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. XVIII.

THen Jonathan began dearely to love David. Here is first set forth the great * 1.1 grace that David was in after this victory: 1 With Saul's sonne, then with the rest of the people. 2 The envie of Saul against him. Jonathan Saul's son loved him as himselfe, & in token of his great love made a league with him, and gave him his robe and his garments, even to his sword, his bow, and his girdle. This according to some, saith Lyra, is thus expounded, he gave him his robe and garments, but not his sword, &c. because these were of necessary use for himselfe, * 1.2 but according to others, inclusively, hee gave unto him all these in token of perfect amity; which he rather approveth and answereth the reason brought

for the first, by saying, that Jonathan being a Kings sonne, could easily get him another sword and bow. These things, saith Peter Martyr, Jonathan tooke * 1.3 from his owne body, and gave to David, because in making leagues some out∣ward symboles were wont to bee used, and hereby hee shewed, that the friend∣ship, unto which hee received David, was such, that all which hee had should bee common to him, as to himselfe, according to that saying, amicorum omnia sunt communia. And Christ hath given to us yet greater pledges of his love, his owne flesh and blood in the sacrament of the Lords Supper, and herein the great provident care of God over David appeared, in that hee stirred him up such a friend in Saul's Court, for his greater safety. For the grace that David was in with the people, Saul tooke him, and would * 1.4 not let him goe home any more to his father, but imployed him about divers things belonging to the State, and David behaved himselfe wisely in all things, and Saul set him over the men of warre, and hee was accepted both of the peo∣ple, * 1.5 and of the servants of Saul. It may seeme strange, that David being but ere while a shepheard, should know so soone Military policy, wisely to order the men of warre, but the Spirit wherewith hee was extraordinarily indued, taught him wisdome in all things. What men of warre hee was set over, is not here said; but v. 13. when Saul began to bee affraid of him, hee is said to have removed him from him, and to have made him Captaine over a thousand. Some thinke, that the thing generally spoken of here, that hee was set over the men of warre, is there more particularly expressed to bee over 1000. But o∣thers, that hee was graced at the first with being set over all, but afterwards, when Saul envyed him, hee was put out of that place, and made onely Captain of 1000. And this seemeth to mee the more probable, because it is said, that he removed him from him, when hee set him over 1000, and before that hee had sought to slay him, so that this remove was done in displeasure, and therefore cannot bee understood of his first preferring him, but of his putting him downe from a greater dignity to a lesser. Whereas Pellican objecteth, that * 1.6 Abner was Generall over all the forces, it may bee answered, that hee was Ge∣nerall of them that went out to fight against the enemy, but over those that Saul kept about his person hee might set David, but when hee grew into a feare of him, putting him from this office, hee made him Captaine over 1000 of them that went to warre, when Saul stayed at home, that thus by going oftner against the enemy, hee might bee in the more danger of being slaine.

When they returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came * 1.7 out with musick and singing, Answering one another, Saul hath slaine his 1000, and David his 10000, &c. The women ascribed to Saul more then hee deser∣ved, as Chrysostome noteth, for hee suffered the Philistim to vaunt himselfe forty * 1.8 dayes together, and yet cowardly sate still: but to David they ascribed no more but according to his deserts, for his killing of that Philistim, was as much as the killing of 10000 of them, yet Saul was vexed at it, and envyed, and from thence-forward hated David to the death, for hee began now to suspect that he was the man that should have the Kingdome transferred to him. And there∣fore when David stood before him playing with the Harpe, the next time that * 1.9 the evill spirit was upon him, when he prophesied, he sought to slay him by casting a speare at him, and in thus doing he wickedly opposed himselfe against the wil of God, who had threatned to take the Kingdom from him and to give it to another, whereas David contrariwise being in danger to lose his King∣dome * 1.10 afterwards submitted himselfe to Gods will, but this his opposition and all his other devillish projects were vaine, as the sequel doth declare, for there is no withstanding of God in his will. But how is Saul said to prophesie in his mad fit? Lyra answereth not properly, but denominatively, because as an ar∣reptitious * 1.11 person he spake that which the evill spirit moved him unto, and not of himselfe, so likewise Junius and Borrhaeus, his speech and behaviour was strange, as of the prophets, when they were moved by the spirit of God, so that * 1.12 it was called pophesying for the manner onely, and not for the matter also, as when he was said before to prophesie ch. 10. 19. Clarius Chaldaeus expoundeth

prophetare insanire, because the gesture of a prophet, when he was moved by the Spirit, was such that he seemed to be mad. Whereas it is said, that Saul said, I will smite David, Peter Martyr thinketh, that he said thus in his heart onely, * 1.13 for although the evill spirit comming upon him he was like a mad man for the time, yet he had the use of his reason to know what he did. For Davids esca∣ping twice, when his destruction was thus sought, it was not without the hand of God making Saul to misse of his marke, and David to beware of him, where∣in he was a type of Christ, whose destruction the Jewes sought, Luk 4. and Joh. 7. but he declined their violence, and went away.

Then Saul feared David and put him from him, and made him Captaine over 1000, in which place he behaved himselfe wisely, and so was beloved of * 1.14 all Israel and Judah. The more Saul sought to prevent David from comming to the Kingdome, the more possibility did he grow unto of attaining it, so all things are turned to good, to those that are chosen of God, but all meanes used [Note.] by the wicked to free themselves from danger, are frustrated, and their feares by Gods judgements justly against them are increased.

He set David over 1000 men, that by making excursions against the Phili∣stims, with them he might come into the greater danger of destruction, but it succeeded otherwise, the Lord was with David and he prospered in all things.

But how did Saul know, that the Lord was with David? R. Levi Ben Ger∣son saith, that he knew it by his prevailing against Goliah, and his escaping the stroake of his speare two times. * 1.15

David being made such a Captaine, to put him on the more to hazard his person against the enemie, Saul offered him his daughter Merab to wise, so * 1.16 that he would be a valiant sonne in law unto him, and fight manfully against the enemy. But David speaking modestly of himselfe, as unworthy of such a marriage, shee was given to another man. Then Michal his other daughter was offered him, and for his dowry nothing required but 100 foreskinnes of the Philistims, but all this was done in fraud to bring David into danger of his life by the Philistims. By Hypocrites and wicked men one thing is pretended and [Note.] another intended, when they make the greatest shew of love, they have hatred in their hearts, yea there is no ordinance of God so sacred, but they will abuse it for their owne devillish ends, so Domitian the tyrant would speake him the fairest, to whom he meant the greatest mischiefe, and a preparative was made by a marriage to the most bloudy massacre in France, that ever was in time of peace, ann. 1573.

For the words of Saul v. 21. in one of the two thou shalt be sonne in law to me to * 1.17 day, Hebr. it is, in two thou shalt be sonne in law, so likewise the Vulg. Lat. ex∣pounded by Lyra, in my two daughters, in the first by espousalls, and in the se∣cond * 1.18 not onely so, but by marriage, which was a double honour to him, and therefore he meant, that he should be bound the more to behave himselfe vali∣antly. Junius rendreth it, by the other thou shalt contract affinity with me, * 1.19 taking the cardinall number for the ordinall, as 2 King. 15. 32. in the two yeare, for in the second yeare, and this reading is rather to be preferred, in the second or in the other of my daughters. In some Latine Copies it is for two things thou shalt be my sonne in law, that is, according to the Ord. Gloss. for killing Goliah, and for 100 foreskinnes of the Philistims, but this last is not mentioned, till afterwards.

For the 100 foreskinnes, which Saul required for a dowry, and not any gold or silver, it is to be understood, that the manner of old was for a man to * 1.20 give a dowry to his wife before marriage, but as for portions we read not, that the woman brought any, except they were inheritrixes, as the daughters of Ze∣lophehad were. That a dowry was wont to be given, see Exod. 22. 16, 17. and of * 1.21 what quantity, Deut. 22. 29. And accordingly Shechem offereth a dowry, that should be required, to Dinah; and Abrahams steward gave great gifts to Rebecca * 1.22 and her mother and brother, and Jacob gave seven yeares service for Labans * 1.23 daughter nomine dotis. And the dowry was to be at the womans disposing, and for her maintenance, if her husband dyed. This custome, as it seemeth, was con∣tinued a long time under the Gospell, for in the Councell of Arles, which was

in the time of Constantine it was decreed, that no marriage should be made with∣out * 1.24 giving a dowry, as Peter Martyr saith, which decree was made to prevent clandestine marriages, because that unto dowries witnesses must be used, and so there must needes be witnesses of the marriage. And this he well approveth, but not that of dowries, because it is no where expressely required in the word of God: but by dowry he understandeth somewhat given with the wife, where∣in he is certainely mistaken, for that which she bringeth, is no dowry, but a portion, and that only is a dowry, which is given to her.

And whereas for the matter of dowry given to the wife or for her, he di∣stinguisheth betweene the times before the law and the time under the law, hold∣ing that dowries were given before, but not under the law, because if still that custome had held, it should not have beene imposed nomine paenae upon him, that had deflowred a Virgin to endow her and to marry her; I thinke this collecti∣on is ill made from that ordinance, because there is a clause therein, according to the dowry of Virgins: whereby is intimated that it was a custome to endow Virgins, when they were marryed. But both are in use at this day, the woman bringeth a portion to the man, and the man endoweth her with all his worldly goods, or whether shee bringeth portion or not, and for earnest giveth her a ring, so that when he dyeth, shee hath right to so much of his whole estate, as may suffice for her maintenance. But to returne to David, he when Sauls daughter was propounded to him, said, that he was poore and of a meane house, and therefore unworthy of such a match, whereby he meant, that he had no∣thing to endow her withall, as would be expected of him that marryed a Kings daughter. For he had indeed right unto her from Sauls first pact, for his kill∣ing of Goliah, and he was worthy, because he had beene anointed to be King: but he in his humility looked not at these things, but at his owne present con∣dition. Wherefore Saul to put this doubt out of his minde touching a dowry telleth him by his servants, that he looked for no dowry of gold or silver, but of 100 foreskins of the Philistims. And herein he pretended zeale against the un∣circumcised, who hated nothing more then to be circumcised, and he knew, that David could not cut off their foreskins, unlesse he first killed them, but his in∣tent was to bring David into the greater hatred of the Philistims, by thus exa∣sperating them against him. Josephus is farre wide here, when he saith, that Saul * 1.25 required 600 foreskins, and that David brought him so many heads, for it is said, that instead of 100 he brought him 200 foreskins, and this might better satisfie Saul, because he was hereby assured, that they were Philistims that he had slaine and not any of them Israelites, because they were all circumcised, so Lyra, who also saith, that it pleased David well upon this condition to be the * 1.26 Kings sonne in law, partly for the great love that Michal bare unto him, and partly because the Philistims were Gods enemies, and so hatefull unto him. [Qu.] If a question be made of the lawfulnesse of this enterprize, it is answered, that the Kings command was a sufficient warrant unto him to goe against * 1.27 them, and to doe any despight unto them, especially being professed enemies of Gods people, and God had also called him to be a deliverer to his people.

Then the Princes of the Philistims went forth, &c. They understanding, say the Rabbins, that David was married, and that none in Israel went to warre the first * 1.28 yeare after his marriage, tooke their opportunity now to warre against Israel, hoping that in his absence they should prevaile. But Peter Martyr thinketh ra∣ther, that being by the despight done unto them immediately before by David exasperated, they now came forth to be revenged, and this hath the better ground. Whereas in our translation it is rendered, David did more wisely, then all the servants of Saul, Junius rendreth it, he was prospered more, and the Hebr. * 1.29 word may be indifferently expounded either way, but I rather thinke with Ju∣nius, that his prospering in his warres against them is meant, because it follow∣eth, his name grew famous, which must be for his noble exploits against the enemie, none doing the like. By David so greatly beloved of Jonathan, that he stript himselfe of all for his sake, mystically understand Christ, to follow * 1.30 whom the faithfull at the first forsooke all. By Saul envying him, when all

others praised him, the Devill stirring up the Pharisees to envy Christ, when as his miracles and teaching all admired him. By his cutting off the Philistims foreskin, and then marrying Sauls daughter, Christs removing of the fore∣skin, as it were, of the Gentiles by circumcising their hearts through saith be∣stowed upon them, after which he will espouse unto himselfe the Synagogue of the Jewes, for when the fulnesse of the Gentiles is come in, all Israel shall be saved. Lastly by Davids prospering the more, the more Saul envyed him, Christ's prospering and growing famous all over the world against the endea∣vours of the malicious Jewes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  V. 1.
• * 1.2

  Lyra.
• * 1.3

  P. Martyr.
• * 1.4

  V. 2.
• * 1.5

  V. 5.
• * 1.6

  Pellican.
• * 1.7

  V. 6, 7.
• * 1.8

  Chrysost. Hom. de Saul & Da∣vid.
• * 1.9

  V. 10.
• * 1.10

  Borrhaeus.
• * 1.11

  Lyra.
• * 1.12

  Junius. Borrhaeus.
• * 1.13

  Peter Martyr.
• * 1.14

  V. 13.
• * 1.15

  Ben Gerson.
• * 1.16

  V. 17.
• * 1.17

  V. 21.
• * 1.18

  Lyra.
• * 1.19

  Junius.
• * 1.20

  V. 25.
• * 1.21

  Numb. 27.
• * 1.22

  Gen: 34.
• * 1.23

  Gen: 24.
• * 1.24

  Concil. Ar••lat. c. 16. P. Martyr.
• * 1.25

  Josephus.
• * 1.26

  Lyra.
• * 1.27

  Peter Martyr.
• * 1.28

  V. 30.
• * 1.29

  Iunius.
• * 1.30

  The Mystery.