Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Samuel 27:1

AND David said in his heart, I shall now † perish one day by the hand of Saul : there is nothing better for me, than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines , and Sa[illegible: 1+ letters]l shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel, so shall I escape out of his hand▪

I see by this late experience his restless and implacable hatred against me; and how little heed is to be given to all his pretences of Repentance or Friendship.

But this was certainly a very great mistake and fault in David: for 1. This proceeded from gross distrust of God's Promise and Providence; and that after such repeated demonstrations of Gods peculiar Car[illegible: 1+ letters] over him, which gave him cause to conclude, quite contrary to what is here said. 2. He forsakes the place where God had settled him, Chap. 22. 5. and given him both assurance, and experience of his Protection there▪ 3. He voluntarily runs upon that Rock, which he cursed his Enemies for throwing him upon, Chap. 26. 19. and upon many [illegible: 1 word] Snares and Dangers, as the following History will shew; and withal, deprives the people of the Lord of those succours which he might have given them, in case of a Battel. But it pleased God to leave David to himself in this, as well as in other particulars, that these might be sensible demonstrations of the Infirmities of the best Men; and of the necessity of Gods grace, and daily direction and assistance: and of the freeness and riches of God's Mercy, in passing by such great Offences. And besides, God hereby designed to accomplish his own Counsel, to withdraw David from the Israelites, that Saul and they might fall by the hand of the Philistines, without any reproach or inconvenience to David, whom God had put into a safe place.

Marginal references: ‡ [illegible: 1 word] be con [illegible: 1+ letters]umed.