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1. THe Hebrewes doe thinke, that this Amalekite lied vnto Dauid, and that all this cunning tale was but deuised, to insinuate himself vnto Dauid: but it seemes that
all was not fained, as that he tooke the crowne from Sauls head, before he was dead, beeing fallen to the ground: for he had the crowne there present to shew.
2. Some doe thinke that he spake the truth: and that when Saul had fallen vpon his sword, this Amalekite also at Sauls motion, fell vpon him: so Iosephus, Genevens. Bor. and the Chalde interpreter seemeth to be of the same opinion, reading v. 15. The sinne of thy slaughter be vpon thine owne head: but this is not like to be so: for these reasons: 1. Saul fell vpon his sword, 1. Sam. 31.5. but here he is said to leane vpon his speare, that is, thrust himselfe in with the speare. 2. Sauls armour-bearer saw Saul dead first, before he killed himselfe, 1. Sam. 31.6. but here the Amalekite telleth, that life was in him, when he stood ouer him to make an end of him. 3. It is not like, that Saul hauing runne vpon his sword, had memorie to aske him so many questions: first to call him to him, then to enquire who he was, and thirdly to make his request to him. 4. This young man expected a reward at Dauids hand, c. 4.10. and there∣fore it is probable that he lied: for a flatterer, and a lier, for the most part, goe toge∣ther.
3. Some of the Hebrewes thinke, that this young man was Doegs sonne, whom they suppose to be Sauls armour bearer, and that he before he killed himselfe, gaue Sauls crowne, and bracelet to his sonne: But this young man was an Amalekite, Doeg was an Edomite, therefore this supposall hath no ground.
4. Therefore the more probable opinion is, that this Amalekite lied vnto Dauid in the most part of his tale: yet herein he may be thought to speake as it fell out; that he was the first, that came vpon Saul beeing wounded to death, and seeing no hope of life in him, rifled him, and tooke away his crowne and bracelet. Osiand. It will be obiected, that if he had not killed Saul, Dauids sentence had beene vniust to put him to death. Ans. the confession of his owne mouth was sufficient to condemne him, es∣pecially seeing he bewraied a willing and resolued mind to lay his hands vpon the Lords annointed, whether he did it or no.