_A.M. 2942. B.C. 1062._ David escapes to the cave of Adullam, where many resort to him, 1Sa 22:1, 1 Samuel 22:2. Lodges his parents with the king of Moab, 1 Samuel 22:3; 1 Samuel 22:4. Comes to the forest of Hareth, 1 Samuel 22:5. Saul complains of his servants as unfaithful to him, 1 Samuel 22:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the cave of Adullam_ Which was a strong hold in the tribe of Judah, 1 Chronicles 11:15; Joshua 15:35. This place, fortified by nature, is so fitted for the security of persons in distress, according to Dr. Delaney, that it hath frequently given a refuge from the Turks to the Christians, who fled... [ Continue Reading ]
_Every one that was in distress_ אישׁ מצוק, _ish matsok_, the man straitened or oppressed. _And every one that was in debt_ אשׁר לו נשׁא _asher lo noshee, the man that had a creditor._ Probably poor debtors, whom their creditors were obliged to spare, Exodus 22:25. And others, whose lands and goods... [ Continue Reading ]
_David went_ from _thence to Mizpeh_ For the Moabites were at difference with Saul, 1 Samuel 14:47. _Let my father and my mother be with you_ David, perhaps, the rather hoped for this kindness to be shown to his aged parents, who were not able to travel up and down, as he was likely to be obliged to... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the while David was in the hold_ In holds; the singular number being put for the plural, as is frequent; that is, as long as David was forced to go from place to place, and from hold to hold, to secure himself; for it concerned David especially to secure his father, and he did doubtless secure... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Prophet Gad said unto David_ We read nothing of this prophet before; and it is likely God raised him up at this time, on purpose for the support and direction of David. _Abide not in the hold_ That is, do not shut up thyself here; for he did not merely intend any particular strong place, where... [ Continue Reading ]
_Having his spear in his hand_ It seems, as an ensign of majesty, for in old times kings carried a spear instead of a sceptre. _Ye Benjamites_ You that are of my own tribe and kindred, from whom David designs to translate the kingdom to another tribe. Will he distribute profits and preferments among... [ Continue Reading ]
_He inquired of the Lord for him_ Some think Doeg slandered Ahimelech in this, because we read nothing of it in the foregoing chapter; and David in the Psalms speaks of his false tongue. But whether or not, he was guilty of great wickedness in concealing part of the truth, which in this case he ough... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king sent to call Ahimelech and all his father's house _ The priests of the house of Eli, whom God had threatened to cut off, chap. 1 Samuel 2:31; and which threatening, by a strange chain of providences, was now about to be fulfilled.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ahimelech said, Who is so faithful_, &c. Or, rather, _Who was so faithful_, &c.; for it cannot be supposed, after Saul had just accused David of a conspiracy against him, that the high-priest would say he was then faithful. His apology, which sufficiently shows his innocence as to the things of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Did I then begin to inquire of God for him?_ These words do not necessarily imply that Ahimelech had inquired of God for David. Doeg indeed charged him with doing it, but as the sacred historian has made no mention of any such thing, it is probable that he charged him falsely and maliciously, and w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt surely die, thou and all thy father's house_ A cruel resolution; for what had the rest of the priests done to deserve such a bloody execution? _The servants of the king would not_, &c. In this, undoubtedly, they were praiseworthy; but had been more so had they courageously taken the part... [ Continue Reading ]
_Doeg the Edomite turned and fell upon the priests_ The country of Doeg is very properly here mentioned, and again repeated, to wipe off the stain of this butchery from the Israelitish nation, and to show why he was so ready to do it; because he was one of that nation which had an implacable hatred... [ Continue Reading ]
_Both men and women, children and sucklings_ In all the life of Saul there is no wickedness to be compared to this. He appears now to be wholly under the power of that evil spirit which had long tormented him. And this destruction could not but go to the heart of every pious Israelite, and make them... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abiathar escaped and fled after David_ He, by his father's death, was now high-priest, and is the person referred to Mark 2:26, where we find him described by an office which he did not bear till after the event alluded to, Ahimelech, as we have seen, being high-priest when David took the show-brea... [ Continue Reading ]