Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XVIII.

Vers. 1. ANd it came to passe when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, &c.] That

is, his heart and affections were in an extraordinary manner set upon David; and the causes thereof are easily conceived; to wit, First, Those amiable graces which he discerned in David, his wisdome, his courage and undaunted spirit; his zeal for Gods glory, and above all, his faith and confidence in Gods protection and assi∣stance. Secondly, The likenesse and suitablenesse of their qualities and dispositions: Jonathan was a stout couragious Prince, pious and faithfull, and therefore when David had manifested himself to be eminently such likewise, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. Thirdly, The glory that God had done him in giving him the victory over that proud Gyant that had both defied and terrified the whole army of Israel; this shewed plainly that he was highly esteemed of God, and pretious in his eyes, and so he loved him as one that was dearly beloved of God. Fourthly, The gratious speeches that came from David upon every occa∣sion; for that seems to be specially aimed at in those words, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, And Fifthly, There was doubtlesse a speciall hand of God in inclining the affecti∣ons of Jonathan thus unto David; for by this means God provided David a freind in Sauls court to plead for him, to reveal Sauls plots and intendments against him, and to be by his true love a comfort and support to David in all his approching troubles and sorrows.

Vers. 3. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant.] That is, a covenant of entire friendship and brotherly love.

Vers. 4. And Jonathan stript himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David.] To wit, that hereby he might testifie that he esteemed him as his se∣cond self, and that whatever he had, all his authority, and power, and wealth he should be alwayes ready to bestow and imploy it for Davids welfare and service.

Vers. 5. And Saul set him over the men of warre.] That is, he made him a Captain over some of his troops, and imployed him as a commander in his warres; For this is not meant of that dignity which Saul had formerly conferred upon Abner, chap. 14.50. who was the Captain of his host, that is, the chief Generall of his Ar∣mies: that place he still retained as is evident in many places of the following story.

Vers. 6. The women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dauncing to meet king Saul, &c.] It was it seems the usuall custome of these times amongst the people of God, that when God had given them any great victory over their enemies, the women were wont with dances and songs of triumph to celebrate the praises of God: For so it was with the women of Israel when the Egyptians were drowned in the red sea, Exod, 15.20. And with Jephthahs daughter and her com∣pany, when Jephthah had vanquished the Ammonites, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances, Judges 11.32. And therefore now from all the cities of Israel that Saul passed by with his army as he returned home from the valley of Elah, where he had vanquished the Philistines, the women came out with songs and dances to congratulate his victory. As women have usually the heaviest share in the calamities of a land that is overrun by an enemy, and that because they are least able to resist, and so are frequently taken for slaves, ra∣vished and abused in the most savage manner; so have they likewise therefore the greatest cause to rejoyce when the enemy is vanquished; and hence it may be was

this custome of womens triumphing at every great victory. But however, in this triumphing of Gods people for the fall of Goliath, and the vanquishing of the Phi∣listines, there was a kind of figure and shadow, of the triumphant joy of Gods elect people for Christs conquest over Sathan, and their prevailing over their spiri∣tuall enemies through the merits and assistance of Christ, Rev. 12.10, 11. I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation and strength, and the king∣dome of our God and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, &c. and they overcame him by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimony: such was the rejoycing of the virgin Mary and Zachary, Luke 1.46. My soul doth magnifie the Lord, saith Mary, and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour. And blessed be the Lord God of Israel, saith Zachary, for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, vers. 68.69. Yea thus do all Gods re∣deemed ones triumph, because Christ hath made them more then Conquerours over all their enemies, Rom. 8.33, 39.

Vers. 7. Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands,] To Da∣vid they ascribed ten times as much as to Saul, because by his killing of Goliath he was the cause of the routing of the whole army. Now so solemn and glorious was the triumph of the Israelites, and such generall notice was taken of this particular pas∣sage in the womens song, that it came to be reported and known to the Philistines, as we may see, chap. 21.11. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? Did not they sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And chap. 29.5. Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

Vers. 8. And he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdome?] The meaning is, that from thenceforth he began to suspect that David was the man of whom Samuel had told him, that should be king in his room, chap. 13.14. The Lord hath sought him out a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath com∣manded him to be captain over his people.

Vers. 9. And Saul eyed David from that day forward.] That is, he looked upon him with an envious and malitious eye, and watched for an opportunity to make him away.

Vers. 10. The evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house.] In his frantick fits it is said that Saul prophesied, either be∣cause he sung songs, perhaps such hymns and songs as were usually sung by the sonnes of the Prophets, which is usually called prophesying in the Scriptures, as we may see in a former note, chap. 10.5. And this he might do by the suggestion of Sathan: Or else, because generally being besides himself, and possessed with an evil spirit, both his behaviour and speech in some regard, was outwardly such as when the Prophets were stirred by the spirit of God, who in their extasies and raptures had some uncomposed kind of motions and actions, and were as men be∣sides themselves for the time; and therefore often termed mad men, 2. Kings 9.11. Wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? so Jer. 29.26. Every man that is mad

and maketh himself a prophet, &c. Men possessed do many times utter strange languages and words, which they formerly never learned nor understood; yea, ma∣ny times they will divine of secret things, as no doubt that damsel did, that was possessed with a spirit of divination, Acts 16.16. As therefore those idolatrous se∣ducers of the people that were never sent of God, were yet usually called prophets; so here Saul, because his speech and carriage was in some particulars like that of Gods prophets, is here said to have prophesied.

Vers. 11. And Saul cast the javelin, for he said, I will smite David to the wall with it.] And this he did twice (perhaps in two severall fits) as the follo∣ing words imply: and David avoided out of his presence twice. Whilest David sought to cure Saul of his phrensie, Saul sought to take away his life. And so like∣wise, whilest our Saviour sought the health of the Jews, and their recovery out of Sathans power, by preaching to them the glad tidings of the Gospel, they often sought to kill him, sometimes openly, sometimes secretly, that he was oft forced to withdraw himself from them; as there at Nazareth, Luke 4, 28, 29, 30. And they all in the Synagogue when they heard these things were filled with wrath, And they rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and lead him to the brow of the hill (whereon the city was built) that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

Vers, 13. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his Captain over a thousand, &c.] That is, a Colonel or a chief Commander in his army. Perceiving that David by his watchfulnesse did still decline the stroke of his jave∣lin, and perhaps that he did forbear to come at him any more in his frantick fits, he removed him from him, that is, he resolved to imploy him abroad, that he might not be vexed any more with the sight of him, and so he made him one of his Col∣lonels, hoping also, that he would some time or other be slain in the battel; and thence it is said of David in the following words, that he went out and came in be∣fore the people, that is, he led them out to battel, and brought them back again.

Vers. 17. And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife.] And thus under a pretence of performing that promise formerly made to him that should kill Goliath, chap. 17.25. he sought to expose David to the sword of the Philistines: For this renued promise of his daughter he hoped, would make him the more eagerly prosecute his warres against them, and then one time or other he thought the Philistines might slay him; but now all this while he never seriously intended she should be his wife, or else he soon changed his mind; for within a while after he gave her to another man; of which see the note upon vers. 19.

Vers. 18. What is my life, or my fathers family in Israel, that I should be sonne in law to the king?] What is my parentage, education, condition of life, that I should think my self a fit husband for a kings daughter? And thus he modestly re∣fused the honour that was tendered him, as knowing that as yet they understood no∣thing of his being anointed to succeed Saul.

Vers. 19. But it came to passe at the time when Merab Sauls daughter should have been given to David that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite to wife.] This Adriel the Meholathite was the sonne of Barzillai, as is expressely noted,

2. Sam. 21.8. Where also it is recorded, that all the sonnes that he had by this daugh∣ter of Saul, (that we may see how the curse of God followed this unlawfull match) were hanged up, in satisfaction to the Gibeonites; for they are certainly Adriels sonnes by Merab that are mentioned there, onely they were brought up by Michal; of which see the note there. It seems the promise of giving her to David to wife, carried on so farre, that the time was set for solemnizing the marriage, and yet then at the time when Merab should have been given to David, she was given to A∣driel: which is very observable in many regards. For first, we see that God having appointed Michal not Merab to be Davids wife, the match propounded with Merab did not succeed: secondly, hereby the malice and wickednesse of Saul was notably discovered; it being evident, that either he never meant this marriage, though he suf∣fered it to go on so farre: or else, that suddenly he changed his mind, hoping by this disgrace to drive David to some discontent and violent course, that so he might take occasion from thence to cut him off: and thirdly, the wonderfull wisdome and pati∣ence of David was hereby manifested, who bare all this quietly, and stirred not. It was a matter of great reproch and derision to David, that he should be thus led on with hopes of a wife, and then in an instant another should get her from him, and yet all this could not stirre David to do any thing that was not lawfull or seemly for him.

Vers. 20. And Michal Sauls daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him well.] Not that he was pleased to see David beloved, (for we see how highly he was displeased with Jonathan, because he loved David) but be∣cause he hoped by that means to bring his purpose about, for the destroying of Da∣vid: and the very hope of doing hurt to a party hated, yields great content to a mali∣cious person.

Vers. 21. And Saul said, I will give him her that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.] This was Sauls plot, but it proved contrary: for Michal proved a means to help him out of the snare which Saul had laid for him, chap. 19.11, 12. and Saul fell afterwards into the hands of the Philistines, but not David.

Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my sonne in law, in one of the twain.] As if he should have said, Though I failed before, yet I will make thee amends now; I have but two daughters, and one of the twain thou shalt have; And so being by this means my sonne in law, it will be no great wrong though thou hadst not the eldest.

Vers. 22. And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath a delight in thee, &c.] That is, as if it came from your selves, and not from me. Because he had before twice promised his daughter, and had not kept his word, he was fain to imploy his Courtiers now to perswade David to accept his offer, and to engage their credit, that the king did really intend what he said.

Vers. 23. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a kings sonne in law, seeing that I am a poore man, and lightly esteemed?] That is, not able to give a dowry fit for Sauls daughter, and therefore was sleighted about his other daughter.

Vers. 25. Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred fore-skinnes of the Philistines, &c.] Why are the fore-skinnes required, rather then the heads of the Philistines? First, to imply the ground why Saul desi∣red this, to wit, because they were enemies to God, and to his people. Secondly, to enrage the Philistines the more against David; for hatred to circumcision would make them abhorre this act of David, of cutting off the fore-skinnes from the dead bodies of their brethren, more then any thing that could have been done to them.

Vers. 26. It pleased David well to be the kings sonne in law, and the dayes were not expired, &c.] It seems that Michal was promised David, upon condition that he should bring Saul an hundred fore-skinnes of the Philistines, within a certain time prefixed: Or else there was a time set for the marriage, before which he was to bring these fore-skinnes of the Philistines. And therefore it is here noted, that before this time was expired, he did what was imposed; yea, to make sure that Saul should not cavill, he brought two hundred, v. 27. in stead of an hundred.

Vers. 29. And Saul was yet more afraid of David.] To wit, as considering now that this marriage with his daughter, was a fair step to the crown and kingdom,

Vers. 30. Then the Princes of the Philistines went forth.] To wit, to make warre with the Israelites: And it may well be, that besides their desire to be reven∣ged on the Israelites for the late defeat of their armies when Goliah was slain, even the late slaughter which David had made amongst the Philistines, when he brought an hundred of their fore-skinnes to Saul, had mightily enraged them; and this was the occasion of their present invading the land of Israel.