b Either, 1- The Stone pierced through his Helmet ; which ſuch Stones being {ſlung would not ſeldom do; as even Dijonorys Siculus
relares.
F Heb; bound up in, En.44. 30,
1 $ 4 relates. Or 2. The Stone might get in through one of thoſe holes which are left in Helmets, that he that wears It may ſee his way, and how to dire& his blows. Or rather,z.T ne proud Giant had lift up that part of his Helmet which covered his Fore-head ; and that in cowtemprt of _ and his Weapons, and by theſingular direCti- 24's Providence. : > So David prevailed over the Philiſtine, with'a fling, and with a ſtone, and ſmote the Philiftine, and New him ; but here was no ſword inthe hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and ſtood upon the Phi- liſtine, and took his ſword c, and drew it out of the ſheath thereof, and ſlew him d, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philiſtines ſaw their cham-
pion was dead, they fled. :
c Hence it appears, that David was not a little Man, as many fan- cy; but a M-n of conſiderable bulk and ſtrength,becaule he was able to manave a Giant's Sword ; which alſo he did, both here and be- low, Chap. 2+. 9. 4 Qu. How could this be, wiren he flew him be- fore with the Scone, v. 50? Anſw., There he gives a general ac- count of the Event of the Bartel; and of the Giant's Death : but here be gives a particu/ar Relation of the manner and inſtrument of his Deato. The Stone threw him down to the Earth, and bereaved him of the viſe of his Senſ: and Motion ; but there remained ſome Lifz in him; ( as frequenrly doth in ſuch caſes) which the Sword took away, and ſo compleated the Work.
52 And the men of Ifrael and of Judah aroſe, and ſhouted, and purſued the Philiſtines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gatesof Ekrons and the woun- ded of the Philiſtines fell down by the way to Shaarim, even unto Gath; and unto Ekron.
3 And the children of Iſrael returned from chaſing
after the Philiſtines, and they ſpoiled their tents e.
e Heb. Their Camps i. e. Their Camp : but he ſpeaks of it in the Plural Number, becauſe of the great extent, and various quarters of their Camp. ; WE EY
4 And David took the head of the Philiſtine, and brought it to Jeruſalem f ; but he put his armour in his tentg. = Wee, ©
F Either, to terrific the Jebuſitrs, who yet held the Fort of Zn, 2 Sam. 5. 7. or, for ſome other reaton not Recorded, nor now known. g 5 e. In the Tenr which was ere&ed for him in rhe Camp, upon this occaſiun. There it was kept for the preſent; though af- terwards ir ſeems ro have been tranſlated ro the Tabernacle ; where we fir:d his Sword, Chap. 21. and it is not unlikely the reſt of bis Armoar was there alſo» ; ESE
55 And when Saul ſaw David go forth againſt the Philiſtine, he ſaid unto Abner the captain of the hoſt, Abner, whoſe ſon is this youth 4? and Abner ſaid, As thy foul hveth, O king, I cannotrell z?
þ Queft. How could David be unknown to Saul,with whom he had lived, Chap. 16. 21? Anſw, That might well be, for divers reaſons, becauſe David was not conſtantly with him; nor, as it feems, uſed
\ . by him, but upon extraordinary occations, and deſperate fits of Me-
F} Heb;
Vound up in, TEn.4463 0,
lancholy ; from which, poſſibly he had been free for a good while, by God's ſpecial Providence and Care for his People Jrael, that fo he might be capable of Governing and ProteQing them againſt the Philiftines, who watched all opportunities againſt them, and at laſt broke forth into an open War. Thus David had been for ſome con- {fiderable rime diſmiſſed from SauPs Court, and was returned home. And therefore it is not ſtrange, if Saul had for the preſent forgotten David. For Kings, becauſe of the Incumbrance of Publick Buſineſs, and the mulritude of Perſons who come to them on ſeveral occaſi- ons, may eaſily torget ſome Perſons ; yea, ſuch as have frequently been with them, eſpecially their Servants whom they do not uſe to obſerve with ſo much attention and care as they do others. Add to this, that the diſtemper of Saul's mind might make him forgetful 3 and that David might now be much changed, both in his counte- nance and in his habir, from what he bad before; and it is appa- xent,that the change of habirs makes ſo great a difference, that it oft keeps us from the knowedge of thoſe Perſons whom in other habits we very well know. Some give this Anſwer, Thar rhis was the firſt time that Saul had ſeen David; and that David's exploit here Re- corded, was performed before that which is Recorded Chap. 17. 15, &c. though it be placed after it : Bur that is confuted vy com- paring Chap. 18- 1, 2, 3. # Which is nor ſtrange, becauſe Abner's converſation and employment was generally in the Camp, waen David was at the Court ; and when Abner was there, he took little notice of a Perſon ſo much inferiour to him as David was.
56 And the king ſaid, Inquire thou whoſe ſon the ftripling is. ;
57 And as David returned from the ſlaughter of the Philiſtine, Abner cook him, and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philiſtine in his hand.
58 Aad Saul ſaid to him, Whoſe fon art thou, hon
' young man ? and David anſwered, I am che {on of thy | ſervanc Jelile, the Betblehemite
| CHAP. XVII.
Jonathan levverh David. They Covenant together, 1 4+ Saul envieth Das. wid's praiſe : In his fury (ecketh to kill him, « 11. 1s afraid cf him: And removeth him ; He is loved by the People, 12————16. Saul offer- &th David his Daughters, firſt. Merab who is gien to Aaricl ; then Michal who Ieveth David, 17 20, Saul demandeth 100 foreckins of the Philiftines for a Dowry : David promiſeth ; Delivereth double the number: Obtaineth Michal, 21 27. Saul's fear and hatred ; And Davis's Glory increajeth, 28 30,
ND' ſpeaking unto >aul, rhar the ſoul of Jonathan was
T knit with the ſoul of David, and Jonachan loved him
as his own ſoul s,
% : : ? - F< 7 « "x | M UD E EL, | Chap. XVII? s Partly, for his excellent Vertues and Endowments,which ſhone | forth both in his Speeches and AQtions ; partly, for the grear and good Service which he had done ro GOD and tohis People;and parts ly, for the ſfimilitude of their Age and Qualities. | .,2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him g0no more home to his fathers houſe 6. | |
b By which it appears, that before-time David had nor his cone ſtant Reſidence at Court, but did return to his Father's Houſe, and thence again tothe Courr, as occaſion required.