expect no good event; but they know beforehand they must die; and that they must undergo that death in the battle also: after this, neither to be affrighted nor to be astonished at the terrible fate that is coming; but to go directly upon it, when they know it beforehand: this it is that I esteem the character of a man truly courageous. Accordingly this Saul did; and thereby demonstrated that all men who desire fame after they are dead, are so to act, as they may obtain the same. This especially concerns kings; who ought not to think it enough in their high station that they are not wicked in the government of their subjects, but to be more than moderately good to them. I could say more than this about Saul, and his courage; the subject offering matter sufficient; but that I may not appear to run out improperly in his commendation, I return again to that history from which I made this digression. and to do kindness to all such as are in want; and to think that nothing is better, nor more becoming than such a general beneficence; nor what will sooner render God favourable, and ready to bestow good things upon us. And so far. may suffice to have spoken concerning this woman. But I shall speak farther upon another subject; which will afford me the opportunity of discoursing on what is for the advantage of cities, people, and nations, and suited to the taste of good men; and will encourage them all in the prosecution of virtue, and is capable of showing them the method of acquiring glory, and an everlasting fame; and of imprinting on the kings of nations, and the rulers of cities, great inclinations and diligence in doing well; as also of encouraging them to undergo dangers, and to die for their countries, and of instructing them how to dispose all the most terrible adversities. And I have a fair occasion offered me to enter on such a discourse by Saul, the king of the Hebrews. For although he knew what was coming upon him, and that he was to die immediately, by the prediction of the prophet, he did not resolve to fly from death, nor so far to indulge the love of life, as to betray his own people to the enemy, or to bring disgrace on the royal dignity. But exposing himself, as well as all his family, to dangers, he thought it a brave thing to fall together with them, as he was fighting for his subjects; and that it was better his sons should die thus, showing their courage, than to leave them to their uncertain conduct afterwards; while instead of succession and posterity they gained commendation, and a lasting name. Such an one alone seems to me to be a just, a courageous, and a prudent man; and when any one has arrived at these dispositions, or shall hereafter arrive at them, he is the man who ought *to be by all honoured, with the testimony of a virtuous or courageous man. For as to those that go out to war with hopes of success, and that they shall return safe; supposing they should have performed some glorious action; I think those do not well who call these valiant men, as so many his-hymns, as having destroyed many ten thousands of torians and other writers who treat of them are wont to do; although I confess those do justly deserve some commendation also. But those only may be styled courageous and bold in great undertakings, and despisers of adversities, who imitate Saul. For as for those that do not know what the event of war will be as to themselves, and though they do not faint in it, but deliver themselves up to uncertain futurity, and are tossed this way and that way, this is not so very eminent an instance of a generous mind; although they happen to perform many great exploits. But when men's minds Now when the Philistines had pitched their camp, and had taken account of their forces according to their nations, kingdoms, and governments, king Achish came last of all, with his own army. After whom came David, with his six hundred armed men. And when the commanders of the Philistines saw him, they asked the king, whence those Hebrews came? and at whose invitation? He answered, that it was David, who was fled away from his master Saul; and he had entertained him when he came to him; and that now he was willing to make him this requital for his favours, and to avenge himself upon Saul; and so was become his confederate. The commanders, however, complained that he had taken him for a confederate who was an enemy; and gave him counsel to keep him away, lest he should unawares do his friends a great deal of mischief by entertaining him. For that he afforded him an opportunity of being reconciled to his master by doing mischief to the army. They thereupon desired him, out of a prudent foresight of this, to send him away, with his four hundred armed men, to the place he had given him for his habitation. For this was that David whom the virgins celebrated in their the Philistines. When the king of Gath heard this, he thought they spake well; so he called David, and said to him, "As for myself, I can bear witness that thou hast shown great diligence and kindness about me; and on that account it was that I took thee for my confederate. However, what I have done does not please the commanders of the Philistines. Go, therefore, within a day's time, to the place I have given thee, without suspecting any harm, and there keep my country, lest any of our enemies should make an incursion upon it; which will be one part of that assistance I expect from thee." So David AN. 1096.] ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS. returned to Ziklag, as the king of Gath bid him. | fall asleep. And for so many as had time to put on But it happened that while he was gone to the as- all their armour, they slew them with the sword sistance of the Philistines, the nations of the Ama- with no less ease than they did those that were lekites had made an incursion, and taken Ziklag naked. And for the partisans of David, they conbefore, and had burnt it; and when they had taken tinued also the slaughter from the first hour of the a great deal of other prey out of that place, and out day to the evening, so that there was not above four of the other parts of the Philistines' country, they hundred of the Amalekites left, and they only escaped by getting upon their dromedaries and camels. departed. Accordingly, David recovered not only all the other spoils which the enemy had carried away; but his wives also, and the wives of his companions. But when they were come to the place where they had left the two hundred men, who were not able to follow them, but were left to take care of the stuff; the four hundred men did not think fit to divide among them any other parts of what they had gotten, or of the prey, since they did not accompany them; but pretended to be feeble, and did not follow them in the pursuit of the enemy; but said, they should be contented to have safely recovered their wives. Yet did David pronounce, that this opinion of theirs was evil and unjust, and that when God had granted them such a favour, that they had avenged themselves on their enemies, and had recovered all that belonged to themselves, they should make an equal distribution of what they had gotten to all, because the rest had tarried behind to guard their stuff. And from that time this law obtained among them;that those who guarded the stuff, should receive an equal share with those that fought in the battle.t Now when David was come to Ziklag, he sent portions of the spoils to all that had been familiar with him, and to his friends, in the tribe of Judah. And thus ended the affairs of the plundering of Ziklag, and of the slaughter of the Amalekites. Now when David found that Ziklag was laid waste, and that it was all spoiled, and that his own wives, and the wives of his companions, with their children, were made captives; he presently rent his clothes; weeping and lamenting, together with his friends. And indeed he was so cast down with these misfortunes, that at length tears themselves failed him. He was also in danger of being stoned to death by his companions; who were greatly afflicted at the captivity of their wives and children; for they laid the blame upon him of what had happened. But when he had recovered from his grief, and had raised up his mind to God, he desired the high-priest Abiathar to put on his sacerdotal garments, and to inquire of God, and to prophesy to him, whether God would grant, that if he pursued after the Amalekites, he should overtake them, and save their wives and their children, and avenge himself on the enemies? and when the high-priest bade him pursue after them, he marched apace, with four hundred men, after the enemy. And when he was come to a certain brook called Besor, and had met with an Egyptian, who was almost dead with want and famine; (for he had continued wandering about without food, in the wilderness, three days;) he first of all gave him refreshments, and then asked to whom he belonged, and whence he came? The man told him, he was an Egyptian by birth, and was left behind by his master, because he was so sick and weak that he could not follow him. He also informed him, that he was one of those that had burnt and plundered not only other parts of Judea, but Ziklag also. So David made use of him as a guide, to find out the Amalekites; and when he had overtaken them, as they lay scattered about on the ground, some at dinner, some disordered and inebriated with wine; and in their fruition of the spoils and their prey, he fell upon them on the sudden, and made a great slaughter. For they were naked, and expected no such thing; but had betaken themselves to drinking and feasting; and so they were all easily destroyed. Now some of them that were overtaken as they lay at the table, were slain in that posture. Others of them were slain as they were drinking to one another, in their cups; and some of them when their satiety had made them * 1 Sam. xxx. 1. Now upon the Philistines joining battle, there followed a sharp engagement, and the Philistines became the conquerors, and slew a great number of their enemies. But Saul the king of Israel, and his sons, fought courageously, and with the utmost alacrity; as knowing that their entire glory lay in nothing else but dying honourably; and exposing themselves to the utmost danger from the enemy; for they had nothing else to hope for. So they brought upon themselves the whole power of the enemy, till they were encompassed round and slain, but not before they had killed many of the Philistines. Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. And when these were slain, the multitude of the Hebrews were put to flight; and all was disorder, confusion, and slaughter, upon the Philistines pressing in upon them. But Saul himself fled, having a strong body of soldiers about him; and upon the Philistines sending after them those that threw javelins and shot arrows, he lost all his company, except a few. As for himself, he fought with great bravery; and when he had received so many wounds, that he was unable to bear up, or to oppose any longer, and yet was not able to kill himself; he bade his armour-bearer draw his sword, and run him through, before the enemy should take him alive. But his armour-bearer not daring to kill his master, he drew his own sword, and placing himself over against its point, he threw himself upon it; and when he could neither run it through him, nor, by leaning against it, make the sword pass through him; he turned round, and asked a certain young man that stood by, who he was? and when he understood that he was an Amalekite, he desired him to force the sword through him; because he was not able to do it with his own hands, and thereby to procure him such a death as he desired. This the young man did accordingly; and he took the golden bracelet that was on Saul's arm, and his royal crown that was on his head, and ran away. And when Saul's armour-bearer saw that he was slain, he killed himself. Nor did any of the king's guards escape; but they all fell upon the mountain Gilboa. But when those Hebrews that dwelt in the valley, beyond Jordan, and those who had their cities in the plain, heard that Saul and his sons were fallen, and that the multitude about them were destroyed; they left their own cities, and fled to such as were best fortified. And the Philistines finding those cities deserted, came and dwelt in them. On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip their enemies that were slain; they got the bodies of Saul, and of his sons, and stripped them, and cut off their heads. And they sent messengers *This way of speaking in Josephus, of fasting seven days, without meat or drink, is almost like that of St. Paul's, Acts xxvii. 33. "This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried, and continued fasting, having taken nothing;" and as the nature of the thing, and the impossibility of strictly fasting so long, require us here to understand both Josephus, and the sacred author of this history, 1 Sam. xxxi. 13, from whom he took it, of only fasting till the evening; so must we understand St. Paul, either that this was really the fourteenth day that they had taken nothing till the evening, or else that this was the four all about their country, to acquaint them that their enemies were fallen. And they dedicated their armour in the temple of Astarte; but hung their bodies on crosses, at the walls of the city of Bethshan; which is now called Scythopolis. But when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard that they had dismembered the dead bodies of Saul, and of his sons, they deemed it so horrid a thing to overlook this barbarity, and to suffer them to be without funeral rites, that the most courageous and hardy among them; (and indeed that city had in it men that were very stout, both in body and mind,) journeyed all night, and came to Bethshan, and approached the enemies' wall, and taking down the bodies of Saul, and of his sons, they carried them to Jabesh; while the enemy were neither powerful nor bold enough to hinder them, because of their great courage. So the people of Jabesh wept all in general, and buried their bodies in the best place in their country, which was named Aroura; and they observed a public mourning for them seven days, with their wives and children; beating their breasts, and lamenting the king and his sons without either tasting drink or meat, till the evening. To this end did Saul come, according to the prophecy of Samuel; because he disobeyed the commandments of God,† about the Amalekites, and on the account of his destroying the family of Ahimelech, the high-priest, with Ahimelech himself, and the city of the high-priests. Now Saul, when he had reigned eighteen years, while Samuel was alive, and after his death two, ended his life in this manner. teenth day of their tempestuous weather in the Adriatic sea, as verse 27, and that on the fourteenth day alone they had continued fasting, and had taken nothing before the evening. The mention of their long abstinence, verse 21, inclines me to believe the former explication to be the truth, and that the case was then for a fortnight, what it was here for a week, that they kept all those days entirely as fasts till the evening, but not longer. See Judg. xx. 26. xxi. 2. 1 Sam. xiv. 24. 2 Sam. i. 12. Antiq. VII. 7. BOOK VII. Containing an interval of Forty Years. FROM THE DEATH OF SAUL TO THE DEATH OF DAVID. CHAP. I. AND OF THE CIVIL WAR WHICH ENSUED BETWEEN THE ADHER- Saul's dead body; and had brought them to him. OF DAVID'S CONDUCT ON RECEIVING THE NEWS OF SAUL'S DEATH, So David having no longer any room to question the truth of what he said, but seeing most evident marks that Saul was dead, he rent his garment, and continued all that day with his companions in weeping, and lamentation. This grief was augmented by the consideration of Jonathan, the son of Saul, who had been his most faithful friend, and the occasion of his deliverance. He also evinced such great virtue, and such great kindness for Saul, as not only to take his death to heart, though he had been frequently in danger of losing his life by his means, but to punish him that slew him. For when David had said to him, that he was become his own accuser, as the very man who had slain the king; and when he had understood that he was the son of an Amalekite, he commanded him to be slain.* He also committed to writing some lamentations and funeral commendations of Saul and Jonathan; which have continued to my own age. THIS battle happened on the same day whereupon David was come back to Ziklag, after he had overcome the Amalekites. Now when he had been already two days at Ziklag, there came to him the man who slew Saul; he had escaped out of the battle which the Israelites had with the Philistines; and had his clothes rent, and ashes upon his head. When he made his obeisance to David, he inquired of him whence he came? He replied, from the battle of the Israelites; and informed him, that the result of it was unfortunate; many ten thousands of the Israelites having been cut off, and Saul, together with his sons, slain. He also said, that he could well give him this information, because he was present at the victory gained over the Hebrews; and was with the king when he fled. Nor did he deny that he had himself slain the king, when he was ready to be taken by the enemy, and himself exhorted him to that act; because when he was fallen on his sword his wounds had made him so weak, that he was not able to kill himself. He also produced demonstrations that the king was slain; which were the golden bracelets that had been on the king's arms, and his crown, which he had taken away from * 2 Sam. 1. 13, 15. †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 Comment. B. When David had paid these honours to the king, he left off his mourning, and inquired of God by the prophet,† which of the cities of the tribe of Judah, he would bestow upon him to dwell in? God answered that he bestowed upon him Hebron: so he left Ziklag, and came to Hebron ; and took with him his two wives, and his armed men. Whereupon all the people of the aforetribe, and the possession of those priestly families who espoused David's interests, 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. The History of the life of King David, vol. 2. B. Hebron was situated in the midst of the tribe of Judah; and as it was a very ancient city, the metropolis of the whole || 4. mentioned tribe came to him and ordained him their king. But when he heard that the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead had buried Saul and his sons honourably, he sent to them and commended them, and took what they had done kindly, and promised to make them amends for their care of those that were dead; and at the same time he informed them that the tribe of Judah had chosen him for their king. But as soon as Abner, the son of Ner, who was general of Saul's army, and a very active and goodnatured man, knew that the king and Jonathan and his two other sons were fallen in battle, he hastened into the camp; and taking away with him the remaining son of Saul, whose name was Ishbosheth, he passed over to the land beyond Jordan; and ordained him king over the whole multitude, excepting the tribe of Judah;† and made his royal seat in a place called in our own language Mahanaim, but in the language of the Grecians, The Camps. From whence Abner made haste, with a select body of soldiers, to fight with such of the tribe of Judah as were disposed to it; for he was angry that this tribe had set up David for their king. But Joab, whose father was Suri, and his mother Zeruiah, David's sister, who was general of David's army, met him, according to David's appointment. He had with him his brethren Abishai, and Asahel; and|| also all David's armed men. Now when he met Abner, at a certain fountain, in the city Gibeon, he prepared to fight. And when Abner said to him, that he had a mind to know whether of them had the more valiant soldiers, it was mutually agreed, that twelve soldiers on each side should fight together. So those that were chosen out by both generals for the fight, came between the two armies; and throwing their lances one against the other, they drew their swords, and catching one another by the head, they held one another fast, and ran each other's swords into their groins, until they all, as it were by mutual agreement, perished together. When these were fallen, the rest of the army came to an obstinate engagement, and Abner's men were beaten; and when they were beaten, Joab did not leave off † 2 Sam. ii. 9. This was a place in the tribe of Gad, which had its name from the appearance of a host of angels to Jacob, as he came with his family and all his substance to Padanaram, 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 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 from falling upon the king, whom he had under his protection, in the infancy of his 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 pursuing them, but he pressed upon them, and excited the soldiers to follow them closely, and not to grow weary of killing them. His brethren also pursued them with great alacrity; and especially the younger, Asahel, who was the most eminent of them. He was very famous for his swiftness of foot; for he could not only be too hard for men, but is reported to have over-run a horse, when they had a race together. This Asahel ran violently after Abner; and would not turn in the least out of the straight way; either to one side, or to the other. Hereupon Abner turned back, and attempted artfully to avoid his violence. Sometimes he bade him leave off the pursuit, and take the armour of one of his soldiers; and sometimes, when he could not persuade him so to do, he exhorted him to restrain himself, and not to pursue him any longer, lest he should force him to kill him, and he should then not be able to look his brother in the face. But when Asahel would not admit of any persuasion, but still continued to pursue him; Abner smote him with his spears as he held it in his flight, and by a back stroke gave him a deadly wound, so that he died immediately. But those that were with him pursuing Abner, when they came to the place where Asahel lay, they stood round about the dead body, and left off the pursuit of the enemy. However, both Joab himself,|| and his brother Abishai, ran past the corpse, and making their anger at the death of Asahel an occasion of greater zeal against Abner, they went on with incredible haste and alacrity, and pursued Abner to a certain place called Ammah; it was about sunset. Then did Joab ascend a certain hill, as he stood at that place, having the tribe of Benjamin with him, whence he took a view of them, and of Abner also. Hereupon Abner cried aloud, and said, that it was not fit that they should irritate men of the same nation to fight so bitterly one against another; that as for Asahel his brother, he was himself in the wrong when he would not be advised by him not to pursue him any farther; which was the occasion of his death. So Joab consented to what he said, and accepted his words as an excuse about Asahel; and called his soldiers back with the among the people, not only brave and courageous, but very well affected to the cause which he had espoused. Calmet's Commentary, and Pool's Annotations. B. § The expression in the Bible 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 : Haud multa moratus Excipit in latus, et, qua fata celerrima, crudum Transadigit costas et crates pectoris ensem. En. 12. B. It ought here to be noted, that Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, were all David's nephews, the sons of his sister Zeruiah, as 1 Chron. ii. 16, and that Amasa was also his nephew, by his other sister Abigail, v. 17. |