Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 1 Samuel · Chapter 24
CHAP. XXIIII.
Verſ. 2. ANd went to ſeek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.] That is, high, ſteep, and craggy rocks▪ ſuch as wild goats do uſually delight in, and this is thus expreſſed▪ to ſhew the violence of Sauls rage, and how greedily he thirſted after the deſtruction of David: We may ſee that he reſolved to leave no place unſearched, when he looked up and down for him in theſe rocky places, which could not but be very tedious both to himſelf and his ſouldiers to march in.
Verſ. 3. And Saul went in to cover his feet.] Concerning this phraſe of Sauls covering his feet, ſee the note, Judg. 3.24.
And David and his men remained in the ſides of the cave.] It may ſeem ſtrange that David and his ſix hundred men chap. 23 13. could be in this cave, and yet Saul when he came into it ſhould not perceive it; but it is well known by the teſtimony of many writers, that in ſome countreys there are ſuch huge caves, that many ſouldiers may lie within them; as alſo that thoſe that are in ſuch caves, may ſee what is done in the mouth of thoſe caves, when they which are at the entrance, perceive not what is within, and ſuch a cave was this, wherein David and his men had hid themſelves, that Saul might not find them out.
Verſ. 4. Behold the day of which the Lord ſaid unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, &c.] There might be ſome particular promiſe, though it be no where expreſſed in the ſtory, which David had received from Gad, or Samuel, or which God had immediately by his ſpirit given him, concerning Sauls falling into Davids hands, of which his followers did now put him in mind; but becauſe ſuch a promiſe might imply, that the Lord intended David ſhould cut off Saul, it ſeems moſt probable that this word of the Lord which they ſpake of, was onelyonly either that promiſe which Samuel had made him concerning the kingdome; or elſe ſome generall promiſe, that he ſhould prevail over all his enemies, which they now reached further then God intended them; as if the promiſe of conferring the kingdome upon David did by conſequence imply, that he might take away his life that now ſtood in his way to keep him from it; or the promiſe of prevailing over his enemies, did include this of putting him to death, if God ſhould deliver him into his power. At leaſt from this act of Gods providence in bringing Saul into his power, they ſought to perſwade David that God intended he ſhould be cut off, and that David ſhould wilfully deſpiſe Gods favour to him, if he ſhould not do it.
Then David aroſe, and cut off the skirt of Sauls garment privily.] To wit, that he might thereby afterward make it evident to Saul, that he could as well have killed him. But how could he do this and Saul not perceive it? I anſwer, firſt, conſidering the tumult of the ſouldiers without might drown the noiſe within, it is probable enough that David might in this dark cave ſteal behind Saul, and cut off the outward lap of his garment, without being felt or perceived: Secondly, if Saul came in to eaſe himſelf, it is likely he had laid aſide his upper robe or garment, to which David might go cloſely, and uneſpied might cut off the skirt of it: but thirdly, if we underſtand thoſe foregoing words, that Saul went into the cave to cover his feet, of his going in to lie down and ſleep there, then there can be no more queſtion made how David ſhould cut off the lap of his garment and yet Saul never feel him.
Verſ. 6. And he ſaid unto his men, The Lord forbid that I ſhould do this thing unto my Maſter, &c.] To wit, when they provoked him to lay hands upon Saul, ver. 10. which indeed was a great proof of his ſincerity, that rather then he would do this, he would venture the diſpleaſing and enraging of all his followers; who were like doubtleſſe to be highly offended, that he would wilfully neglect this opportunity to put an end to all their dangers and fears.
Verſ. 9. Wherefore heareſt thou mens words, ſaying, Behold David ſeeketh thy hurt?] Thus David did with great wiſdome, caſt the blame of Sauls violence againſt him, rather upon Sauls wicked counſel, and thoſe flatterers about him, that did daily incenſe him againſt David by their falſe ſlanders, then upon Saul himſelf.
Verſ. 11. Moreover, my father, See, &c.] David calls Saul father, either becauſe he had indeed married his daughter, or becauſe it was a title uſually given to kings, as the fathers of the people.
Verſ. 12. The Lord judge between me and thee, &c.] Thus David referred his cauſe to God, and hereby alſo it is evident, that this it was that did comfort David againſt Sauls injuries, and made him patiently bear the wrong he did him, and reſtrained him at this time from avenging himſelf upon Saul, namely, that he conſidered that God was the judge of all; and that he would therefore certainly plead his cauſe and take occaſion ſooner or later to revenge the injuries that he had ſuffered.
Verſ. 13. As ſaith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedneſſe proceedeth from the wicked, but mine hand ſhall not be upon thee.] By alledging this proverb, David intimated: firſt, that a good man could not allow himſelf to do that which a wicked wretch would make no conſcience to do: ſecondly, that though wicked men may counſel & adviſe to do that which is evil, yet a good man would not hearken to that counſel: and thirdly, that though unconſcionable men deal wickedly with the righteous ſervants of God, yet the righteous will not thence take liberty to deal wickedly with them: So that ſummarily this is the drift of this proverb, that no example, nor perſwaſion, nor provocation of wicked men, ſhould winne the ſervants of God to draw the ſame guilt upon themſelves.
Verſ 14. After whom doſt thou purſue, after a dead dog, after a flea?] That is, after a man of no eſtimation, nor power, one not worthy thy jealouſies and fears; but beſides, it may be that David had alſo reſpect in theſe words to his humble deportment of himſelf, hitherto free from all ambition: had he made a partie amongſt the Nobles or Elders of Iſrael▪ there had been ſome pretence of ſuſpecting him; but conſidering his lowly carriage of himſelf all the time he had been in Sauls court, Sauls proceeding againſt him in that manner he did, was as if a man ſhould have come with an army of ſouldiers againſt a flea, or againſt a dead dog.
Verſ. 22. And Saul went home: But David and his men gat them up unto the hold.] Namely of Engedi, verſ. 1. having found David and his men hemmed up in a cave, it was much that Saul would overſlip ſuch an opportunitie to put an end to his fears; but his conſcience was ſtrongly convinced, and thereby God carried him away, and hereby David found, that his confidence in God manifeſted in the 57. Pſalme, was not in vain; for that Pſalme was penned, as is moſt probable, when he hid himſelf in this cave, as we may gather from the title, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.