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A.C. 1063. whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

* Heb. shut thee up.

56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.

1 SAMUEL XVII. VER. 41-55.

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

*

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the hosts of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and

46

3dly. His

"was of full age, (chap. xvi. 18.) 2dly. His combat with Goliath was his first
appearance in public life, (ver. 56), [□by m]; when he was introduced as a
"musician, he was a man of established character, (chap. xvi. 18.)
"combat with Goliath was his first military exploit, (verses 38, 39). He was a
"man of war when he was introduced as a musician, (chap. xvi. 18). He was
"unknown both to Saul and Abner at the time when he fought Goliath. He
"had not, therefore, yet been in the office of Saul's armour-bearer, or resident
"in any capacity at the court. Now the just conclusion from these circum-
"stances is, not that these twenty verses are an interpolation, but that the last
"ten verses of the preceding chapter, which relate Saul's madness and David's
"introduction to the court upon that occasion, are misplaced. The true place
"for these ten verses seems to be between the 9th and the 10th of the eigh-
"teenth chapter. Let these ten verses be removed to that place, and this seven-
"teenth chapter be connected immediately with the 13th verse of chapter xvi.
"and the whole disorder and inconsistency that appears in the narrative in its
"present arrangement will be removed." Vol. i. p. 331.

came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and A. C. 1063. ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

xlvii. 4.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling e Ecclus. and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; 1 Mac. iv. 30. but there was no sword in the hand of David.

51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his

tent.

1 SAMUEL XVII. VER. 57, 58.

57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.

1 SAMUEL Xviii. ver. 1–5.

1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

A.C. 1063.

*Heb. thou

hast made my judgment.

+Heb. in righteousness.

PSALM IX 27.

Written on the Victory over Goliath.

1 David praiseth God for executing of judgment. 11 He inciteth others to praise him. 13 He prayeth that he may have cause to praise him.

To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben, A Psalm of David.

1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 60 thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual of the enemy end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is peperpetual end: rished with them.

Or, The destructions

are come to a

and their cities hast thou

7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared destroyed, &c. his throne for judgment.

& xcviii. 9.

f Ps. xcvi. 13. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

27 The ninth Psalm is inserted here on the authority of the Chaldee paraphrast. It is entitled, to the chief musician abby, on Muth-labben. Lightfoot translates this phrase, "upon the death of the champion ;" and Goliath, in the authorized version, (1 Sam. xvii. 4.) is called a champion. The original, nnab b`an "wx xy", signifies," and there came out a man between the two camps" or, as the margin of Arias Montanus' Bible reads, 2 xy, stans inter duas acies. The Chaldee paraphrast accordingly interprets the words, amby, thus: "upon the death of the man that came out between the two armies:" (that is, on the death of the champion Goliath of Gath), 2 xoved by xot¬wn gran p. In D'Oyly and Mant's Bible, three various authorities are quoted on the title of this Psalm; Bp. Horne, Dimock, and Dr. S. Clarke. Bp. Horne imagines it was composed to celebrate some victory; but what, is unknown. Dimock mentions the tradition, that Labben was the name of a prince or chief in the enemies' army: and Dr. S. Clarke supposes it to be the title of a tune. Dr. Gray places the Psalm among those composed by David after his accession. Calmet conjectures, that it was written and sung by David, on the occasion of removing the ark from the house of Obed edom, to Mount Sion. Among these contending authorities, (if different conjectures, supported by great names, can be so called), I have preferred the decision of Lightfoot. With respect to the rest of the Psalms, I shall merely notice the authority which may have induced me to give them their respective places, without entering into a variety of criticisms and opinions.

9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

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12 h When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remem- h Gen. ix. 5. bereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the + humble.

13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of

the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

i

+ Or, afflicted.

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they i Ps. vii. 16. made in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

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17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men.

SECTION V.

Selah.

History of David till he flies from the Court of Saul.

1 SAMUEL XVIII. VER. 5-10.

That is, meditation.

pered.

5 ¶ And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the Or, prosmen of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

tines.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the || Or, Philis women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with * instru-Heb. threements of music.

k

stringed instruments.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten k Ch. xxi. II. thousands.

& xxix. 5. Ecclus. xlvii.

6.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying +displeased Heb, was him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten evil in his eyes.

A.C. 1063. thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

1062.

* Or, terrified.

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

1 SAMUEL XVI. VER. 14, TO THE END.

14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil Spirit from the LORD *troubled him.

15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

1628 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

17 And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of + Or, speech. war, and prudent in + matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

19 Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.

20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.

23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

28 In confirmation of Bishop Horsley's arrangement, (vide Note 26) it may be observed, that it is probable David might retire from court on discovering the jealousy excited in the mind of Saul after the songs and dances of the women, (1 Sam. xviii. 6,) he might have gone home to his father, and returned only to the court when the malady of his sovereign required his presence. The apparent capriciousness of Saul's conduct probably arose from the sudden returns of his disorder; and at other times from the suspicions he might entertain towards the anointed successor of his crown.

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