A. M. 2888. A. C. 1116; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4301. A. C. 1110. 1 SAM. i. TO THE end. for him, as to be ready to appear to him in the depth of his distress, in order to settle his mind by telling him the upshot of the whole matter, namely, that he should lose the battle and he and his sons be slain; that so he might give a specimen, as the Jews love to speak in commendation of him, of the bravest valour that was ever achieved, by any commander; fight boldly when he was sure to die; and sell his life at as dear a price as possible; that so in his death, he might be commemorated with honour, and deserve the Threnodia which his son-inlaw made on him: The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places. How are the mighty fallen! From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! CHAP. IV.-On the Witch of Endor. SUPPLEMENTAL BY THE EDITOR. I AGREE with the author in the opinion, that it was the spirit of Samuel himself, wearing, as Dr Hales observes, the same mantle in appearance, which was rent at the final rejection of Saul from the kingdom, which appeared on this occasion. Many authors of reputation maintain that this was a mere imposition practised upon Saul by the witch; but it is evident, that the witch herself expected not to see such a spectre as presented itself before her; and that the spectre made its appearance before it was called. self, in his capacity of king, forsaken by God, he had recourse in his extremity to one of those wretched beings who had escaped from the effects of his righteous zeal. But even Saul himself, conscious as he was of being forsaken of God, could not expect from her the information which he wanted, but through some means forbidden by that law which it was his duty to enforce; and if she was not aided by a familiar spirit, she must have practised arts calculated to persuade the people that she was. These arts were of heathen invention, and led to that idolatry which Saul was bound to root entirely out of the land; and no method can be conceived better calculated to confound the impious monarch, and to prevent the wretched woman from practising her impious arts for the future, than that which the supreme Disposer of events adopted on this occasion. Before she commenced her incantations, the real Samuel appeared before her, and gave to the infatuated king such an answer as there is no reason to suppose he would have received from any pretended Samuel exhibited by her. It has been maintained by some respectable writers that the apparition was an evil angel, who appeared in the mantle and in the shape of Samuel. As the ground of this opinion, they mention the abhorrence which God had shown against those who practised the arts of necromancy and witchcraft, and its being inconsistent with this declared hatred, so far to countenance these arts as to send a messenger from the invisible state, at the mo ment when this woman was engaged in them. To this it may be answered, that if the appearance of Samuel on the present occasion be deemed inconsistent with the divine procedure, there is much greater difficulty in believing that the apparition was an evil spirit, since the whole strain of his address to Saul is at variance with the character of an angel of darkness. "I have myself," says Bishop Gleig, "conversed with a ventriloquist, who performed the most extraordinary feats in his art, who was extremely communicative on the subject It may indeed seem strange, that God, who had rejected of his art, and ready to answer every question which I Saul, and who answered him not when he consulted him, put to him; but he was unfortunately so very illiterate should now send a departed prophet; to tell him his fate. as to speak a language which was hardly intelligible. I But the reason is plain. To have answered his inquiry found no difficulty whatever in tracing his art to the when he consulted him, not in a private capacity, but as principles on which it was founded, but he would not the king of Israel, not with the view of obtaining recontell me in language which I could understand, by what ciliation, but of ascertaining his fate, would have been means he produced his acoustic deceptions. That he an acknowledgment of him in this character; whereas was a great master of his art, however, he gave me, and he had been for many years rejected and disowned of thousands besides me, the most complete proofs, making God as his deputy: when, however, he applied not to his voice appear to come sometimes from the roof of the him, but to another, for the purpose of learning his furoom, sometimes from without the door, sometimes from ture destiny, and had, for the time, ceased to be king, below the floor, and once from the pocket of a gentle-God gave him through his servant such an answer as he man who was sitting close by me. Had this man com- had not expected. bined with his ventriloquism that phantasmagoric art, by which some of our modern jugglers frighten the vulgar in a darkened room, he easily could have exhibited such a ghost as I have no doubt the witch of Endor meant and expected to exhibit to Saul." The ghost, however, which really came was sent by a different and a higher power, and sent for the same purpose that the dumb ass was, for the ass was made to reprove the madness of Balaam, and that enchanter himself made to bless Israel. Necromancy was among the arts forbidden by the law of Moses. Saul had in obedience to that law, lately exterminated, as he thought, all such impious diviners from Israel; and yet, finding him 12 Sam. i. 19. SECT. I V. CHAP. I. From the Death of Saul, to that of THE HISTORY. DAVID was at Ziklag when news was brought him of the defeat of the Israelitish army, and of the death of Saul. The messenger was an Amalekite, a who pretended that a By the account which we have of king Saul's death, in the conclusion of the foregoing book, namely, that he fell upon his own sword, and expired,' (1 Sam. xxxi. 4.) it seems very evident, A. M. 2949. A. C. 1055; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4341. A. C. 1070. 2 SAM. i-xix. he was the person who despatched the king after he found himself mortally wounded; and, however he came by them, produced Saul's crown and bracelet to verify what he said. He expected, no doubt, an ample compensation for this message and present; but instead of that, David ordered his guards to fall upon him, because, according to his own declaration, he had been accessory to the king's death. b Upon this conjuncture, David, by God's directions, removed with his family and forces to Hebron, whither the princes of Judah in a short time, came to congratulate his return into his native country, and to offer him the crown of their particular tribe; for, by this time, Abner the late king's uncle, and general of his army, who had proclaimed his son Ishbosheth successor to the throne, had taken up his residence at d Mahanaim, on that the whole story of this Amalekite was a mere fiction of his own inventing, on purpose to ingratiate himself with David, the presumptive successor to the throne. But then the question is, how he came by Saul's crown and bracelet, since it is incongruous to think that he would ever wear them in the time of action, and thereby expose himself as a public mark? As therefore it is presumed, that they were carried into the field of battle by some of his attendants, in order to put on, in case he had obtained the victory, and returned in triumph; so the Jews have a conceit, that Doeg, the infamous murderer of the priests at Nob, 1 Sam. xxii. 18. who at this time was his armour-bearer, had them in his possession, and before he killed himself, gave them to his son, this young Amalekite, and ordered him to carry them to David, but, to his cost, found that David's reception was quite different to what he expected. For being shortly to ascend the throne himself, he was willing to have it believed, that to slay the Lord's anointed, upon any account whatever, was in itself an execrable crime, and therefore, to clear himself from the imputation of being any ways accessory to so foul a fact, as his enemies would have been apt to imagine, had he given countenance to this pretended king-killer, he ordered him immediately to be put to death, and therein at least, acted the part of a good politician, if not of a righteous judge.—Le Clerc's and Patrick's Commentaries, on 2 Sam. i. the other side of Jordan, and by his interest and great authority, prevailed with all the other tribes to recognise him. David, however, at the request of the princes of his own tribe, was anointed king of Judah. For two years there were no hostilities on either side; but not long after this, a war commenced between the two rival princes, in which there were several engagements, but none so remarkable, as that which was occasioned by Abner's sending Joab who was the general of David's forces, a challenge to fight twelve men, with an equal number of his, in single combat. The men met, and to a man killed one another upon the spot; whereupon a fierce battle ensued, in which Abner and his men were defeated, and put to flight. In the pursuit, Asahel, a younger brother of Joab's, being very nimble and swift of foot, made after Abner. When he came up with him, Abner, who knew him, desired him to desist, and not pretend to attack him, because he was loath to kill him; but the young man, ambitious of taking a general prisoner, pressed so hard upon him, that, with a back-stroke of his spear, Abner gave him a wound, whereof he immediately died. The victorious army, when they came to the place where Asahel's body lay slain, stood still, and ceased their pursuit; so that Abner had an opportunity to rally his scattered forces, and making a stand upon an advanced ground, where he could not well be attacked, sounded a parley, and reminded Joab, that they were all brethren, of the same nation, of the same religion, so that if they persisted in hostilities, both armies would have reason to rue it. Whereupon they parted, Abner who had lost three hundred and sixty men in the engagement to Mahanaim, on the other side of Jordan, and Joab, who, except his brother Asahel, had lost no more than nineteen, to Hebron. a 2 Sam. i. 16. The malediction expressed in this passage During the course of this civil war, which lasted for occurs in the same sense in other passages of Scripture, particu- some years, David's forces, in most rencounters, had the larly Josh. ii. 19, 1 Kings ii. 37. It appears to have been custo-advantage, and his interest in the nation increased, as mary so to speak, both with the Jews and Greeks, as repeated instances of it are found in the best writers of the last mentioned people. It was usual with the Romans to wash their hands in token of innocence and purity from blood. Thus the Roman governor washed his hands, and said respecting Christ, I am innocent of the blood of this just person,' (Mat. xxvii. 24.)-ED. Though David, after Saul's demise, had a right to the kingdom by virtue of God's designation; yet as God had nowhere declared, at what time he was to make use of this right, he would not enter into possession, nor take the administration of public affairs upon him, without having first consulted him.-Patrick's Commentary. c Hebron was situate in the midst of the tribe of Judah; and as it was a very ancient city, the metropolis of the whole tribe, and the possession of those priestly families who espoused David's interest, it was a very commodious city for him to make the place of his residence at this juncture, as being not insensible, that the determination of the metropolis in his favour would be of great weight to influence the whole tribe. And accordingly we find, that he was soon invested with the sovereignty thereof. For the men of Judah,' saith the text, came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah,' 2 Sam. ii. 4. The History of the Life of King David, vol. 2. d This was a place in the tribe of Gad, which had its name from the appearance of an host of angels to Jacob, as he came with his family and all his substance to Padan-aram, (Gen. xxxii. 1.) and the reasons for Abner's retreating hither, in the beginning of the new king's reign, were, that he might secure the people on that side of the Jordan, and especially the gallant inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, who were great lovers of Saul, and attached to his family; that he might prevent the Philistines that of Ishbosheth sensibly declined. Abner indeed, as being both a brave and experienced warrior, and a man of a great power and influence in all the tribes, more especially in that of Benjamin, was his main support; but with him he unhappily differed, upon account of Rizpah, one of Saul's concubines, whom Abner had debauched. To have any commerce with the relicts of princes of what denomination soever they were, was, in from falling upon the king, whom he had under his protection, in the infancy of this reign; and chiefly, that he might be at a great distance from David, have the new king more absolutely under his command, and a better opportunity of raising recruits among a people, not only brave and courageous, but very well affected to the cause which he had espoused.-Calmet's Commentary, and Poole's Annotations. e The expression in the text is, 'let the young men now arise, and play before us.' By which Abner seems to have meant, not that they should fall upon, and destroy one another, but merely that they should practise a little their military exercises, or play at sharps, as gladiators anciently at Rome, and now among us, are wont to do, not with any purpose to kill one another, but only to divert the spectators.-Calmet's Commentary. The expression in the text is, that with the hinder part of the spear, he smote him under the fifth rib;' which Virgil, speaking of a mortal wound, has not unhappily imitated: "Immediately he seized his spear and hurled it at the very life's citadel, where the ribs guard the heart.”—Æneid, 12. A. M. 2949. A. C. 1055; OR, ACCORDING TO HALES, A. M. 4341. A. C. 1070. 2 SAM. i-xix. state, and Joab, at that time, had so much credit with the army, that he could not call him to an account for what he had done. And therefore contented himself with declaring publicly d his detestation of it, and with making a magnificent funeral for Abner, wherein he himself followed the corpse as chief mourner. David indeed had reason to lament the death of Abner, which, in all probability, had defeated the measures that were concerted for the union of the two kingdoms, had not the sudden and untimely death of Ishbosheth paved the way for it afresh. Ishbosheth, upon the loss of Abner, began to despair of his affairs, grew negligent of himself, and fell under the contempt of his subjects; so that Rechab and Baanah, e two Benjamites, that were of his household, came upon him, as he was asleep in the heat of the day, and having cut off his head, carried it as a present to David at Hebron; but instead of the reward which they expected, he rebuked them these days, looked upon as an indignity offered to the royal family, and an affectation of the kingdom. For this reason Ishbosheth remonstrated the matter to Abner; but Abner, who was a hot man, and impatient of reproof, was so incensed at what he said, that he upbraided him with ingratitude, and threatened not only to withdraw his own allegiance from him, but, as far as in him lay, to carry all Israel over to David's interest. And as he threatened, so he did. From that very moment he entered into a private correspondence with David, and not long after, had a public interview with him. At this interview David entertained Abner and his attendants which were in all but twenty persons, very splendidly; and, in return, Abner assured him, that he would use his utmost endeavours to prevail with the other tribes to come over to his side. But no sooner was he gone, than Joab, returning from an expedition against the Philistines, wherein he had been successful and taken abundance of spoil, and being soon informed that Abner had been there, and how kindly the king had received him, not only expostulated the matter with the king in high terms, as having entertained a man that came only as a spy upon him, but sent likewise a messenger after Abner, desiring him to return, because the king had something more to communicate to him; and so, having waylaid him, under pretence of saluting him, he stabbed him to the heart, out of jealousy partly, and partly in revenge of the blood of his brother Asahel. David was extremely displeased at this cruel and in-not only to testify his abhorrence of so base a practice, but to hospitable action; but his affairs were in so unsettled a с a What notion the world, at this time, had of marrying any royal relict, is evident from the case of Adonijah, whom Solomon put to death for desiring but to ask for Abishag, one of David's concubines, though he had employed Bath-sheba, the king's mother, to be his intercessor, and was himself his brother, (1 Kings ii. 17.) It may be said perhaps, that Adonijah was at this time aspiring at the throne, which Solomon perceiving, took occasion from this his request, to fall out with him, and prevent it. But however this be, a general rule it was, not among the Jews only, but among other nations, that no private person should presume to marry the king's widow; for this made him appear as a rival and competitor for the crown.-Calmet's Commentary. d And good reason he had to express his detestation of so foul a fact. For besides that Abner was himself a man of great power and authority, and at this time, the head of the contrary party, it carried an air of suspicion, that David might have some concern in the murder; especially since Joab, his first minister, and general of his forces, was the wicked instrument of it. Abner had been reconciled to David indeed; but this made the matter still worse, and added the breach of faith and hospitality to the sin of murder, which was enough to alienate the minds of the Israelites from him for ever. And therefore Josephus gives us this account of David's behaviour upon so critical an occasion, purge himself likewise, upon the strictest niceties of faith and honour, that he had been true to Abner. The moment he heard of Abner's death, he stretched out his right hand towards heaven in an appeal and protestation, that he was neither privy, nor consenting to the fact, and cursed most bitterly the assassin, whoever he was, his family, and accomplices. He appointed, by proclamation, a public mourning for him, with all the solemnities of tearing garments, and putting on sackcloth, &c. Himself, with his great ministers, and officers, assisted at the funeral, and gave sufficient demonstration, by wringing their hands, beating their breasts, and other expressions of sorrow, both of the veneration they had for Abner's memory, and the sense they had of so inestimable a loss; so that, in the conclusion, all the people were perfectly satisfied that David was far either from approving or consenting to so execrable a deed.’— Jewish Antiq. b. 7 c. 1; Le Clerc's Commentary. e This is added, to show us, that these two regicides were not only officers in the king's army, but of the same tribe with Saul, and therefore had more ties than one upon them, to be honest and faithful to his family. For there is reason to be b Abner is an instance of what a strange alteration the study of revenge will work in a man. It was but just lately that we found him going about the country to confirm the Israelites in their attachment to the house of Saul, and opposition to David; but now, upon a slight disgust, he is not only for deserting him-lieve, that Saul, who lived in the borders of Benjamin, conferred self, but for carrying all the strength of his interest over to the opposite party. For, "such is the genius of many great ministers," says one," that upon slight occasions, they are irritated, and do rather rule over kings, than are ruled by them."-Patrick's Commentary. c Abner was a man longer versed in military affairs than himself, who, in the time of Saul's distraction, had been regent of the nation, and, since the time that he had set up Ishbosheth to be king, prime minister. And therefore Joab had reason to suspect, that in case he once got into David's favour, as the service he was able to do him, gave him a title to it, it would not be long before he would gain a superior ascendant; and therefore he took this wicked method to prevent him. For to use the reflection which Josephus makes upon this occasion. "What will men not dare to do, who are covetous, ambitious, and will be inferior to none? They press forward to the end, without ever considering the means, and will commit a thousand crimes in pursuit of what they desire. Nor are they less bold in maintaining, than they were in acquiring their places and preferments by evil practices; insomuch that, rather than suffer the disgrace of losing what they have unjustly gotten, they will plunge themselves still deeper and deeper in wickedness, to retain it."— Jewish Antiq. b. 7. c. 1. more favours upon that tribe than any other, and might therefore justly expect, both to him and his, a greater esteem and fidelity from those of his own tribe, than from others. This patronymic is therefore very properly prefixed to the names of Rechab and Baanah, to show what vile ungrateful villains they were, and how justly they deserved the severe and exemplary punishment which David inflicted on them.-Le Clerc's Com mentary. f It may seem a little strange, that these two ruffians were not discouraged by David's punishing the Amalekite for killing Saul, and by the detestation he had publicly shown of Joab's baseness in murdering Abner; but the former of these cases, they might think, was not parallel to theirs; because Saul was anointed king by God's immediate direction, whereas Ishbosheth, having never had such sacred unction, was no more than a usurper; and as for the latter, they might think, that David's conduct in relation to Abner's death, proceeded from art and policy, rather than any serious dislike of the thing itself; and in this opinion, they might the rather be confirmed, when they saw Joab, instead of being punished, continuing in the very same post and power that he had before.-Poole's Annotations. g The manner in which Josephus makes David express himself upon this occasion, is to this effect" Wicked wretches |