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. I.

NOw it came to passe after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, &c.] This book containeth the history of Davids reigne, who was cho∣sen of God to succeed Saul in the kingdome; yet because here∣by is shown the accomplishment of Samuels prophecy con∣cerning the kingdom of David, therefore it is called The second book of Samuel. And the first thing here related is, how the tidings of the death of Saul and his sonnes were first brought unto David, whilest he was yet in Ziklag. David was lately returned thither from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and had been preparing and sending away presents to his friends in Judah of the spoil he had taken from them; when behold on a sud∣den their great joy was damped with the sad tidings of the overthrow of Gods peo∣ple, the death of Saul and his sonnes, even Jonathan amongst the rest, the dearly be∣loved friend of David. And thus though a way was opened for David to come to the crown, yet it was by a sad calamitie, that must needs allay his comfort therein with a great deal of sorrow.

Vers. 2. A man came out of the camp with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head.] See the notes, Gen. 37.29. and Josh. 7.6.

Vers. 4. And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee tell me.] This eagernesse of David to know what had passed betwixt the armies of the Israelites and the Philistines that had invaded their land, discovered plainly how solicitous he was for his brethren, though he sojourned at that time in the land of the Philistines.

Vers. 6. As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold Saul leaned upon his spear, &c.] By the relation we have of Sauls death in the last chapter of the for∣mer book, it is evident that Saul killed himself, and that many severall passages in the relation which this Amalekite here makes of his death, were merely feigned by him, that he might the more ingratiate himself to David; For first, it is expressely said that Sauls armour bearer killed not himself till he saw that his Lord and master was dead, vers. 5. When his armour-bearer saw that Saul his master was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. Secondly▪ It is no way probable, that after Saul had been first so sorely wounded by the Philistine archers, that he could not get away from those that pursued him, and then thrust through by himself with his own sword, he should still be able to talk with the Amalekite. Thirdly, If he were so loth to be killed by the uncircumcised Philistines, why should he desire an uncircumcised Amalekite to kill him? And fourthly, whereas this Amalekite pretends here, that he was fallen upon his spear, which he had thrust into his body (for so those Expositours understand these words, Saul leaned upon his spear, that

hold that this Amalekite killed him) and that therefore he desired him to stand upon him, vers. 9. to wit, to force the spear through his body, that so he might die: this could not be, for it is expressely said, 1. Sam. 31.4. That Saul thrust himself through with his sword, and not with a spear, Saul took a sword and fell upon it; it seems therefore, that this Amalekite lighting upon Saul when he lay dead in the field he apprehended that if he should carry the first tydings of Sauls death to David, (who was by ge∣nerall fame known to be the man whom Samuel had anointed to succeed Saul in the throne) and together with those tidings Sauls crown and bracelets, he should not misse of some fair reward for the present, and some great preferment afterward; and so thereupon, away he went presently to find out David; onely withall, as sup∣posing that this would endear him the more to David, and make his reward the greater, he resolved to adde this lie besides, to wit, that he found him leaning upon his spear, as not being able to stand, because of the deadly wounds the archers had given him, and being intreated by him to kill him, and so to put an end to his mise∣ry, he did what he desired of him, vers. 10. I stood upon him, saith he, and slew him.

Vers. 9. Stand I pray thee upon me, and slay me, (for anguish is come upon me, &c.] Some translate this last branch, as it is in the margine of our bibles, my coat of male (or my embroidered coat) hindereth me that my life is yet whole in me; and accordingly they conceive, that the reason that Saul alledges why he lay in such extremitie and yet could not die, but continued heart whole, as we use to say, was because his coat of male, or his embroidred coat hindred the spear from passing through his body, and that thereupon, he desired this Amalekite to stand upon him, to wit, to force the spear through him and so to slay him; but because there is no likelihood that Saul would attempt to kill himself in that manner, when he had a coat of male or any other garment on that should hinder the spear from piercing through him. I rather approve of that translation in our bibles, Stand I pray thee upon me and slay me, for anguish is come upon me, &c. and then by standing upon him, he meant onely, that he should stand over him, and slay him, the very same that is else where expressed by a like phrase of falling upon men to slay them, as verse 15. of this chapter, where David enjoyned one of his young men to slay the Amale∣kite, David called one of the young men, and said, Go near and fall upon him, and he smote him that he dyed.

Vers. 11. Then David took hold of his clothes, and rent them, &c.] See the note, Gen. 37.29.

Vers. 12. And they mourned and wept, and fasted untill even for Saul and for Jonathan, &c.] Though Saul was Davids enemie, and with an implacable hatred did continually persecute him, yet he was the Lords anointed, and had been a vali∣ant defender of Israel; and besides the uncircumcised enemies of Gods people, were like to insult over them because of this victorie, and to blaspheme the name of God; and this grievous calamitie that was fallen upon them was a signe of Gods wrath against the whole people; and therefore no marvell though David mourned bitterly, not onely for Jonathan, but also for Saul and for the people of God.

Vers. 13, And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? &c.] He had before told David how he had answered Saul when he asked him

this very question, to wit, that he was an Amalekite; but it seems David disturbed with the tidings he had brought him, minded it not, and so asked him again whence he was, and accordingly, he answered again, I am the sonne of a stranger an A∣malekite, and lived amongst the Israelites though he were not of that nation.

Vers. 16. And David said unto him, Thy bloud be upon thy head, &c.] See the note, Lev. 20.9.

Vers. 18. Also he bad them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow.] Besides, upon occasion of this heavy overthrow (which made David compose this mournfull ditty) wherein Saul and Jonathan were overcome and slain by the arch∣ers amongst the Philistines, David took order that his people should be taught the use of the bow: and perhaps indeed (as some think) this might be one end why Da∣vid composed this dittie, that being used frequently in the tribe of Judah, it might stirre them up to labour to be expert in the skill of shooting.

Behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.] This seems to have been a generall Chronicle of the memorable acts of this nation, which was continued from time to time by the prophets. See Josh. 10.13.

Vers. 19. How are the mighty fallen!] This clause is three severall times repeat∣ed, to wit, here, and vers. 25. and 27. as is usuall in songs.

Vers. 20. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoyce, &c.] This is onely a poeticall expression of Dauids desire that it might not be; or a bemoaning of that which he knew would be; for he knew that the Philistines would rejoyce, and make great triumph for this, and at such times the women used to go forth with musick and songs. See the note 1. Sam. 18.6.

Vers. 21. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you, &c.] This is also a poeticall expression of the great and grievous losse of the Israelites, in the death of Saul and Jonathan, and of their just sorrow for it; that they had cause enough to wish, if so it might be, that the place where they were slain, might for ever be a sad and dolefull monument of this lamentable accident: it is much like that of Job, chap. 3.3. Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, there is a man-child conceived.

There the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oyl.] To wit, because he fell and died as any other of the common souldiers.

Vers. 22. From the bloud of the slain, from the fat of the mighty the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul turned not empty.] The sword in warre is said to devoure in the Scripture phrase, Shall the sword devoure for ever? sath Abner to Joab, chap. 2.29. And thence that which is translated the edge of the sword, is in the Hebrew, the mouth of the sword, and in reference to this it is said here, that Jonathans bow, and Sauls sword returned not empty from the bloud of the slain, and from the fat of the mighty, meaning that they did alwayes devoure the bloud and flesh of the stoutest enemies; for fat is mentioned to imply men lusty, healthfull, and strong.

Vers. 23, Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided.] By this that they were lovely and pleasant in their

lives, is meant that they were dearly beloved of one another, and indeed, though Saul was sometimes enraged against Jonathan, yet it proceeded from his fatherly af∣fection to him, because he was ••ealous of David for Jonathans sake, and how pi∣ously affected Jonathan was towards his father, he now manifested, by dying with him in this battell against the Philistines; and indeed it is likely that this clause of Jonathans living and dying with his father, is the rather inserted, to clear him from that suspicion of having conspired with David against him.

They were swifter then eagles.] This may be meant, first, of their nimblenesse and agilitie of body, which is in souldiers very commendable▪ because it is a great ad∣vantage for the evading of the stroke of an enemy, and for striking home upon them, and especially for the pursuit of them when they are put to flight, though men be never so strong, yet if they be lumpish and heavie, an active nimble man of lesse strength may do better service then they: and secondly, of their speedy prose∣cuting any noble service they had undertaken or resolved upon, they were not sloth∣full, but active and quick; and were often upon their enemies before they could well hear any tidings of them.

Vers. 24. Ye daughters of Israel weep over Saul who clothed you in scarlet, &c.] To wit, partly by the spoils taken from the enemy in his warre, wherein he was al∣wayes victorious, according to that expression, Psalme 68.12. Kings of armies did flee apace, and she that tarried at home divided the spoil: and partly by the bene∣fit of his government, under which they grew rich and wealthy; and observable it is, that speaking of the rich and costly attire wherewith they were enabled to adorn themselves, through the flourishing prosperity they enjoyed under Sauls govern∣ment; he addressed his speech in this to the women of Israel. Ye daughters of Israel weep over Saul who clothed you in scarlet, &c. because women are most delighted in glorious attire.

Vers. 25. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battell!] These words in the midst of the battell, may be addde to imply, how valiantly they died, not as cowards flying and pursued by the enemy; but as gallant men standing it out stout∣ly against the violent assaults of the Philistines, till they fell down dead in the place.

Vers 27. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of warre perished!] This last clause is either added by way of bewailing the losse of their arms in that last battell fought with the Philistines, or else, to set forth the worth of those gallant men that fell in that fight, and then it is all one as if it had been said, that all the glory of warre was perished with them.