A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on 1 Samuel · Chapter 23
1 Sam. CHAP. XXIII.
THis Chapter containeth Saul's purſuing David through Inhabited Places, and Ʋninhabited Deſarts. The firſt was Keilah an Inhabited City in the Tribe of Judah, thither Saul purſued David, upon which are theſe Remarks; as
Firſt, The Occaſion of Saul's purſuit, which was David's delivering this City from its Enemies. Wherein are Remarkable;
Firſt, The Antecedents of this Deliverance by David: Tydings were brought him that the Philiſtines fought againſt Keilah, and plundered all about it. v. 1. This City was in Judah, Joſh. 15.44. and lay nigh Hareth Forreſt where David now was, Chap. 22.5. and being beſieged by the Philiſtines (who had ſeized upon all their Corn in the Fields, where it was to be Thraſhed and Winnowed with the Wind.) The Citizens fearing that Saul could not come ſoon enough, (being far off) nor raiſe Forces for their Relief, ſends to David who was near at hand, and had Forces about him, deſiring his help againſt the Beſiegers.
Secondly, the Concomitants, which be two; the firſt is David's Diſcouragement to undertake it, was from his own Army; ſaying [We are not ſafe here, much leſs there,] v. 3. that is, we ſhall be as Corn between two Milſtones, encloſed behind and before with our Enemies; for Saul will be ſure to purſue after us, and the Philiſtines (if Routed by us) will have freſh ſupplies, this place lying upon the Borders of their Country. The ſecond was, His Encouragement to the Expedition, which was double; for as he had enquired of the Lord by his Prophet Gad, v. 2. for the confirmation of his own Faith, becauſe this was his firſt expedition againſt the Philiſtines from himſelf, (the former having been by Saul's Commiſſion) and it was likewiſe a dangerous Attempt of his Handful of Forces againſt a Numerous Army: He therefore Would wage War with Good Advice, Prov. 24.6. ſeeing it is a matter of ſo great Moment, and the Event of it ſo uncertain.
N. B. The neglect of this Duty in conſulting with God about this weighty Work, coſt good Joſiah his Temporal Death, but David here dare not do ſo. He does his Duty, and now receives a new Commiſſion (not from Saul as before) but from the Lord of Hoſts himſelf, ſaying to him, [Go and proſper,] yet his four hundred Followers took no notice of this former Anſwer of God's Oracle, but by David's Report only, ſo made many Carnal Objections, as if it were but a fool hardy Attempt. Hereupon David conſults God the ſecond time, v. 4. by his Prophet Gad, (for Abiathar was not yet come to him with the Ʋrim and Thummim, v. 6.) meerly to confirm the Faith of his Followers.
Thirdly, The Conſequents of this Expedition, v. 5. Though Saul had proclaimed David a Rebel and a Traytor to his King and Countrey, yet he adventures his own Life to relieve this City from the common Enemy, and was ſo far from being a burden to his Countrey, that he fought the Philiſtines with his few Forces, diſcomfited them in Battel, and took the Plunder of their Camp, wherewith he maintained his own Soldiers, that they might not be injurious to any of their own Countrey-men, [He brought away much Cattle,] which either he found in the Philiſtines Camp (brought with them for Proviſion in the Siege) or fetched them out of the Philiſtines Countrey, whom he purſued (after he had defeated them and raiſed the Siege) into their own Land.
The Second Remark is, No ſooner had David ſaved Keilah and returned from the purſuit, but he ſeats himſelf and his ſmall Army in this fortified City, which he had thus ſaved.
N. B. We may mark here (1.) Abiathar coming to David at Keilah: Some ſuppoſe that this Man ſtaid at home to take care of all the Holy Veſſels and Veſtments, when all the other Prieſts went along with Ahimelech, at Saul's Summons, where they were all baſely Butchered, as above: Abiathar being informed hereof, hereupon packs up his All, and by a good Providence, he haſtily folds up the Holy Veſtment with the Urim and Thummim, (wherewith the High-Prieſt confulted with God, Exod. 28.30.) in his Fardle, and flees to David here with it.
N. B. As Saul had oft groſly neglected this Ephod, and now was moſt juſtly deprived of it: So David had now got it, v. 6. which could not but much corroborate his Confidence in God's Promiſe of giving the Kingdom to him, when now the Lord had furniſh'd him both with an ordinary and an extraordinary Miniſter to aſſiſt him; namely, Abiathar, as an ordinary High-Prieſt, and Gad (his Seer) as an extraordinary Prophet. Abiathar's coming thus Accoutred, muſt needs be very acceptable to David, and could not but qualifie his preſent Sorrows, for his being the occaſion of ſo bloody a Butchery, &c.
N. B. Mark (2.) How Saul deludeth himſelf with falſe hopes, v. 7. He hearing that David was come into a City with Gates and Bars, promiſeth to himſelf his deſired Prey, ſaying, [Now God hath delivered David into my hands;] as if the ſame God, who had rejected him, were now on his ſide.
N. B. Thus this fooliſh Hypocrite flatter'd himſelf until his Iniquity was found to be hateful, Pſal. 36.2. what he earneſtly deſired, he eaſily believed: God was near in his Mouth, but far from his heart, Jerem. 12.2. Saul falſely hoped what David had choſe for his ſafety, would now become his ruine, therefore reſolveth to catch him in Keilah, v. 8. though he knew of God's Watchful Providence over David, whereby he had been ſo oft delivered out of his bloody hands.
The Third Remark is, The Event of Saul's Attempt of catching David in Keilah: Where,
N. B. Mark (1.) Saul readily raiſes all his Men of War to Beſiege Keilah when David was in it, but he was not ſo forward to relieve Keilah, when the Philiſtines did Beſiege it; for his Malice againſt David, was more than his Love of a King to his own Countrey.
N. B. Mark (2.) When David heard of Saul's March, though he pretended to his Army that it was for fighting againſt the Philiſtines that Beſieged Keilah, yet David knew he intended to ſurprize him, v. 9. and therefore David calls Abiathar to conſult God in the Ephod with the Ʋrim and Thummim, David putting words into his Mouth, what to pray for according to Numb. 27.21. that he might know the Will of God in it, v. 10.
N. B. Mark (3.) The Enquiry of the High-Prieſt at David's Direction was double, and both Hypothetical, or upon Suppoſition, as God's Anſwer was accordingly to the Enquiry, v. 11, 12. The firſt Enquiry was, [Will Saul come down to Keilah?] God Anſwers, [He will, if thou continue there.] And the ſecond Enquiry was, [Will the Men of Keilah deliver David into Saul's hands?] God Anſwers again, [If Saul come down, and thou ſtay there, they will.] This is called Scientia Media in Deo, by the School-men: God knows future Contingents, and not only things that are abſolute, but things that are conditional; alſo; God knows Mens thoughts afar off, Pſal. 139.2. and knows better than themſelves what they would do in ſuch and ſuch a caſe.
N. B. Bernard ſaith, [Deus eſt Intimior Intimo noſtro,] God is more inward with us, than we are with our ſelves: God by his Omniſciency knows all Mens Paſſions and Purpoſes, if they be led into ſuch and ſuch Temptations: Therefore (ſaith the Lord to David here) though thou haſt deſerved the City-Crown, for ſaving the City from the Siege of the Philiſtimes (that would have deſtroyed their All, and therefore they owe their All to thee their Deliverer) yet truſt thou not the Citizens; if Saul come and put them upon Tryal, they will prove treacherous to thee, they have already ſerved themſelves of thee, and now they will make no matter what befals thee, they will requite thee evil for good: I know their Averſion to David and their Affection to Saul, whom they fear more than Love, and rather than they will ſuffer ſuch Severities as Nob did by Saul, they will certainly make thee their Sacrifice to pacifie Saul's Phrantick Fury, and judge it better than one Innocent perſon periſh, than that their whole City ſhould be deſtroyed. Inferences from this grand caſe may not be omitted.
N. B. Note well. The Firſt is, That Scientia Media, which the Schoolmen plead for, cannot conſiſt with the higheſt Perfection of God, becauſe as they ſtate their Notion, it maketh ſome knowledge of God to depend principally upon the External Object in Man, and not independantly upon the Eternal Will of God. The plain Truth here is, that God by his Praeſcience and Omniſcience Knoweth all things, Joh. 21.17. both all Good and all Evil; he foreſeeth three ſorts of Evils, (1.) The Evils of Nature, as Famine, Sword, Peſtilence, &c. ſo reveals them to his Prophets. (2.) The Evils of Sin, both in Men and Devils, &c. And, (3) The Evils of Puniſhment, which God inflicts upon both; The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the Earth, 2 Chron. 16.9. The maker of Man, Pſal. 33.15. Iſa. 44.2. muſt needs know what is in Man, John 2.24, 25. So God hath a Science of Viſion, even of all future things, whether they be in their own Nature neceſſary, or free and voluntary, or Contingent and caſual: And here God by his Omniſcience fore-knowing in theſe future contingents what would come to paſs in the courſe of Naturral cauſes; though in his Abſolute Decree he had purpoſed that they ſhould never happen; and therefore he cro… their Courſe; ſo God telleth David here, that Saul would certainly come down, and that the Men of Keilah would as certainly deliver David into Saul's hands, if their purpoſes were not croſſed by David's departure (which God had Decreed, &c.
Objection. How could theſe two Oracles of God be true, when it plainly appeareth that neither of them came to paſs?
Anſwer. (1.) David did not enquire of God, what would abſolutely come to paſs; for then he had fled in vain.
Anſwer. (2.) God's Oracle was rather a Provident Caution to David teaching him what he ſhould do, than any poſitive Aſſertion, informing what Saul and the Men of Keilah would do: Not ſpeaking of the Decree and Providence of God to the contrary.
N. B. Note well. The Second Inference is, God loveth to be often ſought unto by his Praying People, Luk. 18.1, &c. and therefore anſwereth them not all at once, all they deſire, but by degrees; that he may the more frequently hear from them, which God loveth, Cant. 2.14. Theſe two requeſts of David to God are rehearſed both together, v. 11. But God anſwers only to one of them; and then the other requeſt is renewed again, v. 12. to which God gives a particular Anſwer, and not to both at once. Thus the Cloud of Heaven doth not empty it ſelf by any ſudden and violent outburſt, nor diſſolveth all at once by impetuous Streams and Water: Spouts, but gently diſtilleth by drop and drop.
N. B. Note well. The Third Inference is, What deſperate Wickedneſs lodgeth in the Heart of fallen Mankind, which lyeth lurking there, and never diſcovered, becauſe Satan's Temptation and Man's Corruption have not an opportunity given them by God to meet together, as in this caſe of the Men of Keilah, who are ſuppoſed to be the Magiſtrates of the City ſo called, and whom David was more jealous of, than of the Common People; who are not uſually ſo ungrateful to their Deliverers, ſaith Martinius. David truſted thoſe Migiſtrates with Himſelf, and his Soldiers, ſeeing the City was of ſufficient ſtrength for Defence againſt Saul's Forces, if theſe Chief Citizens would but be faithful to him; which he might hope they could not well be otherways, ſeeing they both knew his Innocency, and themſelves lay under ſuch a ſtrong obligation of venturing their Lives for him, who had ſo lately ventured his own Life, and the Lives of his Army, to ſave them from the Philiſtines Siege: Notwitſtanding under David's hope of Truſt, God ſaw Treachery, Jer. 17.9. though they never had opportunity to diſcover it: 'Tis true, they were bound to ſave their City from being ruin'd by Saul as Nob was; yet might they have done this by a friendly intreating of David to depart.
The Second Part of this Chapter, is Saul's purſuit of David into the Wilderneſs, when he was thus miraculouſly delivered from him by his departure from Keilah; from v. 13. to the end. Remarks upon it are,
Firſt, David at his departure thence hath augmented his Army Two Hundred Men more to his Four Hundred he had before, Chap. 22.2. This new Addition was made by his Valour and Victory over the Philiſtines Beſiegeing Keilah; and his raiſing the Siege there, could not but oblige many of the honeſt Citizens to Liſt themſelves under ſuch an Honourable General: So that now he hath got the number of Six Hundred Soldiers, v. 13.
N. B. Here again David is conſtrained to wander hither and thither, where he could find any Refuge with his Six Hundred Men, Saul hunting him every day, but God delivered David out of his bloody hands, v. 14. quite contrary to what Saul had fondly perſwaded himſelf, that God would deliver him into his hands, v. 7. Here
N. B. Note well, 1. Concerning Saul, he ſaught David every day, ſo outragiouſly reſolv'd he was to ruine him, which deſperate Blood-thirſtineſs for David's Deſtruction, did plainly transform him into the Devil's likeneſs, whoſe Malice againſt Mankind, is not only unceſſant, but alſo unſatiable, ſo that Saul is now another Satan.
N. B. Note well, 2. Concerning David, that God (to make him fit the more for the Kingdom) makes him go he knew not whither, which had been Father Abraham's caſe, whom God call'd to his foot, Iſa. 41.3. and leads him as it were blindfold, he knew not whither, Hebr. 11.8. yet this was both Abraham's and David's ſupport, tho' neither of them knew whither they went, yet both of them well knew with whom they went, for they walked as dear Children, in the hands of a tender Father; and of the two, David was the happier in this, that he went not now in an untrodden path, for Abraham had gone before him therein to lead him the way.
The Second Remark is, Saul's …dry Snares he laid to intrap David; all which, as they were diſappointed by the Providence of God in general, v. 13, 14. ſo in particular were diſcovered by David's Scouts and Intelligencers, whom he employ'd to eſpy out Saul's Motions, or he might behold them by ſome proſpect from an high Mountain, v. 15. but more eſpecially they were qualified by Jonathan's Cordial Kindneſs to him, and Candid Correſpondency with him, v. 16. Who came into the Wood (where David had appointed to meet him) and ſtrengthened his Hands in God, by reminding him of God's infallible promiſe to him, and of his irreſiſtible Providence over him in all his dangers hitherto, and aſſuring him, the ſame would ſtill ſo ſecure him, that he need not fear his Father's finding him, v. 17.
N. B. Where good Jonathan promiſeth to himſelf [of being ſecond in the Kingdom,] more than God had promiſed him, grounding this his Confidence upon David's Generoſity and Fidelity in the Covenant contracted between them; and no doubt but theſe two faſt and faithful Friends might have lived together in all Unity and Unanimity, as did the two Brothers, Frederick and John Dukes of Saxony, who moſt amicably managed the Matters of the Dukedom by their mutual Counſel and Conſent, to the great advantage of the Common-wealth; but God had purpoſed to diſpoſe of this good Man Jonathan otherwiſe, and to advance him from an Earthly Pilgrimage to an Heavenly Kingdom: The Lord deals well with this good Jonathan in his preventing his hopes by his unexpected Death, but providing a better Life for him, &c.
N. B. Thus God doth with many of his Godly Servants, who oft fail of their hopes in Earthly Comforts (whereof they have no abſolute promiſe) giving them preferment unto thoſe Comforts which are Spiritual and Heavenly: Thus Paul hoped God would deliver him from Death, to be reſtored to the Philippians, when he wrote to them from. Rome, where then he was Priſoner, 2 Cor. 1.10. Phil. 1.25. Yet Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory doth aſſure us, that Paul was not delivered from his Priſon in Rome, but there he ended his Days by a Glorious Martyrdom: When God rewards not the Godlineſs of his Servants with the Silver of this Life, he never fails to pay them with the Gold of a better Life.
N. B. Thus Jonathan might be next to David in Heaven, though God would not have it to be ſo on Earth.
N. B. At this Meeting likewiſe theſe two renew their League of Love, the third time; the firſt was in the Houſe, chap. 18.3. the ſecond was in the Field, chap. 20 3. and this third was in the Wood here, v. 18. not done thus often out of any Jealouſie they had each of other, but becauſe Lovers do love to renew their mutual Loves often; and ſeeing Humane Nature is ſo fluid and fickle, we alſo ought to renew our Covenant with God often, all will be found little enough to oblige our ſlippery hearts in a Conſcientious Obſervation of the Conditions of the Covenant.
N. B. Behold here the remarkable Modeſty of this good Jonathan, in his ready renewing of the Old Covenant betwixt them before the Lord, before Gad the Prophet, and before Abiathar the High-Prieſt, not once upbraiding David with the many Affronts and Injuries he ſuſtained for his faithful Friendſhip to him from his Phrantick Father, who (as he tells David) acted all along againſt his own knowledge, ſeeing Samuel had told him, God would have David to Reign in his ſtead, chap. 15.28. and obſerving David's daily ſafety and ſucceſs under the ſhadow of God's Protection; and which he was brought to confeſs at laſt, that he knew it to be God's will indeed, chap. 24.20.
The Third Remark is, The Treachery of the Ziphites unto David in offering their Service unto Saul to betray him into his hands, v. 19, 20. Though theſe Men were of David's own Tribe, and deſcended from Caleb, 1 Chron. 2.42. yet ſo far did they degenerate from that good ſtock, as to deal treacherouſly with David who had ſo lately deliver'd them from the Invaſion of the Philiſtines: Poſſibly they might fear Saul would ſerve them as he had ſerved the City of Nob, as the Men of Keilab feared: However this perfidious dealing of thoſe Men of Judah with David in diſcovering him to Saul, &c. did ſo diſcompoſe his Spirit, that (for compoſing it with a Divine Cordial) he compoſed that ſweet Pſalm the 54th, where he calls thoſe Men of his own Tribe, (wherein he truſted,) a Company of Treacherous Strangers, v. 3. who from the Alienation of their Affections, though near to him in Affinity, they had dealt more unkindly with him, than Forraign Countries had done; therefore David turns them over to God, that he might take an order with them, Pſal. 54. v. 5, &c.
The Fourth Remark is, The kind Reception Saul gave to thoſe perfidious perſons, v. 21, 22, 23. Wherein,
Firſt, Saul dareth to pronounce a Bleſſing upon them for their Perfidiouſneſs, and that from the Lord, whoſe Prieſts he had baſely butchered: God was much in this Hypocrites Mouth, while the Devil (that envious one) was in his Heart. He makes Religion his pretence to palliate his bloody purpoſe of killing David, and to Animate them in their Treacherous deſign.
Secondly, Hereupon he lays his Royal Command upon them to ſearch out David's lurking holes, rendring this reaſon, that he is ſo crafty, he will certainly ſlip you, if you be not exceedingly circumſpect. And,
Thirdly, When you have ſett him for certainty, then bring me word, that we may joyn together and catch our Prey: So loth was Saul to loſe his labour, and to come off with diſhonour by being diſappointedany more.
N. B. Note well. 1. Oh, that we could with the like care Find out and Ferret our Dilectum Delictum, or Darling Luſt! That Sin which doth ſo eaſily beſet us, Hebr. 12.1. And will certainly find us out, if we do not carefully find it out firſt, Numb. 32.23.
N. B. Note well. 2. Nor did David dare thus to encourage thoſe Treaſonable Treacheries againſt Saul himſelf, and againſt his Son Iſhboſheth, 2 Sam. 4.10.15. Saul an Unſound Hypocrite, durſt do that which David a Sincere Saint durſt not do.
The Fifth Remark is, David's marvelous Deliverance, when Saul had compaſſed David about, and reſolvnd to ruine him and his Six Hundred Men as one Man, v. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. Where we may Mark,
Firſt, Thoſe Secrets of Saul were diſcovered to David by Jonathan (as ſome ſuppoſe) that the Ziphites were Saul's Guides to catch him, upon this he departed from the Wilderneſs of Ziph, and went into that of Maon.
Secondly, Saul purſues him thither, and dividing his Army into ſeveral Parties, each marching ſeveral ways after David; at laſt they come ſo nigh him, as nothing but a Mountain was between them. Here David was in great diſtreſs, yea and in great diſtruſt too, thinking Samuel was a Lyar in promiſing him the Kingdom, Pſal. 116.10, 12. which Pſalm David Penn'd upon this occaſion.
Thirdly, Here God (more than the Mountain) comes as out of an Engine, gives Saul a diverſion from David, by an unexpected Meſſage of the Philiſtines Invaſion; (ſuppoſed to be procured by loving Jonathan,) againſt whom he was forced to bend all his Forces, knowing they would utterly lay waſt his whole Kingdom if not prevented. Thus God ſent from Heaven and ſaved him, Pſal. 57.3. which Pſalm he Penn'd on this occaſion alſo: Therefore was the place call'd [Selangh Hammalekoth] a Rock of Diviſion, becauſe here God divided Saul from his Prey: Divine help came when Human failed.