Intent for chapter 30

David’s distress

vv. 1-2 Ziklag is plundered by the Amalekites.

God had a purpose for all of this in David’s life. On the third day indicates that David and his men covered about twenty-five miles a day on the march south from Aphek to Ziklag, where they would have arrived tired, hungry and expecting all the comforts of a welcoming home.

The Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked the city and burned it with fire. While David and his men were to the north trying to join the Philistine army, their own city of Ziklag was unguarded. The opportunistic Amalekites took advantage of the defenseless city, attacked and burned it with fire. Not only was the city burned, but all their women and children were taken away. There is a touch of the LORD’s poetic justice in all this. David brought this exact calamity on other cities. 1Sam 27:8-11 says during his time among the Philistines, David made his living as a bandit, robbing cities and whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive. The Amalekites were different, they left the captured alive, to enslave all. Eloah, great in mercy, does not discipline us as much as we deserve. Like a compassionate Father He tempers the stroke of His hand with kindness and love.

vv. 3-6 David and his men come upon the empty, burned city. As they came within a few miles of their city the hearts of David and his men must have brightened. As soldiers they were discouraged that they hadn’t been allowed to fight alongside the Philistines. But they knew they were coming home, and home meant family and familiar surroundings. But that bright thought quickly turned black as night.

And there it was, burned with fire: Even off in the distance they saw something was wrong. Smoke rose from their city, but it wasn’t the smoke of cooking fires. It was too much smoke for that, and the smoke was too black. They wondered why no one had come to greet them from afar off – where were their wives and children? Weren’t they glad to see them? But when they came to the city and saw it was a ghost town, a pile of burned rubble with no voice of the survivors, it seemed that everything was lost. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep: All was lost. At this point, David had nothing more to support him. No one in Israel could help him. The Philistines didn’t want him. His family was gone; all he owned was gone. Even his friends turned against him (the people spoke of stoning him). Every support was gone, except the LORD. That is a good place to be in, not a bad place. David did not weep only because everything and everyone was lost. He also wept because he knew that he was responsible for it. No wonder David was greatly distressed. He is about as low in his backslidden state as a man can be; David is like the prodigal son who now sits in the pigpen.

But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God: It took a lot to bring David to this place, but now he is here – God is his only strength. This was backslidden and wayward David. Why would God strengthen him? Because God is rich in mercy and grace, and because David was now completely broken, ready to be filled. Sometimes we think we have to achieve God’s blessing or strength, but David shows us another way. He received the strength and felt it flow through himself, and was bold enough to ask for it and receive it from God. Before this, he didn’t see himself as weak but after coming home to a burned-out ghost town, David knew he was weak and needed God’s strength. He didn’t wait for someone else to strengthen him. He didn’t say, “Well LORD, if You want to strengthen me, that’s fine. I’ll just wait here until You do it.” David knew that the LORD’s strength was there for those who wait upon Him, so he strengthened himself in the LORD his God. God’s strength was there for David all the time, but now he takes it for himself and will strengthen himself in the LORD his God. This was much more than having a positive attitude. This was the strength of the living God making itself real in the life and heart of a hurting man. This was strength for recognition, strength for brokenness, strength for repentance, strength for determination to win back what the enemy has stolen. David could remember God’s love. At this point of total loss, David now saw the love of the LORD in the rejection of the Philistine leaders. If God had not sent him back home through the rejection of the Philistines, it would have been months and months until he returned, and the situation would have been far worse. That which stung him before became sweet to him now, and a most precious expression of the LORD’s love. David could remember God’s promise and calling. He could shake his head, clear the fog and say, “I am a man anointed by God, called by God, and promised by God to be the next king of Israel. I have a high calling and promise from God, and He hasn’t taken it away. I need to start living according to that destiny.” David could remember God’s past deliverances. He could say, “This is a terrible spot, no doubt. But remember all the times when the LORD delivered me out of bad spots before? If He did it then, He will do it now. He didn’t deliver me before to let me perish now.” David took his only encouragement from the LORD.

1Chronicles 12:19-20 gave David a reason for encouragement – men from the tribe of Manasseh came to him at this time and stood with him when others turned on David. But that wasn’t mentioned as an encouragement to David at all. “God was beginning to cure his servant by a bitter dose of distress, and the evidence of the cure was that he did not encourage himself by his new friends, or by the hope of others coming; but he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” What David said in his heart in 1Sam 27:1 got him into this whole mess; now, what he said to himself to strengthen himself in the LORD helped bring him out. David wins back what was lost – and more.

vv. 7-8 David inquires of the LORD

Then David said: In verse 6, David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. Now it was time to do something with that strength from the LORD. First, David uses that strength when he inquired of the LORD. Of all the time David spent among the Philistines, this is the first time we read of him seeking God in any way. During his time of compromise and backsliding, David simply didn’t inquire of the LORD in this way.

Please bring the ephod here: David sought God with the help of the priest, almost certainly using the Urim and Thummim that were part of the priest’s ephod. An ephod was a special apron that priests would wear, to cover over their clothing, so the sacrificial blood and gore would splash on the ephod, not so much on their clothing. It is likely that this wasn’t just any ephod; this was the ephod of the high priest, which had the breastplate of judgment attached to it. The breastplate had in it a pouch with two stones, known as the Urim and Thummim (Ex. 8:30). When David inquired of the LORD, he probably asked Abiathar to use the Urim and Thummim. In seeking God through the Urim and Thummim, David was really going back to God’s word for guidance, because it was the word of God that commanded their place and allowed their use. Today, if we have the same focus on God’s word, He will guide us also.

Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? At one time David would not bother to even ask these questions. He would simply do it because when a soldier is attacked, he attacks back. But in returning from his backsliding, David brought everything to the LORD. Nothing was done just because it was done before. He asked God about everything.

Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all: God gave David something to do (pursue). Then, God gave David a promise in the doing (you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all). When God gives us something to do, He also gives us a promise in the doing.

vv. 9-10 David pursues the Amalekites who conquered Ziklag. God told David to go and pursue them, and David did exactly that. Obedience to the LORD is often that simple.

He and the six hundred men who were with him: David’s men were almost at a place of mutiny against him (the people spoke of stoning him). But now since he strengthened himself in the LORD his God and since he inquired of the LORD and since he did what God told him to do, his men are totally back on his side. David went; he and the six hundred men who were with him implies that David said, “Men, I’m going. I have a promise from God for victory, and I’m going to believe it. It doesn’t matter if you come with me or not, because God is on my side, and if I have to beat the Amalekites all by myself, God’s promise will not fail.” Such faith stirred the hearts of the six hundred men, and they went with David. It was a magnificent sight – David and the six hundred men on the march again, this time not hoping to fight for the Philistines or for themselves, but off again on a mission from God. There wasn’t an army on earth that could beat David and his six hundred men when they walked in God’s will. For two hundred men stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor. This might have discouraged David. As he pursued a significantly larger Amalekite army, he found that one-third of his men couldn’t continue. But David didn’t let this trial stop him. He set the one-third to work guarding the supplies, lightening the load of the 400 who continued, and he set out again, full of faith.

vv. 11-15 David and his men befriend a helpless Egyptian. They found an Egyptian in the field: As David and the 400 men pursued the Amalekites, they came across a man collapsed in the wilderness. It would be easy and logical, to ignore this man because they had a “much greater” mission in pursuing the Amalekites. But David and his men showed unexpected kindness and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water.

Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” David took a caring interest in this man. He showed simple care and kindness to a nobody. They didn’t just give this Egyptian food and water; they gave him care and kindness.

I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite…. we burned Ziklag with fire: In showing unexpected kindness to this Egyptian, God showed David an unexpected blessing. The Egyptian promised to guide David to the camp of the Amalekites. The emphatic ‘we’ at the beginning of verse 14 suggests that the slave participated personally in the Amalekites’ raids.

vv. 16-20 David routs and spoils the Amalekites, winning back everything.

Attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day: As they caught the Amalekites in the midst of their victory celebration, David surprised them. They supposed that all the Philistine and Israelite armies were far to the north, preparing to fight each other. Twilight is dawn until evening of the next day. The Hebrew word nesep translated ‘dawn’ in Job 7:4 and Psalm 119:147, has this sense here…. Having noted the situation, David and his men took some rest and attacked at first light, when the Amalekites would be suffering from the soporific effects of the feast, and least able to defend themselves.

David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: Everything that the enemy took David took back. God gave him a complete victory because David strengthened himself in the LORD his God (1Sam 30:6), David inquired of the LORD (v. 8). David did what God told him to do, and David showed unexpected care and kindness to others. God’s promise was proved true. When David inquired of the LORD, God promised You shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all (1Sam. 30:8). The promise was fulfilled exactly, but it wasn’t fulfilled as David sat back passively and said, “All right God, now You can do it.” The LORD fulfilled His promise, but He used David’s actions to fulfill the promise. God’s promise didn’t exclude David’s cooperation, but the promise invited his cooperation. The rule is to trust in God to smite the Amalekites, and then to march after them, to take the first step and trust. This is David’s spoil: God gave David even more than what He promised. He received spoil from the battle, beyond what was taken from Ziklag. This was a blessing straight from the grace of God.

Some wonder why David was allowed to keep the spoil of the Amalekites when Saul was expressly commanded to not keep any spoil from that nation (1Sam 15:1-3) and was judged by God for not obeying that command (1Sam 15:13-23). The answers are simple: First, David had no specific command from God to destroy all the spoil from the Amalekites, as Saul did. Second, David recovered what the Amalekites took from others, though he recovered far beyond what was taken from his city. Third, David was not acting as the king of Israel representing the LORD’s nation, as Saul did. Simply put, in this case, the rules were different for David.

The spoil from the battle is divided.

vv. 21-25 The spoils are distributed equally among those who fought and those who supported.

Now David came to the two hundred men who had been so weary they could not follow David: When David was in swift pursuit of the Amalekites, 200 men among his company could not continue on. They made a camp where they were and lightened the supply load from the soldiers who continued. Now David returned to the two hundred men who stayed by the supply camp. Then all the wicked and worthless men of those who went with David answered and said: When David returned, these men of the supply camp saw their own possessions among the spoils of battle and they wanted them back. The wicked and worthless men (apparently, there were some among David’s men) protested and said they could only have back every man’s wife and children, but none of their possessions.

My brethren’s love: David declared an important principle: the supply lines are just as vital as the soldiers and God will reward both “soldiers” and “supporters” properly. Many people serve the LORD in invisible, behind-the-scenes ways, often supporting a much more visible aspect of the LORD’s work. God will support the hidden servant with the same reward as the prominent servant. The wicked and worthless men looked at the spoil and said, “We fought for this spoil and it is ours.” David looked at the spoil and said, “Look at what the LORD has given us.” When looked at from this perspective, it made sense to share. When the LORD gave David a great victory he saw it as the LORD’s victory more than his own.

A statute and an ordinance for Israel to this day: It became a standing principle in Israel. This principle should be declared and believed among God’s people today.

vv. 26-31 David mends strained relationships.

When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah, to his friends. David knew that his time among the Philistines had strained his relationships with God’s people. Now he knew he must do whatever he could to put things right again so he sent some of the spoil to the elders of Judah. This is the final step in David’s getting things right after his time of backsliding among the Philistines.

Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD: David sent spoil from the battle to more than 13 cities. Obviously, there was spoil to spare from the battle. In this David is a picture of his greater Son, Jesus Christ. When he triumphed on his greatest battle and he had “spoil to share,” he shared the spoil with his people, as it says in Ephesians 4:7-8: But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” The Messiah has spoil from his victory to give us.

Chapter 31

The Death of Saul and His Sons

¹Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. ²And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. ³The battle pressed hard upon Saul, and the archers found him; and he was badly wounded by the archers. ⁴Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer would not; for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword, and fell upon it. ⁵And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword, and died with him. ⁶Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. ⁷And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. ⁸On the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. ¹¹But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹²all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan; and they came to Jabesh and burnt them there. ¹³And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Intent of chapter 31

King Saul and his sons die in battle

v. 1 The battle turns against Israel.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel: The Philistines attacked deep into Israelite territory (1Sam 28:4), and Saul’s army assembled and prepared for battle at Mount Gilboa. Due to his deep rebellion against the Lord, Saul was not ready for battle: When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly (1Sam 28:5). Instead of taking his fear to the Lord Saul made things worse by seeking God’s voice through a spirit medium. Strangely, divine prophesy was uttered to Saul, words of judgment through an unusual appearance of a spirit speaking for Samuel. He told Saul that he and his sons would die the next day (1Sam 28:19) Then 31:1 is the next day. The Philistines fought against Israel, and David wanted to be part of this group of Philistines (1Sam 29:2, 8). It was the Lord’s mercy that did not allow David to join these enemies of the Lord.

The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa, the location of the Israelite army camp (1Sam 28:4), meaning that the battle turned so badly for Israel that they were in full retreat back to their own camp.

v. 2 The death of Saul’s sons

And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons: Tragically, Saul’s sons were affected in the judgment of God against their father Saul. The brave and worthy Jonathan died as we might expect him to – loyally fighting for his God, his country, and his father the king to the very end.

Saul’s sons: Their death was tragic, yet important in God’s plan. In taking the logical heirs to Saul’s throne, God cleared the way for David to become the next king of Israel. We know that if Jonathan had survived he would have gladly yielded the throne to David (1Sam 18:1-4). But the same could not be said of Saul’s other sons. God was also merciful to Jonathan, sparing him the ordeal of having to side with David against his own brothers. There was also a special providence of God in taking away Jonathan (who of all Saul’s sons seems to have been the fairest for the crown) for the preventing divisions, which have happened amongst the people concerning the successor; David’s way to the crown being by this means made the more clear. As it was, David had to deal with Ishbosheth, the one surviving son of Saul before taking the undisputed throne of Israel (2Sam 2:8 through 4:12).

vv. 3-6 The tragic end of King Saul

The battle became fierce against Saul: He was struck by many arrows and severely wounded. He knew the battle was completely lost. He pleaded with his armor bearer to kill him, and when he would not, Saul killed himself by throwing himself on his sword. His wounds accelerated his death, yet it could not be the cause of it, as he was convinced that he could not survive. Yet he didn’t want the Philistines to bodily torment or abuse him while still breathing. All his men died together that same day: As sad as anything was in this account, sad is the absence of any kind of sorrow or repentance or crying out to God at all on Saul’s part. He was told the previous day that he would die (1Sam 28:19), yet he did not seem to prepare himself to reconcile with God in any way. At the end of his life Saul became so hardened to sin that he did not want to repent. Repentance is a gift from God and if it is here today it should be received today.

When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead: In 2Sam 1:4-10, an Amalekite came to David with the report that Saul had died in battle and that he actually delivered the death-blow to Saul. Does the Amalekite’s statement contradict this passage, where it seems Saul killed himself? It may be that Saul fell on his sword, and life still lingered in him, so he asked this Amalekite to finish him off. Or it may be that the Amalekite simply lied and was the first one to come upon Saul’s dead body and that he told David that he killed him because he thought David would be pleased and he would be rewarded.

Aftermath of the Philistines’ victorious battle

v. 7 A significant defeat for Israel

They forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them: The victory of the Philistines was so complete that even those on the other side of the Jordan fled in terror before the Philistines. With the Philistine army occupying territory on the other side of the Jordan, they had cut Israel in half, drawing a line from west to east. The rest of the nation was ripe for total conquest by the Philistines.

The men of Israel had fled now that Saul and his sons were dead: This was a great defeat. When the leader (King Saul) was struck, it spread panic among God’s people. The Messiah knew this same principle would be used against his own disciples: Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered’” (Mark 14:27).

Saul’s sin, hardened rebellion, and eventual ruin affected far more people than himself and even his immediate family. It literally endangered the entire people of Israel. This shows why leaders have a higher responsibility, because their fall can endanger many more people than the fall of someone who is not a leader. This is why the law openly presents a higher standard for leaders, even saying they should be blameless for just cause before the world and God’s people (1Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6).

vv. 8-10 The Philistines disgrace the corpses of King Saul and his sons.

To proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people: Saul’s tragic death gave an opportunity for the enemies of the Lord to disgrace His name. Saul’s death was used to glorify pagan gods and to mock the living God.

They fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan: This was the ultimate insult against Saul. In that culture, to have your dead body treated this way was considered a fate worse than death itself. You can go to the ruins of Beth Shan today, as the foundations to the city sit high on a hill overlooking the Roman ruins destroyed in an earthquake. It was high on that hill that the Philistines hung the decapitated corpse of King Saul in the ultimate humiliation.

vv. 11-13 The men of Jabesh Gilead end the disgrace of Saul and his sons

All the valiant men arose: In a time of disgrace, loss, and tragedy like this, God still had valiant men to do His work. The men of Jabesh Gilead took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from their place of humiliation and gave them a proper burial. Glory to God, He always has His valiant men! When one servant passes from the scene, another arises to take his place. If Saul is gone, God raises up a David. If the army of Israel is utterly routed, God still has His valiant men. God’s work is bigger than any man or any group of people.

The inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead: These valiant men are also recognized for their gratitude. Many years before Saul delivered their city from the Ammonites (1Sam 11:1-11), and they repaid the kindness God showed them from the hand of Saul. Upon taking the throne David rightly thanked these valiant men for their kindness to the memory of Saul, Jonathan and Saul’s other sons (2Sam 2:4-7). When David heard of Saul’s death, he did not rejoice. In fact, he mourned and composed a song in honor of Saul and Jonathan (The Song of the Bow, 2Sam 1:19-27). In spite of all that Saul did against David, David spoke well of Saul after his death. Choosing this kind of heart showed David to be a true “Man after God’s Own Heart.” It showed that the years in the wilderness escaping Saul really were years when God trained him to be a king after God’s own heart. Despite his sin, David never followed in the same tragic footsteps as King Saul.

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 25-31 (for KJV)

Chapter 25

Verse 1

lamented . As for a second Moses. Compare Jeremiah 15:1 .

in = by, or near.

down . Topography here is most exact. It is a continuous descent to the Negeb for more than a day's journey.

Verse 2

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

possessions were : or, business [was].

Verse 3

the man . Note the introversion of the four lines of this verse: x Nabal.: y Abigail,: y Abigail.: x Nabal.: Nabal = foolish.:

of the house of Caleb = a Calebite. But Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic have translated the word "cynical".

Verse 6

him that liveth = the bon vivant.

Verse 8

servants . Some codices, with one early printed edition, read "servant".

Verse 11

water . Septuagint reads "wine".

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 13

stuff = baggage.

Verse 14

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

railed on them = flew at them, or stormed at them.

Verse 17

evil . Hebrew. ra'a`. App-44 .

Verse 18

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), emphasising Abigail's thought and care, as well as rapidity. measures. See App-51 .

Verse 22

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

any , &c. = any male.

Verse 24

iniquity . Hebrew ' avah. App-44 .

Verse 26

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

soul . Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

coming to shed blood = wading in blood (as we say). Compare 1 Samuel 25:26 .

avenging = saving.

Verse 27

blessing = present.

brought . Verb is masculine; and is so when women act in masculine way, and feminine when men act in feminine way.

Verse 28

trespass . Hebrew. pasha`. App-44 .

Verse 29

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

bundle of life = bag (as in 1 Samuel 17:40 , 1 Samuel 17:49 ) of the living.

sling out : i.e. like the stones in David's sling.

Verse 31

shed blood causeless = shed innocent blood. Figure of speech Antimereia (of Adverb). App-6 .

avenged = saved.

Verse 33

advice = good taste.

Verse 35

accepted thy person = uplifted thy face.

Verse 36

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

feast = banquet or drinking feast. Compare 2 Samuel 13:28 .

Verse 37

heart died . Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6 .

Verse 39

wickedness . Hebrew. ra ` a`. App-44 .

Verse 41

wash the feet , &c. This was and is the most menial service.

went . See note on "brought", 1 Samuel 25:27 .

Verse 44

Michal . Compare 2 Samuel 3:14 , 2 Samuel 3:15 ,

Chapter 26

Verse 2

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 5

trench , or, barricade.

Verse 7

spear. This is still the mark of the chiefs tent. Compare 1 Samuel 18:10 .

bolster = head.

Verse 8

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

let me smite him . Note Abishai's character. 2 Samuel 16:9 ; 2 Samuel 19:21 .

Verse 9

Destroy . . . not. See Deuteronomy 9:26 , the subscriptions of Psa 56:57 , Psa 56:58 , Psa 56:74 , and App-65 .

the LORD ' S. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 11

cruse, or, flask.

Verse 12

no man = no one.

Verse 15

man . Hebrew. 'ish, App-14 . not. Hebrew. 'el. (Hypothetical.)

Verse 16

not. Hebrew. `al. (Absolute.)

Verse 17

knew = recognised.

Verse 18

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

Verse 19

offering . See App-43 .

children = sons.

men. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

serve other gods . David was being driven from God's altar.

Verse 20

a flea = one flea.

Verse 21

sinned . Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

soul = life. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

erred . Hebrew. shagah. App-44 .

Verse 23

The LORD = Jehovah. Note the Figure of speech Epanadiplosis. App-6 .

Verse 24

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Chapter 27

Verse 1

in his heart = to himself.

I shall now perish . This lack of faith acted with disastrous results to David. It put him in a false position; shook the People's confidence in him; delayed his own election; and led to divisions in the kingdom.

coast = border.

Verse 2

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 3

man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Nabal's wife. See note on 1 Samuel 30:5

Verse 6

Ziklag . An outpost which protected Gath.

Verse 7

country. Hebrew "field". Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part) for country. App-6 .

Verse 9

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in 1 Samuel 27:9 .

Verse 10

Whither . Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read "against whom".

road = raid.

south. Hebrew the Negeb or hill country south of Judah.

Verse 12

People Israel = Israel's People.

Chapter 28

Verse 1

men . Hebrew. '. enosh. App-14 .

Verse 2

Surely = Therefore; which Achish repeats in his reply.

keeper of mine head : i.e. captain of my body-guard.

Verse 3

in Ramah , &c. Hebrew "in Ramah and in his own city". Figure of speech Hendiadys ( App-6 ) = in his own city, Ramah.

had familiar spirits . Familiar spirits are demons pretending to be dead persons; hence the word "necromancy". See notes on Leviticus 19:31 and Isaiah 8:19 .

wizards = wise, cunning, or knowing ones.

Verse 6

enquired = asked. Hebrew. sha'al, to ask. Not darash, "to seek out". See note on 1 Samuel 28:7 , and 1Ch 10:13 , 1 Chronicles 10:14 .

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

answered him not . Not likely therefore to answer now by a way He had forbidden. Samuel had been dead two years.

Urim. See note on Exodus 28:30 . Numbers 26:55 . It must have been an ephod of his own making, as Abiathar the High Priest was with David. Saul makes no mention of this in 1 Samuel 28:13 .

Verse 7

a woman . Answering to the modern "mediums".

hath = owneth, possesses as mistress. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .

enquire = seek out. Hebrew. darash, a deeper meaning than 1 Samuel 28:6 . See note above. Compare 1 Chronicles 10:13 , 1 Chronicles 10:14 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 8

by the familiar spirit . Hence called necromancy.

Verse 9

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

Verse 11

up . Note: not down, or forth. Compare 1 Samuel 28:13 .

Verse 12

saw Samuel . Or, the materialisation of a deceiving spirit personating Samuel, as is done by "mediums" to-day.

she cried , &c. Evidently surprised, and getting more than she expected.

thou art Saul . How should she know this but by a communication from the spirit.

Verse 13

gods . Plural of Elohim. Either "a god "or a spirit manifestation.

out of the earth . Not down, or forth, as in John 11:43 , John 11:44 .

Verse 14

man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 . Not a spirit. mantle. If a spirit, why a mantle? Samuel's spirit was with God (Ecclesiastes 12:7 ). And if Samuel's body, it would be with "grave-clothes" (John 11:44 ).

perceived = understood: i.e. from what the medium said. He saw nothing.

stooped = did obeisance.

Verse 15

Samuel said : i.e. the spirit personating Samuel said. Just as it is done in the present day by the medium: never directly.

disquieted . If Samuel, then it shows he was "quiet" before.

me . Not my spirit.

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

no more . Therefore certainly not by means which He had expressly forbidden. See Leviticus 19:31 ; Leviticus 20:6 , Leviticus 20:27 . Deuteronomy 18:10 , Deuteronomy 18:13 , &c.

by prophets . Saul omits the reference to "Urim" because it would remind him of the murder of the priests (1 Samuel 22:18 , 1 Samuel 22:19 ). See note on 1 Samuel 28:6 .

Verse 16

Then said Samuel . Jehovah might have sent "a lying spirit", and given by it a true message, just as He did in 2 Chronicles 18:19-22 . Nothing was said but what was well known before.

become thine enemy . The Septuagint reads "and hath come to be with thy neighbour". Compare 1 Samuel 28:17 with 1 Samuel 15:28 .

Verse 17

as = according as.

by me = by my hand.

Verse 18

obeyedst not = hearkenedst not to.

wrath . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the judgment in consequence of it.

Verse 19

with me : i.e. with the dead.

Verse 20

fell straightway = remained motionless. Compare Acts 9:7 , where "stood.

speechless = remained speechless. See Acts 26:14 . The two passages

together = fell, and remained so.

bread = food. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species). App-6 .

Verse 21

Behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 24

house = shed.

Chapter 29

Verse 2

lords = princes; verses: 1 Samuel 29:3-4 , &c. See note on Joshua 13:3 .

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 3

fell = fell away; or, departed.

unto me. These words are in the text of Septuagint and Vulgate.

Verse 4

fellow. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

should . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 6

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

evil. Hebrew ra'a. App-44 .

the lords favour thee not = " thou art not good in the eyes of the princes". See 1 Samuel 29:1 .

Verse 8

with thee = before thee.

Verse 9

an angel = a messenger.

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 10

with thy master's servants . Septuagint reads "thou, and the servants of thy lord". Probably the Manassites named in 1 Chronicles 12:19 , 1 Chronicles 12:20 , who deserted to David. with thee. The Septuagint adds "and depart unto the place where I appointed you, and entertain no evil thought in thy heart; for thou art good in my sight".

Verse 11

and his men = he and his men, as in 1 Samuel 29:2 .

Chapter 30

Verse 1

men . Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

the south = the Negeb. The hill-country S. of Judah.

burned = burned up. See App-43 .

Verse 2

the women captives , that were therein. Septuagint reads "the women, and all who were therein".

Verse 3

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) in this verse.

burned = burning.

Verse 5

the wife . The Figure of speech Ampliatio, ( App-6 ), by which Abigail is still called the wife of Nabal, though he was dead. Compare 1 Samuel 27:3 ; 2 Samuel 3:3 . Those ignorant of Figures of Speech would call this a "discrepancy".

Verse 6

soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

grieved = embittered.

every man . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

encouraged = strengthened.

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 7

Abiathar . He had the ephod, with David. Zadok, who was with Saul, had it not.

Verse 9

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 12

spirit . Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

three days and three nights . Figure of speech Idioma, by which a part of a day is reckoned as a whole day. See 2 Samuel 1:1 , 2 Samuel 1:2 , and compare Esther 4:16 . Jonah 1:17 . Matthew 12:40 .

Verse 14

Cherethites . Probably a clan of Php 30:16 .

Verse 15

company = troop, as 1 Samuel 30:8 .

Verse 16

behold . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

earth = surrounding land.

Verse 17

the twilight = the morning. Hebrew. nesheph, a Homonym: meaning (1) darkness, 2 Kings 7:5 , 2 Kings 7:7 . Job 24:15 .Proverbs 7:9 . Isaiah 5:11 ; Isaiah 21:4 ; Isaiah 59:10 . Jeremiah 13:16 ; (2) daylight, 1 Samuel 30:17 . Job 7:4 .Psalms 119:147 .

man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

Verse 20

drave = drave in triumph.

cattle = spoils. Hebrew acquisition, or substance.

Verse 21

he saluted them . Septuagint reads "they inquired of is welfare".

Verse 22

children = sons.

Verse 25

And it was so . The 20th Seder begins here, and ends with 2 Samuel 2:6 . See note on p. 366.

Verse 26

present. All these places south of Hebron were protected by David, and these presents were a return for their support.

Verse 31

Hebron . Caleb's lot: the Negeb. Compare 1 Samuel 27:10 .

haunt = frequent.

Chapter 31

Verse 2

Abinadab . Called Ishui (1 Samuel 14:49 ).

Verse 3

sore wounded = in sore anguish.

Verse 4

abuse = insult.

Verse 6

So Saul died . Compare 1 Chronicles 10:13 , 1 Chronicles 10:14 . Here, history from human standpoint; in Chronicles, God's standpoint, and reasons of the history. See notes on 1 Chronicles 10:13 , and App-55 . If Saul was thirty years of age when anointed, he would now be seventy; and Jonathan fifty-three or fifty-four. See note on 1 Samuel 13:1 .

and. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "yea, and".

Verse 10

his body . This is additional to 1 Chronicles 10:10 ; and "his head", there, is additional to 1 Samuel 31:10 . The two books and accounts are independent, supplementary, and complementary by Figure of speech Hysteresis ( App-6 ). See App-55 .

Beth-shan. It had remained Canaanite, and therefore friendly to Philistines (Judges 1:27 ).

Verse 11

to = about.

Verse 12

men . Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .