The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 481

Vers. 1-44. (THE WILDERNESS OF PARAN.)-IJavid's activity and advancement. "And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran" (ver. 1). Samuel' was dead. Saul was becoming more and more incapable of fulfilling the dutiee of his high office. Meanwhile David was being prepared by Divine providence to grasp the sceptre when it fell from his hand and wield it in a nobler manner. He was the rising sun of the new era. .And we see in this chapter numerous signs of hie peculiar qualification for his future rule and of his gradual progress towarde it; such ae, e. g. -1. The strict discipline which he exercised among his men. Those 600 warriors dwelt in the neighbourhood of N abal'e shepherds, and could easily have supplied their wants from the flocks kept by the latter; but" the men were very good to us,"· said one of them, "and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything," &c. (ver. 15). "He was bringing hie wild followers under a loving discipline and government which they had never experienced; he was teaching them to confess a law which no tyrant had created, no anarchy could set aside" (Maurice). 2. The valuable service which he rendered to his people. "They were a wall unto us both by nig·ht and day" (ver. 16). He employed his followers (whom he could not lead against Saul without in- curring the charge of rebellion) in protecting those who were occupied in honest industry again8t the plundering Bedouin, and thus doing the work which had been left undone by the king. There is no place or position but affords opportunity fo1· useful work. Even an outlaw may be SJrviceable to his country. 3. The perfect equity of the claim he made. His defence of the sheep gave him a right to some share in them; and he was justified in voluntarily undertaking it by the condition of society at the time and his own peculiar position. The reply of Nabal, in its appli- cation to David, was destitute of justice, truth, and charity (vers. 10, !1). 4. Tlie· respectful consideration he showed in urging his claim. He did not make it un- seasonably, but waited till "a good day" (a festive occasion on which men were usually disposed to be generous), and then eent ten young men to offer him a courte- uus greeting, state the case, and humbly seek as a favour what might have been demanded as a right (vere. 6-8). He appealed to what was noblest and best in the man. 5. Tiu conscious power which he displayed. "Greet him in my name "-a name well known in Israel as that of a faithful, though persecuted, servant of Jeho- vah. Not a word e8caped his lips, indeed, on this or any ·other occasion concerning his royal de~ti•,y. B11t lie knew the strength of l,is position (see eh. xxvi. ), which oe. xxv~ 1-44.J THE FIR8T BOOK OF SM,IUF.L.