A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on 1 Samuel · Chapter 27
1 Sam. CHAP. XXVII.
THIS Chapter contains another Baniſhment of David into the Philiſtines Country: The General Parts of it are two, Firſt, The Cauſes of it; and Secondly, The Accidents attending David in it, &c. Remarks upon the Firſt Part are,
Firſt, The final or moving cauſe that moved David to fly to the Philiſtines, is expreſſed, ver. 1. [David ſaid in his Heart, I ſhall one day periſh, &c.] Wherein Mark,
Firſt, David inſtead of Conſulting with God, (either by the Prophet Gad, or by the High-Prieſt Abiathar, with the Ʋrim and Thummim; doth conſult here with the Carnal Reaſon of his own Heart, which is the worſt Counſelor in the World. David did not truſt in God, when afraid, as Pſal. 56.3. And Joſephus tells us he took Counſel from his Company (none of the beſt) ſuch as Abiſhai (who had twice counſelled him to kill the King.)
Secondly, Mark here David's mighty miſtake in ſaying, (from the dictates of ſuch blind councel aforeſaid) [There is nothing better for me, than to flee to the Philiſtines] When indeed there was nothing worſe for him, upon many accou….
N. B. Note well. The ſum of the Reaſons (demonſtrating how David ran upon a deſperate Rock here,) briefly be,
Firſt, He forſakes the place where God had ſettled him by the Prophet Gad, chap. 22.3, 5. and had given him aſſurance of Divine Protection by a ſpecial promiſe, yea and much experience of manifold deliverances from Saul by Gods Providence.
The Second Reaſon is, Seeing God had check'd David for living with the Moabites, which was more tolerable, as being the Poſterity of Righteous Lot, &c. How could David deviſe it the beſt for him to flee unto the Philiſtines, who were of the number of thoſe Curſed Nations, whom God had devoted to utter deſtruction, and with whom God had forbidden Iſrael to make Leagues, or to live among them.
The Third Reaſon is, David well knew what a profeſſed Enemy to them they looked upon him to be, both for his killing their Goliah, and for his ſlaying Two Hundred of them, whom he Circumciſed after they were ſlain; which was the higheſt Affront to that uncircumciſed Nation; beſides all other ſlaughters he made among them in other Battles and Victories. 'Tis ſtrange how David could expect any ſafety among ſuch a People, after ſo many unpardonable provocations,; and ſay, 'Tis beſt for me to flee thither.
The Fourth Reaſon is, This act of David was a ſcandal to the weak and a ſcorn to the wicked: As his own Nation (on the one hand) could not but be offended at David's deſerting the cauſe of God, and expoſing them (now weakned by his withdrawment with a conſiderable company of their moſt expert, and moſt experienced Souldiers) to the Invaſions and Incurſions of their Enemies round about, &c. So (on the other hand) the Philiſtines could not but ſcorn David, and call him a Turn-Coat, ſo wound Religion and the Profeſſors of it, through his ſides; as if they were a pack and parcel of Men, who notwithſtanding their plauſible pretences of Profeſſion would tack about to the Enemies ſide, for their own ſafety and advantage, and ſo betray the cauſe of God and of his People.
The Fifth Reaſon is, Hereby David voluntarily incurred the penalty of that direful Curſe and Doom which his own mouth had denounced againſt Doeg and the other Court-Sycophants of Saul for driving him out of God's Inheritance, and tantamont for commanding Him to go and Worſhip other Gods, chap. 26.19. And now David does that to himſelf, for which he Curſeth them.
The Sixth Reaſon is, Hereby David involved himſelf unavoidably into that odious ſin of ingratitude [Ingratum ſi dixeris, omnia dixeris,] (which hath all ſins in the Belly of it,) by his preſent procuring protection and proviſion from that very People, whom be knew God would have him (when he came to be King) to fight againſt as God's and his mortal Enemies. Where was David's gratitude to them then, for this their preſent protection of him from Saul's perſecution.
The Seventh Reaſon is, How could this be the beſt for David to do, which did expoſe him to ſo many Snares and Sins? As the Sequel of this Hiſtory doth Demonſtrate.
The Second Remark is, David departs to Achiſh King of the Philiſtines, &c. v. 2, 3. Where Obſerve,
Firſt Whether this doing was beſt or worſt for David, he thought himſelf forced to do it through his fear of Saul's irreconcilable Rage, which made him ſo fickle in all his Oaths and Promiſes of Friendſhip.
Secondly. No doubt but David did firſt obtain the publick Faith of this King by his Agents that had agreed upon Terms for his ſafe abode in Gath, the Capital City. &c.
Thirdly, David might well hope Achiſh would be glad to entertain him; partly, becauſe he freed himſelf from the moſt formidable Enemy he had in all Iſrael, now when he was deſigning a War againſt them: He feared David more than Saul. And partly, becauſe David came not now alone, as he did before, chap. 21.12. but now brought pledges enough of his Fidelity. So Achiſh (before David's Fear) became now his Friend.
The Third Remark is, Theſe Tidings being told Saul, that David was fled to the Philiſtines, he ſought no more after him, v. 4. Which implyeth, Saul would have ſought him again had David ſtaid within Sauls Dominions; ſo reſtleſs and irreconcilable was hi Malice againſt him, notwithſtanding all his Oaths and Promiſes to the contrary; therefore David had ſome pretence of fear, and ſo got Himſelf and his Six Hundred Souldiers (with their Wives, &c.) out of his reach.
The Second …art of this Chapter, is the Accidents that befel David in this place of his Retirement. Remarks upon it are,
Firſt, David's Humble and Modeſt Petition to Achiſh for a place to dwell in, not liking to dwell in the Roral City, v. 5. For
(1.) David found Gath (where the King had his Court) a bad Air to breath in for his own and his Friends Devotion. Exeat ex Aulâ, qui volet eſſe pius.
He that would be truly Religious, muſt not reſort to an Irreligious Court, &c.
No doubt but as Lot was in Sodom, he was alſo vexed with Court-Vices.
(2.) He might fear that his Friends and Followers would ſoon be corrupted with both the Idolatry and Immorality of the City.
(3.) He might deſire a diſtinct place for himſelf and all his Men, &c. where they ſhould Worſhip God freely, and not offend the Philiſtines.
(4.) That he might not be enſnared to fight for the Philiſtines againſt Iſrael, which he now knew they were deſigning to do.
(5.) That he might make unknown Incurſions into neighbouring Nations, ſuch as God had devoted to Deſtruction, &c.
The Second Remark is, Achiſh's Liberality unto David, in granting his Petition, and beſtowing ſo great a City as Ziklag upon him; ſo capacious as to receive David and his Six Hundred Souldiers with all their Wives and Children, v. 6.
N. B The King gave David Ziklag, not only to Inhabit in for the preſent, but to Poſſeſs it as his own; to oblige him the more, whom he knew well able to ſerve him in his Wars.
N. B. Though this City had been given to the Tribe of Judah, Joſh. 15.31. and after to the Tribe of Simeon mingled with Judah, Joſh. 19.1, 5. yet had the Philiſtines kept Poſſeſſion of it until this time; the Iſraelites not being able to Conquer it.
The Third Remark is, The time how long David enjoyed this City, we are told, it was a full Year and four Months, v. 7. which ſome read from the Hebrew Text only [about four Months,] that is, ſome odd Days; ſaying, David fled from Saul at Samuel's Death, which (as they ſay) was but Seven Months before Saul's Death: So Saul perſecuted David Eight Months only after the Death of Samuel, &c.
N. B. This is the Computation of Peter Martyr, Vatablus, &c. and Judicious Dr. Lightfoot ſaith, That in the Thirty Ninth Year of Saul David was ſent to Ziklag, and in Saul's Fortieth Year, divers of Saul's own Tribe reſorted thither to David; which was a bad Omen to Saul of his approaching fall, 1 Chron 12.1, to 8. So tender was God of his Servant David, as to procure him a place of Repoſe, and ſent him ſome to comfort him in his ſtraits; yea and to Cut thoſe ſtraits ſhort in reſpect of time alſo.
The Fourth Remark is, The ſucceſsful Incurſions David made upon the old Enemies of Iſrael while he abode here, v. 8, 9. It ſeems Ziklag was but an Hungry place to him according to the Notation of its Name, which ſignifies [Auguſtia Sextarij,] a making their meaſures narrow, from the ſcarcity of Proviſions: David was here hard put to it for a poor Subſiſtence; and therefore was forced to Forrage abroad, and to fetch in the Spoils of Foraign Enemies to Iſrael. And this place being an out-Town was fitteſt for David to do ſo undiſcovered. Thus David Invaded ſome Countrey-Towns of Amalek, (whom Saul had ſpared, chap. 15.) and ſome of their Neighbours; and Left neither Man nor Woman alive to tell Tales or carry Tidings to Achiſh; and this he did becauſe God had devoted them all to deſtruction, &c.
The Fifth Remark is, David's Policy in Deceiving Achiſh with words as well as deeds, v. 10, 11, 12. David returning from his Conqueſt, did likely call at Gath (by the way) to make a Royal Preſent of the beſt of his Spoils to Achiſh; who thereupon asked him, where his Exploit had been? David anſwered, [Againſt the South of Judah, &c.]
N. B. Which was either a Flat Lye, or a Foul Equivocation, not becoming him who was both an Anointed Prince, and an Eminent Profeſſor, yea and Prophet too of the Pure Religion: Take it at the beſt, it had the formality of a Lye in it; which is [A purpoſe to deceive Achiſh,] who underſtood it, that David had fallen upon the South parts of Judah it ſelf, and not on thoſe beyond it, who were Confederates with Achiſh, or Tributaries to him, whom he was bound in Honour to Protect. Therefore tis ſaid [Achiſh believed David,] that ſuch a Man would not Lie.
N. B. Joſephus ſaith, Achiſh did the eaſilier believe it, becauſe he ſo earneſtly deſired it. Quod volumus facile credimus. What we would have to be, we moſt eaſily believe to be. That David might be the firmer to him againſt Iſrael whom he had thus diſobliged: But chiefly God would have it ſo for David's good; though herein God left him to lye. The beſt of Men are but Men at the beſt, out of God's precincts, out of God's protection; yet God makes Achiſh Kinder to him than Saul his Father-in-Law and King of Iſrael was.