Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 24

2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats .

Which the wild Goats use to delight and climb into. These very Rocks are exceeding steep, and full of precipices, and dangerous to Travellers, as an eye-witness hath left upon Record. And yet Saul was so transported with Rage, as to venture himself and his Army here, that he might take David, who, as he thought, would judge himself safe, and therefore be secure in such inaccessible places.

Marginal references: Heb. the face of, &c.

3 And he came to the sheep coats by the way, where was a cave, and * Saul went in to cover his feet : and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave :

Which some think to have been Caves into which they used to drive their Sheep for shelter in tempestuous weather.

i. e. To ease his Belly, as this Phrase is thought to be used, Iudg. 3. 24. The reason whereof is, because the Eastern and some other Nations of old wore no Breeches, but loose and long Coats or Gowns, like those which Women with us wear; but shorter, whence their Feet and Legs were in a great part uncovered; and sometimes other parts, which also in Scripture are designed by the name of the Feet, (of which see on Gen. 49. 10. Deut. 28. 57. 2 King. 18. 27. Isa. 7. 20.) were exposed to view. But when they went to perform this office of Nature, which obliged them first to lift up their Garments, they afterwards disposed them so decently, that all those parts might be covered and kept out of the sight of others. But possibly the words may have another meaning, and it is not to be despised, that those ancient and venerable Interpreters, the Syriack and Arabick, Interpret this Place and Phrase quite otherwise, that Saul went in to sleep there: which was no uncouth thing to Saul, who being a Military Man, used to sleep with his Soldiers upon the bare Ground, as he did chap. 26. 7. And it is not improbable that Saul being exceeding weary with his eager and almost incessant pursuit first of David, then of the Philistines, and now of David again, both needed and desired some sleep, God also disposing him thereunto, that David might have this eminent occasion to demonstrate his integrity to Saul, and to all Israel; and, the season possibly being hot, he might chuse to sleep in the Cave, for the benefit of the shade. But all the question is, how it may appear that this is the meaning of this Phrase, and what is the reason and ground of it? To which many things may be said. First, That this Phrase is but twice used in Scripture, as far as I remember, here, and Iudg. 3. 24. and this sense may conveniently enough agree to both of them; nay, this sense may seem better to agree with that place, Iudg. 3. for that Summer Parlour, or Summer Chamber (for both seem to be the same place, and were apparently for the same use, v. 24, 25.) seems to be a place far more convenient for sleeping, than for easing of Nature. And the Servants long stay and waiting for their Lord, seems to imply that they judged him gone to sleep (which might take up a considerable time), rather than to that other work which requires but a little time. See my Notes on Iudg. 3. 24. Secondly, That there are many Hebrew Phrases, which do confessedly signify several things, albeit, the reason of such significations be now utterly unknown to us, though it was doubtless known to the ancient Hebrews. Nor need I instance in particulars, seeing it is so in all Languages, and particularly in the English Tongue at this day, in which the use of many Proverbs and Phrases is well understood, though the reason of them be now lost. Which if our modern Infidels, who scoff at some passages of Scripture, which they either do not, or will not understand, would consider, they would lose much of their sport. Thirdly, Although there be not that clear and full proof of this sense which some may require (though indeed it cannot be reasonably expected in a thing so ancient, and in a Phrase of so concise and narrow a Language as the Hebrew is, and in an expression so rarely used in Scripture), yet there are some intimations in Scripture which may seem to favour this Interpretation. For Persons composing themselves to sleep in this manner, are not onely Noted in the general to have been covered with a Mantle, as it is said of Sisera, Iudg. 4. 18, 19. but particularly they are said to have their Feet covered, as is expresly observed concerning Boaz when he lay down to sleep in the threshing-floor, Ruth 3. 4, 7. The reason whereof may possibly be this, That when they lay down to sleep in their Garments, they were secured as to the other parts of their Body, onely their Feet were open and visible; and therefore it was convenient to cover their Feet; partly, to prevent the inconveniencies of cold, (for which reason we here take special care to cover our Feet in such cases); and partly, for decencies sake, lest their Garments being loose and large below, should be disordered, and so their Nakedness should appear, as it happened to Noah. Gen. 9. 21. Compare Exod. 20. 26. And therefore it cannot seem strange or forced, if in this place Saul's covering of his Feet, design his composing himself to his rest. And if this be so, then the following difficulties of this History will appear to be plain and easie. For if Saul were fast asleep, which might easily be perceived by David and his Men within; then it is not strange that Saul neither heard David and his men talking of him, nor felt David when he came to cut off his lap.

For that there were vast Caves in those parts is affirmed not onely by Iosephus, but also by Heathen Authors; and Strabo in his 16th Book writes of one which could receive Four thousand men.

Marginal references: Psal. 57. title, and 142. title.

4 And the men of David said unto him , Behold, the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him, as it shall seem good unto thee . Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Sauls robe privily .

Quest. How came it to pass that Saul did not hear the debates of David and his men? Ans. First, The greater noise of Saul's Men and Horses just by the Caves mouth, might easily drown the lesser. Secondly, There were in these large and capacious Caves, several cells or parts, whereof some were more inward and remote from the Caves mouth, in which they might freely converse and discourse, and yet neither be heard nor seen by Saul, though they could easily see him, and observe all his postures and actions, because he was in the mouth of the Cave. 3. Saul might be asleep, as hath been discoursed.

Not that either God said these words, or made any such particular promise, as some apprehend; but they put this construction upon those confessed and known promi[illegible: 1+ letters]es which God had made to him, of delivering him from all his Enemies, and carrying him through all hinderances and difficulties to the Throne and Kingdom: which promise they conceived put him under an Obligation of watching and taking all opportunities which God by his Providence should put into his hand for their accomplishment, whereof this was an eminent instance.

Qu. How could David do thus, and Saul not perceive it? Ans. First, This might be some loose and upper Garment, which Saul might then lay at some distance from him, as we oft do on the same occasion. Secondly, In those vast Caves there were divers particular Cells and Rooms which were distinct one from another, yet so as there were secret passages from one to another, as may be gathered from the relations of Historians and Travellers. At the mouth of one of these, Saul might lay his upper Garment: which David perceiving, and very well knowing all the Cells and Passages of that Cave, might go some secret way to it, and cut off a little part of it. Thirdly, The noise which David's motion might be supposed to make, was but small, and that he well knew would be perfectly drowned with the far greater noise of Saul's Army, which lay at the mouth of the Cave. Fourthly, The Heroical Actions of great Men in Scripture are not to be measured by common rules. And as divers of the Prophets and Saints of old were in some of their Actions, so David might be in this, moved to it by a secret and Divine impulse, which also gave him confidence of Gods assistance therein, and of the Success of his Enterprize. Fifthly, This difficulty doth perfectly vanish, if Saul was now asleep. And as no man can prove that he was not; so that he was, may seem probable from what is said on v. 3.

Marginal references: Heb. the robe which was Sauls.

5 And it came to pass afterwards, that Davids heart smote him, because he had cut off Sauls skirt .

Not onely because it was injurious, and reproachful, and dangerous to the King; but possibly because he had some secret thought of doing more to him, though he suppressed and overcame it; for he attempted this in pursuance of his Soldiers suggestion, v. 4. which if followed, would have carried him to further Action.

Marginal references: 2 Sa[illegible: 1+ letters]. [illegible: 1 word] ▪

6 And he said unto his men , The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master the LORDS anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him , seeing he is the anointed of the LORD .

Either, First, Before he cut off Saul's lap. Or rather, Secondly, Afterwards, when he returned with Saul's lap in his hand, and his Soldiers were enraged that he had not killed him.

Which you persuade me to do, even cut off Saul.

Whom I must still own for my Sovereign Lord and King, to whom I owe Allegiance whilst he lives, although after his death the right of the Kingdom be mine.

To wit, to kill him. A Synecdochical expression. See Gen. 37. 22.

i. e. Anointed by God to the Kingdom; by which Unction his Person was made Sacred and Inviolable, and is so to be accounted by me, and you, and all his Subjects. And as God onely Exalted him, and God onely could pronounce a Sentence of Deprivation of his Kingdom against him; so it belongs to God onely to execute his own Sentence, and actually to Depose him.

7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul: but Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

Heb. cut, or clave, or divided, or cut them off. The word notes both the eagerness and violence of David's men in prosecuting their desire, and David's resoluteness in opposing them, as it were, by force. Wherein he shews great Piety, and Generosity, and Loyalty to Saul.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word]

9 ¶ And David said unto Saul, Wherefore hearest thou mens words , saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?

He prudently and modestly Translates the fault from Saul to his followers, and evil counsellors.

Marginal references: Psal▪ [illegible: 1 word] ▪

10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen, how that the LORD hath delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee, but mine eye spared thee, and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord, for he is the LORDS anointed.

Which words are easily understood both from the nature of the thing, and from the use of this Phrase in other Scriptures, as Deut. 7. 16. and 13. 8. The Eye is said to spare, because it affects the heart with pity, and moves a man to spare.

Marginal references: 2 Sam. 13. 39. Psal. 16. 2.

11 Moreover, my father , See, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see, that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand , and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

So he calls him; partly, because he was his Father-inlaw; partly, in testimony of his respect a[illegible: 1+ letters]d subjection to him as to a Father; and partly, that by so amiable a compellation he might both insinuate himself into his favour, and mind him of that Duty which as a Father he owed to David.

I neither design mischief against thee with my heart, nor will I execute it with my hand, which my false accusers told thee I would do, i[illegible: 1+ letters] thou didst at any time fall into my hand.

12 The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee : but mine hand shall not be upon thee .

Or, will avenge me of thee, to wit, if thou dost persist in thy injurious and cruel designs against me.

I will not execute vengeance on thee, but will leave it wholly to God.

Marginal references: Or, will judge.

13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked : but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

i. e. Wicked men will do wicked actions, among which this is one, to kill their Sovereign Lord and King; as David implied above, v. 6. and more fully expresseth, chap. 26. 9. And therefore if I were so wicked and vile a Person as thy Courtiers represent me to thee, I should make no conscience of laying wicked and violent hands upon thee, but should assassinate thee when I had opportunity. Which because I have now neglected and refused to do, though moved to it by some of my wicked Soldiers; know therefore that I am not guilty of any wicked designs against thee, but am just and innocent towards thee. Or thus: wicked actions (such as they would have been if I had killed thee) proceed onely from the wicked, of which number I am none, and therefore my hand shall not be upon thee.

14 After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? After a dead dog, after a flea .

After a worthless, contemptible, and impotent person, such as I am. Thou disparagest thy self in contending with such a Person; and even thy conquest of me will be inglorious and shameful.

Marginal references: Chap. 26. 20.

16 ¶ And it came to pass when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David ? And Saul lift up his voice, and wept .

He knew his voice, though being at a great distance from him, he could not discern his face.

Partly, from the sense of his sin against God, and of his wicked and base carriage to David, (for there are some such Temporary passions oft-times in Hypocrites and ungodly men) and principally from the remembrance of so great and so late a danger as he had now escaped; which commonly produceth grief and tears; as 2 Sam. 13. 36. Yet these may be tears of affection or tenderness (upon the sense of David's kindness) rather than of grief.

17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good , whereas I have rewarded thee evil .

For the Evil that I have designed and done to thee.

For thy good will to me.

19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away ? wherefore the LORD reward thee good, for that thou hast done unto me this day.

i. e. He will certainly destroy him. And therefore thou hast not dealt with me after the manner of men, but hast imitated the clemency of God in this act.

20 And now behold, I know well that thou shalt be surely king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

Or, am convinced, not onely by the fame of Samuel's Anointing thee, but by Gods singular Providence watching over thee; and by that good Spirit, and those Great and Princely Vertues wherewith God hath endowed thee.

Marginal references: Chap 23. 17.

21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me , and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my fathers house.

As Princes use to destroy their Competitors, and those that have any hopes of, or pretence to their Crown; and Saul had endeavoured to destroy David for the same reason, and therefore he feared a retaliation.

To wit, by cutting off my Seed. So it is the same thing repeated in other words, as is usual in Scripture.

22 And David sware unto Saul : and Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold .

Qu. How then could David destroy so many of Saul's Sons, 2 Sam. 21. 8? Ans. David could bind himself by his Oaths, but he could not bind God, to whose good pleasure all Promises, Vows, Oaths, must in all reason be submitted; and that was done by Gods command, and God was well pleased with it, 2 Sam. 21. 14. Nor is it to be supposed that David sware not to destroy any of them in case God should specially command it, or that should by miscarriage render themselves obnoxious to the Sword of Justice: but onely that he would not do it barely on his own private account, nor seek occasions of so doing.

To wit, of Engedi, v. 1. For having had so great and frequent experience of Saul's inconstancy, and malice, and perfidiousness, he would trust him no more.