The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 337

EXPO.SIT ION. PERSONAL RELATIONS OF SAUL AKD DAVID (CHS. xvm.-xxvn.). FnIENDSHIP OF DAVID AND JONATHAN (CHS. xvm.-xx.). ver. 5). And thus the love which bcga1, CHAPTER XVIII. with admiration of David's prowess grew JONATHAN LOVES DAVID (vers. 1-5). deeper and more confirmed by constant Ver. 1.-When he had made an end of intercourse, till this solemn bond of mntual :epeaking. This conversation took place as ftiendship was entered into by the two soon as the pursuit of the Philistines and youthful heroes, by which they bound them- the collecting of the spoil were over. There selves under all circumstances to be true and would then be a muster of the Israelites, and faithful to one another. How nobly J 011a- Abner would naturally present the youthful than kept the bond the history proc-eerls -champion to the king, who is represented immediately to tell us; nor was David sub- as having virtually forgotten him, and as sequently unmindful of it (2 Sam. ix. I, 7). anxious to learn his history ; nor bad bis Jonathan stripped himself of the robe, &c. stay been long enough for Abner to remember In confirmation of the bond Jonathan gave him. As this conversation is narrated as an David first his robe, the mei'l, which, as introduction to the account of Jonathan's we have seen on eh. ii. 19, was the ordinary friendship for David, the last four verses of dress of the wealthier classes; and next his eh. xvii. ougb t to be prefixed to eh. xviii. A garments, his military dress (see on eh. xvii new beginning commences with them, in whicb 38, 39), worn over the meil, and which here we are told of the commencement of this seems to include his accoutrements,-the friendship, of the growth of Saul's hatred, bow, sword, and girdle,-though elsewhere and of the trials which befell David, proceed- distinguished from them (2 Sam. u. 8). ing on the king's part from bad to worse, In thus clothing David in his own princely till at last he was driven away and com- equipments Jonathan was showing bis friend pelled to lead the life of an outlaw. But by the greatest personal honour (Esther vi 8), his envy, cruelty, and bad government Saul and such a gift is still highly esteemed in was alienating the minds of the people from the East. him, and preparing the way for his own Ver. 5.-David went out. I. e. went on downfall ancl David's ultimate triumph. military expeditions (comp. ver. 30). As The episode of J onathan's love is as beautiful the verb has· thus a technical signification, it as Saul's conduct is dark, and completes our makes a complete sense, and the verse should admiration for this generous and noble hero. be translated, "And David went forth (i. e. The soul of Jonathan was knit with the on warlike enterprises) ; wbithersocver Saul soul of David. These kindred spirits had sent him he prospered, and Saul set him so much in common that, as David with over the men of war." These expeditions modest manliness answered the king's ques- were not upon a very large scale; for it is not tions, an intense feeling of admiration grew until ver. 13 that we read of David being up in the young wan-ior's heart, and a made " captain over a thousand." Still, friendship was the result which ranks among even while only a centurion in rank, yet, as the purest and noblest examples of true being in constant attendance upon the king, manly affection. The word rendered knit he would often temporarily have the com- literally means knotted, tied together firmly mand of larger bodies of men, or would go by indissoluble bonds. on campaigns as one of the king's officers. Vers. 2-4.-Saul took him that day. As it is mentioned that his promotion caused Bent solely on war, Saul gladly took so no envy because of his great merits, it follows promising a young soldier as David to be that it was rapid enough to have given occa- one of bis body-guard (eh. xiv. 52), and sion to ill-will urnler onlinary circumstances. henceforward he was constantly with him. Behaved himself wisely. This is the primary Thus in two ways, first as a musician, and meaning of the verb; but as success is the now as a soldier, David was forced into those result of wise conduct, it constantly signifies intimate relations with Saul, which ended to prospe1·. This verse is a summary of so tragically. For a while, however, those events which may have occupied a very con- happier results ensued summed up in siderable space of time. It was only gradu- eh. xvi. 21. Jonathan and David made a ally that David's fame became so great 11s to covenant. We are not to suppose th:it this rouse all the worst feelings in Saul's mind. happened immediately. David continued on SAUL'S HATRED OF DAVID (vers. 6-16). friendly terms with Saul for a considerable Ver. 6.-When David Wl\S returned from period, during which he went on many expe- the slaughter of the Philistine. Or more ditions, nnd grew in military l'ijnown (sec probably, ns in tho margin, "of the Philis• z2  THE .FlH:ST B00K OF SA11UEL. [lll, X\111, 1-&0