The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 304

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1. (BETRLEHEM.)-David's parentage and education. (References :-Family register-1 Chron. i.-iii. I. Early life: shepherd, harper, champion-chs. xvi., xvii. II. Courtier and outlaw life-cbs. xviii.-xxxi. ; 2 Sam. i. HI. Royal life in Hebron and Jerusalem-2 Sam. ii.-xxiv. ; 1 Kings i., ii.; 1 Chron. x.- -xxix.) While Saul pursued his own way at Gibeah, and Samuel mourned for him at Ramali, there dwelt at Bethlehem (twelve miles from the latter place) a shepherd youth who was destined to attain peerless renown as "a man of war,'' a ruler over men, nn inspired poet and prophet, and (because of Lis fulfilling the i~ea _of a truly theocrntic king more perfectly than any other) a type of One to whom 1s given" a name wlllch is above every name." Once and ag11in the prophet had declared that Saul would be replaced by a worthier successor ( eh. xiii. 14; xv. 28); but who that successor shoul,l be he knew not until the inner voice said, "Arise, anoint him: for this is he " (ver. 12). DAVID (the beloved) was sixteen or eighteen years of age. His personal appearance is minutely described. In comparison w~th the giga~tic Saul, and ev~n his eldest brother, he was of short stature (ver. 7). He had reddish or auburn haJT, and a fresh, florid complexion, which were rare amc,ng his black-locked and swartl,y countrymen; a pleasing countenance, keen, bright eyes, and a grnceful form. He nlso possessed· great physical strength, courage, intelligence, sagacity, aml power of expression (ver. 18); above all, a firm trust in God and ardent love toward him. Many influences combined to make him whc1t he was, and to develop his extra- ordinary gifts; which, after his anointing, advanced rapidly towards perfection. "It is impossible to draw a line of distinction between his life before and after his designation by Samuel ; but we may well believe that those elements of character were already forming which began to shine forth when the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him." 11 Royalty was inborn in him." Among the jonnative injluences referred to were those of- I. FAMILY RELATIONSHIP. 1. He belong·ed to one of the most honourablefamiii,:.~ in Judah, the foremost tribe of Israel. His ancestor, Nahshon, was prince of tLe tribe /Num. ii. 3; vii. 12); another, Salmon, married Rahab, "who received tl,e spies in peace" (Matt. i. 5) ; another, Boaz (great-grandfather of David), married Ruth the Moabitess, 11 a truly consecrated flower of heathendom turning longingly to the light of Divine revelation in Israel" (Ruth iv. 17). His father, Jesse (Isa. xi. 1 ), who would often speak of them, had attained II a good old age" (eh. xvii. 12), was in pros- perous circumstances, had eight sons, of whom David was the youngest, and two daughters-in-law (2 Sam. xvii. 25), whose children-Abishai, Joab, and Asahel (sons of Zeruiah), and Amasa (son of Abigail)-were old enough to be his companions. Peculiar physical, mental, and moral qualities often charucteriae certain families, are transmitted from one generation to another, and are sometimes concentrated in a single individual ; and great family trnditions ten<l to excite noble impulses an<l aspirations. 2. He was connected (through Tamar, Rahub, Ruth) with several Gen- tile races. This served to enlarge his sympathies, and accounts for his friendly intercourse with them ( eh. uii. 3; 1 King·s v. 1). 11 No prince of Israel was ever on such friendly, intimate terms with the heathen about him., (' Expositor,' ii. 9). 3. Ho received a godly training. Jesse was a man of simple piety (vers. 1, 5; eh. xx. 6); his mothM (whose name baa not been recorded) was a II handmaid of Jehovah" " (Pa. lxx.xvi. 16; cxvi. 16). "How much David owed to her we cannot doubt. The memory of it abode with him through all the trials and all the splendours of his sub- sequent career; and hence, whilst nowhere does he mention his father, he seems in these passages to appeal to the memory of his mother's goodness, as at once a special token of the Dirine favour to himself, and an additional reason that he should prove himself the servant of God" (W. L. Alexander). II. ORDINARY orcurATJON. Whilst his brothers cultivated fields and vineyards on the slope~ of Bethlehem, he kept his father's sheep "in the wilderness" of Jud,,h 1 SAM. X  306 THE FIUST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. xvr. 1-23.