A commentary upon the whole Old Testament, added to that of the same author upon the whole New Testament published many years before, to make a compleat work upon the whole Bible. Vols. 2-4. Wherein the divers translations and expositions, literall and mysticall, of all the most famous commentators both ancient and modern are propounded, examined, and judged of, for the more full satisfaction of the studious reader in all things, and many most genuine notions inserted for edification in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. A work, the like unto which hath never yet been published by any man, yet very necessary, nor only for students in divinity; but also for every Christian that loveth the knowledge of divine things, or humane, whereof this comment is also full. Consisting of IV parts. I Upon the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses. II Upon the historical part, from Joshua to Esther. III Upon Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Solomons Song. IV Upon all the prophets both great and small. By John Mayer, doctor of divinity.

CHAP. XI.

BEcause Saul was despised by many wicked men, here an opportunity is offered to confirme that by deeds, to which he was chosen by lot: for Na∣hash the Ammonite came to fight against Jabesh Gilead; the men of that place be∣ing unable to resist him desire respit for seven dayes, in which time they send to Gibeah, and so Saul is stirred up to come for their succour, & destroyeth the Am∣monites, and then was magnifyed amongst all the people. In the Vulgar Latin it is said, within one moneth Nahash came, so likewise Josephus, out of whom * 1.1 it seemeth to have crept into the Vulgar Latin; Willet excepteth against this time, saying this was done within the seven dayes set before by Samuel to Saul, and before his election, for the people being terrifyed with the comming of the Ammonites desired a King. But there is no reason of making this computation of the time, as will appear, if wee looke backe to the place, where the seven dayes are set. And to place this expedition before the election is to crosse both the order of the history here and the sequele of the election. For if hee did this valiant act before his election, why did many despise him, as unable to save them? It might then be happily a moneth after, but the Scripture say∣ing nothing hereof it is to bee left as uncertaine. But it seemeth by that 1 Sam. 12. 12. that the comming of Nahash was the cause of their asking a King: and if so, hee was elected after his expedition against him. Sol: they heard of his intention and preparation, betwixt which and his besieging of Iabesh might passe many dayes, in which all was done, till after his being elected and hearing of Iabesh when hee prepared to goe to the rescue thereof, see more Ch. 12. 12.

Iabesh Gilead, against which the Ammonites came to fight was in the land, * 1.2 that was sometime Sibons, but taken by Moses, and given to Reuben, Gad and halfe Manasseh, for they held the land of Gilead. The cause of this warre may be gathered, Judg. 11. where the Ammonites challenged this land to be theirs, but they were then destroyed by Iephthah, now it seemeth, that being growne strong againe they gathered a new Army upon the same quarrell, and because the City Iabesh Gilead had beene not long since dispeopled, when all the men thereof were slaine by all the Tribes, Judg. 21. they set upon this, as the weak∣est and for their old fault in not helping Israel against Benjamin most unlikely to have helpe sent to rescue it. And this most probably was the cause, why be∣ing besieged now they sent particularly to Gibeab of Benjamin, because by that City all the other Tribes had beene greatly provoked and shewed their wrath before; and they werethe rather moved, because here dwelt the man, that was chosen for King. But the men of Jabesh first commit a foule fault, as Peter Martyr noteth, in that they yeeld at Nahash his first comming to be his * 1.3 servants, if hee would make a covenant with them. For God had forbidden them to make any Covenant with the Ammonites, and the Ammonite to enter * 1.4 into the congregation, therefore much lesse to bee received as Lord over them. Nahash being pust up through their timerousnesse refuseth to receive them for his servants, unlesse hee might put out every mans right eye amongst them to the ignominy of Israel. Their right eyes, saith Lyra, he would put out to make * 1.5 them unfit for service of warre, because with the right eye a man aimeth at the marke which hee shooteth at winking with the left, and fighting with the sword they shadowed the left eye with a shield. Some Rabbins say, that by putting out the right eye they meant the rasing out of the Law against the Am∣monites Deut. 23. but this is absurd. The true reason is, the Ammonites hated the Hebrewes, and therefore they were bent to exercise this cruelty against them.

The Elders of Jabesh desired 7. dayes respite, within which time, if they could procure no helpe to come and raise the siege, they would yeeld them∣selves * 1.6 to his mercy. Herein, saith Peter Martyr, they did wickedly, for men * 1.7 ought not to prescribe a time unto God, but to waite his leasure, who hath not one, but divers wayes to helpe those that trust in him. But yet that the King newly appointed by God might have the more honour, the Lord passing over their errors brought helpe unto them, as they expected, within that time, and confounded the Ammonites. Nahash although cruelly bent against Jabesh, yet he granteth their request for the time, hoping, as Josephus saith, that be∣cause * 1.8 there was division in their State about the new elected King, some being for him and some against him, no helpe would come unto them. But there was doubtlesse a singular providence of God, that over-ruled herein for the confir∣mation of Saul in the kingdome.

Then came the messengers to Gibeah, and when the people heard these tidings * 1.9 they wept. But Saul came after the herd out of the field, and said, What aileth this people to weepe, &c. Here is shewed how that, when all others were afraid, and pusill animous like women, Saul onely was courageous, as the high dignity, to which he was chosen, required, and in stead of being fearefull and weeping, hee is full of wrath, which, as Aristotle saith, is the whetstone of valour, and meditateth upon revenge against the insolent Ammonites. And hereby it ap∣peareth againe, how wonderfully hee was changed after his anointing to bee King, although he was not yet generally accepted of. But how is hee said to [Qu.] come after the herd out of the field? did hee still imploy himselfe about so base a worke, as to keepe an herd, when as hee had beene publikely declared King, and had a band of men following him? Lyra saith, that hee followed * 1.10 not the herd, because hee still did as an herdsman, but having beene abroad in the field to exercise himselfe in shooting or otherwise, hee returned now after that the herdsmen had brought home their cattle. The Sept. have it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, after the morning, because the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth the morning as * 1.11 well as an herd, and R. Solomon standeth for the time, but D. Kimhi saith that hee came home with other husbandmen. Peter Martyr saith, there is no need of any of these shifts, for Saul having not yet taken upon him the administra∣tion of the Kingdome, hee did nothing absurd or misbecoming him to fol∣low his husbandry still: for from the herd and from the plough have come many valiant Commanders and Emperours amongst the Romans. Whereupon Pliny saith, the earth delighted to bee tilled and handled by Emperours, and * 1.12 great was the increase then, when with the same hand the earth was handled and armes. Therefore many famous families have sprung from such, wit∣nesse the Pisones, Fabii, Portii, Cicerones, Lentuli, from Peason, Beanes, Hogges, Parsneps, and Lintels. And to this of Martyr doe I subscribe, because although the words be neare, that signifie morning, and an herd, yet there is some dif∣ference, Bokar is the morning and Bakar an herd, which is the word here used; and because it is after the herd, it is plaine that hee kept and drove home his herd, as other husbandmen did, and so did David keepe sheepe a while still, after that he was anointed King. Thus also Tostatus.

And the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and his anger was greatly kindled &c. The Chaldee for more expression hath, the Spirit of fortitude came upon him, for it * 1.13 was not the Spirit of grace and sanctification, but that, whereby he was stirred up to goe to this warre and to deliver the men of Jabesh. Then hee tooke two of his oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them into all parts, and threatned thus to serve all mens oxen, that came not up after him and Samuel: for Sa∣muel, * 1.14 as appeareth v. 12. was with him in this expedition, and he useth his name as well as his owne, because hee was anointed King by him, and hee had shewed the people their duty towards Saul their King, and his authority over them, so that although they would not bee moved by hearing of Sauls name, because many yet contemned him, yet they would be moved at Samuels so generally knowne to be the Lords Prophet, and having beene Judge so ma∣ny yeares, and continuing in his office of judging still, for hee judged Israel * 1.15

all the dayes of his life. Saul did not onely send a message to summon the peo∣ple, but sent oxen hewed to pieces, that by a thing really done they might be the more moved, as the Levite did by his concubine. The people seeing * 1.16 and hearing this, feared, and came out with one consent; but it is said, the feare of the Lord fell upon them, to note, that God wrought this feare in them, to make them obey his anointed, as before it was said, a band of men followed Saul, whose hearts God had touched, for otherwise many would now have contemned his threatenings, as before they contemned his person. And the number said to come to him, was of 300000 men of Israel, and 30000 of Ju∣dah. The men of Judah are mentioned apart, saith Peter Martyr, because this * 1.17 was alwayes counted the principall Tribe, and was appointed first to goe a∣gainst the enemy. But here is a lesse number of them then of one of the other Tribes, the reason whereof might bee, saith Junius, because their borders lay * 1.18 upon the Philistims countrey, so that many of them were continually employed in looking to them. And because Judah was the chiefe and most potent tribe, it is set downe as a thing remarkable by it selfe, in that the men of Judah disdained not to follow Saul of Benjamin, which was now the least tribe. Of Bezek, where they met, see Judg. 1. 4.

This great army being assembled together, the messengers of Jabesh are sent * 1.19 back to tel them that they should have help the next day. Then they being glad, told Nabash, to morrow wee will come unto you, and then yee shall doe unto us what seemeth good unto you: And Saul, as hee promised, came the next * 1.20 morning upon the Ammonites in the morning-watch, dividing his host into three companies, and smote them so, as that two of them were not left toge∣ther. Touching the place Bezek, from whence they marched, one saith, it was a City 16 miles from Jabesh, and from Gibeah, from whence Saul came to * 1.21 this place for the people to gather to him, 40 miles. For the speech of the men of Jabesh to the Ammonites, they dissembled the helpe promised, as if they had sent about, but could get none, and therefore would the next day yeeld themselves to their mercy, that the Ammonites being hereby made the more se∣cure, might bee the more easily oppressed by Saul comming upon them; and this dissimulation they might lawfully use to an enemy, that sought their lives; * 1.22 thus Pellican, Osiander, and Borrbaeus: But Junius saith, it is not necessary to lay this upon them, they onely promised to come forth next day according to covenant, concealing this, if helpe came not in the meane season, which is the best: but yet it is not ill to use deceit against those whom wee may kill, so that covenants bee not broken. For Sauls dividing of his Army into three com∣panies, hee did herein as Gedeon had done before, that besetting the enemies on * 1.23 every side, he might strike the greater terrour into them, and for this cause he came also upon them in the morning watch, that is, about the break of the day, For the Hebrews divided the night into four parts or watches: 1 The evening. * 1.24 2 Midnight. 3 The Cock-crowing. 4 The last houres of the night, which ended at the breake of the day. For the journey taken by Saul and his com∣pany from Bezek to Jabesh, Josephus saith, it was 10 measures of ground, eve∣ry * 1.25 measure being 60 fur longs, and 8 furlongs a mile, together 75 miles. But seeing this could not bee in so short a time, this cannot bee received; it might more probably be, as was noted before, 16 miles. And this commendeth Sauls great diligence, in that being so farre off, hee came yet much sooner then hee had promised, and when the Sunne waxed hot, made an end of his victory by what time hee had onely promised to bee there. Whether Nahash were slaine in this battaile, or no, is not said, but Josephus saith, hee was slaine a∣mongst others; but against this maketh 2 Sam. 10. 1, 2. where it seemeth, that hee lived to shew kindnesse to David, out of an hatred of Saul, as is most pro∣bable, for this great overthrow. In this victory appeared the great mercy of God, contrary to the peoples desert, for they had rejected him, and would needs have a King; yet forsomuch as one was now appointed by himselfe, he assisted him, and gave him this great victory to confirme his owne election. The men of Jabesh being thus delivered, did not forget it, but when Saul was

afterwards slaine, they shewed all the kindnesse that they could to him and his * 1.26 in fetching their corpses to their City, and burying them.

This great victory being gotten by Saul, the people recounting how some * 1.27 had before despised him, would have them put now to death, but Saul would have no man to dye therefore, because God had wrought salvation for Israel that day; and to have put these, that were men of Israel, to death then, would * 1.28 greatly have obscured the glory of that deliverance, so Pellican. Hee would have no man then to dye, saith Lyra, because he would take no private revenge, * 1.29 but shew clemency in the beginning of his reigne, then which nothing, saith Seneca, doth more become a Prince; and having received so great a mercy, it was fit rather to goe to thanksgiving, then to execution. But afterwards his clemency was turned into cruelty, for hee would have put Jonathan to death, by whom a great deliverance was wrought for Israel, and David, and the Priests of God. Ben Gerson saith, that hee onely respited the executing of those wic∣ked men; but seeing wee no where read, that hee put them to death at any other time, it is more probable that hee forgave them. If it bee demanded, whether the King may pardon such, as ought for their offences do die? I answer, [Qu.] forsomuch as humane laws receive their life from the King, he may pardon of∣fences against them; and for such lawes of God, as whereby a sinne is forbid∣den, but no mulct propounded, hee may pardon the breach of them also. But the breach of such lawes of God, as whereof the punishment is expresly set downe, hee may not pardon, for hee beareth the sword as Gods minister, for * 1.30 the punishment of those that doe evill. Hee may upon due consideration re∣spit the punishment, as if it bee dangerous to the Common-wealth to doe exe∣cution presently, as David for this let Joab goe unpunisht, but finally he took order that his blood should bee shed for his murther. But through partiality or connivence to spare malefactors, as David did Ammon, sinning by incest; and Absalom by murther, is no way tolerable, and therefore God provided that none of them both should escape unpunished.

Then Samuel, and all the people being moved by him, went to Gilgal, and * 1.31 there Saul was made King before the Lord, and peace-offerings were offered. Gilgal was famous for the circumcision there renewed, Josh. 5. and the first encamping of the people there, after that they were come over Jordan; and it was one of the three places to which Samuel went yearely to Judge the peo∣ple. * 1.32 And here they made him King before the Lord, because it seemeth here was an Altar upon which they sacrificed, and before the Altar, when an assem∣bly is met together for sacrifice, is before the Lord, to whom this Altar is set up. Yet some thinke, that the Arke was now brought hither, as before to * 1.33 Mizpeh. How hee was made King here, Josephus saith, it was by anointing with the holy oyle; but Willet impugneth this, because Samuel surely would not anoint him twice, yet hee saith not how hee was made King otherwise. Wherefore Peter Martyr better, it is not unlikely but that hee was now anoin∣ted, * 1.34 because his former anointing was privately, and hee was never yet pub∣likely anointed; and to expresse this, hee saith, that the Latine translation had it, They anointed him; and happily hee was there crowned; howsoever hee was now received for their King by a generall consent, whereas they were be∣fore divided.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Josephus. Willet.
• * 1.2

  V. 1.
• * 1.3

  Peter Martyr.
• * 1.4

  Deut. 23. 3. V. 2.
• * 1.5

  Lyra.
• * 1.6

  V. 3.
• * 1.7

  P. Martyr.
• * 1.8

  Josephus.
• * 1.9

  V. 4. V. 5.
• * 1.10

  Lyra.
• * 1.11

  R. Solomon. D. Kimhi. Peter Martyr.
• * 1.12

  Pliny. Terra gaudebat tra∣ctari & c••li ab imperatoribus, & magni e••ant proventus illo∣rum temporum, quia eadem ma∣nu terra tracta∣batur qua arma.
• * 1.13

  V. 6.
• * 1.14

  V. 7.
• * 1.15

  1 Sam. 7. 17.
• * 1.16

  Iudg. 19.
• * 1.17

  V. 8. Peter Martyr. Iudg. 1.
• * 1.18

  Iunius.
• * 1.19

  V. 9. V. 10.
• * 1.20

  V. 11.
• * 1.21

  H. Bunting Pa∣triar. travailes.
• * 1.22

  Pellican. Osiander. Junius.
• * 1.23

  Iudg. 7. 19.
• * 1.24

  Junius.
• * 1.25

  Josephus.
• * 1.26

  1 Sam 31. 11.
• * 1.27

  V. 12.
• * 1.28

  Pellican.
• * 1.29

  Lyra.
• * 1.30

  Rom. 13.
• * 1.31

  V. 14.
• * 1.32

  1 Sam. 7. 16
• * 1.33

  Iunius, Borrhae∣us, Hieronyni. Josephus.
• * 1.34

  Peter Martyr.