The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 345

Vere. 17-30.-Tlie plot and its lessons. The facts are-1. Saul, in hopes of com- passing the death of David, promises him his eldest daughter to wi£e, on condition that he is valiant against the Philistines. 2. David expresses his unworthiness. of so great an honour. 3. Saul, having broken this promise by giving Merab to Adriel, offers David his daughter Michal. 4. On David intimating that, being poor, he was- not able to provide a becoming dowry, Saul is content with proof of the death of a hdndred enemi<ls of Israel. 5. David presents double the number required, and takes Michal to wife. 6, In spite of his devices, Saul sees the growing prosperity of David, and becomes more than ever afraid of him. This section further unfolds, on the one side, the downward progress of the man who has wilfully sinned under cir- cumstances favourable to obedience, and has consequently been left to the tendencies of his impenitent heart; and, on the other side, the steady advance in wisdom and aptitude for affairs of the man who gloried only in the "name of the Lord of hosts." The narrative relates events as they appeared to observers at the time, and introduces statements of the sacred historian designed to indicate how those events were regarded by God. The outward acts are connected with the hidden motive, and so made to bear their proper moral character. I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PLOT. Did we not know Saul's entire history, there is much in the narrative of this section which might suggest to a casual reader no thought of a plot. The addition of statements unveiling the hidden purpose of his words ar d deeds changes the moral bearing of the whole, and sets forth the triple characteristics of the plot. 1. Cleverness. It is said that insane persons often display unusual cunning and skill in compassing their ends ; and also the 11 devices " of the wicked, both in relation to God and to man, are in Scripture pro- verbial (Job v. 12; Ps. x. 2; x.xxiii. 10). The incipient madness and settled wicked- ness of Saul at this period of his life indicate the truth of these remarks; for consider the plausibility of his conduct. (1) There was a fair appearance of tntthf1tlness. He had virtually promised his daughter to the man who should slay Goliath ( eh. xvii. 25). To keep one's word was becoming a king and due"to a youthful hero. (2) There was an obvious display of magnanimity. For the recent violent attempt on the life of David (ver. 11) must have produced an impression of injustice on both David and the people. What then more proper than that a fit of unreasonable anger should be followed by some expression of the wrong done, and some effort to render compensation. (3) Religious feeling was conspicumis. Had not David o.ppeared on the arena to light the battle of the Lord? (eh. xvii. 47). ,vas it not proper, after the signal victory in the Lord's name, that the king should recognise the conflict with the heathen oppressor in its theocratic aspect, and encourage the valiant youth still to go forth in the same holv name? (4) Personal interest u·as nat1iral Saul's instructions to the courtiers to· endea\·our to induce David to accept of Michal had an appearance of naturalness, as it was important to honour so able a man and to ally him with the interests of the monarcl,y, as also to remove any chagrin on account of Merab having been given, probably for state reasons, to Adriel. (5) There was e. kindl?J consideration/01· David's position. A sense of poverty is hard to bear when it stands in the way to honour and influence. DaYid felt that, despite his services, he was too poor to comply with custom in offering as dowry what became a suitor to a king's daug·hter. It wus, therefore, very thoughtful on the part of Saul to ask as dowry what certainly few men could provide, but what the con(]ueror of Goliath would, no doubt, readily and with increasing honours ~ecure. A kindly, considerate bearing disarms suspicion. The plot was clever, like all the plots whereby our great adversary, the devil, seeks to ensnare the innocent. A parallel might be developed without much difficulty. 2. Vileness. The cleverness is discowred by tracing the course 11pparent to men; the vileness by the light thrown upon that course by the Searcher of hearts. We are enabled to look beneath the surface, and to estimate wordf>. and deeds by tlieir relation to motiYe. The vileness u 1-:vn in-(1) The deliberat~ '848 _. RE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUJl,f,. [en. xvm. 1--30.