Vere. 19-23. (THE HILL Oli' HACHILAH.)-TreacheriJ. One of the most painfut of the afflictions of David (suspicion, hatred, calumny, ingratitude, &c.) was trea- chery, such a, he experienced at the hands of some of the people of_ Ziph. They were men of his own tribe, had witnessed his deliverance of Keilah from the common enemy, were acquainted with his character and relations with Saul, and might have been expected to sympathise with him when he sought refuge in their territory. But "those who ahould have rallied around him were his enemies and betrayers." They had "a panoramic view of the country from Tell-Zif, and could Ree from thence - David's men moving about in the desert;'' went and informed the king that he was hiding himsdf "in strongholds in the wood (Horesh), in the hill of Hachilah (south of Tell-Zif, which is four miles south-east of Hebron), on the right hand of the desert; " urged him to come down and accomplish his desire, and promised to deliver David into his hand. This new affliction came upon him almost immediately after he had been encournged by the visit of Jonathan, and in it we see- I. AN EXHIBITION OF BUMAN DEPRAVITY. There can be no doubt, after what had taken place, about the motives by which they were actuated. Underneath their apparent II compassion" for Saul (ver. 21) lay hatred of David, aversion to his prin- ciples, and the "evil heart of unbelief, departing from the living God," which exists in all ages, and manifests itself in an endless variety of ways (Ps. xiv. ; Rom. iii. 10; Heh. iii. 12). It appears in-1. Unfeeling faithlessness; indifference to the claims of close relationship, superior worth, and valuable service; deficiency of com- passion for the need:,i and unjustly persecuted; voluntory misuse of advantages, and abuse of trust. 2. Subtle selfishness, ma.king some temporal good its chief aim ; for its sake doing injury to others, eagerly seeking the favour of the wealthy and powerful, and disguising itself under professions of loyalty and public service; running •~greedily after the error of Dalaam for reward " (Jude 11 ; Matt. xxvi. 14, 15). 3. Ungodly zeal. "Any one at that time in Israel who feared God more than man could not lend himself to be made a tool of Saul's blind fury. God had already manifestly enough acknowledged David" (Delitzsch). Saul knew that it was the purpose of God thnt David should be king (ver. 17), notwithstanding his pious lan- guage (ver, 21), and the men of Ziph participated with him in his endeavour to defeat that purpose. Their character is described in Ps. LIV., 'The Divine Helper againsi. ungodly a,lversaries' (see inscription):- . "0 God, by thy name save me, And in thy might \mlge my cause. THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. (en. xxm. 14.-29.
For strangers have risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my life; They have not set God before them." They were strangers " not by birth or nation, but as to religion, virtue, comp11ssion, and humanity" (Chandler); and in calling them snch "there is a bitter emphasis as well as a gleam of insight into the spiritual character of the true Israel" (Rom. ii. 28, 29; ix. 6). II. AN EXPERIENCE OF SEVERE TRIAL often endured by good men, who "for right- eousness' sake" are betrayed by false friends, and even those "of their own house- hold" (Matt. x. 36), in whom they have put confidence. The trial-1. Causes frliense suffering; grieves more than the loss of earthly possessions, and inflicts a deeper wound than a sword (Ps. Iv. 12). 2. Becomes an occasion of strong tempt- ation; to indulge a spirit of revenge, to doubt the sincerity of others, to refrain from endeavour for the general good as undeserved and vain (Ps. cxvi. 11). But when regarded aright-3. Constrains to fervent prayer and renewed confidence in the eternal and faithful Friend. " 0 God, hear my prayer; Give ear to the words of my mouth. Behold, God is my Helper, The Lord is the Upholder of my soul" (Ps. !iv. 2, 4). III. A FORESHADOWING OF MESSIAH's SUFFERINGS, for the afflictions of Davi<l on the ,•my to the throne of Israel were ordained to be a type of "the sufferino-s of Christ, and the glory that should follow." "He came unto his own, and his° own recei,·ed him not," was persecuted by the rulers of the nation, and, after escaping many treacherous designs of his enemies, was betrayed by Judas (the only Judrean among the twelve) "into the hands of sinners." And his betrayal was necessary to-1. The completeness of llis experience as the chief of sufferers. 2. Tile setting forth of his example of spotless holiness and quenchless love. 3. Tlie perfection of liis S']!mpathy as the Succourer of the tetnpted. "It became him," &c. (Heb. ii. 10, 18). "The end of Christ's incarnation was that he might draw up into his own experience all the woes and temptations of humanity, to draw around him all the s"athings of our imperfect nature, and make our wants his own, till not a cry coul1l go up from it which !,ad not first come into his own consciousness" (Sears).-D.
Yers. 24-28. (THE WILDERNESS OF MAON.)-A marvellous escape. "Therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth "-the cliff cu separations (ver. 28). It seemed as if at length Saul was about to accomplish his purpose. Led by the treacherous Ziphites, he went down to the hill of Hachilah, from which David had withdrawn to" the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of the desert." In his further pursuit (ver. 25) there was but a short distance between them-Saul stand- ing on a ridge of Hacliilah, David on a rock or precipice in Maon; but a deep chasm separated them from each other. And when " Saul and his men were encircling Da,·id and his men to seize· them, and David was sore troubled to escape" (ver. 26), " there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines Lave invaded the land." Thus his purpose was suddenly and effectually defeated. The escape of David suggests, concerning the dealings of God with liis aervanta, tl,at- 1. HE SOMETIMES SUFFERS THEM TO BE REDUCED TO SEVERE STRAITS. Danger is imminent, tLe enemy exults, their own wisdom and strength are unavailing, and they are full of anxiety and dread. They have no resource but to betake themselves to " t!,e Rock of Israel ; " if he should fail them they are lost; and it is to constrain them to seek refuge in Lim that they are beaten off from every other (see eh. vii. 12). II. HE NEVER SUFFERS THEM TO CONTINUE THEREIN WITHOUT HELP. Although the space that separates them from destruction be narrow, it is impassable; for the in- vi.sible hand of God is there, and the enemy cannot go a step further than he permits. "He shall cover thee with his feathers," &c. (Ps. xci. 4). Sometimes nothing more can he done tlian to "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord ; " if an effort to escape must he made, it is still he who saves, and to liim we must ever .look in faith OB. XXIII. 14-29.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 457