A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on 1 Samuel · Chapter 19
1 Sam. CHAP. XIX.
THIS Chapter, the Nineteenth, Relateh a Double Baniſhment of David again; The firſt was from Saul's Court, and the ſecond was from his own Houſe. The firſt Hiſtory hereof is from v. 1. to v. 10. the ſecond is from thence to the end. Remarks upon the Firſt Part are,
Firſt, David's firſt Baniſhment from the Court is ſpoke of in the former Chapter, when Saul made him Collonel over a Regiment, leſt his Courtiers ſhould be too much Enamoured with him; how be was called back to the Court again from the Army, no reaſon is Recorded, as is of that in this Chapter: But it may well be ſuppoſed from what is ſaid there, That it came to paſs, not from any good will of Saul to David, but from his deſign to entrap him by Marrying him to his Daughter: When he ſaw how David won ground daily in his Honour among the Army, therefore did Saul ſend for him from the Camp to the Court, to put this Project into practice, &c.
The Second Remark is, David's Baniſhment from the Court the firſt time here, was after a ſort voluntary: Saul in a pang of Paſſion blabs out his Bloody deſign to Murther David; what he had been plotting privately hitherto againſt the Life of David, and was blaſted in all his ſecret projects; this enraged him, and now he reſolves to proſecute him more Publickly, as is apparent in this and the following Chapters. In order hereunto he commands his Son and his Servants to kill David, v. 1. Behold here Saul's infatuation, as to his Courtiers, thoſe Aiones and Negones (as one calls them) who ſay Yea and Nay to whatever the King ſaith yea and nay to, and whatever pleaſeth the King pleaſeth them, &c. He might poſſibly confide in them to keep his Counſel, yet even thoſe had been but a while before great Admirers of David, Chap. 18.5. but as for Jonathan, who ſo dearly delighted in David, Saul could by no means expect that he could ſee him Murthered; therefore Jonathan tells him of it, v. 2. ſaying, [Take heed to thy ſelf until the Morning, and hide thy ſelf in ſome ſecret place, leſt my Father ſurprize thee, &c.] Hereupon David, upon his own accord, and according to the Counſel of his Covenanted Friend, withdrew from the Court, and hid himſelf in the Field, nigh to Saul's uſual Walk, where he commonly took ſome turns to Compoſe his Diſcompoſed Mind in his Morning walk. And according as Jonathan promiſed David, v. 3. He doth expoſtulate with his Father as they two walked together according to cuſtome, about reconciling him to David, v. 4.
N. B. Note well here; 1. Though Saul's Courtiers had profeſſed a great Veneration for David, Chap. 18.5, 22. yet not one of them interpoſe when they ſaw Saul reſolve to kill David, to ſpeak one word for him; though not a few of them were ready enough afterwards to Act againſt him. Vide hic aulicorum perſidiam; ſee here the inconſtant kindneſs of Courtiers.
N. B. Note well; 2. Jonathan's Fidelity; when all the Courtiers proved perfidious, Jonathan had Cut a Covenant (as the Hebrew is) with David, Chap. 18.3. wherein the Covenanters did firſt Swear, and then cut a Beaſt in twain, and paſſing between the parts thereof, they wiſhed ſo to be cut in pieces if ever they falſified their Faithfulneſs each to other, Jer. 34.18. Jonathan here feels the weight of this ſolemn League of Love, which extended not only to their Perſons, but to their Poſterities alſo.
N. B. Note well; 3. Jonathan's Prudence; in ſaying nothing at preſent, in the preſence of Saul's Servants; partly, leſt he ſhould ſeem to oppoſe his Father too publickly, which he well knew would not be born; and partly, leſt he ſhould miſtime his Good Advice, ſeeing his Father was now in a Phrenzy Fit; ſo not in a caſe to receive Wholeſom Counſel. Seeds-Men ſow not their Seed in a Storm, nor do Phyſicians Adminiſter Potions in a Paroxyſm or Fit. Jonathan hopes to find his Father in a better Temper next Morning.
N. B. Note well; 4. Jonathan's Self-denyal, though he was Heir-apparent to the Crown, and the next Succeſſor to the Kingdom; this was enough (one would think) to make another Man an Enemy to David whom he knew was likely to Succeed his Father; yet Good Jonathan willingly waves his own Intereſt, to be true to his Covenant. He Swears to his own hurt, Pſal. 15.4.
N. B. Note well; 5. Jonathan's Piety; in chuſing rather to Obey God than Man: His Father ſaid, [Son, kill David,] but he knew God had ſaid [Thou ſhalt not kill,] Exod. 20.13. More eſpecially when Saul rendred no reaſon, why his Son muſt kill David: Nor is the Son to be blamed here for betraying his Fathers ſecrets to David, ſeeing it was no Diſſervice, much leſs Treachery to Saul; but he is rather to be highly applauded for his Faithful and Religious Reſpect both to God, to his Friend, to his Countrey, and to his Father, in hindring him from imbruing his hands in Innocent Blood hereby.
N. B. Note well; 6 Jonathan's Powerful and Prevalent Oratory, v. 4, 5, 6. As Saul and he walked alone together to take the Freſh Air, nigh to the Cave where David lay hid; His Firſt Argument is, his calling Saul King, whereby he minded him of his Duty, that he muſt uſe the Sword of Juſtice only to puniſh Evil-doers, but to protect thoſe that do well. His Second Argument is, His calling David Saul's Servant, minding him thereby, that a Servant, while he doth his Duty, may not be deſerted, much leſs deſtroyed by his Maſter. His Third Argument is, His pleading David's Merit, wherein he appeals to his Fathers own Conſcience, that himſelf rejoyced to ſee David Diſcomfit Goliah, and ever ſince hath deſerved ſo well of thee and the whole Kingdom, that thou haſt made him thy Son as well as thy Servant, not only one Innocent as to Evil, but alſo one moſt Eminent in all Goodneſs and Heroick Actions, &c.
N. B. Note well; If Jonathan plead thus effectually for David with his Father, &c. How much more doth our Jeſus plead with God for reconciling us to him, &c!
The third Remark is, David's Return to the Court through his dear Friend Jonathan's irreſiſtible interceſſion, ver. 6, 7. the Concluſion of Jonathan's cogent Arguments, to wit [therefore He who hath ſo highly merited, ought not to be ſo baſely murthered,] had a mighty influence, and made a deep impreſſion upon, Saul's Spirit, ſo that he was convinced of his folly, and when he felt both Jonathan's Oratory, and David's Innocency to Triumph together in his own Conſcience, he is willing to be reconciled to David, and ordered his return to the Court again; and that his Order might the better be believed he confirms it with a moſt Sacred Oath: and 'tis not improbable Saul ſpake as he thought here, but this great change, flowing not from any true Repentance, ſo much as from a Wor…dly intereſt …ſeeing David could not be kill'd without ſhame, if not worſe to himſelf) was of a ſhort continuance; theſe good thoughts did indeed look into Saul's wicked heart, but they would not long ſtay there, for they did not like their lodging, and therefore, though David was Reſtored hereby to Lodge with his Wife nigh the Court again, yet when thoſe good thoughts diſloged themſelves out of Saul's boſom, David (notwithſtanding Saul's Oath to the contrary) muſt be diſlog'd out of the Court alſo.
The Fourth Remark is, David's Baniſhment again from the Court, not as his former, voluntary and out of Choice, but now forced and by way of compulſion, ver. 8, 9, 10. Wherein is deſcribed (1.) The Cauſe of Saul's renewed rage againſt David, namely, his wonderful Victory he again obtained over the …hiliſtines, who waged war againſt Ifrael, Chap. 18 30. Not only to revenge their former loſſes when David ſlew their Champion, &c. But more eſpecially becauſe David had moſt highly provoked them in ſlaying two hundred of their men, and Circumciſing them, and carrying their foreskins to Saul as a Dowry for his Daughter David's Wife, Chap. 18.27 Now was the Battle fought wherein David became a moſt glorious Conquerour of them here, ver. 8. And whereas David's happy Succeſſes over the Enemie sof Iſrael ſhould have cheared Saul's Spirit, it had a quite contrary effect upon him, and ſadned Saul's Soul, looking upon all David's Victories as ſo many degrees or ſteps whereby he was now climbing up to his Throne, and the Devil watching his opportunity to improve Saul's melancholly, as before he had done. (2.) Here is deſcribed David's deſperate danger again, notwithſtanding Saul's Promiſe and Oath for his ſafety; ſuch ſlippery hold and ſlender aſſurance had he of that Hypocrites favour, &c. And now Satan by Divine permiſſion that he might be Saul's tormentor for his ſin) comes upon him from the Lord, and cauſeth him to caſt his Javelin (which the Tyrant had ever beſide him to ſecure him from his unceſlant fears) again at David as he was playing upon his Harp, to mollifie his frantick fits, that he might ſlay him, ver. 9, 10. quite contrary to his ſolemn Oath, ver. 6. So little truſt or truth is there in the Oaths of Envious Hypocrites, eſpecially in c…mmen Swearers, (ſuch an one as Saul ſeems to be,) as Saul was a King, the bare word of a King ſhould have been as irreverſible as the Law of the Medes and Perſians, Dan. 6.8. How much more, when it was confirmed ſo by an Oath.
N. B. Note well; May it not be ſaid that this Curſed Spirit of Saul hath poſſeſſed the Papiſts as by a Pythogorical Tranſmigration, that keep no Faith with Hereticks, &c. as they call the Proteſtants, &c. (3.) Here is deſcribed David s deliverance from this deſperate danger [he ſlip'd out of Saul's preſence, ver. 10. as he had done before, Chap. 18.11. through the ſame watchful providence of God for David's preſervation, that his promiſe of the Kingdom might be performed to him.
Now the ſecond part of this Chapter contains David's ſecond Baniſhment from his own houſe, whither he now fled from Saul's Court to ſee if he might be ſafer where he dwelt with Saul's Daughter, not far from Saul's Court, ver. 11, 12. &c. Remarks upon this are,
Firſt, Saul ſent his Purſivants to watch him, and to ſlay him in the Morning, ver. 11. and why not in the Night, the Learned render many Reaſons; as,
Firſt, It would have been barbarous and below a King to break into his Subjects houſe by night, and to murther the man in his Bed.
Secondly, Leſt the darkneſs of the Night might give David an opportunity to eſcape, which the day would prevent, and therefore was it judged ſufficient to ſet a watch about his houſe all the Night, until the Morning.
Thirdly, Joſephus renders this Reaſon, that Saul had appointed Judges to ſit upon him next morning, and to Condemn him for a Traytor, and this ſeems the more probable that Saul muſt have ſome colour of Juſtice for executing David, leſt he ſhould have too much diſguſted the People who generally loved David.
Fourthly, Lavater ſaith, ſuch was Saul's implacable malice againſt David, that he ſet this time for ſlaying him, that he might himſelf be preſent, and ſo be ſure in ſeeing him ſlain.
Fifthly, But the principle Reaſon was the ſingular providence of God in ſending this ſublime infatuation upon Saul's mind to pitch upon the worſt time, that David might be delivered from his bloody hands.
The Second Remark is, The Inſtrument the Lord uſed to work David's deliverance, namely, Michal Saul's Daughter, and David's Wife, ver. 11, 12. who, though ſhe had little Religion in her (as appeareth by her deriding David's Devotion, 2 Sam. 6.16.20. &c.) yet had learned by the light and law of Nature to prefer an Husband for good, before a Father for evil: Her Conjugal affections made her more faithful to the former for his preſervation, than any filial fear could oblige her to the latter to become an Abbettor to her Father for her Husband's deſtruction. She knew ſo much out of Moſes's Writings, that the Man and the Wife are but one fleſh, and ſo cloſed together as to make but one piece, ſo in preſerving of David, ſhe ſought her own preſervation.
The Third Remark is, The means whereby Michal did deliver David, ſhe wrought wilily in deceiving, (1.) Saul's Purſivants, and (2.) Saul himſelf, after ſhe had diſmiſs'd David down through a Window, ver. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Wherein firſt her faithfulneſs to David is demonſtrated two ways,
Firſt. In her Advice to him, [If thou ſave not thy life this Night, to Morrow thou ſhalt be ſlain, ver. 11.] Some ſay, Jonathan, David's dear and faithful Friend, and Michals Brother, ſent Tidings to her of Saul's Murthering Deſign, or ſhe might obſerve the Sergeants hovering about the Houſe in the Night; and David having told her how narrowly he had eſcaped his death before he came home to her, ſhe might prudently gather that her Fathers fury would not ſo end, but purſue him to his Houſe.
Her Second demonſtration of fidelity to David was her aſſiſtance of him to eſcape after her Advice to him, to flee from his danger, ver. 12. Love is laborious, ſhe moſt lovingly beſtirs her ſelf to let David down at the Caſement, becauſe the Doors had Centinels ſet at them by Saul to ſecure David whenſoever he ſhould come forth there: ſo David fled.
Secondly, Now Michal's difficulty remained, how to delude her Fathers Meſſengers, and how to deceive her Father himſelf that ſhe diſcharged the duty of a Daughter to him. In both which Michal is hardly held to her ſhifts of wit.
N. B. We uſually ſay, [a Womans wit at a pinch is more Mercurial and riper than that of a Man, who muſt have more time for deliberation.] As is above obſerved, upon Judges 13.23, &c.
Firſt, Michals crafty wit is ſet at work to deceive Saul's Serjeants ſent to Arreſt David; in order hereunto ſhe takes her Teraphim Hebr. (ſome ſuperſtitious Image which ſhe had kept ſecretly, David knowing nothing of it, as Rachel had her Mawmets whereof Jacob was ignorant) and dreſſing this ſimilitude of a Man with Goats hair about its head, ſhe laid it down in the Bed to repreſent David with his hair on the Pillow, as if he had been ſick in his Bed, and Curtains drawn cloſe, nothing but a glimmering light left (as is commonly done for a ſick perſon) that the deceit might not over-eaſily be diſcovered, ver. 13. Now when Saul received no account how his firſt Meſſengers had ſped, the Morning being come, he doubted they proved perfidious to him, tho' they only ſtood waiting ſtill for Davids coming out at the door. He hereupon ſent other Meſſengers in the Morning, to whom Michal ſaid that David was ſick in Bed, ver. 24. Whereupon they departed with theſe Tidings to Saul, as not daring to ſuſpect the truth of what their Superiour (the King's Daughter) ſaid to them, and they looking upon it as a groſs piece of rude incivility to break into a ſick Mans Chamber, to give him any unmannerly diſturbance, and ſo trie the truth of Michal's Allegations.
Hereupon Sanguinary Saul (who ſo greedily ſought to ſuck David's blood) ſent other Meſſengers the third time, ver. 15. with a larger Commiſſion than either of the former, (not only to watch the doors (as the firſt were impowered only to do) nor only to enquire what was become of David, ſeeing he came not out of doors, but alſo to break in, and bring him away ſick, or well, that He, for his better ſecurity, might himſelf ſlay him, or ſee it done: His Envy was thus full of Jealouſie, he ſuſpected that either his former Meſſengers had been Bribed with Gifts or Promiſes by Michal, or that Michal made theſe Excuſes, only to preſerve her Husband out of her Fathers furious hands; ſo being impatient of this delay, he chargeth his laſt Meſſengers to ſecure him, but when they had broke in, they found nothing in the Bed but an Image inſtead of a ſick Man.
N. B. Oh how blank they look'd, when they ſaw their bloody hopes ſo handſomly fruſtrated, ver. 16. But more blank aſſuredly was Saul's look, when they told him that the Bird was flown, when he had thought to have made his Breakfaſt that Morning of him. Hereupon he comes in a rage, and lets flye at his Daughter, ſaying, [Why hast thou deceived me ſo, and ſent away my Enemy?] ver. 17. To which Michal anſwered, [David threatned to kill me, &c.]
N. B. Note well, upon this whole Hiſtory. Firſt, That Michal thus far is to be both commended, and imitated by all good Wives, ſo far as her Loyal Love to her Husband in ſeeking his preſervation extended, yea, and her wily Wit in deceiving deceivers ought not too raſhly to be condemned. 'Tis an old Adage, Fallere fallentem non eſt Fraus. To deceive a Deceiver is no deceit; if any ſinful means be not made uſe of thereunto: Bloody Perſecutors have been frequently fruſtrated by ſome lawful means, as thoſe that ſought after Jeremy, and Barach, Jerem. 36.26. Athanaſius, Luther, and others, the Lord hid them as he did David here.
N. B. How God's Providence and God's Promiſe ſeem contrary and contradictory as to David (as before to Joſeph,) a Crown is promis'd him, yet a Javelin is twice caſt at him; he is hunted as a Partridge, &c. 1 Sam. 24.11. and 26.20. He muſt paſs through manifold dangers, yet hath he as manifold deliverances; God by his Providence made good his promiſe to David, ſo that Providence may not be judged of by piecemeal, when all ends of it meet; much Beauty may be beheld in all its parts, &c.
N. B. N…te well, Secondly, Nor is Michal to be blamed for thus deluding thoſe Meſſengers as to the matter of it, for her cunning contrivance manag'd her Matters ſo, as that Saul's ſending three times about one and the ſame buſineſs, muſt needs become delatory work, which was as deſignedly pleaſing to the loving Daughter, as it was deſperately diſpleaſing to her impatient Father, for it was the Daughters deſign to beget delays, that her dear David might have time enough to eſcape far enough, before Saul ſent purſuers after him.
N. B. Note well, Thirdly, Nor is Michal much blame-worthy, tho' ſhe did, what deſerved the Character wherewith the grandeſt Cheats are branded with, namely, in deceiving her own Father; but if it be conſidered how ſhe did no more herein, than to take away the Sword out of a Mad Man's hand, and ſo prevented his great Iniquity, in embruing his hands with the blood of her innocent Husband, ſhe is rather to be praiſed for it.
N. B. Note well, Fourthly, Michal (notwithſtanding all the aforeſaid,) cannot be excuſed for telling her firſt Lie, [that David was ſick, ver. 14.] which likely ſhe look'd upon as no ſin at all, or at leaſt a very little ſin, according to her ignorant Education under ſo bad a Father, and in ſo blind a Family (otherwiſe ſhe would never have mocked at David's dancing before the Lord, 2 Sam. 6.16.) It was her ignorance to take the liberty of telling an Officious Lie, looking upon it as lawful, ſeeing it was for the ſaving of the life of her Husband; but ſhe had not learnt that Leſſon, [We may not do the leaſt evil, no not for procuring the greateſt good,] Rom. 3.8.
N. B. Note well, Fifthly, Much leſs can Michal be acquitted for her latter Lye, ver. 17. which was a down-right pernicious Lye, not only in transferring the blame (Saul did charge her with) upon her Husband, but alſo adding a groſs untruth [that David threatned to kill her, &c.] Wherein ſhe both notoriouſly ſcandaliz'd ſo good a Man, that abhor'd it, (which ſcandal) (it is believed) might have done David much damage among the People, who had ſo high a veneration for him; to ſay nothing how ſhe by this ſinful ſhift bewrayed her diſtruſt in God, no doubt but ſhe had done better had ſhe followed her Brother Jonathan's Example, and ſpoken boldly to her Father in defence of her Husbands innocency, relying upon God's Providence without telling a Lie to ſave her own life from the rage of her furious Father.
N. B. This ſheweth how uſual it is for Liars to lay one Lye upon another, the leſſer Lye making way for the louder; her Officious Lye, ver. 14. prepared her for this pernicious Lye, here, ver. 17. the little Thief opens the door for great ones.
The Fourth Remark is, David's taking Sanctuary with Samuel, when he was thus Perſecuted by Saul, ver. 18, 19, &c. Here we may ſtand, and wonder at the wonderful Providence of God towards David; while Saul was watching and ſearching David's Houſe, David was got (as we ſay) out of Saul's Gun-ſhot, and was compoſing and ſinging the 59th Pſalm, [Deliver me from mine Enemies, O God,] as the Title of that Pſalm expreſſeth, and where could Baniſh'd David expect both Protection and Direction better than with Samuel, and with a Colledge of Prophets?
N. B. A place ſo ſacred, that the very Philiſtines durſt not moleſt it, looking upon thoſe Sons of the Prophets (over whom Samuel was Preſident) as Sacred and Priviledg'd Perſons, chap. 10.5. though David thought thoſe Prophets would protect him from bloody Saul, and therefore fled he thither; yet ſo blood thirſty was Saul, and more ſavage than the very Uncircumciſed Philiſtines, that he ſent his Blood-Hounds even thither alſo to take David, v. 20. while he was ſeeking Direction (as well as Protection) from Samuel, how to get his Faith confirmed in God's Promiſe of the Kingdom, which now began to waver, as Chap. 27.1. Pſal. 116.11, 12. Seeing Saul ſo barbarous, that neither Sanctuary nor the preſence of holy and highly eſteemed Prophets could protect him againſt Saul's Rage and Malice.
The Laſt Remark is, The prodigious deliverance the Lord wrought for David. (1.) From Saul's Meſſengers. And (2.) From Saul himſelf, v. 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Firſt, From his Meſſengers: Saul's Malice was ſo bloody and barbarous, as he was reſolv'd to be reveng'd of David, and of all that protected him, not ſparing the very Prophets, no nor Samuel himſelf, but would put them all to the Sword, as he did Ahimelech, and Eighty five Prieſts afterwards, chap. 22. in order hereunto he ſends his Blood-Hounds to execute his Bloody Decree; they come among the Prophets, and inſtead of falling on them with their Weapons, they let them fall out of their hands, and fall down themſelves (putting off their Military Habit) and fall a ſinging Sacred Songs with the Prophets, quite forgetting the purpoſe they came about.
N. B. So good a thing it is for bad Men to be in good Company; as here, and this was done to three ſorts of Saul's Savage Purſivants, to convince Saul of his ſin, that it was in vain to perſecute David, whom the Lord thus protected by a Miracle, as he did Chriſt after the like manner afterwards, John 7.45, 46.
Secondly, From Saul himſelf, who when he ſaw his Meſſengers fail'd him (one Company after another) went himſelf to make ſure work, as if reſolv'd to Wreſtle a Fall with the Moſt High God, and to try it out with him, poſſibly thinking himſelf priviledg'd from the good Spirit of Prophecy, (that had inſpired his Meſſengers) ſeeing an Evil Spirit from God, was ſent to poſſeſs him: But it fell out contrary to his Expectations much more; for whereas his Meſſengers did not Propheſie, until they came into the Company of Prophets. He fell into his Raptures in the way thither, to ſhew, that the Hearts of Kings, are in the Hands of the Lord, Prov. 21.1. and the more he hardened himſelf againſt God, the more God hamper'd him by his power upon him; God makes him ſtrip himſelf both of his Martial and of his Royal Robes, to Propheſie before Samuel (who had laid aſide his Judgeſhip, yet was not idle, but exerciſed himſelf in his Prophetical Office ſtill) and his Extaſie bereav'd him of Senſe and Motion, ſo that he fell down upon the ground, and there lay like an ordinary Fellow, [all that Day, and all that Night,] ſo long did the Lord hold this Worrying Wolf in a Chain, that David might have time enough to make his Eſcape; inſomuch that the People now jeared him, ſaying [Is Saul among the Prophets?] Not as before, chap. 10.12. wherewith he was there Honoured; but the meaning now was, [What, Is the Tygar-like Tyrant ſo tied up, ſo manacl'd, maugre all his Malice and Madneſs?] Surely God hath done this for David's ſafety: God makes Saul a Prophet in ſome ſort, that he may make David a King in the beſt manner, &c.
N. B. Note well, 1. Samuel came no more to ſee Saul till the day of his death, chap. 15.35. that is, to do Homage to him (after his ſparing Amalek) as a King, for the Lord had then rejected him, yet Saul meets Samuel here, not with a deſign to ſee him, but to ſlay David; nor do we read that Samuel ſaid any thing to him in owning him as King, and ſome ſuppoſe that Saul knew not Samuel, becauſe his Extaſie took away his Senſes.
N. B. And notwithſtanding, Saul Propheſied as Wicked Balaam did, and thoſe Workers of Iniquity, Matth. 7.22, 23.