The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 406

·favomitism (ver. 7), o.nd made bitter of soul power, and from the list of those who joinc.rl by his cruelty and injustice. All such were glad him at Ziklag (1 Chron. xii. 1-22) it is e,·i. to join in what seemed to them the banner of dent not only that such was the case, but that revolt. Afterwards at Ziklag David was joined therP, was a stronienthusiasmforhim through- by nobler followers (see on eh. xxvii. 6). With out not merely Judah, but all Israel. In the David we may compare Jephthah's case in happier times which followed Gad became the old days of anarchy (Judges xi. 3-6), David's seer (2 Sam. xxiv. 11), was God's mes- and note that bad government leads to law- senger to _I>Unish David for numbering the lessness just as surely as no government. people (ibid. ver. 13), and finally wrote a his- Vera. 3, 4.-David went thence to Mizpeh tory of his life (1 Chron. xxix. 29). As he tints •Of Moab. The position of this place is un- survived David, he must have been a youn;.; known, but as the word means a watch-tower, man when he joined him, and possibly had it was no doubt some beacon-hill in the been a companion of David in the propheti,· highlands of Moab on the east of the Dead schools at Naioth in Ramah. The forest cf Sea, and probably in the mountains of Rareth. Or, rather, Hereth. "This lay ou Abarim or Pisgah. Here David placed his the edge of the mountain-chain (of Hebron,, father and mother under the care of the where Kharas now stands, surrounded bv king of Moab. They had fled from Beth- the thickets which properly represent tli"c lehem under the combined fear of Saul and Hebrew yar, a word wrongly supposed to the Philistines, but were too old to bear the mean a woodland of timber trees" (Conder, fatigues of David's life. He therefore asks 'Tent Work,' ii. 88). Yar is translated forest for a refuge for them with the king of Moab, here. Hereth was about three miles from probably on the ground that Jesse's grand- Adullam (see on ver. 1). mother, Ruth, was a Moabitess. But as MASSACRE OF THE PRIESTS AT NoB (vers. Saul had waged war on Moab (eh. xiv. 47), 6-19). Ver. 6.-When Saul heard that the king was probably glad to help one who David was discovered. Hebrew, "was would keep Saul employed at home. 'l'he known." The meaning is easy enough, language of David is remarkable, and is though rend.ered obscure by the involved literally, "Let, I pray, my father and my translation of the A. V., and is as follows : mother come forth with you" (pl.) ; but no When Saul heard that there was information better interpretation has been suggested concerning David and his men, he held " than that in the A. V. : "Let them come solemn council, in which we see how simple forth, i. e. from the hold in Mizpeh, to be was the dignity of his court, but how great the or dwell with you." While David was in fe.rocity to which he was now a prey. There is the hold. Not merely that in the land of no parenthesis, but the account of Saul taking Jifoab, but up to the time when David was his seat, surrounded by his officers, follows settled in Hebron. During all this period directly upon the narration of the fact that David was wandering from one natural news of David had reached him, and should fortress to another. Till I know what God be translated thus: "And Saul takes his will do for (or to) me. These words show seat in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on that David had recovered his composure, and the height, holding his javelin (as a sceptre) was willing calmly to leave everything to the in his hancl, and all his officers stand in wise disposal of God. order by him." For Saul's fondness for Ver. 5.-The prophet Gad. This sudden trees see eh. xiv. 2; but at a time whe1, appearance of the prophet suggests Stiihelin's there were no lari:e buihlings ,t branehing question, How came he among such people!· tree formed a fit place for a numerous meet- But, in the first place, David's followers ing. A tree. Really a tamlll"isk tree, wh.ieh were not all of the sort described in ver. 2 ; "sometimes reaehes such a size as to affonl and, next, this must be regarded as a declar- dense shade. . . . It is a very graceful tree, ation of the prophetic order in his favour. with long feathery branches a1ul tufts, closely As we have a summary of David's proceed- dad with the minutest of leaves, am! sur- ings in ver. 4, extending over some time, mounted in spring with spikes of beautiful dming which the massacre of the priests at pink blossom" (Tristrnm, 'Nat. Hist. of .Nob took place, we may well suppose that Saul Bible,' p. 357). It grows abundantly on had alienated from him the minds of all re- the seashore of England, but requires a ligious people, and that Gad, probn bly by warmer climate to develope into a tree. In Samuel's command, came to be David's coun- Spain beautiful specimens may be seen, as for sellor. 'l'he adviro he gives is most important instance nt Pampeluna. In Ramah. Conder --Abide not in the hold. I. e. do not remo.in (Handbook) thinks that Gibeah was th11 in the land of Moab. •Hncl David done so he name of a district, which included Ramah ; proba.bly would never have becom~ king. By others tako the word in its original significa- remaining in Judah, and protecting the people tion, anrl render "on the height." Btandin!f· from the Philistines, which Saul could no The worcl means that they took each theU' long~r do, David grew in reputation and proper posts 11rouncl him (see on eh. x. 23; xii.  412 'l'HE FIRST BOOK 01.<' SAi\lUEL. [ell. XXII. 1--23,