The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 420

Vers. 18, 19. (GIBEAH.)-Doeg the Edomite. Wicked men, especially when they -occupy positions of authority and possess wealth and influence, attract to themselves others of like cbaracter, and become more wicked by association with them. Of the latter Doeg the Edomite was one. He belonged to a people between whom nnd Israel the bitterest enmity existed. But he had apparently become a proselyte, and • being a man of some ability, was made overseer of the herdsmen of Saul and one of his council. His real character seems to have been perceived by Dn.vid before he fled from court (ver. 22); and it is very probable that he gave secret information 1.o the king of what took place at the tabernacle at Nob previous to bearing open testimony in the council. He was- I. .A HEARTLESS -WORSHIPPER; "detained before Jehovah" ( eh. xxi. 7). Whatever may have been the reason of his detention, there can be no doubt that he was pre- sent in the sacred place either unwillingly and by constraint, or offering a formal and hypocritical worship. "He concealed his heathen heart under Israelitish forms." He was more observant of the conduct of others in the house of God than careful to correct his own. He cherished "a wicked mind," and perhaps revolved therein how he could turn what he saw to his own advantage, or employ it for the gratification of his hatred and enmity. All who join in the outward forms of worship do not" lift up holy hands without wrath and disputation." II. A MALICIOUS INFORMER (vers. 9, 10). His immediate purpose in giving information may have been to avert the reproaches of the king from his courtiers; but he must have known what its effect would be with respect to the high priest, and doubtless deliberately aimed at producing it. He also appears to have gone beyond the truth ; perchance supposing that when he saw the priest take "the sword of Goliath" from behind the ephod, he used the latter for the purpose of " inquiring of the Lord." "Thou lovest evil more than good ; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Thou lovest all devouring words, 0 thou deceitful tongue " (Ps. Iii. 3, 4). III. .A RUTHLESS EXECUTIONER (vers. 18, 19). What others, whose consciences were not hardened, refused to do he willingly and readily accomplished, and probably found therein a gratification of the enmity of his race against Israel. The command of the king could not relieYe him of his responsibility for his deed of blood. "Louie XIV., who had sanctioned the Dragonades, died declaring to the cardinals Rohan and Bissy, and to his confessor, that, ~eing_ himself altogeth~r ignora~t of ecclesiastical questions, he had acted under their gmdance and as their agent m all that he had done against the Jansenists or the Protestant heretics, and on those his spiritual advisers he devolved the responsibility to the supreme Judge" (Stephen, 'Leet. on the Hist. of France'). IV . .A RETRIBUTORY I!i'STRUMENT (see last homily). When the great wickedness .of men like Doeg is considered, it is not surprising that David (living under the former dispensation) should predict and desire their due punishment as publio en. XXII. 1-23.J THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 427