The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 295

aeven are recorded in 1 Chron. ii. 13-15, were bth of his _institution, as orderly ele- whereas these "ith David make eight. To ments of the Jewish state; he also trained all these seven the Di\'ine voice within the man who more nearly than any other Samuel gave no response, and he said unto approached unto the ideal of tho theocrntic ,Tesse, Jehovah bath not chosen these. kin~, and "?S to Israel tho type of their 'Vers. 11, 12.-Are here all thy children 1 conung Messiah. It was Samuel's wisdom The word literally is lads, na'arim. The in t~aching h_is young men music which gave elder sons must liavc been nearly or quite David the skill to he the sweet singer of the grown up, but Dand was probably a mere sanctuary ; and wo may feel suro also that boy, and as such l1ad not been thought worthy when David arranged the sorvice of the house of an inntation, but had been left with of God, and gave priests and Levites their the servants keeping the sheep. The prophet appointed duties (1 Chron. xxiii.-xxvi.) now orders him to be summoned, and marks the model which he set before him was that his value in God's sight by saying, We will in which he had so often taken part with not sit down till he come hither. The verb Samuel at Ramah. As Eliab, Abinadab, and literally means, we will 1wt su.rround, i. e. Shammah were but lads (ver. 11), David the table, though at this time the Jews did must have been very young, and many years sit nt meals, instead of reclining on couches, have elapsed. between his anointing and his as in the days of Amos and our Lord. We summons to Saul's presence and combat gather, moreover, from Samuel's words that with Goliath ; and they were thus well spent the selection of tlie son that was to be in the prophet's company, whence at proper anointed took place while the preparations intervals he would return to his father's house were being made for the feast. At the pro- and resume his ordinary duties. The Spirit phet's command David is fetched from the of Jehove.h came upon De.vid from that day flock, which was probably near the house, forward (comp. eh. x. 6, 9). In modern and on his arrival the prophet sees a ruddy language we should say that David's charac- boy, i. e. red-haired, correctly rendered in ter grew and developed nobly, both intellect- the Yulgate 'r?{/us, the colour loved by all ually and morally. With far more ethical painters of manly beauty, and, from the deli- truth the Israelites saw in the high que.lities cacy of complexion which accompanies it, which displayed themselves in David's acts especially admired in the East, where men and words the presence and working of a arc generally dark-haired and sallow-faced. Divine Spirit. It was a "breathing of Jeho- ~r orcover, he was of a beautiful countenance. vah" which moved David onward, and fos- The Hebrew says, ",vith beautiful eyes," tered in him all that was morally great and :•nd so the Syriac and Septuagint rightly. He good, just as it was "the breath of God" mts also goodly to look to, i. e. to look at. which at the creation moved upon the face of These last words give the general idea of the the wnters to call this earth into being (Gen. l,cnuty of his face and person, while his bright i. 2). Samuel rose up and went to Bamah. hair a11d delicate complexion ~nd the beauty of His mission was over, and he returned to his his ryes arc specially noticed in the Hebrew. ordinary duties ; but, doubtless, first he rue.de Yer. 13.-Then Samuel took the horn of arrangements that David should in due time oil, e.nd anointed him in the midst of his follow him thither, that be might be trained brethrell. Did he or they understand the for his high office under Samuel's direct meaning of the act! We think not. Cer- influence and control. tainly Eliab (eh. xvii 28) had no idea of any DAvm's INTRODUCTION TO Krno SAUL special greatness being in store for his brother. (vers. 14-23). Vers. 14, 15.-From this Most probably both Jesse ancl his sons re- time forward David is the central figure of garded David as simply selected to be trained the history. Saul has been rejected, e.nd in Samuel's schools; and there can be little though, as being the actual king, he must doubt that he was so trained. Samuel gave still play his part, more especially as his nn to David that which Saul had not received decline goes on side by side with De.vid's -Ion" and careful training; and David pro- growth in every kingly quality, yet the fited 1Iy it, and at Naioth in Ramah perfected record of it is no longer given on Snul's !,is skill, not only in reading and writing, but account. Int.eresting, then, as may be the in poetry and mUBic. Saul and David were information concerning the mental malady both men of extraordinary natural ability; but with which Saul was visited, yet the object the one is always shy, awkward, and with all of this section is to acquaint us with the the defectsofan uneducated man; while David manner in which David was first brought is altogether the contrary. But Samuel gave into connection with him. From the de- hi;; youthful pupil something better than ac- scription given of De.vi<l in ver. 18 it is complishments-he carefully educated him 'evident that there has been e. considerable in the law of God, and led his mind onward -i interval of time between this nnd the previous to all that was good. It was Samuel's last aection. David is no longer a child, but r, an:l crowning work. Prophe,.y and monarchy '' mighty valiant man." The conuection iii  en. XVI. 1-23.J THE FIRST WOK OF SA:\IUEL.