2 Sam. CHAP. I.

WHICH declares the state of Israel after this their direful defeat by the Phi∣listines, the Tidings whereof David received with deep deploration; yea, the Death of Saul, tho' he was his Capital Enemy, yet he profoundly be∣wail'd it.

Remarks hereupon are, First, The Messenger of those sad Tidings is described by sun∣dry Circumstances. As (1.) When he came to David, it was three days after David had return'd from the slaughter of the Amalekites, v. 1. And (2.) Whither he came, to wit, unto Ziklag, for it was not so burnt, but David and his Men might refresh themselves in it after so long an harrase, until God provided them better Quarters. (3.) Who he was, an Amalekite, v. 8. the Son of a Stranger, v. 13. (4.) In what posture he came, pretending sorrow for the loss of God's People, with his Cloaths rent, and earth upon his head, and falling down at David's feet, to humour and honour the Rising-Sun, v. 2. and (5.) He is described by his Age, he was a young Man, v. 5, 13.

The Second Remark is, This Amalekite's Narrative of the effect of the Fight of the Philistines against Israel, wherein he gives David a distinct Account upon David's diligent Enquiry, v. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. wherein Observe,

First, He declares to David the flight of Israel, the slaughter of the Army, and the death of Saul and Jonathan, v. 4.

Secondly, To confirm his Story of Saul's death (which mostly concerned David) he confesseth himself to be the Author thereof by a Casualty of coming to the place where he was, v. 6. and

Thirdly, To qualifie his Crime, he saith Saul call'd me, v. 7. chose me, v. 8. and re∣quested me to be his Executioner, v. 9.

He adds Fourthly, a comparing Saul's desperate Case, saying (as Josephus and others do relate)

Fifthly,

The Third Remark is, a Scrutiny touching the veracity of this Amalekite's long Ha∣rangue: Tho' I find some Learned Men Patronizing this Amalekite, and purging him from lying to David, saying, his Story was a Real Truth, for Saul had indeed faln upon his own Weapon, but his Coat of Mail had hindred it from piercing deep enough to be so speedily a mortal wound, but that the Philistines might come and catch him alive and abuse him; and tho' it be said, [when his Armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead] he slew himself, 1 Sam. 31.5. Which yet Dr. Lightfoot Senseth thus: [When he saw Saul had given himself so deadly a wound, he did the like, and died indeed, but Saul's wound was not of so quick a dispatch, therefore he desired this Man to kill him outright.]

N. B. Notwithstanding all this, yet upon a more serious inquest into Particulars, this whole story seems more probably to be a pack of Lies, one stitched to another for these Reasons:

The First is, 'Tis altogether improbable, either that Saul, after he had given him∣self such a deadly wound, whereof he was ready to dye, should be able to call him, and spend so many words in talking with him; or that this Man should dare to stay so long in this Discourse with Saul, seeing he also was fleeing (with the whole Army) to save his own life, which he might have lost by making this halt, had the Philistines overtaken him in their pursuit (which Saul feared for himself) during this Parly.

The Second Reason is, Nor can it be probable that Saul should desire to die rather by the hands of an uncircumcised Amalekite, than of the uncircumcised Philistines which he so much feared: He could not put any such difference between them, seeing Ama∣lek was more accursed and devoted to destruction than the Philistines.

The Third Reason is, 'Tis expresly said, that Saul fell upon his own Sword, 1 Sam. 31.4 but this Fellow saith, he fell upon his own Spear, v. 6. here Gnal Chanatho Hebr. whereas it is [Ethbachereb] his Sword.

The Fourth Reason is, 'Tis as expresly said, that Saul's Armour-bearer being yet alive, saw that Saul was dead, 1 Sam. 31.5. which doubtless he would throughly know before he did kill himself.

The Fifth Reason is, Had the Armour-bearer been yet alive when Saul call'd this Amalekite to dispatch him, he would certainly have hindred him from doing that which himself durst not do, 1 Sam. 31.4.

The Sixth Reason, Nor could that be more probable, which he told David [I took the Crown that was upon his head] v. 10. but look'd rather like a Lye, for 'tis not likely Saul would wear his Crown upon his head in Battle; this would have made him a fair Mark to his Enemies, whom they chiefly aimed at: A Wise General will rather disguise himself as 1 King. 22.30. than be so fondly exposed, &c.

The Seventh Reason, The Scripture of Truth doth manifestly ascribe Saul's death to be his own action, 1 Sam. 31.4, 5. even to his falling upon his own Sword, which must be of more credit with us, than an artificially composed speech of an accursed Amalekite, who had taught his tongue to tell Lyes, Jerom. 9.5. and all to curry fa∣vour with David, from whom he promis'd to himself some great preferment by thus glozing with him.

N. B. Note well; First, Thus far it is true, that this Fellow brought Saul's Crown. &c. to David: How he came by it is the question?

The Rabbins relate, that as the Armour-bearer was Doeg, so this Man was his Son, and as the Father had the Crown in his Custody, to carry it before the King in State, and now seeing Saul was like to wear it no longer, and that himself was resolv'd to dye with the King, he gave Saul's Royal Crown and Bracelets to this Fellow his Son, ad∣vising him to carry them to David, ut in ejus gratiam se insinuaret, so to win the favour of him whom he calls his Lord, whom he owned as King, now Saul was dead.

N. B. Secondly, This very Sword wherewith at God's Command Saul should have cut off the Amalekites, but spared them, was the Instrument of his own death, and (as some say) an Amalekite (one whom Saul had spared with Agag) must push it forward, and Saul, who had been so Cruel to David all along, is now become cruel to himself. Thus God fills Men with the Evil of their own ways, Prov. 14.14.

The Fourth Remark is, the effects of this Relation, which be two-fold; First, What David did, v. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. And Secondly, What David said thereupon, v, 17, 18. &c. First, What David did: as (1.) He rent his Cloaths, v. 11. which Page  337was usually done in those days, to testifie an extremity of passion, without regard ei∣ther to damage or decency, & Regis ad exemplum, his Men did the same with David. (2.) They all Mourned, Wept, and Fasted until Even, v. 12. though upon their own private accounts they had but small cause to do so: Yet upon the publick account, there was great reason for so doing, because a great blow now was given to the Church of God, and that by the hands of the uncircumcised, who would by this means exalt their Dagon above the God of Israel: and there was cause enough of this Humiliation, because Israel had brought this fatal Overthrow upon their own heads for their many grievous sins; yea, tho' Saul was their Capital and irreconcilable Enemy, yet was he the Lord's Anointed, and one that had Fought the Battels of the Lord with good suc∣cess.

Therefore it may not be marvel'd at, that tho' David was so well pleas'd with Nabal's death, yet he thus mourn'd for Saul's, because the case was not alike; beside, many brave Men were fallen in Battle out of Israel, but above all, David's dear Jona∣than, as afterwards. (3.) David did after all this Arraign, Examine, Condemn, and Execute the Amalekite that came to curry favour with him, v. 13, 14, 15, 16. wherein David, like a Just Judge, gives him a fair Trial in a Judiciary way; and tho' the Fellow had told him that he was an Amalekite, v. 8. yet David asks him again who he was? either for fear of his mistake in not minding his story well enough because of his great grief, or it was to try the man whether he would agree with himself in telling his Tale: then David said [Why didst not thou refuse to kill the King as his Armour∣bearer had done, how knowest thou but some Providence might have happened for saving his life, notwithstanding his most eminent danger, &c. Thou confessest thou kill'd the King, thou shalt be killed.]

N. B. Note well; A just hand of God on this Amalekite for his Lying.

As David before had, as it were, Sacrificed a whole band of Amalekites to Saul's Fu∣neral, 1 Sam. 30.17. before he had intelligence of Saul's death; so now he Sacrificed this Intelligencer thereof on the same account, which David might lawfully do, both because God had commanded that all the Amalekites might be slain as before; and be∣cause David at Saul's death was now virtually the King. (2.) What David said as well as did, namely David's Elegy or Funeral Song upon the death of Saul and his dear Friend Jonathan, together with Israel's Choicest Worthies, and Men of their Chiefest Chi∣valry, v. 17, 19, 20. to 27. wherein is Remarkable,

First, David is the Author of this lamentable Epitaph, because he had both a Poetick and a Prophetick gift and because he was most deeply concerned, as Son-in-Law and Successor to Saul, and as a great loser in the loss of his best beloved Jonathan, who was the next subject of this sad Tragedy.

Secondly, The Matter of this sad Sonnet is a mixture of Poetical Exclamations, and Hyperbolical imprecations all composed in a concise Meetre, which makes the mean∣ing thereof the more cloudy, being the extatick expressions of one overwhelmed with grief for the death of his dearest Friends.

Thirdly, Beside these general Raptures, David particularly bewails,

First, The death of Saul, commending him for the laudable Vertues which he had, which made him amiable and obliging to his Subjects; as for those foul affronts offer'd to himself and to Jonathan, he candidly covers them, as being only the efforts of his sudden passion, by which his ordinary temper ought not to be measured, and of his jea∣lousie of a Corrival to the Crown, for which he ought to be excused; but not one word of any piety in Saul (which he had not) doth David mention.

N. B. Note well; A fair Caution for flattering Preachers of Funeral Sermons; 'Tis too Pharisaical to beautifie the Tombs of the dead whose lives were bad, Mat. 23 29.

Secondly, the death of Jonathan he more passionately deplores, because frater quasi ferè alter, he almost lost himself in the loss of him, who, had he lived, would assu∣redly have given David a peaceable possession of the Kingdom after his Father's death, according to the Covenant between them; whereas by the death of Jonathan, he look'd for long interruptions from it by Abner, &c.

And he makes Rhetorical Flourishes upon Jonathan's Cordial Love to him, as trans∣cending the Love of Women: Naturalists say of Females [quicquid volunt, valdè volunt,] their affections are more earnest than those of Males: Yet Jonathan loved David more affectionately than ever did any Woman either her Child, or her Husband.

Fourthly, David did not so despond with dolour, but being now King he Commands, that the Men of Judah, (his own and now the Royal Tribe) should learn the use of Page  338their Armour, v. 18. because they bordered upon the Philistines, upon whom they might retrieve their lost Honour; and he instances in the Bow, both in Honour of Jonathan who was so skilful at it, ver. 22. and that they might match the Philistines Archers who had beeen so mischievous to their Mighty ones: This the General Chroni∣cle amplifies, Josh. 10.13. mentions this Book of Jasher, which signifies Recti, the Book of Right or of the Law; a Directory for Prince and People to right Duties on both sides. The Jews take it for Genesis, the story of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, those three Righteous Men; but then it should not be Jasher, but Jasharim plural: it is Rather the Blessing of Jacob, Gen. 49.8. Judah's Hands shall be on the Neck of his Enemies; so David of that Tribe was to be. In this was inserted this Song, the foot and burden whereof was, [How are the Mighty faln?] oft repeated, v. 19.25, 27. This Book taught the use of the Bow and Artillery, but is now lost, being no part of the Canonical Scripture, &c.