forces to resist the common enemy Hereupon David called the place Sela-Hammahlekoth that is the Rock of Divisions 1 Sam. Ch. 23. from 14 to 29. 9ly Hence David flies to the strong holds in the Wilderness * Here 't is thought he penned the 57 Psalm adjoyning to Engedi (b) A place exceeding fruitful with Vines and other fruit-trees Cant. 1.14 a City of Judah Saul returning with his forces from pursuing the Philistines it was told him whither David was fled and he took 3000 chosen men out of Israel and went to pursue David and his men upon those high steep and cragy rocks upon which wild beasts used to live and he came to the sheep-coats where was a Cave and Saul (c) Nisi somnum Saul captasset motus in spelunca sensisset militares Some Caves in that and other Countries are of that vast wideness that they are sufficient to contain great numbers of men being weary went into the entrance of it which was narrow to cover his feet that is to sleep See note in Judg. 3.24 But though the entrance of the Cave was narrow yet it seems it was roomâ—by within for David and several of his men had hid themselves in the sides and innermost parts of it David's men perceiving that Saul was come into the entrance or mouth of the Cave and that there he had laid himself down to sleep they tell him that God had now put such an opportunity into his hands of cutting off his enemy that thirsted after his blood as if he had from heaven called unto him and commanded (d) V. 4. dicit h.e. dicere videtur quia praebet ansam him to do it But David arising went softly to Saul and only cut off the skirt of his Robe that he might thereby make it evident to him that he could as well have killed him if he had had a mind to it and yet David's heart smote him for this little that he had done because it had an appearance of an injury offered to the King But it seems his men were almost ready to mutiny that he would not kill Saul at this time and so put an end to his and their tedious troubles Whereupon David mildly spake unto them saying God forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against my Master the Lords Anointed I cannot I dare not do it And with these words he stayed his Souldiers from offering violence unto Saul Saul awaking rose up and went on his way David immediately gets out of the Cave and following him cried after him My Lord the King When Saul looked back David bowed himself to the earth before him and then humbly addressing himself to him said Wherefore hearknest thou to mens words that tell thee that David seeketh thy hurt Thou seest that this day the Lord delivered thee into my hands when thou wast in the Cave some bad me kill thee but mine eye spared thee and I told them I would not put forth my hand against my Lord seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. Moreover my father see yea see the the skirt of thy robe in my hand for in that I cut off only the skirt of thy robe and killed thee not when I might so easily have done it thou maist assure thy self that there is no evil intention in my heart against thee neither have I transgressed against thee as those base Sycophants that are about thee do suggest And yet thou huntest my life to take it The Lord judge between me and thee and in this my innocent cause wherein I so unjustly suffer do me right against thee But however though it should not please him to do it yet I am resolved not to avenge my self on thee neither shall my hand be upon thee The Proverb of the Ancients tells us That wickedness proceedeth from the wicked that is wicked men will not stick to do any wicked thing But thou needest not fear any such thing from me seeing thou hast found the contrary by thine own experience I am resolved to refer my cause to God and not to avenge my self in my own quarrel Besides consider I pray thee who it is that thou pursuest with so much eagerness and violence even a weak and contemptible man and in comparison of thee no more to be esteemed than a flea (e) Valde Pathetica oratio Index summa Davidis modestiae vid. Psal 131. or a dead dog (f) Canâ—m mortuum pulicem persequi dicitur de iis qui tenuissimos homines magno conatu insectantur Having therefore neither power nor will to do thee hurt the Lord judge between me and thee and plead my cause and deliver me out of thy hands David having ended Saul was so affected with what he had said that he lift up his voice and wept and said Is this thy voice my Son David Thou art more righteous than I for thou hast done me good and I have rewarded thee with evil I am convinced that thou hast dealt exceeding kindly with me For when the Lord had delivered me into thy hands thou didst not take away my life If a man find his enemy and have him at an advantage will he let him go away without doing him any hurt This is not the common course of the world The Lord therefore reward thee for the great kindness thou hast shewed me this day And now I know assuredly that thou shalt be King see Ch. 15.28 23.17 seeing God hath endued thee with such heroick and Kingly virtues and does so eminently prosper thee in all thy undertakings I know that the Kingdom of Israel shall remain firm and established to thee and thy posterity after thee Swear now therefore to me that thou wilt not cut off my seed after I am gone as other jealous Princes use to do nor blot out my name by destroying my posterity And David sware unto him accordingly having in effect bound himself by Covenant and Oath before unto Jonathan to do the same that Saul here required But how can David be said to have observed this Oath when as afterwards he delivered the five Sons of Merab Saul's daughter and the two Sons of Rizpah his Concubine to the Gibeonites to be hanged see 2 Sam. 21. I answer David had a full intention to observe this Oath as far as lay in him as appears by his putting to death those that murdered Ishbosheth though he had risen against him 2 Sam. 4. and by his preserving and cherishing Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 9. But in the case before mentioned he was not left to his own choice but necessitated by a special command from God to deliver them into the hands of the Gibeonites for their satisfaction that Gods wrath being appeased the heavy judgment of famine under which they lay might be removed from the land see 2 Sam. 21.6 9. and therefore in this he brake not his Oath * Omnia pacta promissa vota jurejuranda ad hoc caput referenda
Son David David answers It is my voice my Lord O King And I pray thee wherefore doth my Lord thus pursue after his servant What have I done or what evil is in my hand Now therefore let my Lord the King vouchsafe to hear the words of his servant If the Lord hath stirred thee up against me let him receive an offering * Placato iram ejus Sacrificio munere Chald. Paraph. suspiciat oblationem meam cum voluntate that is let him be appeased with a sacrifice and oblation which I will offer for the sin whereby I have provoked him But if they be Court-Sycophants and malicious persons that by their lyes and slanders have incensed thee against me I leave them as cursed creatures to Gods just vengeance who will plead my cause against them For they have endeavoured to drive me out from abiding in the Inheritance of the Lord and from enjoying his Ordinances and by forcing me as an exile to flee into Idolatrous Countries They have in effect said to me Go and serve other Gods And now seeing thou knowest my innocency let not my blood I pray thee be shed without cause for the Lord will see it and will not let it go unpunished Besides it is not honourable for the King of Israel to pursue me with so many men who have so little power to hurt him For I am but as a flea forced to skip hither and thither to save my self or a partridge on the mountains forced to flee from place to place to escape thy hands Then said Saul I have sinned Return my Son David to thy former condition for I will no more do thee harm seeing my life was precious in thine eyes this day and thou hast spared me when it was in thy power to kill me Behold I have played the fool and erred exceedingly I do acknowledg my fault and folly and openly take shame to my self for it in the hearing of all that are about me David desires him to send one of his young men to fetch his Spear having taken it from him only to evidence his innocence and that he had no evil intention in his heart against him And therefore says he let the Lord recompence every man according to his righteousness and faithfulness Thy life was indeed in my power this day but I would not stretch forth my hand against the Lords anointed And as thy life was precious in mine eyes so let my life be precious in the eyes of the Lord my God and let it please him to preserve it though thou shouldst fail of thy promises made to me and shouldst seek again to take it away Then Saul said unto David Blessed be thou my Son David thou shalt do great things and shalt at last prevail maugre all the malice of thine enemies Then David retired and betook himself to some place of safety not trusting Saul for all his goodly words and promises having formerly found him so false and malicious And Saul returned to Gibeah where he kept his Court. 1 Sam. Ch. 26. whole Chapter 12ly David now seriously considering the condition of his affairs began through the weakness of his faith to think that he should at one time or other notwithstanding all his former deliverances perish by the hand of Saul if he did not speedily get himself out of his reach therefore he thought there was nothing more adviseable in his present circumstances than that he should send to the King of the Philistines and try if he could be received with his forces into his protection This indeed was no warrantable course that he now pitched upon for his preservation For first God had once before commanded him by the Prophet Gad to abide in the land of Judah see Chap. 22.5 2ly He having before been such a formidable enemy to the Philistines and having so hardly escaped with his life once before when he sought privately to shelter himself among them there was no likelihood he should be entertained by them on any other terms than that he and his Souldiers should turn to the Philistines and declare themselves enemies to Saul and the people of Israel 3ly This must needs tend to the great grief of those that were righteous in the land and would give his enemies occasion exceedingly to triumph and to say that now he discovered what he was seeing he had deserted his own people and religion and had joined himself to their uncircumcised enemies But thus it is when mens hearts sink through distrust of God as it seems Davids now did they seek to help themselves by any means they can David therefore having as 't is probable sent his Agents before hand to the King of the Philistines and having obtained assurance from him under the publick faith that he and his Souldiers should live safely in his land which 't is like out of meer policy he consented unto knowing the hatred that Saul bear him and believing that David and his forces would be ready to join with him and his subjects against Saul he passed over with six hundred men that followed him to Achish King of Gath. He carried also his two wives along with him Ahinoam and Abigail and his followers likewise carried their wives and families not thinking it safe to leave them behind them in the land of Israel and for some time by Achish's permission they dwelt in Gath or about it When it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath he gave over any further thoughts of seeking after him he being in the land of his enemies and so out of his reach David being desirous to dwell apart by himself with those that followed him that he might have the more freedom for the exercise of his Religion and might keep his Souldiers from being corrupted with the Vices and Idolatries of the Philistines and that he might from thence go out and prey the more secretly upon the enemies of Gods people without having any notice taken of it he humbly desired Achish that his Officers might assign him and his followers some place in the Country to live in it not being fit for him a stranger to live with the King in the Royal City especially having so many people with him who must needs be burdensome and might sometimes prove offensive to him and the inhabitants of his City Achish consents thereunto and accordingly gave him Ziklag which being allotted to the Tribe of Judah Josh 15.31 was afterwards given to Simeon Josh 19.5 but the Philistines having gotten possession of it had kept it to this day and now Achish giveth it unto David and so it was not only joined to Judah's portion * Hac donatione justos ad Heredes rediit Achish dedit Davidi non solum ad inhabitandum sed ut in illius dominium cederet but was also upon this occasion designed to be ever after a part of the Crown-land of the Kings of Judah Here David dwelt a full year and four months
him not a man among them would open his mouth for him or do any thing to prevent the danger he was in however Jonathan that truly loved him resolv'd to speak for him and therefore he said to his Father Let not the King sin against his servant against David for he hath not sinned against thee but his works and deeds have been very good towards thee for he put his life in his hand and slew the Philistine and the Lord wrought a great Salvation for all Israel thereby thou sawest it and didst rejoice therein Wherefore then wilt thou sin against God and shed innocent blood and slay David without a cause How high a degree of ingratitude and injustice will it be so ill to requite so noble an exploit which did at that time so exceedingly affect thee Saul was so melted with these words of Jonathan that he solemnly sware to him at that time that David should not die but great and frequent swearers do often forget what they have sworn and do not stick to forswear themselves and break their Oaths as we shall see Saul soon did However Jonathan not knowing what was in his heart calls David and acquaints him with what his Father had said and promised and so he brought him again to the Court and he was in the presence of Saul as in time past During his continuing there the Philistines again made an inroad into the Land and David went out and fought against them with great courage and slew them with a great slaughter and the rest of them fled to their own Country Ch. 19. from 1 to 9. 6ly The evil spirit being again upon Saul and he having a Javelin in his hand as David played upon his harp before him in a frantick fit he ran his Javelin so violently at him as if he intended to have pinned him to the wall but David nimbly avoiding the stroke the Javelin ran into the wall And this was the third time that Saul had sought to kill him with his own hand David therefore thought it now high time to shift for himself and so he left the Court and went to his own house From v. 9 to 11. 7ly Saul then sent messengers to David's house to lye in wait about the house in the night and to slay him in the morning when he came out Michal either casually discovering Saul's servants watching about the house and guessing at their errand or else having some secret intelligence from Court of Saul's design against her husband she acquaints David with it that he might look to himself and then to prevent his present danger she let him down thorough a window * See Act. 9.25 and so he fled and escaped And further to delude the watchmen if by violence they should break into the house and to gain longer time for David to escape she laid an Image (b) Humanam quidem non Idololatricam qualis illa Gen. 31.19 in a bed and put a pillow of Goats-hair under the head of it and covered it with a cloth thereby intending to make them believe that David was sick in bed and therefore in all humanity at present not to be disturb'd When the messengers whom Saul had sent to watch about the house had waited till morning and saw he came not forth as they expected they went and told Saul of it who sent them back again with a new commission to enter his house and take him Michal thinking sickness a fair pretence to keep them from too eager pressing upon him that she might gain the more time for his escape told them he was sick in bed they thinking it had been so returned and acquainted Saul therewith Saul suspecting it was but a pretence of Michal's to preserve her husband sends them back again to see whither it was so or no however if he were sick he charges them to bring him with them though they brought him in his bed They coming again to the house and going up to lay hold on him behold there was no David but only an Image in the bed They then carry Michal before Saul who angerly asks her why she had deceived him and sent away his enemy she answers He threatned to kill her if she would not let him go Here by the way we may observe that though her intire love to her husband be highly to be commended yet her telling lyes to preserve him cannot be excused and further we may take notice that if people once allow themselves in lying it will encrease upon them and one lye will draw on another and a lesser will draw on a greater and. louder as we see here in this example of Michal who first told an officious lye as they call it to save her husband and now tells a pernicious lye to save her self she should rather have imitated her brave brother Jonathans example who spake boldly to his father in defence of her husbands innocence From 11 to 18. David was so affected with this deliverance that he composed the 59 Psalm upon this occasion of Saul's sending to his house to kill him as may appear by the Title 8ly David thus escaping fled to Ramah to acquaint Samuel with all that had passed and with what Saul had done unto him and to crave his advice and counsel in these dangers and difficulties Hereupon he and Samuel went down to Naioth near Ramah where was a Colledg of Prophets but some body or other quickly informed Saul that David was come thither and he presently sent messengers to take him there when the messengers came thither and found the Prophets prophecying that is praising God with Psalms and Hymns and speaking of Divine matters and Samuel among them sitting as President over them and governing this holy assembly the Spirit of the Lord fell upon them and they instead of apprehending David which was the business they were sent about prophesied also Saul hearing of this sent other messengers upon the same errand a second and a third time and they prophesied * The like example we have in the High-Priests Officers who were sent to apprehend Christ Joh. 7.45 46. also that is praised God with Psalms and Hymns and magnified his name as the other before had done Saul might by this miracle have been convinc'd of his sin and folly in pursuing after David when he saw him thus miraculously preserved and protected by God but being thus disappointed by his messengers and his heart being hardened he resolves to go thither himself and to fetch David thence even out of his Sanctuary but it fell out quite contrary to his expectation for whereas his messengers did not prophesie till they came into the company of the Prophets at Naioth the Spirit of the Lord now falling upon him he prophesied †Donum Prophetandi aliquando Impiis concedit Deus ut Balaamo vide Mat. 7.22 before he came thither even in the way and was chang'd from a Persecutor into a Prophet which plainly
God justly made use of this sword which he got of the High-Priest by lying as a means to bring him into danger The servants of Achish bringing him before their King said unto him Is not this David the King of the land that is a famous warriour and chief Commander among the Israelites and as it were another King in the esteem of the people or is not this David who is designed as we hear to be King in the land For possibly the report that David should be King and that Saul persecuted him on that account was so rife and common in Israel that it spread it self even to the land of the Philistines Further they say Is not this he of whom the women sang in their triumphant dances Ch. 18.7 Saul hath slain his thousands but David his ten thousands David was much surpriz'd to hear these words spoken of himself by the servants of Achish before their King and seeing himself in their hands and not knowing which way to help himself he resolved to behave himself before them as if he had been distracted And indeed they might well think that he that had done so much against them would not now alone have come among them if he had been in his right wits And accordingly in his gesture words and actions he carried himself as if he had been mad scrabling on the doors and letting his spittle fall on his beard (d) Non illicita prorsus haec simulatio quippe expers mendaciâ— Anonym Stultitiam simulare in loco inquit ille prudentia summa est Potest Deus suos servare per sapientiam immo per insaniam per infirmitatem Simulatio haec mendacium non erat sed silentium duntaxat vel dissimulatio veritatis justa de causa Nec illicita erat hujusmodi fictio cum fiat ad utilitatem suam sine alterius praejudicio he thought possibly that mad men were usually objects of pity and compassion not of malice or revenge and supposed that hereupon they would be the more inclin'd to spare him seeing he was not likely being in this sad case to do them any further mischief But though at present he made use of this stratagem yet he relyed not upon it but put his trust in God and relyed (e) David salutem suam non simulationi suae acceptam tulit sed misericordiae Dei on him alone for help and deliverance as appears by the two Psalms he composed on this occasion viz. the 34. and 56. And God by his alwise Providence so ordered this thing that Achish thinking him absolutely mad slighted and askt them in some kind of anger Why they had brought a mad man before him He told them he had no need of mad men neither desired they should bring such persons into his house In all probability God at present so infatuating him he thought this man was not David but some odd fellow they had pickt up in the way and with that apprehension he dismissed him 1 Sam. Ch. 21. whole Chapter 3ly David having thus got away from Achish he fled to the Cave of Adullam a City in the Tribe of Judah not far from Bethlem which being an hold of some strength see 2 Sam. 23.13 and lying in his own Tribe among his kindred and friends he expected from them favour and protection and accordingly hither his Brethren and those of his Fathers house resorted to him possibly fearing if they stayed at home they should be persecuted and oppressed by Saul for his sake And such as were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered themselves unto him and he became a Captain over them so that number of his followers now came to be about four hundred in all But some will say did David do well to entertain such as these I answer first 't is like he did not know who of them were in debt 2ly He had no purpose to shelter them against any that should demand justice against them 3ly He intended not to make use of them against Saul but only for his own defence 4ly His followers lived not upon Plunder and the spoil of the Country but were rather a Guard to the people and preserved them from the incursions of their enemies as Nabal's servants witnessed for them Ch. 25.15 16. 'T is true they were many of them men that were in a poor and afflicted condition and thinking themselves in no safety at home fled to David for protection 5ly 'T is probable that by this time it came to be generally known that Saul persecuted David because he was anointed of God by Samuel to succeed him in the Throne And if this were the ground of their coming to him how could he reject them 'T is likely indeed that the mouths of his adversaries were opened against him upon this occasion But so long as his cause was just and he did not undertake to defend his followers in any evil nor made use of them to oppress others their reproaches were unjust and not to be regarded Here probably he composed the 142 Psalm David here composes the 142 Psalm the title being Maschil of David a prayer when he was in the Cave 4ly David finding that his Parents by reason of their age were not able to endure the hardship of being with him in the Cave therefore he went to Mizpeh of Moab to provide a place for them to abide in for a while till he knew what God would do with him And here he judged that the King of Moab would favour him in his request out of hatred to Saul (f) Et forsan propâ—er cognationem Davidis cum illa gente per Ruth vid. Ruth 4.10 who had made war upon him see 1 Sam. 14.47 and so accordingly it fell out for he obtained the King of Moab's grant that they should dwell in his Country and they liv'd together in the hold or Castle of Mizpeh till the Prophet * Magnam pro Davide curam ostendit Deus eum nunc per Prophetas nunc per Urim Thummim instruens Gr. Gad (g) Davids Seer 1 Chr. 21.9 with whom he used to consult He was sent unto him by God after he had numbered the people 2 Sam. 24.11 warned David from the Lord to go back again into the land of Judah either because the King of Moab and his people were treacherous or because he intended to bring David's faith to a further trial by Saul's persecutions ver 3 4. 5ly From hence he removeth into the Forrest of Hareth in the Tribe of Judah the news of his being here is presently brought to Saul he sitting under a Tree in an high place in Gibeah having his Spear in his hand and his servants standing round about him whereupon he said Hear now ye Benjamites will the Son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards and make you all Captains of thousands and Captains of hundreds that all of you have conspired against me and none of you
in his mind a (d) So we read of Adonijah affecting the Kingdom of David by the like practise 1 King 2.22 Abner was exceedingly provoked and enrag'd at this and angerly reply'd What am I a dogs-head am I so mean and vile a person in thine eyes that I should be school'd and reprehended for such a matter as this I that have shewed such kindness unto the house of thy Father and to his brethren and friends and have so strenuously stood up against the Tribe of Judah who made David King and have made thee King over the rest of Israel and hitherto supported thee in thy Kingdom and have not delivered thee into the hands of David as I might have done What! am I so mean and contemptible a person that thou shouldst think it a disgrace to thy family that I should lye with one of thy Fathers Concubines God do so to me and more also if I do not translate the Kingdom from the house of Saul to the house of David and make him King over all Israel even from Dan to Beersheba as the Lord hath sworn he should be So that it is plain that Abner knew very well that God had chosen and appointed David to be King and yet all this while he had opposed him against his own knowledg and conscience for his own worldly and wicked ends But though he behaved himself thus insolently yet Ishbosheth being a low and poor-spirited man durst not answer him a word he stood in such fear of him Abner pursuant to what he had threatned sent messengers to David by whom he made his acknowledgment that the whole land did indeed belong to him whom God by Samuel had anointed to be King over Israel and therefore he resolved his hand should be with him to bring all Israel to be subject unto him provided he would make a League and Covenant with him to pardon all that was past and to receive him into his favour David returned him an answer that all that he desired was granted only he must not expect to see his face except he brought Michal Saul's daughter along with him That David insisted upon this condition needs not seem strange if we consider first that she had beeen his first wife and had been faithful to him in preserving his life 1 Sam. 19.11 12. and had been forced by her father to marry another man when he was fled 1 Sam. 25.44 And 2ly David could no way better express his love to her than by rescuing her from the sin and misery of living in adultery 3ly He saw in policy it imported him to ingratiate himself with and gain the love of Sauls kindred and allies which he could no way better do than by this means 4ly He thought he should hereby try the fidelity of Abner Abner it seems hereupon advised David to send to Ishbosheth for his wife and then he would second the motion and procure it to be done David accordingly sent Messengers to Ishbosheth desiring to have his wife Michal delivered to him which he had espoused to him for an hundred (e) David was enjoined only to bring an 100 but he brought 200 1 Sam. 18.25 27. foreskins of the Philistines Ishbosheth being perswaded by Abner to gratifie David therein immediately sent and took her away from Phaltiel her husband who went along with her as far as Bahurim a Town in the Tribe of Benjamin weeping and lamenting that a wise so noble and beautiful should be taken away from him But Abner bad him return and comfort himself for 't was in vain to weep for that which could not be helped Then Abner in pursuance of his design to come in to David had communication with the Elders of Israel and said to them Many of you long ago sought to have David to be King over you now then I pray let us all agree to it for the Lord (f) We do not read in the Sacred story where this is expresly spoken but Josephus saith it was spoken by Samuel and commonly known among the people hath spoken of David saying by the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hands of the Philistines and out of the hands of all their enemies He having thus spoken received a satisfactory answer from them viz. that they would receive David for their King Then he addresseth himself to the Tribe of Benjamin speaking to them to the same purpose and he thought it needful to address himself in an especial manner to them because Saul had been of their Tribe and so was chiefly in their favour and therefore if they gave way to Davids Title and submitted to his government little doubt was to be made but that the rest of the Tribes would submit also Having therefore received such an answer from the Elders of Israel and Benjamin as satisfied him he to shew his great diligence and faithfulness in managing Davids business went himself to carry the news of his good success to David at Hebron reporting to him all that Israel and especially Benjamin had said being attended with twenty men and as 't is probable carried Michal along with him David received him very graciously and made a great feast for him and his company when that was over Abner told him he would go and endeavour to get all Israel to accept him for their King and to make a league with him to be subject to him that he might reign over them all even according to his own hearts desire so David dismissed him in peace Joab with a Brigade of his Souldiers now returning home from pursuing a Troop of the Philistines or some other enemies that had invaded the land and bringing a great spoil along with them he was told that Abner had been newly with the King and had been graciously received by him and honourably dismist Joab was enraged at this and therefore in a bold and insolent manner he came to the King and asked him what he had done He wondered at his imprudence in sending away so dangerous an enemy as Abner was when he had him in his hands Thou mightest well have known says he if thou hadst considered it that Abner is a subtile and politick man and came not for any good end but to deceive thee and as a spy to discover thy counsels and the course of thy actions and proceedings Thus he pretends only David's good but 't is like he feared lest Abner by this important service of coming in to him himself and bringing in the other Israelites should insinuate himself into David's favour and so prove a corrival to him in his honours and preferments and besides the death of his brother Asahel killed by Abner stuck in his stomack David it seems was not much moved by what he said wherefore Joab flinging away in a discontent when he was come out from the King he sent Messengers after Abner and possibly in the Kings name who knew nothing of it who brought him
and valour 4. Four thousand to be Singers and Players on Instruments therewith to praise the Lord whereof two hundred eighty eight were eminent men for skill and possibly Teachers of the rest These also were divided into twenty four courses and so served about eightscore in every course and the twenty four Sons of Asaph Jeduthun and Heman three great Masters of Musick were to be the chief Heads of their Courses or Companies and to Prophesie with Cymbals See 1 Sam. 10.5 So for every Course of the Priests there was also appointed a Course of Levite-Singers and these were assign'd to their several Courses by lot also And as David appointed their Courses so he gave them also Psalmes penned by himself to sing assigning some for the Sons of Asaph others for the Sons of Jeduthun and Heman as by the Titles of many Psalmes does appear (a) 1 Chron. 25.5 All these were the words of Heman the Kings Seer in the words of the Lord to lift up the Horn. He was call'd the Kings Seer in the words of God because employed in that Prophetical work of setting forth the praises of God and singing Psalmes composed by men inspir'd by God and therefore call'd thence the words of God And to lift up the Horn whereby some Musical Instrument seems to be meant as the Cornet c. These Singers are said to Prophesie because in their Musick they were acted with an holy zeal such as Prophets in their Prophesies us'd to be acted with 1 Chron. Ch. 23. from v. 2 to the end 1 Chron. Ch. 24. whole Chapter 1 Chron. Ch. 25. whole Chapter 1 Chron. Ch. 26. whole Chapter SECT CCVII. SOlomon being now about twenty years of age Rehoboam is born to him of Naamah an Ammonitish woman as appears by Rehoboam's age at the beginning of his reign 1 King 14.21 where 't is said He was forty one when be began to reign We are now come to the first Book of Kings The united State of the Kingdom of Israel as it began under King Saul and increased under King David hath been described in the two Books of Samuel and how it came to its height under King Solomon is described in the Eleven first Chapters of the first Book of Kings and how it came to be divided and upon that division decreased and came to ruin at last we shall find described in the remaining Chapters of these two Books The first Book of the Kings contains an History of 126 years viz. forty years of Solomon's reign over all Israel after him the Kingdom being divided we have from Chap. 12. to the end the Lives and Acts of four Kings of Judah and eight Kings of Israel according to this following Scheme Solomon reigned forty years over all Israel Kings of Judah Kings of Israel  Years  Years Rehoboam 17 Jeroboam 22. Abijam 3. Nadab 2. Asa 41. Baasha 24. Jehoshaphat 25. Elah 2.   Zimri seven days    Omri 12.   Ahab 22.   Ahaziah 2. SECT CCVIII DAvid being now seventy years of age and broken with continual cares wars and troubles was grown so weak and feeble that applying warm clothes would hardly keep any heat in him whereupon by the advice of his Physicians a well-complexioned-young-Virgin was sought out for him who being taken by him as a wife or concubine might lye in his bosom and cherish him And such an one was found out viz. Abishag the Shunamite who did accordingly lye in his bosom and cherish him and ministred unto him but he knew her not 2 King Ch. 1. from v. 1. to 5. SECT CCIX. A Donijah David's Eldest Son now living seeing his Father decline so fast began to have aspiring thoughts after the Crown and understanding that Solomon was designed to succeed his Father he resolved to prevent it if he could by making himself King before his Fathers death In order hereunto he provides himself chariots and horses and fifty men for a guard as his brother Absalom had done before him And 't is like his Fathers former over great indulgence to him did the more embolden him though it also aggravated his fault that he durst do a thing so contrary to his Fathers mind who had been so kind to him He was also a goodly man of person and as that might be one cause that made David so much to dote on him and Absalom so it made him the more acceptable to the people In order therefore to the carrying on of his design he consulted with Joab the General of the Army and with Abiathar the High-Priest about it who it seems encouraged him in it and promised him their best assistance But Zadok and Nathan and Benaiah Captain of the Kings guard with the mighty men that were under his command joined not with him Adonijah having the General of the Army and the High-Priest on his side he now thus contrives his matters He makes a great Feast near Enrogel on the East-side of Jerusalem to which he invites all his Brothers the Kings Sons except Solomon and all the Officers and people of the Court that he thought would join with him intending there to be Installed King Nathan hearing of this went immediately to Bathsheba and asked her if she did not hear that Adonijah reigned and took upon him to be King She was strangely surpriz'd at this having heard nothing of it He advises her if she intended to save her own and her Sons life to go presently to the King and to ask him whither he did not swear solemnly to her that Solomon should reign after him And if he did how was it that Adonijah took upon him to be King surely it is without the Kings privity and consent And says Nathan while thou art speaking to him I will come in and confirm thy words and further add what I conceive requisite to be added Bathsheba accordingly went to the King and making a very low reverence to him she told him that he had solemnly sworn to her that Solomon her Son should reign after him but behold says she Adonijah has at this very time made a great Feast to which he has invited the Kings Sons and Joab and Abiathar in order to be by them Installed King And my Lord O King the eyes of all Israel are upon thee to observe whom thou wilt declare for thy Successor in the Kingdom and the people are generally inclined to yield to that which thou shalt determine therein and if thou dost not confirm what thou didst formerly swear concerning Solomon when thou diest I and my Son shall be counted Traytors and accus'd for endeavouring to get the Kingdom from Adonijah While she was speaking Nathan came in who bowing himself before the King with his face to the ground in a respectful manner askt the King whither he had appointed that Adonijah should succeed him in the Throne I do assure thee says he he hath made a great Feast this day and to it hath invited
Araunah's floor Sect. 206. David receives the pattern of the Temple makes great preparations for the building of it Sect. 207. Officers appointed for the Temple Sect. 208. Rehoboam born to Solomon Sect. 209. Abishag brought to David Sect. 210. Adonijah aspires to the Crown Solomon anointed Adonijah's submission Sect. 211. David's charge to Solomon Sect. 212. Davids farewell Exhortation to the people His Prayer Solomon's prosperity Sect. 213. David's last words to Solomon His death Sect. 214. The Book of the Psalms Sect. 215. Solomon upon the Throne Adonijah slain Joab slain Shimei's Oath not to pass over Kidron Sect. 216. Hadad the Edomite returns Sect. 217. Solomon's marriage with Pharaoh's daughter Sect. 218. Solomon setled in the Kingdom Gods appearing to him in a dream and asking him what he should give him and Solomon's choosing wisdom Sect. 219. Solomon's judgment on the two Harlots Sect. 220. Hiram's Embassie to Solomon A League between them Sect. 221. Solomon's levy for the Temple Sect. 222. Shimei put to death Chap. V. The fifth Age from the building of the Temple to the destruction of it and Captivity of Judah Sect. 1. THE Temple described with all its parts The Temple-Officers Sect. 2. The Temple finished Solomon's solemn dedication of it Sect. 3. The Lord appears to Solomon again in a dream Sect. 4. Solomon's Palace His stately Throne The house of Lebanon His Golden Targets and Shields Sect. 5. Gezer taken by Pharaoh and given to his daughter Solomon's wife Sect. 6. Hiram dislikes the Cities which Solomon offered him Sect. 7. Solomon removes his Queen to the House built for her The Song of Solomon Sect. 8. Solomon's Navy Sect. 9. Solomon's other buildings Sect. 10. Hamath taken by Solomon's forces Sect. 11. Solomon's care in matters of Religion Sect. 12. Solomon's greatness splendor and glory Sect. 13. Solomon's Wisdom His Proverbs Sect. 14. The Queen of Sheba comes to hear his Wisdom Sect. 15. Solomon's many wives and defection from God Ahijah the Prophet sent to him with a sad Message Sect. 16. Solomon writes his Ecclesiastes Sect. 17. Solomon's Adversaries Ahijah sent to Jeroboam to acquaint him that he should be King of the Ten Tribes Sect. 18. Solomon dies Sect. 19. The division of the Kingdom Kings of Judah 1. Rehoboam is petitioned for ease of Taxes Ten Tribes revolt His Buildings and Wives Shishak King of Egypt plunders the Temple 2. Abijah reigns p. 505. His army and speech to Jeroboam Israel routed 3. Asa reigns pag. 509. His Grandmothers Grove Zerah invades him and is subdued Asa's league with Benhadad and death 4. Jehoshaphat reigns p. 515. Removes all high places used for false Gods His reformation His greatness and riches His affinity with Ahab He goes to Samaria Jehu the Prophet reproves him His care of the Kingdom His Fleet broken His victory and death 5. Jehoram succeeds p. 525. His Idolatry Slays his six Brethren Elijah's Letter to him Edom revolts Libnah revolts Philistines invade him His sad end 6. Ahaziah p. 529. His wickedness Is slain by Jehu 7. Athaliah p. 532. Her Idolatry and cruelty 8. Joash p. 533 He is set up by Jehoiada Athaliah slain Baal's house pull'd down Jehoiada's good instruction of him Collection for the Temple Jehoiada dies Joash's Idolatry Zachariah ston'd The Syrians vanquish him His death 9. Amaziah p. 541. He begins well His war with Edom and victory His Idolatry Joash King of Israel defeats him Amaziah slain 10. Vzziah p. 546. His Coronation He recovers Elath Conquers the Philistines His herds and husbandry Isaiah Prophesies Also Joel Vzziah's pride leprosie and death 11. Jotham p. 554. He subdues the Ammonites Micah Prophesies Jotham dies 12. Ahaz p. 555. His wickedness Syria and Israel invade him Isaiah sent to him Jerusalem's siege rais'd Ahaz forsakes the Lord. His calamities His league with Assyria and death 13. Hezekiah p. 563. His goodness and reformation He shakes off the Assyrian yoke Jerusalem besieged Rabshakeh's blasphemy Hezekiah's prayer Isaiah's message to him Hezekiah's sickness His thanksgiving The Assyrians destroyed Ambassadors from Babylon come to him Manasses born Nahum's Prophesie Hezekiah dies 14. Manasses p. 595. His great Idolatry He is taken captive shortly after is restored His reformation Habakkuk's Prophesie Manasseh dies 15. Amon p. 600. His Idolatry and death 16. Josiah p. 601. His piety Jeremiah Prophesies The Book of the Law found Huldah the Prophetess Josiah throws down Idolatry He goes to Bethel and other places His solemn Passover His death greatly lamented Zephany's Prophesie 17. Shallum or Jehoahaz pag. 611. His Idolatry Jeremy's admonition to him Pharaoh Necho carries him away 18. Jehoiakim p. 612. His Idolatry and oppression Jeremy exhorts him to repentance Vriah's Prophesie Jeremy's bonds and yokes Baruch's roll Nebuchadnezzar conquers the Egyptians Jehoiakim taken prisoner Daniel and others carried to Babylon Jehoiakim burns the roll Nebuchadnezzar returns home His dream of the great Image made of four metals Jehoiakim revolts The Golden Image set up by Nebuchadnezzar to be worshipped Jehoiakim dies 19. Jehoiakin p. 617. His Captivity Cyrus born 20. Zedekiah reigns p. 618. His wickedness Jeremy Prophesies Several Ambassadors come to Zedekiah Hananiah a false Prophet Jeremy's Letter to the Captives in Babylon Shemaiah a false Prophet inveighs against him Jeremy prophesies his death Ezekel's first vision Jerusalem besieged His other visions His Types Zedekiah revolts Judea is invaded Ezekiel's wife dies for whom he is commanded not to mourn Jeremy imprisoned Jerusalem's siege raised The Egyptians are overthrown and the siege renew'd Jeremy put into the dungeon Ezekiel prophesies again Jerusalem taken The Temple burnt The Kingdom of Judah come to an end Kings of Israel 1. Jeroboam chosen by the ten Tribes he fortifies Shechem Sets up the Golden Calves A Prophet sent to him who declares against his Altar His hand withers The Prophet being seduced a Lion slays him Jeroboam's son falls sick and dies His own death 2. Nadab an evil King slain by Baasha p. 508. 3. Baasha reigns p. 509. He doth evil He builds Ramah Jehu's message to him Baasha dies 4. Elah reigns two years p. 511. Zimri slays him 5. Zimri burnt p. 511. 6. Omri made King His Idolatry and burial p. 512. 7. Ahab p. 512. He marries Jezabel Jericho rebuilt Obadiah hides the Prophets Elijah's miracles Elisha called Benhadad conquered A Prophet reproves Ahab Naboth's Vineyard Elijah meets Ahab Ahab slain at Ramoth-Gilead Moab revolts 8. Ahaziah p. 543. His fall His message to Baalzebub Elijah brings down fire upon two companies of fifty He dies 9. Jehoram p. 545. He maintains the Golden Calves Elijah's Translation Elisha takes up his Mantle Elisha's Miracles The Moabites destroy one another The King of Edom sacrifices his Son Elisha works more Miracles A sore famine in Samaria It s miraculous relief The Shunamite returns Benhadad sends to Elisha Hazael stifles Benhadad Jehoram recovers Ramoth-Gilead Jehu anointed Joram slain Ahaziah slain Jezabel's death 10. Jehu made King p. 585. The slaughter of Ahab's off-spring
and Wine have I plentifully furnished him that he shall have enough And now the chief and principal blessing viz. the Divine Covenant and the Inheritance of the Land of Canaan being setled on thy Brother Jacob what shall I do for thee my Son Alas all other blessings are comparatively nothing to this Esau answered What my Father hast thou but one blessing to bestow Then weeping bitterly he cried out O I beseech thee bless me even me also But all his crying and weeping could not move Isaac to repent of what he had done or to recall the blessing which unwittingly he had conferred on Jacob see Heb. 12.17 However Isaac tells Esau that plenty of earthly blessings should be his portion Canaan also was a Type of the heavenly Canaan Thy dwelling says he shall be the fatness of the Earth Mount Seir was such a place though much inferior to Canaan and thou shalt be blessed with the dew of Heaven from above and by thy Sword shalt thou live that is by thy valour shalt defend thy Estate and Country and shalt serve thy Brother viz. in thy Posterity For when the Children of Jacob shall inherit the Land of Canaan they shall make the Edomites Tributaries to them see 2 Sam. 8.14 and Obad. v. 18 19. but it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the Dominion thou shalt break his Yoke from off thy Neck that is after the Edomites thy Posterity shall have been a long time in subjection to the Israelites they shall at length become more mighty than they had been and shall then Cast off the Yoke of the Israelites which was accomplish'd in the days of Jehoram King of Judah 2 Kings 8.20 In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah See 2 Chron. 21.8 Things thus happening between these two Brothers Esau hereupon hated Jacob (c) This hatred continued in his Posterity See Obad. v. 10.11 12 c. Herod was an Idumaean and exercised his Tyranny in Judaea for 38 years because of the blessing wherewith his Father had blessed him And at first he secretly determined in his own mind but afterwards not being able to contain himself he uttered it in so many words that the days of mourning for his Father were at hand that is his Father could not in likelihood live much longer and as soon as he was dead he was resolved to kill (d) See how wicked men do harden themselves against the known will of God as we see an instance in Saul 1 Sam. 18.28 29. Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and yet he became Davids enemy continually his Brother Jacob. These threatning words coming to Rebeccas ears she immediately sent for her Son Jacob and told him what Esau intended against him and how he comforted himself with the thoughts of killing him not only because revenge yea the very purpose of it is sweet to inraged wicked men but because he flattered himself with hopes by this means to recover his Birth-right again Therefore she advises him to flee presently to her Brother Laban who dwelt at Haran in Mesopotamia and to tarry there a few days (e) But it proved to be above 20 years as we see Ch. 31.38 till the wrath and fury of his Brother was appeased and then she would send and fetch him home again And she further intimates to Him that she plainly foresaw that if they continued together they would in all likelihood quarrel and fight and possibly one of them might kill the other And if Esau killed him they could then account no better of Esau then as of a dead man seeing Divine Vengeance in all probability would follow him because of that Fact or the Sword of Justice would cut him off or he would withdraw himself from her presence as not daring to look her any more in the face and so she should be deprived of them both in one day And Rebecca that she might dispose Isaac to be willing that Jacob might go to Padan-Aram tells him not of what she heard of Esau's bloody intention to kill his Brother lest she should grieve him thereby in his old Age or inrage him against Esau but she tells him that she was weary of her life by reason of Esau's Wives and therefore lest Jacob should marry among the Canaanites as Esau had done to their continual grief and vexation she desires that Jacob might go and seek a Wife among her Kindred at Haran Isaac hereupon calls Jacob to him and charging him to go to Mesopotamia and to take a Wife of the Daughters of Laban he now wittingly and willingly confirms the blessing which he had before given him unknowingly He desires the Lord to bless him to make him fruitful and to multiply him see Ch. 35.11 12. Ch. 48.4 and to confer on him all those blessings both Spiritual and Temporal which were promised to Abraham and his Seed and especially the blessing of the promised Messias And that he might inherit the Land given to Abraham by promise For though he Himself should be only as a Stranger in this Land wandring here and there yet to him it should be given and to his Seed after him Jacob having thus received his Fathers blessing stole away privately lest Esau should lie in wait for him by the way and began his Journey from Beersheba towards his Uncle Laban with his Staff in his hand (f) Vacuus dimissus est ut tutius latitaret emineret divina benedictio Ch. 32.10 As he travelled on he came to a Place near Luz about 50 miles from Beersheba and about eight miles North of Jerusalem but being overtaken with the night He was fain to lie all night in the Field and he took one of the stones of the place and put it for his pillow and so lay down to sleep And he dreamed and had a vision of a Ladder the foot of which stood upon the Earth and the top of it reached to Heaven and the Angels of God ascended and descended on it By which Vision probably was represented to Him how the Providence of God reached from Heaven to Earth and governed the World by the Ministry of the holy Angels and particularly Gods provident Care over Him and that thorow the mediation of the promised Seed Christ hereby typified (g) The top of the Ladder reaching to Heaven represented Christs Deity the foot of it touching the Earth his Humanity Joh. 1.51 Christ reaches to Heaven in his Divine Naturâ— and to Earth in his humane In his two Natures personally united Heaven and Earth are as it were joyned together By him alone God is reconcil d to Man To him the Angels minister By his Merits and Intercession the Saints obtain the Gifts of the Holy Ghost the Guardianship of the holy Angels and all spiritual blessings Psal 91.11 12. Heb. 1.13 14. he should injoy the Guardianship of the holy Angels and be by them defended both in his going out
Saul's hands had not his faith overcome his fear David now came and attended upon Saul who was much pleased with him and loved him greatly and appointed him to be one of those that should carry his Shield before him Saul also liking him very well (h) This great love of Saul to David quickly turned into mortal hatred sent to his Father that he might stay with him and continue in his service And when the evil spirit was at any time upon Saul David played on his Harp before him and so he was for the time freed from his melancholy God working with David's Musick and giving Saul ease thereby that he might make way for David's advancement Yet the Musick wrought no perfect cure on him but only an abatement of his fits He should have used the right means if he intended to be cur'd viz. Repentance Faith Fasting and Prayer 1 Sam. Ch. 16. from 14 to the end SECT CLXIX DAvid continued sometime in Saul's Court but finding an alienation in Saul's affection towards him he withdrew himself and returned to keep his Fathers sheep see Ch. 17.15 The Philistines about this time either out of desire to avenge their former shameful loss when Jonathan and his Armour-bearer put their whole Army to flight Ch. 14. or out of jealousie of the growing power of the Israelites through the many victories lately obtained by Saul against his other neighbours or stirred up by God to accomplish what he intended to do now invade the land of Israel with a great Army and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah in the Tribe of Judah and Saul and the men of Israel gathered together and pitched by the valley of Elah near unto them So the Philistines were on a mountain on one side and the Israelites on a mountain on the other a valley being between them Thus each party kept their ground of advantage for a time not joining battel but only skirmishing now and then And there came forth a Champion out of the Camp of the Philistines whose name was Goliath of Gath * See Josh 11.22 whose height was six cubits and a span that is three yards and three hands breadth so he was higher than any ordinary man by a yard and a foot and he had arms suitable to his vast stature he had an helmet of steel and a coat of mail made after the similitude of Fish-scales one piece lying over another and the weight thereof was five thousand shekels of brass so that counting a shekel at half an ounce which was the weight of the common shekel Goliath's Coat weighed two thousand and five hundred ounces that is one hundred fifty and six pounds and four ounces or thereabout assigning to every pound twelve ounces And he had greaves or boots of brass upon his legs See 1 Chron. 20.5 a target or gorget of brass between his shoulders and the staff of his spear was like a Weavers beam and his spears head weighed twenty five pounds and one went before him bearing his shield and he stood and cried to the armies of Israel Why are ye come out to set your battel in array that is what need we bring a whole Army on each side to fight it out let us cast all upon a single combat am not I a Philistine and chosen by them for there Champion and you servants of Saul therefore do you chose out a man from among you to fight with me and let us two decide the controversie if he be able to kill me then the Philistines shall be your servants but if I prevail against him then shall ye be our servants And then in an insulting manner he further said I defie the armies of the Israelites this day when Saul and all Israel heard these words they were greatly dismayed none of the whole Army daring to answer this proud Philistines challenge no not Jonathan himself whom God had endued with so great a measure of courage and fortitude that he and his Armour-bearer had alone routed the whole Army of the Philistines as we may see Ch. 14. but we must consider that both faith and courage are the gifts of God which when he withholdeth those that were at other times as bold as a Lion may shrink for fear God also now meant to magnifie David and make him famous among the people that so there might be a way made for the fulfilling his purpose and promise of advancing him to the Throne The Philistine for forty days together morning and evening presented himself before the Army challenging any Israelite to come forth and combate him but not a man among them durst undertake him at last it so happened that Jesse the Bethlemite who was at that time an old man and being unfit for war stayed at home having his three eldest Sons in the Camp with Saul he thought good to send his youngest Son David who kept his sheep to see how they did and to carry to them some provisions viz. an Ephah * An Ephah was some thing short of our English Bushel containing ten Omers and every Omer about a pottle of parched corn and ten loaves and to carry also to their Captain ten cheeses possibly that he might use them with the more kindness and respect and to bring him from them some token or pledg that they were alive whereby he should assuredly know that he had done what he commanded him Saul and the Israelites were encamped on a mountain that lay close upon the valley of Elah and in the valley the two armies often skirmished one with another David rising early in the morning and leaving the sheep to the care of a keeper he took the provisions which his Father had sent and hasted away with them and when he came to the Trench where the Carts and Carriages lay which brought provisions to the Army the host was drawing forth to be set in battel-array and shouted to the Battel The Philistines also on the other Hill had put themselves in battel-array and they stood army against army ready to fight if they could get any advantage against each other David seeing this left what he had brought in the hands of the Keeper of the Carriages and ran into the army and saluted his Brethren as he talked with them behold Goliath the Philistines Champion came forth and drawing up towards the army of the Israelites spake in that insulting manner as he had done before and defyed the army of the Israelites The Israelites were so dismayed at his vast stature that not one was found that durst adventure to fight with him David hearing the daring words of the Philistine and seeing the people much perplexed that he should thus defie them and that none among them should be found that had courage enough to undertake him he asks what shall be done to the man that shall kill this Philistine and so take away the reproach from Israel for what is this uncircumcised Philistine says he that he should dare
and so would not go home to his own house but lay in the Court among the Kings houshold-servants And thus the Lord counterplotted David and would not suffer him to smother his sin as he earnestly endeavoured to have done David seeing that none of these devices would do resolves now upon a worse project than any of the former he writes a Letter to Joab and sends it by Vriah himself commanding him to set Vriah in the forefront of the hottest battel and to retire from him that he might be smitten and die Behold here the fearful progress of sin from one degree to another David whose conscience was once so tender that it smote him for cutting off the lap of Sauls garment being now left to himself groweth to such an hardness in sin that he scrupleth not to murder a faithful innocent and valiant subject and together with him divers others of his good subjects and draweth Joab also to partake with him in the same wickedness so great cause have we daily and earnestly to pray unto God not to lead us into temptation or not to leave us unto the power of it Joab having received these orders not regarding as it seems whither they were just or unjust right or wrong but resolving to please his Prince upon whose favour he depended whither he pleased God or no he sets himself to put them in execution and perhaps he hoped thereby to recover the Kings favour to the full height which had been much lessened and abated towards him since he had killed Abner and possibly he thought that David would be the more propitious to him when himself was become guilty in the like kind Observing therefore in what part of the City the stoutest Soldiers of the enemy manned the walls he assigned Vriah with a commanded party to that quarter and the City sallying out upon them several of them were slain and Vriah among the rest Then Joab sent a messenger to David to inform him how things went and put words into his mouth and instructed him what he should say if he found the King displeased at the loss of his men he tells him that possibly the King would be angry that they approached so near the walls of the City seeing they could not but think the enemy would shoot upon them from thence and would say what did they not remember how Abimelech the Son of Jerubbesheth (a) Call'd Jerubbaal Judg. 7.1 but here Jerubbesheth because the Hebrews detestation of Idols did expunge the word Baal out of their names and put Bosheth or Besheth in the room of it signifying an infamous thing as the Idol was Hos 9.10 compare 1 Chron. 8.33 with 2 Sam. 2.8 and 1 Chron. 8.34 with 2 Sam. 4.4 where Eshbaal and Meribaal in the one place are called Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth in the other or Gideon was slain Judg. 9.53 by venturing too near to the wall of Thebez He bids him that if the King expressed himself to him after this manner then he should forthwith say thy servant Vriah the Hittite is slain among the rest The messenger coming to David told him it seems only that the men of Rabbah had sallied out upon them and at first prevailed against them but they soon forced them to retreat and pursuing them too hotly even to the Gate of the City and the shooters shooting from the wall upon them they slew some of the Kings servants and among the rest his servant Vriah The King hearing this expressed no such displeasure at the loss of his men as Joab imagined he would do seeing Vriah whose death he mainly designed was taken off but bad the messenger tell Joab that he must not be over much troubled at this loss for the sword devoureth one as well as another therefore he must be content and bear with patience such accidents and take care to strengthen his siege for the future against the City that he might take it The King further bad the Messenger in his name to comfort and encourage Joab that he might go on chearfully with the war When Bathsheba heard that her husband Vriah was dead she put her self into mourning * The time of ordinary as Josephus writes lasted but seven days see Gen. 50.10 but their more solemn mournings lasted thirty days Deut. 34.8 for him the better to conceal her sin but whether she were inwardly grieved or no (a) Lacrymas non sponte cadentes effudit gemitusque expressit pectore laeto Lucan be sure she had cause enough of heart-bleeding and heart-breaking mourning if she considered that by her sin she had occasioned her husbands untimely death But when the time of her mourning (b) Tempus luctus quod Romanis mulieribus erat annus vel decem menses intra quod tempus nubere eis non licebat Haebreis in lege non erat constitutum was over which undoubtedly was as short as conveniently might be David sent for her and made her his wife that she might be thought to be with child by him after they were married but their adultery could not be so concealed for she soon was brought to bed of a Son and the thing that David had done highly displeased the Lord and he soon found the bitter effects of it 2 Sam. Ch. 11. whole Chapter SECT CXCIII IOab resolutely pursuing the siege of Rabbah at last he took that part of the City which was called the Royal City wherein the Kings Palace stood and the City of waters because it was invironed with waters both for safety and delight and knowing that the other part could not long stand out he sent to David to intreat him to come thither with some new forces that so he might have the honour of taking it and the glory and renown of this great enterprize For he knew that Kings were apt to be jealous and did not love that their subjects should eclipse their glory David accordingly went thither and took the City and with it their King Hanun and putting his Crown of State the weight whereof was a talent of Gold (c) A Crown of State and too weighty to be worn adorned with precious jewels upon his head and then taking it off they set it upon Davids to shew that the Royal dignity of that Nation was removed from him and conferred on David and then Hanun as 't is probable was either instantly deposed or put to death and his Brother made Governour of Rabbah under David whence it was that he shewed such respect to David when he fled from Absalom David was never so severe and cruel as at this time when he lay under the guilt of Adultery and murder Ch. 17.27 28. David having thus taken the City he brought forth the spoil of it in great abundance and took so many of the people as he thought fit to make exemplary and such of their Elders and Rulers as had been the chief ringleaders in all their vile and wicked actings and inflicted most severe
Is the young man Absalom safe Ahimaaz answers that when Joab sent away Cushi the Kings servant and him to bring tidings he saw a great tumult but knew not what the matter was He knew undoubtedly of Absalom's death but through humane frailty fearing to displease the King he here miserably faulters Then came Cushi who cried out Good tidings my Lord the King for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all those that rose up against thee Then said the King is the young man Absalom safe Cushi replied let the enemies of my Lord the King and all that rise up against him be as that young man is David was smitten with a wonderful consternation at this news and his grief and passion brake out so violently that it almost overwhelmed him he now retires into the Chamber over the Gate there in secret to pour out his sorrow and as he went up he cried out O my Son Absalom my Son Absalom would God I had died for thee my Son Absalom if my temporal death would have saved thee from eternal misery 2 Sam. Ch. 18. whole Chapter 15. The King taking on so immoderately for the death of Absalom his excessive grief came to be known in the Army and caused great trouble of spirit among them also so that the victory was turned into mourning neither came they up like a victorious army with joy and triumph to the City but dispersing themselves secretly stole into it not as if they had been Conquerours but rather as if they had been beaten and fled away from their enemies The King still took on excessively and covered his head in token of extream sorrow and cried out O my Son Absalom O Absalom my Son my Son Joab understanding this and seeing in what a discontent the Souldiers were hereupon and how their hearts began to be alienated from the King so that they were even ready to fall quite off from him he comes in a great rage to him and highly expostulates with him and tells him He had shamed the faces of all his faithful servants that day who had saved his life and the lives of his wives and children with the extreme hazard of their own and had frustrated them of their deserved praise and reward this strange carriage of thine saith he sheweth as if thou lovedst thy enemies in that thou mournest so excessively for this Traytor Absalom and hatedst thy friends seeing thou dost thus discountenance their faithful service Thou seemest not to regard thy faithful subjects let them be of what degree or quality they will I perceive that if that Arch-Rebel Absalom had lived thou hadst not much cared if all we had died I solemnly protest to thee if thou wilt not give over thy whining for that Rebel and go forth presently and speak comfortably to thy people and congratulate their victory and give them thanks for their venturing their lives for thee I believe they will all forsake thee as a person unfit to govern them who canst not govern thine own passions and possibly they will think of chusing another * Prospicient sibi de alio rege site aequum habere non possint and that will be worse to thee than all the afflictions thou hast hitherto met with in all thy life David being startled at this bold speech of Joab's which though harsh and tart yet was needful at this time he took his counsel and went and sat in the Gate and there shaking off sorrow manifested his kindness and grace to his Souldiers to win their hearts again to him As for those that had followed Absalom and escaped in the battel they were fled to their own houses 2 Sam. Ch. 19. from v. 1 to 9. 16. The people now through all the Ten Tribes of Israel began to blame one another for siding with Absalom against his Father and to call upon one another and upon their Elders and Officers to submit themselves unto David and to go and fetch him back again to the City of Jerusalem with honour they began to recount the great and manifold benefits they had enjoyed under his Government and how he had saved them out of the hands of their enemies especially the Philistines And they saw that God was against them in that attempt of making Absalom King and therefore there was great reason they should go and seek reconciliation with David whom they had so highly injured and offended This resolution of the Israelites to fetch their King home with honour coming to his ears and he perceiving that the men of Judah who had been first and chief in siding with Absalom and had delivered up to him the City of Jerusalem and the strong fort of Sion being conscious to themselves of their great ingratitude against him were now afraid to address themselves to him or to go to fetch him home therefore he sent to Zadock and Abiathar who had stayed all this while at Jerusalem that they should acquaint the Elders of Judah how ready he was to pardon them and to forget all that was past They were also to assure them of his singular affection to them they being his brethren and of the same Tribe therefore he would not have them to be the last in fetching home their King who ought to be the first He sends also unto Amasa whom Absalom had made General of his Army and who if he should despair of pardon might draw a great party of the Israelites after him to assure him that he was ready to receive him into his favour and to regard him as his nephew nay he intended to prefer him and to make him General of his Army as long as he lived in the place of Joab Indeed Joab had incurred his displeasure by killing Abner and several other unjustifiable acts yet he had also done him great services and had been always faithful to him whereas Amasa had been faithless and rebellious Besides the place of General belonged to Joab both by Davids promise and his own purchase he having hazarded his life in that dangerous service of assaulting and taking the strong fort of Sion However David being now offended with him for killing Absalom he resolv'd to prefer Amasa before him thinking by that policy to reduce all Absaloms party that stood out against him under his obedience By this kind message to the men of Judah and to Amasa David bowed the hearts of the men of Judah even as the heart of one man so that they sent this word unto the King Return thou and all thy servants we are most willing to receive thee and submit unto thee David considered that it might cost a great deal of blood to subdue them by force therefore he thought it best by these tenders of grace to bow their hearts to him and it happened according to his desire for the men of Judah now agreed to meet together at Gilgal and from thence they passed over the river Jordan to meet the King and to bring him
of the Giant Rapha Jonathan the son of Shimea called Shammah 1 Sam. 16.9 slew this vast Giant These four fell by the hands of David and his servants For though David did not kill any of them himself yet their death is ascrib'd to him as well as to his Captains because they fought in his quarrel and under his command 2 Sam. Ch. 21. from v. 15 to the end 1 Chron. Ch. 20. from v. 4 to the end SECT CC. DAvid being now delivered from all his enemies on every side both within and without his Kingdom and calling to mind Gods wonderful mercies to him he in a grateful remembrance of them composed a Triumphant Song or Psalm of Thanksgiving that God might have the glory of all that he had done for him This Song is the same for substance with the 18th Psalm only there are some clauses here that are exprest there in other words and in some places a clause is now and then added in one of them which is not in the other So that possibly this Psalm was penned by him many years before when he was delivered from his mighty potent enemy Saul and is here with some little alteration repeated again In this Song first he declares his firm confidence in God and that he might shew what an alsufficient defence he esteemed the Lord to be unto him he useth variety of expressions to set it forth as not being able by one or two to express it He calls the Lord his rock his fortress his deliverer his shield the horn (a) Horn signifies power and glory Christ is call'd the horn of salvation Luk. 1.69 of his salvation by whose assistance he had been enabled both to defend himself and push down his enemies his tower his refuge and his saviour whence he infers that he will still trust in him and call upon him who was worthy to be praised Secondly he sets forth the woful straits and dangers he had been in his enemies came upon him like violent floods of water and like waves rouling one upon the neck of another threatning present death to him he acknowledges their roaring rage made him afraid but that fear drave him to God He says that death-threatning sorrows and dangers so encompassed him that there seemed no more likelihood for him to escape than there is of a sick man that hath the pangs of death upon him he intimates that Saul and his other enemies had so subtilly contriv'd his death and laid their snares so cunningly for him that all means of escaping seem'd to be prevented In these my great distresses says he I cry'd unto the Lord and he heard me and appear'd for me out of his Temple * Heaven is call'd the Temple of God 1st as being the place of his special presence 2. In regard of the the exceeding glory of Heaven which to shadow forth the Temple was built so exceeding glorious 3. In regard of the transient holiness of heaven that is out of Heaven and from thence manifested his power for my deliverance Then the earth shook and trembled and the foundations of heaven mov'd and shook because he was wroth that is the Lord in his hot displeasure fought against my enemies and poured forth his vengeance upon them This vengeance he sets forth under the similitude of a prodigious storm or tempest when the earth quakes and the air is covered with thick black and dark mists and when the Heavens send forth wind rain thunder and lightning (b) David here in sublime expressions sets forth not what historically happened but an a Poetical manner Gods mighty assistance and concurrence with him in his victories over his enemies by all which he intimates that the wrath of the Lord was evidently seen and manifested in the destruction of his enemies as if he had sent such an horribla storm and tempest upon them and so visibly destroyed them The foundations of the heavens shook and were moved In the 18 Psalm v. 7. he says the foundations of the hills moved that is the hills were shaken from their very foundations or bottoms These hills are here call'd the foundations of heaven (a) Job 26.11 calls that the pillars of Heaven because the tops of high mountains seem to touch the clouds and the heavens seem to lean upon them There went up a smoke out of his nostrils and fire out of his mouth devoured coals were kindled by it that is he gave forth such testimonies of his anger and indignation against mine enemies so vehement was his wrath that even smoke seem'd to speak after the manner of men to come out of his nostrils and so hot a fire out of his mouth that even coals were kindled by it He bowed the heavens also and came down and darkness was under his feet that is the lower part of the heavens was so affected as if God to manifest his power had come down into it and if we may describe him according to our weak apprehensions under his feet in the lower region of the air there were dark mists and clouds He rode upon a cherub and did fly yea he did fly upon the wings of the wind * See Psal 18.10 that is he used the ministry of his holy Angels and by them he raised violent and strong winds He made darkness pavillions round about him dark waters and thick clouds of the skies that is as men are wont by Tents and Pavillions to shelter themselves and to hide themselves from the view of others so did the Lord cast darkness and thick clouds about the place of his appearance Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled that is the Lord sent out his flashes of lightning with the flames whereof much combustible matter was kindled The Lord thundered from heaven and the most high uttered his voice he sent out his arrows and scattered them that is his thunderbolts out of the clouds as arrows from his bow He sent out his lightning and discomfited them The channels of the Sea appeared the foundations of the world were discovered at the rebuke of the Lord at the blast of the breath of his nostrils that is by this raging tempest the waters and waves were raised up so high that the very channels and bottom of the Sea was discovered and laid bare By these Hyperbolical expressions he signifies and sets forth the fierce anger of God against his enemies then he comes to set forth the wonderfulness of his deliverance being like a man ready to be drowned and perish in deep waters had not God as it were with his arm stretched out from heaven pull'd him out of them God delivered me says he from many enemies yea from my strong enemies such as Goliath Doeg Saul and Achitophel who would have been too strong for me if he had not of his great mercy helped me In the day of calamity and distress they thought by their subtilty to prevent me from saving my self and to
unto me Thus the glory and strength of the Heathens shall by little and little fade and decay and though they be in places of strength yet even in those close places their fortified Cities and Towers they shall be no less afraid then if they were only in some poor unwalled villages He now concludes his Song praising God for all the benefits before recited The Lord liveth and blessed be my Rock and exalted be the God who is the rock of my Salvation It is God who avengeth me and bringeth down the people under me and who bringeth me forth and delivereth me out of the hands of mine enemies notwithstanding all their power and policies Thou hast lifted me up on high over those that rose up against me Thou hast delivered me from the violent man viz. from Saul my most violent and deadly enemy Therefore I will give thanks unto the Lord among the heathen that is I will labour to spread the knowledg of thee and so to exalt thy praise among the Heathen Nations †See Apostol Hist on Rom. 15.9 This David speaks by a spirit of Prophesie having respect to the calling of the Gentiles whom thou hast brought into subjection to me God is the Tower of Salvation for his King that is he is as a Tower in which he is safe and sheweth mercy unto his anointed unto David and to his seed for evermore that is God will manifest his favour to him to his posterity after him and principally to Christ who was to be of his seed according to the flesh Rom. 1.3 and to all the faithful members of Christ who are also by faith his seed See Isa 53.10 and Heb. 2.13 2 Sam. Ch. 22. whole Chapter SECT CCI. DAvid now towards his latter end apprehending his death approaching in imitation of Jacob and Moses leaves behind him a kind of Testamentary Prophesie that his Kingdom and Throne should be established for ever namely in the person of the Messias who was to come of him according to Gods Covenant 2 Sam. 7.16 and he Prophesies of the righteousness glory and prosperity of that Kingdom and these were the last words he wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost for the use of the Church In the Preface to this Prophesie he first sets down his own Titles saying I am the Son of Jesse by birth yet by the grace and favour of God exalted to be King of Israel and who have been enabled by the Spirit of God to compose many Divine Hymns and Psalms for the benefit of the Church and thereupon have been call'd the sweet Psalmist of Israel I David do now declare that the Spirit of the Lord did formerly speak by me and his word was in my tongue when I uttered those Divine composures And the same God of Israel who is the Rock of Israel hath now spoken to me and I am to declare that there shall be a ruler over men a righteous person that shall rule them in the fear of God (a) These words are unstood by learned men as a promise of the Messiah Quid dominabitur in timore Domini cum spiritu timoris Domini unctus sit quid subditos suos ita spiritu suo gubernavit ut ex vero Dei timore sanctitati vitae studeant Osiand And he shall reign prosperously and still increase in glory his glory shall be like the morning light that shines more and more unto perfect day and shall daily increase like the grass that hath seasonably the moistning rain and warming Sun to make it sprout up and grow And though my house be not so with God as it should be but I and mine have been guilty of many great sins and transgressions yet God hath made with me an everlasting Covenant viz. that my Kingdom and Throne shall be established for ever in the person of the Messiah who shall come out of my loyns Ch. 7.16 and this Covenant is well ordered in all things for the glory of God and Salvation of man and sure to be performed And this promise of God that the Messiah should spring from my loyns and come into the world to save sinners is that on which my hope of Salvation is firmly grounded and this thing I wish and desire above all things though God do not make the glory of my Temporal Kingdom to grow and increase But as for those sons of Belial those prophane graceless and stubborn wretches who will not submit to the Kingdom of the Messiah they shall be all of them as thorns plucked up and cast away because they are so intractable that they cannot be taken with hands but the man that shall go about to touch them had need have his hands armed with some iron glove or gantlet and to have a staff in his hands like the staff of a Spear wherewith to thrust them into the oven And these intractable thorns shall be burnt and consumed in the same place where they grew Whereby as some think he Prophesied of the destruction of the obstinate Jews who were by the Romans destroyed in the same place or City where they lived and by wicked hands had crucified the Lord of life 2 Sam. Ch. 23. from v. 1. to 8. SECT CCII. HEre now follows a Catalogue of David's Worthies men renowned for valour and admirable exploits and such as were great supports to him in all his troubles 1 Chron. 11.10 These are the chief of the mighty men whom David had who held strongly with him in his Kingdom and join'd with the Elders of the people to make him King they were in all thirty seven whereof Joab was the chief being Captain General of the Host 1 Chron. 11.6 Next to him were six chief Colonels and of them the first three were above the other three The first three were Adino Eleazar and Shammah This Adino was call'd the Eznite from the Country where he was born or bred and the Tachmonite or Hackmonite from his Father being the Son of one Tachmani or Hackmani And also Jashobeam or Josheph-Bassebet because he sat in the Chair and was President of the Council of War Concerning his Exploits 't is said of him 2 Sam. 23.8 That he lifted up his Spear against eight hundred and slew them In the 1 Chron. 11.11 There are only 300 mentioned Therefore either 800 were slain by him at one time and 300 at another or else he discomfited 800 whereof only 300 were slain outright by himself and the rest by others which yet are said to be slain by him because they were slain by those that fought under him The Second of the first three was Eleazar one of the posterity of Ahoah a Benjamite 1 Chron. 8.4 he was with David at Pasdammim when the Philistines were gathered together in battel against him and there defended a field of barley against them when the rest of the people fled away and slew so many of them that at last the people returned to the spoil of the enemy
to his posterity †David in the 68. Psal 32. v. useth the word Hasmonim to express Princes and great men Mattathias was earnestly prest by the Kings Officers to sacrifice on the Heathen Altars but he utterly refused to do it yea he proceeded so far as to kill a certain Jew whom he beheld so sacrificing and after that he slew the Kings Commissioner who forced the people to sacrifice and threw down the Altar Being so far engaged he exhorted all that had any zeal for the Law of God to follow him and so with his five Sons he fled into the Mountains leaving all their goods behind them in the City Many went after him and lived with their wives and children in dens and caves which when it was discovered to Philip Governour for the King at Jerusalem the Garrison-Souldiers were presently drawn out to pursue them who falling on many of them on the Sabbath-day and they not at all resisting in honour to the day they destroyed the number of about a thousand persons of them When Mattathias and his friends were informed of this they much lamented the case of their Brethren and decreed that from thence forward if they should be assaulted by their enemies on the Sabbath-day they would resist them with arms Then the Asidaeans a sort of religious men joyning with him and several others who daily fled out of the Country he made up a little army and therewith prosecuted the wicked ones and marching up and down threw down Altars circumcised all children whom they found uncircumcised in the coasts of Israel and pursued the sons of pride and the work succeeded very prosperously in their hands After Mattathias had been Captain of this wandring company for the space of a year he died having first exhorted his Sons to piety and a valiant defence of the Law of God and having appointed his Son Simon for a Counsellor and his Son Judas Sirnamed Maccabeus for a Captain to them His Sons buried him in the Sepulchers of their Fathers at Modin and the Israelites bewailed him with great lamentation 1 Mac. 2. Judas being assisted by his Brethren and such as followed his Father fell upon the enemy burnt divers of their Towns and seized upon several commodious places coming usually upon them in the night insomuch that he forced many of them to quit the land Apollonius the Governour of Samaria coming against him Judas overthrew and slew him and getting his Sword ever after used it in the wars After this he overthrew Seron the Governour of Caelosyria who marched against him with the forces under his command his whole army was routed by Judas and eight hundred slain on the place the rest fled into the land of the Philistines near the Sea-coast Antiochus hearing of this success of Judas was exceedingly enraged at it and levying all the strength of his Kingdom and giving them a years pay he commanded them to be in readiness he purposed to have marched immediately against Maccabeus but he found his Treasury much exhausted by the pay of his Army and he saw he had lost 300 Talents of yearly tribute by the Jews revolting from him and much also which he was wont to receive from other places who were in combustion because he would force them to quit their ancient rites For his persecution raged even in the Grecian Cities insomuch that he spared not the very Gentiles but endeavoured to make them abjure their ancient superstitions and to come up to a conformity of worship with himself and by these things his revenues were much impaired Fearing therefore he should not have enough to defray his charges and gratuities wherein he took a pride to exceed all his Ancestors he resolved to make a progress first into Persia and the upper Countries to gather the Tributes thereof and fill his coffers But before his departure he made Lysias his kinsman Governour of the Regions betwixt Euphrates and Egypt committing to his care his young Son Eupator and gave him half his forces and this also in charge to blot out the Nation of the Jews utterly and to give their Country to be inhabited by strangers Philip the Governour of Jerusalem observing how that Judas grew stronger and stronger every day wrote unto Ptolemy Son of Dorymenes Governour of Coelosyria and Cilicia to lend his helping hand to the Kings affairs who presently dispatching Nicanor one of his chiefest friends with 20000 men purposed to root out the whole stock of the Jews and to him also he joyned Gorgias a man of great experience in Military affairs Lyfias also dispatched away Ptolomy himself as a reserve to them so that under these three Commanders Ptolomy Nicanor and Gorgias were mustered 40000 foot and 7000 horse who marching with this their great army pitched by Emmaus in the plain Country Antiochus was at this time behind hand with his tribute to the Romans the sum of 2000 Talents and Nicanor making sure of the victory before hand resolved to wipe off that score by the sale of the captive Jews and to that end invited out of the Cities near the Sea-coast a thousand Merchants promising that he would allow ninety slaves for a Talent which was no sooner divulged but the Merchants of the Country with their Attendants repair to the Camp to purchase the Jews for slaves great Companies also flocked out of Syria and other parts to barter for the same commodities The Heathen now holding Jerusalem and the Temple Judas Maccabeus in this great extremity removed with his Army to Mizpeh for there before the building of the Temple was the Israelites place of Worship 1 Sam. 7.5 6. and there he proclaimed a fast and with most servent prayers importuned the Lords help against this formidable host for he had with him but six or seven thousand against the vast power of the enemy After this such as had betrothed wives planted vineyards or were fearful he dismissed according to the Law Deut. 20 6 7 8. and then divided his army into four Squadrons and appointing his Brothers to command them committed to each 1500 Souldiers so the Army removed and pitched on the South-side of Emmaus opposite to the enemy That night Gorgias had a design to surprize them unawares and to that end took along with him 5000 foot and a 1000 choice horse and came towards the Jews Camp having the Garrison-Souldiers of Sion-fort for his convoy Judas having notice hereof wisely turned it to his advantage resolving to march straightways to Emmaus and so to fall upon Nicanor in the absence of the other who was the more experienced Captain Gorgias arriving at the Jews Camp and finding no body there thought they had fled for fear of him into the mountains and so he sought for them there but they being got to Nicanor engaged him in the morning Judas having first encouraged his men and given the word in the help of God through the assistance of the Almighty they routed Nicanor's whole army laying above