Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 1 Samuel · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
THEN David fled from Gath to the Cave of Odullam, which as Lyra and others say, V. 1. Lyra. Josh. 15. 35.was in the Tribe of Judah, of which Tribe David was, and therefore for his greater safety he fled thither amongst his friends. It was a place full of Caves and Rockes, and therefore fit for fugitives to flee unto. It had the name from a little Towne called Odulla, of which, see Gen: 38. …. where Judah is said to have marryed the daughter of an Odullamite; it was from Jerusalem H. B. Patriazks travailes.8 miles southwest, and from Gath 24. being derived from Ed, a testimony, and Dalim the poore. Here it is held by some, that David compiled Ps. 5. 7. and Ps. 142. but it seemeth rather by the contents of those Psalmes, that he made them in the Cave in the Wildernesse of Engedi, the one, viz. Ps. 142. 1 Sam. 24.when he lay hid there, as the title also sheweth, for he prayed for deliverance from his enemies, as being in great danger, and the other, viz. ps. 57. after that Saul had come into his danger there, because he speaketh of a pit made by his enemies, into which they themselves fell, and the title of the psalme is, when he fled from Saul into the cave, so Junius, or he compiled Psal. 14. 12. in this cave and Iunius.Ps. 57. in the other. Now whereas Odullam may seeme not to be in Judah, because v. 5. the Prophet Gad biddeth David. to goe from the hold into the land of Judah. Junius also resolveth this, by expounding the hold,wherein David was, when Gad came to him, of an hold in Mizpah in Moab, but Lyra saith, that his Lyra.father and mother tarryed with the King of Moab all the time that he was in praedicto fortalitie, and yet upon the next words v. 5. he saith, that Gad bade him goe from them lest his company should be corrupted with Idolatry, if they made any long stay in Moab. Comestor by these words, all the time that David was Eccles Historia.in the bold, understandeth al the time that he was in his expediton, seeking strong Hugo Card.holds to lurke in. Hugo saith that David, when hee was in a polluted land, was bidden to goe into the land of Iudah, that hee might suffer persecution, so that hee also is for some hold in Moab. I subscribe to Comestor, that by hold not any particular hold is meant, but in generall, that hee should no longer hide himselfe in strong places and caves, but goe, where he might bee in action and doe some good to his countrey, as the following history doth declare, that hee did. And why David should keepe in a cave in Moab, I can see no reason, forsomuch as in that Countrey hee was out of Sauls reach, and so had no neede to hide himselfe. Wherefore it is not said, that Gad came to him to a cave, but onelyonly, that he came and bade him not abide in a cave or hold, that is, when hee was in Moab, but had a purpose to goe againe and lurke in some part of the land of Israel in a cave, whilst his friends, that were not able to follow, stayed in Moab, by cave not meaning the cave of Odullam, or one in Moab, but caves in generall, by enallage numeri, abide not in a cave, that is, not in caves, & yet it is not to be understood, that he was by the Prophet forbidden to keep at any time in a cave, for then hee had afterwards sinned against this charge, but that hee should not so hide himselfe for fear of Saul, as to refraine from going out to exercise his military prowesse upon the enemies of Gods people, as his calling to be their King and Captaine required. Some tax David of Iunius.weaknesse in that he sought to be hid in caves and rockes, saying, that Gad was therefore sent to reprove him: but I hold rather with them, that say, that Gad was sent to comfort him, for of reproof we read nothing here, neither did he any thing worthy of reproof to hide himselfe, when he was in danger.
To the cave of Odullam repaired to him his brethren and all his fathers house, because, as Lyra and others have it, most probably they were persecuted, and Lyra.hardly used by Saul for Davids sake. Iosephus saith, that David sent to his brethren Josephus.to let them understand, where he was, or else they could not have known, whither to resort unto him. And together with his kindred, or after them V. 2.came unto him all that were indebted, distressed, or discontented, to the number of 400. men, and he was their Captaine. By such as were indebted, wee must understand such, as had nothing to pay, or else it is likely, that David would not have received them; and for others in distresse, and discontent, it is likely, that many of them were in the same case with Davids fathers house, discontented at the tyranny practised by Saul upon such, as would not shew themselves enemies to David, and further his unjust designes against him. Now David received all these, not to attempt any thing with them against the King or his countrey, but for his owne comfort and theirs, and that their forces being united together they might the better defend themselves against their enemies, and doe something against the enemies of their countrey, as the following history sheweth, that they did. Wherefore, as Lyra saith, hee did nothing Lyra.unlawfull herein, especially being already anointed to bee King over Israel. And Peter Martyr noteth it to have beene a singular providence of God Peter Martyr.towards him thus to aggregate forces unto him in Sauls lifetime, that hee might make some beginning of executing his Kingly office for the defence of the distressed, and the repressing of insolent enemies, that Saul who unjustly persecuted him, mighe bee the more vexed at it, and pine away through envy of his prosperous proceedings. And herein David was a type of Christ, as expositors generally note, in that such as bee indebted by sinne and distressed and troubled through Satans temptations, doe by faith and repentance come to him, and are protected against their spirituall enemies. If it be said, David did like unto wicked Abimelech in receiving such. It is answered, there was Iudg 9.great difference, for Abimelech gathered unto him for hire, vaine and wicked men, unjustly to obtaine the Kingdome, and to make way thereunto by the bloody and unnaturall murthering of his brethren: but David hired none, but they came voluntarily unto him, and if any of them were wicked and came to him in an ill minde, the fault cannot be laid upon him, for hee expostulated with them about this, 1 Chron. 12. 17. and Christ himselfe had one follower of the 12. that was a Devill, and at this day hath many more, that gather to him, who be unsound, yea preachers that preach not in sincerity. Phil. 1. 16, 17.Neither did David ambitiously seeke the Kingdome with these forces, or oppresse any of the people of God, but destroyed their enemies. Yet from Peter Martyr.this meane beginning he grew up into a great Kingdom, as Moses, and Cyrus, and Julius Cesar.
And David went from thence to Mezpeh in Moab, and hee said, Let my father and V. 3. V. 4.mother I pray thee remaine with you, till I know, what God will doe with mee. And hee brought them before the King of Moab, and they abode with him all the time, that David was in that fort. Mizpeh of Moab this is called, because there was a City of the same name in Judab, 1 Sam. 7. Junius for further explication saith, Iunius.that is, to a denne or cave called also Malle, 1 Maccab. 5. 26. which signifieth ammunition. But enough hath beene said already against Davids abiding in a cave in Moab. Hee came thither with his troupe to bring his father and mother, who were aged and so unfit to travaile, that with the King of Moab they might be safe from Sauls tyranny, till that hee had a more setled estate, and by him, saith Iosephus, they were honourably entertained, although some of the Iosephus.Hebrews say that hee afterwards put them to death, after that upon Gads warning of him, hee removed from Moab into Iudah againe. Touching the reason why David fled into Moab, as some thinke, was because hee was allyed to the Moabites by his great Grand-Mother Ruth: others, because Saul made warre against the Ammonites, 1 Sam. 14. 4.
But the Prophet Gad said unto David, Stay not in this hold, but returne into the land V. 5.of Judah, and hee came to the forest of Hareth. This was doubtlesse a great comfort to David to have the counsell and direction of a Prophet in the midst of so great dangers, and he used the Prophet Gad divers times after, when he was King. 2 Sam. 23. 1 Chron. 21. 2 Chron. 29. Whereas there were Prophets in the Church in those dayes extraordinarily indued with the Spirit, but now wee have none, there was great reason for it. 1. Because the Church had need Peter Martyr.then to be nourished in the hope and expectation of the Messiah, by the reviving of Prophesies. 2. Because the Church was but in one Nation, which was hated and envied of all others, they needed Prophets to incourage them. 3. To stay them from going to wizzards, which was commonly practised by others round about them in those dayes, 4. Because they had not the Scriptures compleate, but onelyonly the five Bookes of Moses a long time, therefore for a supply of that defect God sent them Prophets: so Peter Martyr.
Then Saul bearing that David was discovered, and the men with him, hee remaining V. 6.still in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, &c. and his servants about him, said, He are, yee sonnes of Iemini, &c. Gibeah was the City of Saul in the Tribe of Benjamin, but Ramah was the place, where Samuel dwelt, farre from it, and therefore Ramah here must not be taken for a proper name, but appellatively for an high place, as Iunius expoundeth it, and hee sat here under a tree or wood, as the Vulgar Latin, for it may bee taken either way. For the speach made here by Saul unto his servants, hee asketh them, whether David would give to every P. Martyr.one of them fields and vineyards &c. thus deriding Davids inability, for hee knew, that hee himselfe being King had these to give, and that David had none: then hee chargeth them falsly to have conspired with David against him, and likewise his sonne Ionathan, when as David attempted nothing against him, but hee sought Davids life unjustly. And herein he figured out the Antichrist of Rome, who calleth his Councell about him, and thus upbraideth the Protestants for ambitiously seeking after Bishoprickes and Arch-Bishoprickes, &c. when as they seeke for no such thing: thus Peter Martyr.
Then Doeg told, what hee saw touching Davids comming to Nob to Ahimelech, V. 9.and his relieving of him with bread &c. but how Ahimilech was deceived by Davids dissimulation he told him not, which shewed his malicious desire to provoke Saul against him, with whom hee had beene in pretence of great piety, not long before For these words, Doeg, who was set ever the servants of Saul, Iunius and Vatablus have it, who stood amongst or with the servants of Saul, and this seemeth …unius.to be the best reading, because Doeg was not set over all the rest of Sauls servants, but over this cattell, as Ch. 21. 7. wherefore the Sept. Transl. hath it, set over the asses of Saul. Whereas hee saith, that the Priest asked counsell for David of the Lord, some saith Lyra, thinke that he lyed, but because Abimelech himselfe Lyra.confesseth it, v. 15. it is plaine, that hee lyed, but his sinne was great in that hee malitiously reported that which Ahimelech did innocently, as done by way of conspiracy with David against Saul. And therefore Psal. 52. David inveyeth bitterly against him, and prophesieth his destruction. Hee was a true Edomite, hating David, and Gods Priest, as Esau did Iacob, and such are all that to curry favour with Princes do accuse unto them his faithfull servants and stirre them up against them.
Saul then sent for Ahimelech and all his fathers house, and when they were V. 11.come unto him, hee charged Abimelech with that which hee had done for David, as done against him. Ahimelech pleadeth his innocency and Davids, but the tyrant fully bent to destroy him and all his fathers house, how just a defence soever hee made for himselfe, denounceth the sentence of death against them all. Ahimelech pleadeth 3. things, as Peter Martyr noteth, in his owne defence: Peter Martyr.1. Davids faithfulnesse to Saul in times past, neither did hee at his comming to him know any thing to the contrary. 2. That hee was the Kings sonne in law, and so what hee did him a man would thinke should have beene kindely taken by the King. 3. This was not the first time, that hee asked counsell of God for him, but hee had used so to doe in times past, and it was accepted by Saul, and therefore hee thought, that hee would not bee offended now at it. And this is implyed in the interrogative; Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Yet David Kimhi readeth it affirmatively, as if hee had pleaded, that this was the first time. Whereas hee saith nothing of Davids dissembling, that hee came about the Kings businesse, which might probably have excused him most, Josephus saith, that hee spake of that also, and therefore some thinke that all is not set downe, which Ahimelech spake: but others, that hee concealed it purposely, lest if David should happily be reconciled unto Soul againe, he should fare the worse for revealing it at Davids hands. Saul who breathe out nothing but death and destruction for consulting with God, Berrhaeus.aptly figureth out the Antichrist of Rome, who objecteth heresie & rebellion to those, that seek to Gods Oracles, that is, his word, for their direction. So Borrhae.
Then Saul bade the fooremen about him to slay the Priests, but they would not, then hee bade Doeg, who forthwith shew them to the number of 85. Persons, …. 17.and after this hee destroyed their City Noh, both men, women, and children, and sucklings, oxen, asses, & sheepe. But Comestor referreth these words he rased Nob and slew, &c. Saul who by his men did this after to the slaughter made by Doeg. Ahimelech having made his defence no better, but having said something, whereby God might be offended with him, in that hee pleadeth that he knew not David to have been proscribed by Saul, as if he would not have received him in his necessity, had it been known unto him, and something, whereby Saul might bee more offended, in that hee so praised David for faithfull and honourable when he saw Saul to be so set against him, and omitting altogether all prayer for pardon. Saul presently commandeth execution to be done, and it is done by Doeg and his servants, for it cannot be conceived, that hee could doe it alone, to kill so many and to destroy all the people, and cattle in an whole City. Other servants of Saul refused to doe this bloudy act, but this Doeg partly out of malice, which the wicked commonly beare against the godly, and partly to curry favour with Saul for his owne benefit, doth it without delay, as is intimated in Ps. 52. which was made purposely against him. Now although this was a most unjust fact in Saul to murther the Priests of the Lord, yet it was a judgement justly brought upon the house of Eli, according to that which was threatned, 1 Sam: 2. 31. And it is not to be doubted, but that there were other sinnes in these Priests, although unknowne to us, for which they were thus cut off, howbeit that against Saul they had done nothing worthy of death: for Gods judgements are often secret, but alwayes just. By this example, as Martyr noteth, we may see that the High-priest of old was not above, but under the King, to be summoned and judged by him: so Solomon afterwards cast out Abiathar from being Priest, and before Constantine the Emperour the 1 King. 2. 16.Bishops accused one another, and Justinian deposed Sylverius, and Vigilius, Bishops of Rome. Yet now he that taketh upon him, to be the High-priest of all the Church, usurpeth authority over Kings and Emperorurs, affirming, that he may not be judged by any man, as Pope Nicholas, and the Decretals, that no man may say to the Pope, why dost thou so? yea, he exempteth all his Clergy from the secular jurisdiction, contrary to Rom. 13.
Besides the cruelty here expressed, Josephus saith, that Saul caused the City Joseph. Antiq. lib. 6. c. 14.of the Priests to be razed to the ground, thus leaving the very Tabernacle of God, that was there, in desolation, without any minister to serve about it. Whereby we may see how he increased in wickednesse drawing nearer to the time of his cutting off by Gods just judgement. When he went against Amalek, he spared some things contrary to the expresse word of God, but now, it being the will of God, that he should have spared, he destroyeth all, neither was he touched with any remorse, as then we read upon Samuels admonition, that he was. So that in him, saith Josephus, we may see the condition of wicked men, when they have no power, they seeme to be good and kinde, and humble, but comming to have power, they shew their nature, which was before cunningly hidden, to be most wicked, cruell and bloody.
Some question here, whether Sauls servants did well in refusing to stay the Priests, when Saul commanded them? but this is easily resolved, we must rather obey God then man. Whereas Doeg is said to have slaine 85 persons that did weare a linnen Ephod; Lyra saith, that they came to Saul in their Ephods, Lyra.thinking hereby to move him the more for reverence to God, whose Ministers they were, to spare them from destruction: thus also Ostander. But Vatablus, Osiander. Vatabl. P. Martyr.Martyr, and Junius, that they were not now clad with Ephods, because they were to be worne onelyonly in Ministring before the Lord: but they are said to have worne them, because there were so many slaine, that were come to full age actually to serve about the Tabernacle in Ephods. I preferre the first, holding, that this clause is added to aggravate Doegs sinne, in that they having on the holy vestiments, which should have stricken a reverence into him, he yet presumed so atheistically to slay them, as it were, in despight of God, in whose liveries they were. And it is said a linnen Ephod, to difference it from that which the high-priest did weare, which was much more rich and precious. In Osiander.that sucking children were also slaine, herein David was againe a type of Christ, because at his fleeing into Aegypt, the infants in Bethlebem were slaine also by the command of cruell Herod.
But one of sonnes of Ahimelech, Abiathar, escaped and fled after David, &c. Saul V. 20.thought to have rooted out all the posterity of Ahimelech, but God preserved one still from his rage, yet it was but to endure more misery, and to be grieved at his future deposing, 1 Kings 2. 26. according to the prophecy against Elies family, 1 Sam. 2. 32. He brought the newes to David, at which he was greatly grieved, and comforted Abiathar by promising to be his protectour.