Ch. 1 Samuel 26:1-4. Saul’s renewed pursuit of David

1. And the Ziphites came] On the theory that this is only another account of the incidents related in 1 Samuel 23:19 to 1 Samuel 24:22, see Note VII. p. 243. The view there taken that the narratives refer to different events, is assumed in the notes.

Psalms 54 is referred by its title either to this occasion or to that of 1 Samuel 23:19 ff.

the hill of Hachilah] See on 1 Samuel 23:19.

is before Jeshimon] Looketh towards the Waste. See on 1 Samuel 23:19, where the position of the hill of Hachilah is more particularly defined as “on the south of the Waste.”

2. three thousand chosen men] Cp. 1 Samuel 24:2. This was the number of his standing army. See 1 Samuel 13:2.

3. by the way] Close to some well-known high road. Cp. 1 Samuel 24:3. he saw] i.e. perceived or learned. Cp. 1 Samuel 23:15.

5–12. Saul’s life again in David’s power

5. in the trench] See on 1 Samuel 17:20. The Sept. rendering “in a chariot” is a mistake.

6. Ahimelech the Hittite] Not mentioned elsewhere. Uriah was also a Hittite. The Hittites, or descendants of Heth, the second son of Canaan, occupied Kirjath-Arba, afterwards called Hebron, in the days of Abraham (Genesis 23:2 ff.). Esau married Hittite wives (Genesis 26:34). The Hittites are repeatedly mentioned as one of the nations inhabiting the land of Canaan, which were to be driven out by the Israelites (Joshua 3:10). It is now known that a branch of the Hittites established an extremely powerful empire to the north of Syria, the chief centres of which were Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Kadesh on the Orontes. It was strong enough to threaten Assyria on the one hand and Egypt on the other, and lasted from the sixteenth century b.c. until it was destroyed by the Assyrians in the eighth century. Allusions to the “kings of the Hittites” are found in 1 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 7:6. Our chief information about them is derived from Assyrian and Egyptian inscriptions.

Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab] The first mention of David’s valiant but hard-hearted nephews, the sons of his sister Zeruiah, who play such an important part in his history. Abishai distinguished himself by saving David’s life in one of his Philistine wars (2 Samuel 21:17); shared the command of the army with his brother Joab (2 Samuel 10:10), and with him was implicated in the murder of Abner (2 Samuel 3:30); in Absalom’s rebellion both of them remained faithful to David (2 Samuel 16:9; 2 Samuel 18:2), but Joab, like Abiathar, supported Adonijah, and was put to death by Solomon’s order (1 Kings 1:7; 1 Kings 2:28-34).

7. to the people] i.e. to Saul’s army. Cp. 1 Samuel 14:45.

his spear] See on 1 Samuel 18:10.

at his bolster] At his head; and so in 1 Samuel 26:11; 1 Samuel 26:16. Cp. 1 Samuel 19:13.

8. hath delivered] Lit. shut up, as in 1 Samuel 24:18.

at once] Not “immediately,” but “with one stroke.”

10. David said, &c.] And David said, Nay, but Jehovah shall strike him, &c. The person of the anointed king is inviolable: his life is in Jehovah’s hands. It may be ended either (a) by a sudden stroke, such as that which smote Nabal (1 Samuel 25:38); or (b) by a natural death; or (c) by death in battle; but violent hands may not be laid upon him with impunity.

11. cruse] A small cup or jar. The word is found in Icelandic, Danish, and other languages, and is probably akin to crock and crucible.

12. from Saul’s bolster] From Saul’s head.

a deep sleep] The word is used especially of supernaturally caused sleep, as in Genesis 2:21; Genesis 15:12.

13–25. David’s final expostulation with Saul

13. a great space being between them] This precaution indicates that David trusted Saul less now than upon the former occasion. Cp. 1 Samuel 26:22.

14. that criest to the king] The Sept. omits “to the king;” but the Vulg. gives the sense rightly; “Who art thou that criest and disturbest the king?”

15. a [valiant] man] Heb. simply, a man, i.e. one worthy of the name.

who is like to thee in Israel] Abner was evidently the most powerful man in Saul’s court. His course of action after Saul’s death shews plainly the influence he had gained.

kept] i.e. kept guard over.

16. worthy to die] Lit. sons of death. Cp. 1 Samuel 20:31.

17. Saul knew David’s voice] It was still too dark to see him at a distance. Saul’s question is the same as in 1 Samuel 24:16, but there it stands in quite a different connexion.

18. And he said, &c.] With David’s speech here compare that in 1 Samuel 24:9 ff. Here he affirms his innocence indirectly by challenging Saul to give his reasons for persecuting him: there he appeals directly to his having spared Saul’s life as a proof of his loyalty.

19. If the Lord &c.] Saul may be acting as the executioner of a divine punishment. In that case David desires to obtain pardon by a propitiatory offering. This seems the obvious explanation. But according to the view of many commentators, David suggests that this perverse persecution is the consequence of the evil spirit continuing to vex Saul as a punishment for his sin, and advises him to seek the removal of it by an expiatory sacrifice.

In the language of the O. T. God is sometimes said to incite or command men to do acts in themselves evil. See 2 Samuel 16:11; 2 Samuel 24:1. The Hebrew mind was profoundly impressed with the great truth of the universal sovereignty of God, and regarding Him as the Cause of all things, did not distinguish, as we do, between what is caused or commanded, and what is permitted by Him.

let him accept an offering] Lit. smell. Cp. Genesis 8:21.

if they be the children of men] See on 1 Samuel 24:9.

from abiding in, &c.] From being associated with the people of Israel who are Jehovah’s inheritance (1 Samuel 10:1). The word “to-day” is emphatic: as much as to say, ‘It has at last come to this that I must flee the country: and such a banishment is tantamount to bidding me go serve false gods, for it is only in the land of promise and at the place which He has chosen that Jehovah manifests Himself and can be worshipped.’ Cp. note on 1 Samuel 10:3.

20. before the face of the Lord] Slay me not, lest Jehovah avenge my blood upon thee. But it is possible to render “far from the presence of Jehovah:” i.e. let me not die a violent death in a heathen land: and this suits the context better.

a flea] A single flea. Cp. 1 Samuel 24:14. The Sept. however reads instead, perhaps rightly, “my life.”

a partridge] “David alludes to the mode of chase practised now as of old, when the partridge continuously chased was at length, when fatigued, knocked down by sticks thrown along the ground. It must be remembered that both the species of partridge common in the Holy Land, unlike our bird, endeavour to save themselves by running in preference to flight, unless when suddenly started; that they are not inhabitants of plains or cornfields but of rocky hill-sides.” The Hebrew name means “caller,” from “its ringing call-note, which in early morning echoes from cliff to cliff alike amidst the barrenness of the wilderness of Judaea, and in the glens of the forest of Carmel.” Tristram, Natural History of the Bible, p. 225.

David means to say that the King of Israel’s pursuit of him is altogether unworthy of his dignity.

21. I have sinned, &c.] Compare and contrast 1 Samuel 24:16 ff.

22. let one of the young men, &c.] For he durst not now venture to put himself in Saul’s power, as he appears to have done upon the former occasion. Cp. 1 Samuel 26:13.

23. The Lord render, &c.] Better, shall render. In 1 Samuel 24:19 the equivalent of these words is put Into Saul’s mouth. David is not sounding his own praises, but as before (1 Samuel 24:12) declaring his confidence that God will eventually recompense him for his upright and loyal behaviour. Cp. Psalm 7:8; Psalm 18:20.

24. was much set by] For the expression cp. 1 Samuel 18:30, though a different Heb. word is used here: lit. “was great.”

deliver me out of all tribulation] Cp. Psalm 34:17; Psalm 54:7.

25. to his place] i.e. to his home. Cp. 1 Samuel 2:20.