Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Samuel · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX.
THe better David deserved, the more Saul envyed and hated him, so that now he could not containe himselfe, but brake out, and willed Jonathan V. 1.and his servants to kill David. This Jonathan disliked for the great love that he bare to David, but all the rest of the Courtiers seemed to be indifferent, for none of them did any thing for him, either in word or deed. There be many feigned friends in the world, but true friends indeed, are very rare, for all Sauls Note. servants seemed before highly to esteeme of, and to love David, but now not one stands for him, but Jonathan onelyonly, who, a man would thinke, had least reason, seeing the Kingdome belonged unto him by succession after Saul, and if David lived, there was little hope of his attaining unto it. But to keepe a good conscience, and to prevent the shedding of innocent bloud, was by him more esteemed of, then the kingdome; and so it is by every godly man. Now for Jonathans silence at the first, it was discretion in him at that time before the servants of Saul, that he might not seeme publikely to oppose his father; and if he had spoken then, it was not likely, that he should doe so much good, as afterwards, having his father alone and in a better humour. But he neglecteth not to tell David of his fathers motion, that he might looke to himselfe, and promiseth V. 2, 3.him to speake for him to Saul alone, when he was walking in the field, and to certifie him of his answere. For these words, I will stand besides my father in the field where thou art, the Vulg. Lat. hath, in the field wheresoever he shall be, so likewise Peter Martyr, but Hebr. it is where thou art, and it is likely, that they knowing in what field Saul used to walke for his recreation, David was hid there, that upon Sauls answer to Jonathan speaking in his behalfe he might have him at hand to relate the newes unto. If any doubt be made here, whether Jonathan did not an act of treachery towards his father, in discovering to David, what he had spoken against him? Peter Martyr answereth well, that he did Peter Martyr.a good office towards his father in saving him from shedding innocent bloud, and a good office to his freind, that he might looke to himselfe, and as his duty to God bound him, who is to be obeyed in saving life before King or Father unjustly seeking to kill. v. 4. Jonathan then perswadeth his father Saul not to seeke the life of David. 1. Because he had done no evill against him. V. 4.2. Because he had deserved very well of him, in adventuring his life for him, against the Philistims. 3. Because the Lord was with David, and by him wrought a great salvation for Israel, the whole common-wealth was bounden unto David. 4. Because the time was when Saul liked David exceedingly well for his valour, and was glad to see it, wherefore he ought not now without cause to be so changed towards him, as to seeke his death. Saul overcome with these perswasions sweareth, that David should not be slaine, and so Jonathan bringeth him to Saul, and he standeth before him for a time securely, as in times past. V. 6, 7.But ere long, although after this David did valiantly againe in putting the Philistims to flight, v. 8. when the evill spirit came upon Saul, he contrary to his V. 8.oath raged more against David, then ever he had done before, for he both struck at him with his javelin, and when he escaped, he sent after him to watch his house, that he might be taken and slaine, but Michal let him downe at a V. 9.window and he escaped, telling Sauls messengers the meane season, who were sent to slay him, that hee was sick in bed, but shee deluded them by laying an image in the bed, which shee happily shewed them afarre off, that they might goe and tell their master Saul, David having the more time, whilst they went and returned, to flee away. Then Saul bade the messengers to goe and bring him in the bed, that hee might slay him, but when they came into the chamber, they found that Michal had mocked them with an image, which Saul hearing he reproved his daughter Michal, but shee excused her selfe, saying, that David said, Let me goe, or else I will kill thee. By this inconstancy Note. of Saul wee may see, what little credit is to bee given to the most serious promises and oathes of wicked men; and such are they professedly, that be of the Church of Rome, their tenet being, that faith is not to be kept with hereticks, and therefore Ladislaus the Emperor contrary to his faith given to the Turke made Warre upon the Turke, which made Amurath the great Turke cry out upon the perfidiousnesse of Christians, and seeing the Emperours standard, which was a crucifixe, to say, O Christ, if thou beest a God, take Munster. cosmogr. de Graecia lib. 4. Amurath 2. V. 13.revenge upon these thy perfidious servants: and he was heard, and the Imperialists were overthrowne, and many thousands of them slaine to the great losse of Christendome. The word rendred Image, which Michal tooke and laid in the bed, Hebr. is Teraphim, whereby images abused to idolatry are commonly set forth, as Iudg. 17. 5. 1 Sam. 15. 23. Gen. 35. 4. Hence some gather, that Michal kept images in secret, which David knew not of, as Rachel sometime had done, Iacob being ignorant of it, and that shee tooke one of these being the image of a man and laid it in the bed, and a goates skin under the head, that there might bee a resemblance of haire, and the liver of a goate panting within the Schol. Histor.bed, as Comestor hath it following Iosehpus.
For Michals excusing herself to her father, that David would have killed her V. 17. P. Martyr.if shee had not let him goe, herein shee sinned saith Martyr, three wayes, 1. in telling an untruth, 2. in raising a slander against David, 3. in being so timerous, as not to dare, to speake in the defence of David being innocent, as her brother Ionathan had done. The sister of Dionysius the tyrant, and wife to Polyxenus doth greatly condemne her, in that shee being reproved by Dionysius for not telling him before her husband fled away, who should have beene questioned for treason, answered him, Dost thou thinke mee so degenerous, that if I had knowne of his fleeing, I would not have fled with him? yet Michal did the part of a loving wife in that shee had rather indanger herself of the Kings displeasure, then that her husband should come in any danger.
David then came to Samuel in Ramah, and told him al that was done, and they V. 18.two went together to Naioth & dwelt there. He would not flee to his own City, because he thought Saul would soon find him out there, but to Samuel, of whose anointing him Saul had not yet heard, supposing that he might keep there concealed, and by Samuel be directed, what to do. Ramah was in Benjamin, and Naioth Lyra. Hugo Cardin.saith Lyra, a place in Ramah, see v. 22. Here saith Hugo, was a company of Nazarites alwayes attending upon singing Psalmes and praising God. To this place when Saul heard, that David was there, he sent messengers to fetch him, but when they came there, the Spirit of God was upon them and they prophesied, so likewise did the second messengers, and the third, and afterwards Saul himselfe comming thither. For as Rabanus hath it, wicked men and reprobates may Rabanus.prophesie for a time, as Baalam, and those Matth. 7. which say, in thy name wee have prophesied; or by prophesying understand praising of God by singing. Hereby was set forth the power of prophesying, in that such as came to the company of Prophets here with an intent to take David and to slay him, were upon the Note. sudden so changed, that they joyned with them in prophesying: so Latimer going to hear Mr. Stafford, to scoffe at him, was turned, and preached the truth also as hee did: and Augustine by hearing Ambrose, being before a Manichee. Yea such is the force of humane reason being pithily set forth, that it hath had some Aug. Confes l. 6. c: 3.time the like admirable effects, as in drunken Polemo, who went in his Garlands to deride Xenocrates the Philosopher, but having heard him, he casts of his Garlands and turned one of his Scholars. But such effects are not common, but very rare to shew the great power of Gods holy Spirit, so they that came to apprehend Christ, were taken with admiration and returned without doing that for which they were sent.Ioh. 7.
For Samuel entertaining of David, if it be questioned, how he could doe so, Qu. seeing Saul the King held David to bee his enemy? It is easily answered, that althoug such as bee traitors, and so enemies indeed to the King, no good Subject may receive, except as Jael did Sisera, to give them up to the higher power, yet Samuel sinned not in receiving David, whom hee knew to bee innocent, and a meere patlent, as Obadiah sinned not against his allegeance to Ahab, when hee hid the Prophets of God from his fury in caves, and fed them there. And hee tooke him to Naioth, where was a Schoole of the Prophets, that he might have the comfort of the godly exercises there performed, and it being a most retired place, the more safely lye hid there and out of danger, especially because such houses of learning and piety have alwayes beene as sanctuaries, and none almost have ever beene so barbarous to offer any violence in such places, see before Ch. 10. 5. But as Samuel received none but the innocent to this place, to protect him hereby, so ought none to bee received to sanctuary, but such, whereas contrariwise amongst the Papals the foulest malefactors and murtherers have beene received to sanctuary to the incouraging of many in all manner of lewdnesse. The pretext of these Sanctuaries was the appointing of Cities Of Sanctuaries.of refuge for such to flee unto, as had shed blood unawares. But besides that herein was something typicall, and so that law is at an end; Popish sanctuaries Numb. 35.differed altogether from them. 1. Because they were but a few, these as many, as there be Monasteries. 2. Into them were received no wilfull murtherers, into these all sorts promiscuously. 3. By mens fleeing thither the course of justice was stayed, but the Magistrate might examine and judge the case, but here the authority of the Magistrate is quite cut off. One saith that Naioth in H. B. Patriarks travailes.Ramah was a most pleasant place, and therefore Samuel brought David hither to comfort him, it was from Gibeah of Saul 12. miles. Touching Saul himselfe more is said, then of his messengers. For, 1. he began to Prophesie upon V. 22, 23.the way to Naioth, but so did not they. 2. Hee cast off his garments and prophesied naked, when hee came before Samuel and David. 3. Hee continued so all that day and all that night. By his garments, which hee cast off Lyra understandeth his Kingly garments, which hee did weare uppermost, and by his being naked his stripping of himself onelyonly of these, and putting upon him such a garment, as other Prophets used in praising God, as David is afterwards 2 Sam 6. 20.said to have made himselfe naked, when hee put on a linen Ephod, having put off his Kingly Robes and danced before the Arke. Junius saith, he Iunius.put off his military garments onelyonly, neither doe any understand, that he was altogether naked, but for putting any other thing on Willet denyeth it; Peter Peter Martyr. Osiander.Martyr saith, happily hee did so, Osiander, that undoubtedly hee did so. Of Sauls prophesying before this, see Ch. 10. 10. and Ch. 18. 10. where hee is said to have prophesied, when the evill Spirit came upon him. But this prophesying differed from that, as Peter Martyr noteth, for then hee onelyonly uttered some Peter Martyr.strange words after a propheticall manner, and used strange gestures, but now hee joyned with other holy Prophets in praising God; and whereas then hee practised mischiefe against David, now coming to the place where David was, full of mischiefe in his minde against him, hee is suddenly cicurated, and remaineth near unto him a whole day and night without attempting any thing against him: but some thinke that during the time of this ecstasie of Saul, David fled thence, taking it as a singular providence of God, to give him this opportunity, by holding Saul in this case so long, to escape his hands. For his falling downe all that day and night, the Vulgar Latin, and Martyr have it, cecinit for cecidit, hee sung naked all that day, but the word foreign signifyeth hee fell. But how this is to bee understood all are not agreed. Iunius saith, Iunius.excidit, extra se raptus est, hee was rapt by the Spirit and so fell besides himselfe, as Balaam, Numb. 24. 4. and thus continued a day and a night; Vatablus, he Vatablus. Osiander.lay naked as one bereft of his senses for that time; Osiander, hee fell downe certaine houres that day and night, as the rest of the Prophets did in praying and praising of God, for none ever were able to doe it so long a time without intermission. That of Vatablus cannot stand, because hee did, as the rest of the Prophets, who lay not in a trance all that time saying nothing, but chanted out the praises of God. It is rather to bee held according to Iunius, that hee being ravisht by the Spirit fell downe, as the Spirit moved him, forgetting the cause of his comming thither, and contrariwise lying prostrate, as the company of Prophets, hee continued in their manner uttering the praises of God, yet sometimes resting, as Osiander hath it, and then at the times, that they prophecyed, prophecying againe, with them. For the Proverb arising hereupon, see before Ch. 10. 11. For the quest. how Sauls being now before Samuel agreeth with that, 1 Sam. 15. 34. Samuel came no more to see Saul, till the day of his death, see the resolution there: the interlinear Glosse saith, that Samuel and David were hid from the sight of Saul, but upon what ground I know not. And Samuel, say Lyra and Hugo, saw not Saul in his Kingly apparell, but having put Lyra. Hugo Cardin.this off and now as a private person, in which sense it was said before, Ch. 10. that Samuel saw him no more.
Mystically by David watched in his house the Ord. Glosse understandeth The Mystery.Christ watched in his sepulcher, their watching to kill David, the endeavouring of these men to destroy the memory of Christs resurrection by reporting, that his disciples came by night and did steale his body away; for this was, as it were, an attempting to kill him in the hearts of men in hindring them from beleiving in his name. But as they could not kill David, so these could not obliterate the memory of Christ. Davids comming to Naioth, whither Sauls messengers follow and prophecy there, the Jews preaching of Christ after this, who before were persecuters, as Saul, Act. 8. and divers, that were added to the Church and joyned with the Apostles, Act. 2. and Act. 4. Saul following also and prophecying naked, the Jewes denuded of the faith, Prophephesie and Priesthood, and yet having the Scriptures in their mouths.