CHAPTER XXVI _The Ziphites inform Saul of David's hiding place_, 1. _Saul, with_ three thousand _men, goes in pursuit of him_, 2, 3. _David sends out spies; and finds where Saul had pitched his_ _camp; and he and Abishai come to the camp by night, find all_ _asleep, and bring away Saul's spear,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:2. _THREE THOUSAND CHOSEN MEN_] Though they knew that David was but six hundred strong, yet Saul thought it was not safe to pursue such an able general with a less force than that mentioned in the text; and, that he might the better depend on them, they were all _elect_ or _picked... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:5. _DAVID AROSE_] As David and his men knew the country, they had many advantages over Saul and his men; and no doubt could often watch them without being discovered. _SAUL LAY IN THE TRENCH_] The word במעגל _bammaegal_, which we translate _in the trench_, and in the margin _in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:6. _ABISHAI THE SON OF ZERUIAH_] She was David's sister; and therefore Abishai and Joab were nephews to David.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:8. _GOD HATH DELIVERED THINE ENEMY INTO THINE HAND_] Here Abishai uses the same language as did David's men, when Saul came into the cave at En-gedi, (see 1 Samuel 24:4, c.,) and David uses the same language in reply.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:10. _THE LORD SHALL SMITE HIM_] He shall die by a stroke of the Divine judgment; _or his day shall come to die_-he shall die a natural death; which in the course of things must be before mine, and thus I shall get rid of mine enemy; or _he shall descend into_ _the battle, and peris... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:12. _DAVID TOOK THE SPEAR AND THE CRUSE_] The _spear_, we have already seen, was the emblem of _power_ and _regal_ dignity. But it is usual, in Arab camps, for every man to have his lance stuck in the ground beside him, that he may be ready for action in a moment. The cruse of wate... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:15. ART _NOT THOU A_ VALIANT _MAN?_] This is a strong irony. _Ye_ are _worthy to die; ye are sons of death _- ye deserve death for this neglect of your king. And had not Saul been so deeply affected with David's generosity in preserving his life, he had doubtless put Abner and his... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:19. _LET HIM ACCEPT AN OFFERING_] If God have stirred thee up against me, why, then, let him deliver my life into thy hand, and accept it as a sacrifice. But as the word is מנחה _minchah_, a gratitude-offering, perhaps the sense may be this: Let God accept a gratitude-offering from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:20. _AS WHEN ONE DOTH HUNT A PARTRIDGE_] It is worthy of remark that the Arabs, observing that partridges, being put up several times, soon become so weary as not to be able to fly; they in this manner hunt them upon the mountains, till at last they can knock them down with their c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:21. _I HAVE SINNED_] Perhaps the word חטאתי _chatathi_, "I have sinned," should be read, _I have erred_, or, _have been_ _mistaken_. I have taken thee to be a very different man from what I find thee to be. Taken literally it was strictly true. He often purposed the spilling of Dav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Samuel 26:25. _THOU SHALT BOTH DO GREAT_ THINGS, _AND ALSO SHALT STILL_ _PREVAIL._] The Hebrew is גם עשה תעשה וגם יכל תוכל _gam asoh thaaseh,_ _vegam yachol tuchal_; "Also in doing thou shalt do, and being able thou shalt be able; which the Targum translates, _also in reigning_ _thou shalt r... [ Continue Reading ]