The first establishment of regal government among the Hebrews, was
occasioned by the corrupt administration of Joel and Abiah, the two sons
of Samuel, whom he had deputed to judge Israel in the decline of his
life.* The people, exasperated at the oppression they laboured under,
applied to Samuel for redress, testifying a desire to experience a
different mode of government, by peremptorily demanding a king.** At
this, however, Samuel was greatly displeased: not that his sons had
tyrannized over the people, for of that he takes no manner of notice,
neither exculpating them, nor promising the people redress; his chagrin
arose from this violent resumption of the supreme magistracy out of
the hands of his family; a circumstance for which he expresses great
resentment.*** He consults the Lord, and not knowing else how the
insurrection might terminate, in his name yields to their desires;
promising them a king with vengeance to them.**** "For,"(5) says the
Lord, "they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I
should not reign over them."(6) The people, nevertheless, resolving to
free themselves from present oppression, at the hazard of the threatened
judgments, obstinately persisted in their demand, and dispersed not
without a promise of compliance.
* 1 Sam. viii. 3.
** Ver. 5.
*** Ver. 6, &c.
**** Ver. 11, &c.
(5) Ver 7, compared with chap. ix.
(6) Chap. x. 1.
Samuel, to all outward appearance, chose the most impartial method of
choosing a king, which was by lot, from among the people assembled by
tribes; but prudently pitches upon his man, previous to the election;
the whole tenor of his conduct manifesting, that he intended to give
them a king in name, but still to retain the supreme authority in
his own hands, by choosing one who should continue subordinate to his
dictates. Opportunely for his purpose, a young countryman, named Saul,
having rambled about to seek his fathers asses, which had strayed, and
finding all search after them vain, applied to Samuel as a prophet,*
with a fee in his hand, to gain intelligence of his beasts.
We gather from several passages in Jewish history, that there were
seminaries of prophets, i.e. the universities of the times, where
youth were trained up to the mystery of prophesying. We find there were
false prophets, nonconformists, not of the establishment; we find that
even the true ones were liable to be imposed on by their brethren;**
and we find moreover, by this instance, that prophets did not disdain
to give assistance in their prophetical character, concerning domestic
matters, for reasonable gratuities. A chief among the prophets, one
who had been a judge over Israel, is applied to in a pecuniary way, for
intelligence concerning lost cattle.***
* 1 Sam. ix. 7, 8.
** 1 Kings, xiii. 18., Josephus in loco.
*** Pretensions to divinations continue to this day, though,
in the opinion of reformed churches, all prophesying and
miracles have long since ceased. These modern prophets are
drolly ridiculed by our facetious countryman, Butler, in the
person of Sydrophel, a dealer,
"In Destiny's dark counsel?,
Who sage opinions of the moon sells;
To whom all people, far and near,
On deep importances repair.
When brass or pewter hap to stray,
Or linen slinks out of the way;
When geese and pullen are seduc'd,
And sows of sucking pigs are chous'd:
When cattle feel indisposition,
And need th' opinion of physician;
When murrain reigns in hogs or sheep,
And chickens languish of the pip;
When yeast and outward means do fail,
And have no power to work on ale;
When butter does refuse to come.
And love proves cross and humoursome;
To him with questions and with urine,
They for discov'ry flock, or curing.
It has been said, that this is the only instance recorded of a prophet
being applied to for purposes of this nature; but it appears that it
was usual for men to have recourse to prophets, and that the phrase was,
"Come, and let us go to the seer;"* and that prophetical intelligence
was paid for, is evident from the inquiry between Saul and his servant,
concerning their ability to gratify him.**
But, to proceed: Saul not only found his asses, but a kingdom into the
bargain; and had the spirit of the Lord given;*** to him which we
find taken away**** again, when he proved untractable: though it seems
somewhat odd, how he could possibly prove disobedient, while he acted
under the influence of this Divine Spirit! For, the possibility being
admitted, the advantage of inspiration is difficult to be conceived.
After Samuel had in private(5) anointed Saul king, and told him his
asses were already found, he dismissed him for the present. He then
assembled the people for the election of a king: at which assembly,
behold, the lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin; and in that, on the
family of Matri; and finally, on Saul, the son of Kish.(6) An election
somewhat resembling consistories for the appointment of bishops; where
the person being previously fixed on, God is solemnly prayed to for a
direction of their choice.
* 1 Sam. ix. 9.
** Ver. 7, 8.
*** Ch.x. 6.
**** Ch. xvi. 19.
(5) Ch. x. 1.
(6) Ch. x. 20, 21.
It is not intended here to give a detail of the reign of king Saul;
the notice hitherto taken of him being merely because the life of David
could not be properly introduced without mentioning the alteration of
government, and the manner in which monarchy was established in Israel:
since Samuel's disappointment in Saul, naturally leads to his similar
choice of David.
The disobedience of Saul, in daring to sacrifice without his patron the
prophet,* who failed of coming according to his appointment; and his
lenity and prudence, in sparing the king, and some cattle, from a nation
which Samuel, in the name of the Lord, had commanded him utterly
to extirpate,** irrevocably lost him the favour of this imperious
inexorable prophet: and, in the end, produced the miserable destruction
not only of himself, but of his family: which will occasion no surprise,
when we consider the absolute dominion and ascendency which the Jewish
priests maintained over this ignorant superstitious people. A dominion
which every article in the Levitical law enlarged and strengthened.
We are not to imagine that the sparing Agag, king of the Amalekites, was
the only cause of this rupture between him and Samuel. For we may gather
from other parts of his history, that Saul was not over-well affected
towards his patrons the Levites;*** in subjection to whom he had too
much spirit to continue. Samuel quickly perceived he had mistaken his
man, he haughtily avowed his intention of deposing him;**** and ordering
Agag to be brought into his presence, he hewed him in pieces--"before
the Lord."(5)
* 1 Sam. xiii. 8-14.
** Ch. xv. 3.
*** Ch. 22.18,19. and Ch. xxviii. 9.
**** Ch. xiii. 14. xv. 26. 28.
(5) Ver. 33., Ch. xvi. 13.
We now come to the hero of the history.
In pursuance of his intention to make another king, Samuel went under
the pretence of a sacrifice, and anointed another country youth, which
was David, the youngest son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite; and gave him
the spirit of the Lord, which he had just taken from poor Saul.
The king, in the mean time, reflecting on the precariousness of his
situation, now that the priests, on the part of Samuel, were incensed
against him; and well knowing their influence among his subjects, fell
into a melancholy disorder of mind,* which his physicians were unable to
remove.**
This was artfully made the occasion of introducing David to court. The
king was advised to divert himself with music; and David was contrived
to be recommended to him for his skill on the harp.*** Saul accordingly
sent to Jesse, to request his son; which was immediately complied
with: and David was detained at court, in the capacity of the king's
armour-bearer.**** Here the story begins to grow confused, beyond
_lay_-skill to reconcile. A war with the Philistines is abruptly
introduced; in the midst of the relation of which, we are abruptly
informed that David returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep(5)
again; from whence his father sent him with provisions for his brothers,
who were in the army.(6) What can be thought of this? Jesse hardly
recalled his son from the honourable post of armour-bearer to the king;
it is not likely that he was turned off, since we afterwards find him
playing on the harp to the king, as before;(7) neither was it proper
employment for the king's armour-bearer to be feeding sheep, when the
army was in the field, and his majesty with them in person! Why--the
most easy method is to take it as we find it; to suppose it to be right,
and go quietly on with the story.
In the Philistine army was a man of extraordinary size, named Goliah,
who came out of their camp, day by day, challenging and defying any one
among the Hebrews to single combat, and to rest the decision of their
quarrel upon the event; an offer which no one among the Israelites was
hitherto found hardy enough to accept.(8)
*1 Sam. xvi. 14.
** Josephus.
*** 1 Sam. xvi. 18.
**** Ver. 21.
(5) Ch. xvii. 15.
(6) Ch. xvii. 17.
(7) Ch. xviii. 10.
(8) Ch. xvii. 4, &c.
David is said to have arrived at the army just as it was forming for
engagement; at which time the giant advanced as before, with reproachful
menaces; and, after having enquired carefully concerning what reward
would be given to the conquerer of this giant, and learning that great
riches and the king's daughter were to be the prizes of conquest, David
courageously declared before Saul his acceptance of the challenge,*
notwithstanding the contempt with which his offer had been treated.
Saul, relying on the youth's ardour and assurance of victory, girded his
own armour on him:** but David put it off again, trusting entirely to a
pouch of stones, and his own skill in slinging.*** The success answered
his hopes, and stamped, what would otherwise have been deemed a rash
undertaking, with a more respectable name; he knocked Goliath down with
a stone; then ran in upon him, cut his head off with his own sword, and
brought it triumphantly to the king of Israel.**** The consequence was
the defeat of the 'Philistines.
Here we meet with another stumbling-block. For, though Saul, as has
already been observed, had sent to Jesse expressly for his son David;
though David had played to him on the harp; though Saul had again sent
to Jesse, to desire that David might be permitted to stay with him; and
in consequence of this had given him a military appointment about his
person; though he had now a fresh conference with him; had just placed
his own suit of armour on him; and though all the occurrences must have
happened within a small space of time, yet his memory is made so to fail
him on a sudden, that he knew nothing either of David, or his parentage!
but while David went to meet the giant, he enquired of others, who
proved as ignorant as himself, whose son(5) the stripling was? This
stumbling-block must likewise be stepped over, for it is not removeable.
*1 Sam. xvii. 32.
** Ver. 38.
*** Ver. 40.
****Ver. 49.
(5) Ver. 55., Ch. xviii. 3.
The reputation which this gallant action procured to David, soon gained
him advancement in the army, and a warm friendship with Saul's son,
Jonathan. But the inordinate acclamations of the people, on account of
the death of the Philistine giant, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and
David his ten thousands;"* a rhodomontade out of measure extravagant,
when we compare the two subjects of the contrast, justly occasioned Saul
to view David with a jealous eye. We have all the reason in the world to
believe that Samuel and the priests made every possible advantage of an
adventure so fortunate for their intended king, to improve his growing
popularity, which even at its outset had so far exceeded all bounds of
decency: "What," said Saul, "can he have more but the kingdom?"** and we
may therefore conclude that the king saw enough to alarm him; for we are
told, that "Saul eyed David from that day and forward,"***Thus we find
that on the following day, while David played as usual on his harp
before Saul, the king cast a javelin at him,**** which David avoided.
Saul then made him captain over a thousand, saying, "Let not mine
hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him," an
expression however which is evidently put into Saul's mouth, since it is
impossible he could have made use of it openly. He made him the offer of
his daughter Merab for his wife, in consequence of the defeat of Goliah;
but she, we know not why, was given to another;(5) afterwards he gave
him Michal: and David's modesty (6) on this occasion was incomparably
well acted; he knowing himself, at the same time, to be secretly
intended for the kingdom by Samuel.
Saul, upon reflection, concluding it dangerous to execute any open act
of violence against this young hero, politically hoped to ensnare him,
by exalting him high in favour, or to get rid of him by putting him upon
his mettle, in performing feats of valour; for a deficiency of valour is
not to be numbered among David's faults. It was with this view that
the king yet required of him an hundred Philistine foreskins(7) as the
condition of becoming his son-in-law. He produced double the number "in
full tale."(8)
* 1 Sam. xxii. 7.
** Ch. xviii. 8.
*** Ver. 9.
**** Ver. 11.
(5) Ver. 17.
(6) Ver. 10.
(7) Ver. 23., Ver. 25. (according to Josephus 600 heads).
(8) 1 Sam. xviii. 27.
This demand, after David appeals to have fulfilled the prescribed
conditions, seems not only unjust, but also, even making allowance
for Hebrew customs, very ridiculously expressed. It must have been a
glorious sight to have seen David bring the foreskins to king Saul,
strung perhaps on a piece of pack-thread, and dangling in his hand, or
thrown across his shoulders like a sash: and if Miss Michal was present,
how must her pretty little heart exult when the required number being
told off, as many more were gallantly presented at her feet!
David still advanced in his military** reputation, and met with a
powerful advocate in the person of Jonathan, his brother-in-law and
faithful friend, who effected a temporary reconciliation between him
and Saul;*** at which time Saul swore he would no more attempt his life.
Nevertheless, whether it was that he could not get the better of his
jealousy, or that he discovered more than is transmitted down to us, we
know not; consequences incline us to the last conjecture: Saul made two
more attempts to kill him;**** from one of which he was protected by
his wife Michal; and finding it not safe to stay at court, he fled to
Samuel, in Ramah.(5) Hither Saul sent messengers to apprehend him;(6)
but these, it seems, seeing Samuel presiding over a company of prophets,
and prophesying, were seized with a spirit of prophesying also; and not
only so, but it is related that Saul finding this, went at last himself,
to just the same purpose; for he likewise prophesied,(7) stripping off
his cloaths, in which ridiculous condition he continued for a day and a
night.
** Ver. 30. xix. 8.
*** Ver. 4.
**** Ver. 10, 11.
(5) Ver. 18.
(6) Ver. 20.
(7) Ver. 23.
This is an extreme odd relation! That the solemn appearance of an
assembly of prophets, presided over by a person so respectable, and
heretofore of such great authority in Judea, might influence, in an
extraordinary manner, persons entrusted with a commission to apprehend
or kill a man patronized by these prophets, exhibits nothing wonderful;
they might easily perhaps, be prophesied out of their errand; and might
then prophesy in concert. Prophesy is a vague term, not always limited
to the prediction of future events; the extempore preaching of many
dissenters, and the discourses of the Quakers, who profess to speak as
the Spirit gives them utterance, seem to come under the term prophesy.
These persons can work themselves and others into such fits of
enthusiastic intoxication, that they believe themselves agitated by
supernatural influence. Such might be the prophesying here mentioned.
But Saul prophesied! so it is said. Had the subject of Saul's
prophesying, been transmitted down to us, it might have greatly
illustrated this passage in the history; but no, he is barely said to
have _prophesied_; and we are prudently left to guess what. Being thus
at liberty, we, among other expositors, may easily surmise what he might
take for his text, and was the general tenor of his discourse, on this
particular occasion.
Afterward David had a private interview* with Jonathan; for he durst not
venture to appear at court. At this meeting, Jonathan, who had conceived
too great an affection for this man, and was at length seduced by him
from the duty and allegiance which he owed to his father and king,
solemnly promised** that he would sound his father's intentions on the
next day, which being the festival of the new moon, David's attendance
was expected at the king's table; and that he would warn him of any
danger intended him.
* 1 Sam. x. 1.
** Ver. 12.
David lay hid in the field until Jonathan brought him the required
intelligence; and when the king inquired, concerning him, Jonathan as
had been before concerted, said that he had requested leave to go and
perform a family sacrifice at Bethlehem. Saul's reply on this occasion
is very pertinent, and shows his antipathy to David not to have been
the causeless inveteracy of a disordered mind. "Then Saul's anger was
kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse
rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of
Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's
nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou
shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom: wherefore now send and fetch
him unto me; for he shall surely die."* Jonathan expostulated with his
father, and had a javelin hurled at him for his reward.**
David being advertised, according to agreement, of the king's
disposition toward him, retired to Ahimelech, the high priest, at the
city of Nob who treated him with shew-bread, and armed him with the
sword of Goliah, which had been hung up and consecrated to God.***
We may consider David's resuming this sword, after its dedication as
a religious trophy, whatever gloss may be put on his interview with
Ahimelech, to be a clear manifestation of hostile intentions, or a
declaration of war against his father-in-law, for which he now took the
first opportunity to prepare. Thus accoutred, he fled out of Judea, to
Achish, king of Gath;**** intending, as we have good reason to believe,
to enter into a treaty of alliance with him against the Hebrews; but
the popular cry was against him before he accomplished any thing, or at
least any thing that has reached our times.
* Ver. 30, 81. Josephus in loco.
** Ver. 33.
*** 1 Sam. xxi. 1.
**** Ver. 9. Josephus.
Here David appears to disadvantage in point of policy: for though his
carrying with him the sword of Goliah was artful enough, and likely to
collect followers in Judea, since it was a continual witness of that
prowess which had gained him such extraordinary reputation; yet, for
him, under this circumstance, to throw himself into the power of the
Philistines, among those very people from whose champion he had ravished
_that sword_, was the highest imprudence! and we perceive he might
have suffered for it, had not he made use of a stratagem to procure his
release, which he effected by acting the madman.* Mankind seems to have
been very easily imposed on in those days.
David, now thinking it time openly to avow his design of disputing the
crown with Saul, went to a cave called Adullam, which he appointed the
place of rendezvous for his partizans. Here we are told he collected
together a company of debtors, vagrants, and disaffected persons, to the
number of four hundred; and opened his rebellion, by putting himself at
the head of this body of men:** men, whose desperate situations under
the government in being, rendered them fit agents to disturb it, and
proved the surest bond to connect them to a partizan thus embarked in
an enterprize against it. Hither also came to him his father and all his
brethren; and the first movement that he made was to go to the king of
Moab, to obtain a retreat for his father and mother, until he knew the
event of his enterprise.***
By the advice of the prophet Gad, David next marched into the land of
Judah:**** Gad, no doubt hoped, that as the young adventurer was of that
tribe, he would there meet with considerable reinforcement. When Saul
heard of this insurrection, he pathetically laments his misfortune to
those about him, that they, and even his son Jonathan, should conspire
against him.(5)
* 1 Sam. xxi. 13.
** Ch. xxii. 2.
*** Ver. 2.
**** Ver. 6.
(5) Ver. 7, 8, 9.
Then started up one Doeg, an Edomite, who informed Saul, that he had
seen David harboured by the priests in Nob. Upon this, Saul summoned all
those belonging to that city before him, with Ahimelech their chief,
who began to excuse himself as well as he could; but Saul remembering,
without doubt, the threatening of Samuel, concerning the affair of
king Agag;* and considering these priests as traitors, from this
corroborating evidence against them, he commanded them all to be slain,
to the number of eighty-five persons.** Moreover, agreeable to the
barbarous usage of that nation, the massacre included the whole city of
Nob, man and beast, young and old, without exception.
Though the king's rage in this instance exceeded not only the bounds of
humanity, but also of good policy, it nevertheless serves to show how
deeply the priests were concerned in the rebellion of David; since
he could not be mad enough to commit so flagrant an act, without some
colourable pretence;*** and shows also that Saul had not so great an
opinion of their holiness as we, at this distance of time, are, by their
own annals, instructed to have. Had Saul been more implicit, he might
have enjoyed the name of king, have continued the dupe of the priests,
have died in peace, and his children have succeeded quietly to the
inheritance. But,
"Ye gods! what havoc does ambition make
Among your works!"
During this time, David rescued the city of Keilah from the
Philistines,(5) who were besieging it, hoping to make it a garrison for
himself.
* 1 Sam. xiii. 14, xv. 26, 28.
** Ch. xxii. 16-18.
*** Ver. 19.
**** In so small a territory as Judea, the difference
between the king and his son-in-law, so popular a man, could
not be unknown to persons in any measure removed from the
vulgar. Therefore, Ahmeleoh's pleas of ignorance did not
deserve credit.
(5) 1 Sam. xxiii. 3.
But upon the approach of Saul, not thinking himself able to maintain it,
being as yet but six hundred strong, and not choosing to confide in the
inhabitants, whose loyalty even his recent kindness to them could not
corrupt, he therefore abandoned it, and retired to the wilderness.*
This passage alone is amply sufficient to confirm the reality of David's
rebellious intentions; it is, therefore, worth analyzing. That he
delivered this city from the depredations of the Philistines, and that
by this action he hoped to purchase the friendship of the inhabitants,
are acknowledged: the use to which he intended to convert this
friendship, is the point to be ascertained. Saul was advancing to
suppress him. Had he seduced them from their allegiance, and obtained
the expected protection, he would have deprived Saul of this city, which
city might have been considered as a garrison. The old plea, of
his providing only for his personal safety, against his malignant
persecutor, has often been urged; but his intended retention of a city,
to secure that safety, was a flagrant rebellious intention. Had he
gained this one city, as his strength increased, he would have concluded
as many more as he could have procured, necessary for his preservation,
until he had monopolized the whole country, agreeable to the grant of
Samuel, which would then have justified the usurpation; but disappointed
in the first step, by the loyalty, miscalled treachery, of the Keilites,
he evacuated the town, having lost the recompence of his labour, and
with his men "went whithersoever they could go."** In the wilderness
Jonathan came privately to see him, and piously engages in the cause
against his own father, by covenant; in which it was agreed, that if
David succeeded, of which Jonathan is very confident, _he_ was to be a
partaker of his good fortune but as Jonathan was not to join him openly,
he went home again.
Saul, having received intelligence of David's retreats, pursued him from
place to place, until he was called off by news of an invasion of the
land by the Philistines;*** whether of David's procuring or not, we are
uncertain: thus much is certain, and does not discredit the supposition,
that he quickly after took refuge among those Philistines.
* 1 Sam. xxiii. 13.
** Ib.
*** Ver. 16-18, 27.
After repelling the invaders, Saul, however, returned to the wilderness
of Engedi, in pursuit of David, with three thousand chosen men. At
this place we are told of an odd adventure, which put the life of Saul
strangely into the power of David. He turned in to repose himself*
alone in a cave, wherein at that time, David and his myrmidons were
secreted.**
* The words are, "to cover his feet:" which Josephus and
others, mistake to mean, that he retired into the cave to
ease nature. But in Judges, iii. 21. we find that expression
to imply, that the servants of Eulon, king of Moab, supposed
their master to have locked himself in, to repose himself
with sleep, in his summer-chamber. This is farther
corroborated, in Ruth, iii. 7. where, when Boaz had eaten
his supper, he laid down on a heap of corn, doubtless to
take his rest. Ruth, by her mother's instruction, went,
uncovered his feet, and lay down by him--to have some
refreshment likewise. For, in the middle of the night, when
the man awaked, surprised at finding an unexpected
bedfellow, and demanded who she was, the kind wench replied--
"I am Ruth, thine hand-maid; spread therefore thy skirt
over thine hand-maid, for thou art a near kinsman." In the
present instance, it is evident, Saul slept in the cave; as
he discovered not the operation that had been performed on
his robe, till David called after him, to apprize him
thereof.
** 1 Sam. xxiv. 3.
This, one would imagine to have been a fine opportunity for him to have
given a finishing stroke to his fortune, by killing Saul, and jumping
into, the throne at once: but David knew better what he was about,
than to act so rashly. He could entertain no hopes that the Jews would
receive for their king a man who, with such great seeming holiness,
should imbrue his hands in the blood of the Lord's anointed. Beside,
what evidently destroys the boasted merit of David's forbearance toward
Saul, in this instance, is an obvious, though overlooked consideration,
that, compared with David, Saul had a strong army with, him; and had the
king been missing, had he been observed to enter the cave without coming
out again; and upon search, had he been there found murdered, there
would not have escaped, of all that pertained to David, any that
_pissed against this wall_. Of this David could not be insensible;
and therefore, only privately cut off the skirt of Saul's robe,* and
suffered him to depart in peace. When the king was gone out from
the cave, David calls after him, and artfully makes a merit of his
forbearance, protesting an innocency, to which his being in arms was,
however, a flat** contradiction. Saul freely and gratefully acknowledges
himself indebted to him for his life, and seems so well convinced of his
own precarious situation, that he candidly confesses it; only tying
him down with an oath,*** not to destroy his children after him--an
obligation which, in due time, we shall see in what manner remembered
and fulfilled by David.
*1 Sam. xxiv. 4.
** Ver. 8-15.
*** Ver. 21.
Saul must certainly have been greatly fatigued, or strangely overseen,
to have let David catch him at so great a disadvantage--a conduct
not usual with good generals. Yet, while we credit the relation, the
meanness of his reply to David's harangue, can be no otherwise accounted
for. Saul does not appear to have wanted resolution on other
occasions; but to acknowledge his assurance that David would obtain the
sovereignty, and poorly to entreat a fugitive rebel in behalf of his
family! is a conduct not even to be palliated, but upon the foregoing
supposition. We must either condemn the general or the king, neither of
which characters appear with extraordinary lustre upon this occasion.
David, on the other hand, dissembles admirably here, pretending to Saul
a _great reverence_ for the Lord's anointed, though conscious, at
the same time, that _he was also_ the Lord's anointed, and anointed
purposely to supersede the other Lord's anointed; and, moreover, was at
this very time aiming to put his election in force! But, as the people
were not of his council, and he knew their great regard for religious
sanctions, it was certainly prudent in him to set an example of piety,
in an instance of which he hoped, in time, to reap the benefit himself:
About this time Samuel died.*
We next find our young adventurer acting the chief character in a
tragi-comedy, which will farther display his title to the appellation of
being a Man after God's own heart.
There dwelt then at Maon, a blunt rich old farmer, whose name was Nabal.
David hearing of him, and that he was at that time sheep-shearing, sent
a detachment of his followers to levy a contribution upon him,** making
a merit of his forbearance, in that he had not stolen his sheep, and
murdered his shepherds.*** Nabal, who, to be sure, was not the most
courteous man in the world, upon receiving this extraordinary message,
gave them but a very indifferent reply, including a flat denial. "Who,"
says he, "is David? and who is the son of Jesse? There be many servants
nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take
my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers,
and give unto men whom I know not whence they be?"**** Upon receiving
this answer, David, without hesitation, directly formed his resolution;
and arming himself, with a number of his followers, vowed to butcher
him, _and all that belonged to him_, before the next morning.(5) And how
was this pious intention diverted? Why, Abigail, the charming Abigail!
Nabal's wife, resolved, unknown to her spouse, to try the force
of beauty, in mollifying this incensed hero, whose disposition for
gallantry, and warm regard for the fair sex, was probably not unknown at
that time. Her own curiosity also might not be a little excited; for the
ladies have at all times been universally fond of military gentlemen: no
wonder, therefore, that Mrs. Abigail, the wife of a cross country clown,
was willing to seize this opportunity of getting acquaintance with
captain David.
* 1 Sam. xxv. 1.
** Ver. 5--9.
*** Ver. 7.
**** Ver. 10, 11.
(5) Ver. 13, 14-22.
And this motive certainly had its force, since she could not as yet have
known David's intention: we may observe she was told of it by David at
their meeting.* She prepared a present, and went to David, saying,
very sententiously, "Upon me, my Lord, upon me let this iniquity be:"**
judging, very humanely, that could she get him to transfer his
revenge upon _her_, she might possibly contrive to pacify him, without
proceeding to disagreeable extremities. Nor was she wrong in her
judgment; for we are told, "So David received of her hand that which she
had brought him, and said unto her, go up in peace to thine house; see
I have hearkened to thy voice, _and have accepted thy person_."*** But
however agreeable this meeting might have been to Abigail, we do not
find that Nabal was so well pleased with the composition his wife had
made for him; for when he came to understand so much of the story as she
chose to inform him of, he guessed the remainder, broke his heart, and
died in ten days afterward. David loses no time, but returned God thanks
for the old fellow's death, and then Mrs. Abigail was promoted to the
honour of being one of the Captain's ladies.(5)
We are now told another story extremely resembling that of the cave of
En-gedi. Saul again pursues David with three thousand chosen men; again
fell into his hands during his sleep; only that here David stole upon
him in his own camp; he ran away with the king's spear and bottle of
water, and Saul went back again as wise as he came.(6)
* I Sam. xxv. 34.
** Ver. 24.
*** Ver. 35.
****Ver. 37,38.
(5) Ver. 39.
(6) Ch. xxvi.
The opinion of Mons. Bayle seems most probable concerning this
adventure, who looks upon it but as another detail of the former affair
at En-gedi; and that for very good reasons. For, upon a comparison of
both, as laid down in the 23d, 24th, and 26th chapters of 1 Samuel, we
may remark,
I. That in each relation Saul pursues him with the same number of chosen
men.