The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 7

no one to n.-siet them. His own share of the tance which DRvid Rnd his men had travelled tipnil Wits so large that he was able to send in three. And thus it followa that the YRlm,ble presents of sheep, oxen, and oamels be.Ltle at Gilboa. WRB fought on the very day t.o his friends in Judme.. probably not without of David's he.ppy return from the pursuit, ~ome prel!Cience that the way to hie return and a.bout nineteen days after the review at might be opened by the events of the war Aphek. If the word "to-morrow" in 1 Sam. 'between the Philistines &nd Saul. The xxviii. 19 seems to imply a more rapid dRni:-erons issue8 of that war could not be march of events, we must remember that hidden from him; but he would find eolll08 the m88.Di.ng of the word in Hebrew is more for his anxieties in the &ctive work of inde:flnite the.n with us (comp. Gen. xxx. restoring order at Zikle.g, and in providing 33; Exod. xiii. 14). With his olothea rent, he.sty shelter for the women and children and earth upon his head, Though the whom he had brought baok to their deeole.ted Amalekite ea.me out of the oamp, yet we are homes. But his suspense did not last long. not to suppose that be had been one of the For when David had abode two days in combe.ta.nts. Every army is followed by Ziklag, news ea.me which confirmed his a vast number of vagabonds, intent upon worst fears. The battle had been fought; gain, purcha.sing of the troops their booty, Israel had been routed ; and Se.ul e.nd plundering whel'ever they have the ohs.nee, ,Touathan. the friend who had been to him and oarrying on a luora.tive but illicit trade, more than a brother, lay among the slain. He was more probably o. sort of gipsy Ver. 2.----0ll the third day. This means sutler than, as many suppose, the slave the third day after David's return with the of some Israelite. He professes, however, to spoil and captives recovered from the Amale- be upon Israel's side, and appears with the kites. If we study the date., we find that usue.l marks of sorrow. By so doing he Do.vid had marched with Aehish as far as hoped to commend himself to De.vid, whom Aphek in the plain of Jezreel (1 Sam. u::ix. he knew to be too patriotio to rejoice at the 1). opposite to which, on the rising ground defea.t of his oountrymen, though he doubted near Gilbo&, Se.ul had posted his army. not that he would hear with joy of' the A tnW"ch of three days he.d brought him dea.th of so in vetera.te a persona.I enemy .as back to Ziklag (1 Se.rn. xxx. 1), &nd after Saul. On this account, and because the the shortest possible delay he had ste.rted we.y would now stand open • to David's in pursuit of the A.malekites. The rapidity ambition, he evidently felt sure of receiving of his movements is proved by so large a a large gnerdon for his news. There is, proportion of his hardy men falling out of moreover, a further interest in his conduct; the ranks at the brook Beser; but neverthe- for it demonstrates the existence of a· wide-- less some time must have been lost at spread popular feeling that David was Zikle.g in discovering the greutneas of their destined to be Israel's king. It was this diSllSter, in searching for any who might conviction which made •hini give· David possibly l,a.ve esco.ped, in getting food, e.nd kingly honour : for he fell to the ea.rth, and in ruustt:riug age.in together for the pursuit. did obeisance. And all Isre.el, on-the morrow Near the hrook thev seem to have found the after the defeat, would proba.b.ly he.ve done Egyptian slave who became their guide, and the same, but for David's own conduct. who had been abandoned three days before Israel was too high-spirited ~ nation to David found him. It followtt, therefore. the.t take at ouce for a king e. man who had the A..m.alekites were then three days' march marched with their enemies to fight against in advance, and however ra,pidly the pur- them, even though they knew that the voice suit was urged on, we cannot allow less of prophecy had appointed him to inherit than five days for it, and one for the battle Saul's throne. (vers. 12, 13, 17). The me.rob homeward Ver. 3.-0ut of the oamp of Iaraelam·I would take a longer time, e.s David wea now e■oaped. Non-combatants would hang a.bout encumbered with flocks and her&, women the army, watching, as soon as the battle and children. If it took eight days, the had begun, the fortune!! of the day, and im- time occupied in it by the Amalekites, the mediately that they saw the impending whole period that had elapsed since David defeat of their own side, would think chiefiy was sent away from Aphek hy the Philistine of their personal se.fety. But for an active lords would be eighteen or nineteen d11ys; young man the opportunity would then have and it is thus evident that the Amalekites come far booty. 'l'he Philistines, in pursuit wtre plundering Ziklag at the very time of the enemy, would soon leave the battle~ wher, he was being dismissed, half angry, field in thejr •rear, and multitudes would half rejoicing, at the slight put upon him, quickly prowl about it to plunder the dea.d. but little thinking of the sad need there While so busied, the Amalekite f11,leely re• was for his preseuce elsewhere. Now, the presents himseU as having come bl'che.nce rueasenger from Gilbo&., if an active runner, upon the wounded, bµt stil~ living, Saul. would el\sily iTaverse in two days the die- Ver. 6.-As I happened by ohs.nee upon 011, I, 1-27.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.