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. XXVIII.

Vers. 1. THe Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight against Israel.] That is, not onely Achish, but with him all the other Princes of the Philistines, encouraged no doubt by the distractions that were now in the land of Israel, and the weak state of the kingdome by means hereof.

Vers. 2. And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do.] The ambiguity of these words seems to imply, that he meant not fight a∣gainst the people of God, though he durst not but make semblance of being readie to do what the king should require.

And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for∣ever.] That is, I will make thee Captain of my life-guard, so long as we shall live together.

Vers. 2. Now Samuel was dead, &c.] This is here inserted because of the fol∣lowing story, wherein is related how Saul being destitute of all counsell, sought to have Samuel raised from the dead, that he might talk with him; of late Saul disre∣garded Samuel, now he would have wished he had been living.

And Saul put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.] This is added to shew, that Saul seeking to the witch, sinned against his own conscience.

Vers. 4. And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came, and pitched in Shunem.] A town in the border of Issachar, Josh. 19.18.

Vers. 5. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.] Through the terrours of a guilty conscience, which now seized upon him.

Vers. 6. And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, &c.] How Saul enquired of the Lord it is not expressed, onely this we may conclude that by Urim he could not enquire of God, & that because Abiathar had carried away the high priests Ephod to David, wherein the Urim was, chap. 23.6. onely because the holy Ghost would the more fully expresse the comfortlesse condition of Saul, how wholly he was forsaken of God, and left destitute of all direction from him; amongst other wayes, whereby he could have no answer from God, this of the Urim is also put in; the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams nor by Ʋrim: to wit, be∣cause the Urim was now with David, and not with him. Most probable it is, that Saul enquired of God, partly by prayer, partly by consulting with the priests and Prophets: for it is evident in severall places of this history, that there were at this time divers Colledges of Prophets in the land, and like enough it is, that though be∣fore he had killed Gods priests, and despised his Prophets, yet now in his distresse he was glad to seek both to priests and Prophets, to try if they could advise him, or would enquire of God in his behalf; but however, by what means soever he enqui∣red, it was not done in faith (for had he sought in faith, he would have continued seeking, and not have given over to run to a witch) and therefore, 1. Chron. 10.14. it is said, that he enquired not of the Lord: and accordingly we see the Lord dealt with him; the Lord answered him not, neither one way nor other, which was an evidence that the Lord was highly displeased with him; for the like is mentioned we

see elsewhere, as a great argument of Gods high indignation against his people, Lam. 2.9. The Law is no more, her Prophets also find no vision from the Lord.

Vers. 7. Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, &c.] It seems that in those dayes women, by reason of their weaknesse, were most deceived by Sathan, and brought to give themselves to sorcery and witchcraft; and therefore he commanded his servants to seek him out a woman that had a fami∣liar spirit▪ not doubting but there were still some of these, that lurked secretly in the land, though he had endeavoured to root them all out, vers. 3. and this is here re∣corded as the last, and most desperate wickednesse that he fell into, and upon which he was immediately cut off by Gods revenging hand, as is fully expressed, 1. Chron. 10, 13, 14.

Behold there is a woman hath a familiar spirit at Endor.] A town of the Manas∣sites within Jordan, Josh. 17.11.

Vers. 8. And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, &c.] This he did not onely that the witch might not know him, and so not fear to satisfie his desire, but also doubtlesse out of very shame, because he now yielded to make use of those base courses, which himself ere while, had so severely punished.

Vers. 9. Behold thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, &c.] Thus is Saul put in mind (even by the words of the witch, though she intended it not) how hainously he now sinned, in seeking to the devil for help, even against the light of his own conscience.

Vers. 10. As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.] That is, I will not discover thee.

Vers. 11. And he said, Bring me up Samuel.] Saul despised Samuel when he lived, and would not follow his direction, and now his thoughts could be satisfied with nothing, but to speak with Samuel, and rather then fail herein, he would go to a witch to raise up the Ghost of Samuel to talk with him.

Vers. 12. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, &c.] It was not doubtlesse Samuel himself that appeared now to the Witch, but the devil in Samuels likenesse: for first, the souls of Saints departed, are presently at rest with God, and are taken up when they die, out of the devils reach, he hath no pow∣er over the spirits of Gods faithfull servants departed; for then he would abuse the souls of the dead at his pleasure to deceive the living: secondly, it is no way likely that the Lord, who had so lately refused to answer Saul by the Prophets, would now raise up Samuel from the dead to answer him: we see what was said in a like case to the rich man in hell: Luke 16.31. If they heare not Moses, and the Pro∣phets, neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead: thirdly, even the mantle wherein he appeared vers. 14. was an evident signe, that all was coun∣terfeit; for did Samuel think we, carry his mantle with him into heaven, or into the grave? fourthly, had the Prophet Samuel been sent of God (which is the onely evasion the Papists have to maintain this errour; the witch, they say, did not con∣jure him up, but God sent him to appear to Saul) he would never have said as this counterfeit Samuel did, ver. 15. that the witch by Sauls means had raised him up, Why, saith he, hast thou disquieted me to bring me up? It was therefore doubtlesse, by the witches inchantments that this Samuel was raised, and consequently it was not Sa∣muel

indeed, but the devil in Samuels likenesse, and therefore called Samuel here: when the woman saw Samuel, &c. and that it was that made her cry out so violent∣ly as soon as she saw him: when the devil was raised, it seems according to the ac∣customed manner, the witch was presently possessed vvith a spirit of divination, and hereby knevv Saul, for vvhom she had done this, and hereupon cried out, as appre∣hending he vvas come to ensnare her; that having discovered her he might put her to death: Why, saith she, hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul: all vvhich shevvs plainly, that the Authour of that Apocryphall book of Eccclesiasticus, vvrote not by the inspiration of the holy Ghost, vvho saith of Samuel (as in relation to this history) chap. 46.20. After his death he prophecied, and shew the king his end, &c,

Vers. 13. And the king said unto her, be not afraid for what sawest thou?] Hereby it appears, that Saul saw not the apparition at the first, though afterward he was admitted to the sight of it; and that happely, because the woman was at first apart by her self, as witches indeed use not to be seen when they work their feats.

And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.] This she spake, either because he appeared in such an attire, &c. that she might easily per∣ceive it was some Magistrate, or personage of great eminencie and worth, and such are called Gods, Psalme 82.6. I have said ye are Gods: or else, because this evil spirit, now a counterfeit Samuel, did rise up with such a divine kind of splendour and brightnesse; as we know he can change himself into an Angel of light, 2. Cor. 11.14. That the poore woman unacquainted with such apparitions, was even asto∣nished with beholding it.

Vers. 14. And Saul perceived it was Samuel, and he stooped, &c.] Saul at length is admitted to the sight of this counterfeit Samuel, though it seems he were not by, when the witch first conjured him up, vers. 12.13. and so Saul addressing himself to enquire of this infernall prophet, the witch it seems withdrew her self, as appears, vers. 21, where it is afterwards said, The woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled.

Vers. 17. And the Lord hath done to him as he spake by me.] That is, to Da∣vid; the man to whom the Lord hath betaken his favourable presence since he de∣parted from thee.

Vers. 18. Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath on Amalek, &c.] When Saul was in consultation about sparing A∣gag the Amalekite, the devil no doubt then suggested whatever might encourage and embolden him thereto, but now, when he come to be affrighted with the appre∣hension of Gods wrath, even that fact of his he alledged against him, thereby to adde to his terrours, and to drive him to despair, and that under a colour of speaking as a Samuel.

Vers. 19. And to morrow shalt thou and thy sonnes be with me.] That is▪ ye shall be slain, and so not be any longer amongst the living, but with me amongst the dead: But how came the devil to be of Gods counsell, that he can so certainly determine the period of their lives? I answer, first, that the devil can and doth many times by strong conjectures foretell many future things, which accordingly come to passe. Secondly, that he doth not here define the time of their death cer∣tainly, but speaks darkly and deceitfully: for to morrow doth not onely signifie the

day immediately following, but also, the time to come indefinitely, Exod. 13.14. And it shall be when thy sonne asketh thee in time to come, (or to morrow) what is this, thou shalt say unto him, &c. and Matth. 6.34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow, &c.) as indeed it seems it was not the very next day, that Saul and his sonnes fell before the Philistines: and so we see in another particular, he speaks ambiguously, Thou and thy sonnes shall be with me, which might either be meant of▪ their dying onely, as spoken with respect to Samuel, or of being with Sathan; and then that as concerning Jonathan we are sure he lyed grossely; but thus will the devil still preach comfort to those at last that will not away with the preaching of Gods prophets, when they sharply reprove them for their sinnes.

Vers 21. And the woman came unto Saul and saw that he was sore troubled, &c.] Hereby it appears, that the witch had withdrawn her self, whilst Saul and her familiar spirit, then Samuels counterfeit, had been talking together.