Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 22:6
When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that [were] with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants [were] standing about him;)
6 19. Saul’s vengeance on the priests of Nob
6. that David was discovered ] Lit. “was known.” Saul found out that some of his courtiers knew of David’s hiding-place in the forest of Hareth.
now Saul abode, &c.] Render, Now saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height. We have here a vivid picture of a solemn conclave met to deliberate on affairs of state or to administer justice. The king sits in state under some venerable tamarisk (cp. 1Sa 14:2; Jdg 4:5); his spear, the emblem of royalty (see on 1Sa 18:10), is in his hand; his servants, still chiefly the men of his own tribe ( 1Sa 22:7), stand round him.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Under a tree in Ramah – Rather, under the tamarisk-tree on the high place, where he always held such meetings. It was a kind of parliament in the open air, and all his tribesmen gathered round him. (Compare Jdg 4:5.)
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. Saul abode in Gibeah] Saul and his men were in pursuit of David, and had here, as is the general custom in the East, encamped on a height, for so Ramah should be translated, as in the margin. His spear, the ensign of power (see on 1Sa 18:11), was at hand, that is stuck in the ground where he rested, which was the mark to the soldiers that there was their general’s tent.
And all his servants were standing about him] That is, they were encamped around him, or perhaps here there is a reference to a sort of council of war called by Saul for the purpose of delivering the speech recorded in the following verses.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In Ramah, i.e. in the territory of Gibeah, in or near (for so the Hebrew particle is oft used, as hath been showed) Ramah. Or, in the town of Gibeahin a high place; for so the word Ramah unquestionably signifies; and so it is here rendered by some, both ancient and modern, interpreters.
Having his spear in his hand; either as an ensign of majesty, for in old times kings carried a spear instead of a sceptre; as Justin and others note; or as an instrument of self-defence or cruelty, as occasion required.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6. Saul abode . . . under a tree inRamahliterally, “under a grove on a hill.” Orientalprinces frequently sit with their court under some shady canopy inthe open air. A spear was the early scepter.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that [were] with him,…. That it was known where David was, and what number of men were gathered to him, and that they now openly appeared in the tribe of Judah; for some time Saul had heard nothing of him, but now a report had reached his ears that David was in arms, and at the head of a number of men; which now greatly alarmed Saul, and possessed him with fears and jealousies of his people, and all about him:
now Saul abode in Gibeah, under a tree in Ramah; this was Gibeah of Saul, and in or near which was a place called Ramah, or an high place, as the word signifies, on which was a remarkable tree, and under that Saul abode, being a proper shelter for him from any inclemency of the weather; for this was not Ramah where Samuel dwelt, though the Jews in the Talmud b so think, and metaphorically understand the tree in it of Samuel in Ramah praying for him, by means of which he continued two years in the height of his kingdom; but this was a tree in a literal sense. R. Jonah c says it is possible it might be the same which in Arabia is called Ethel, and is like to a tamarisk tree:
having his spear in his hand: ready to defend himself, and revenge his enemies; or rather which he held as a sceptre in his hand;
[See comments on 1Sa 20:33];
and all his servants [were] standing about him; in reverence of him, and honour to him, waiting upon him, and ready to obey his orders: these were his courtiers, or his guards, or both.
b T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 5. 2. c Apud Ben Melech in loc.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Murder of the Priests by Saul. – 1Sa 22:6. When Saul heard that David and the men with him were known, i.e., that information had been received as to their abode or hiding-place, he said to his servants when they were gathered round him, “ Hear,” etc. The words, “ and Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk upon the height,” etc., show that what follows took place in a solemn conclave of all the servants of Saul, who were gathered round their king to deliberate upon the more important affairs of the kingdom. This sitting took place at Gibeah, the residence of Saul, and in the open air “ under the tamarisk.” , upon the height, not “under a grove at Ramah” ( Luther); for Ramah is an appellative, and , which belongs to , is a more minute definition of the locality, which is indicated by the definite article ( the tamarisk upon the height) as the well-known place where Saul’s deliberative assemblies were held. From the king’s address (“ hear, ye Benjaminites; will the son of Jesse also give you all fields and vineyards? ”) we perceive that Saul had chosen his immediate attendants form the members of his own tribe, and had rewarded their services right royally. is placed first for the sake of emphasis, “ You Benjaminites also,” and not rather to Judahites, the members of his own tribe. The second (before ) is not a dative; but tub merely serves to give greater prominence to the object which is placed at the head of the clause: As for all of you, will he make (you: see Ewald, 310, a.).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Saul Destroys the Lord’s Priests; the City of Nob Destroyed. | B. C. 1057. |
6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) 7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, 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; 8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. 10 And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine. 11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. 12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord. 13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house? 15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more. 16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house. 17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. 18 And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. 19 And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
We have seen the progress of David’s troubles; now here we have the progress of Saul’s wickedness. He seems to have laid aside the thoughts of all other business and to have devoted himself wholly to the pursuit of David. He heard at length, by the common fame of the country, that David was discovered (that is, that he appeared publicly and enlisted men into his service); and hereupon he called all his servants about him, and sat down under a tree, or grove, in the high place at Gibeah, with his spear in his hand for a sceptre, intimating the force by which he designed to rule, and the present temper of his spirit, or its distemper rather, which was to kill all that stood in his way. In this bloody court of inquisition,
I. Saul seeks for information against David and Jonathan, 1Sa 22:7; 1Sa 22:8. Two things he was willing to suspect and desirous to see proved, that he might wreak his malice upon two of the best and most excellent men he had about him:– 1. That his servant David did lie in wait for him and seek his life, which was utterly false. He really sought David’s life, and therefore pretended that David sought his life, though he could not charge him with any overt act that gave the least shadow of suspicion. 2. That his son Jonathan stirred him up to do so, and was confederate with him in compassing and imagining the death of the king. This also was notoriously false. A league of friendship there was between David and Jonathan, but no conspiracy in any evil thing; none of the articles of their covenant carried any mischief to Saul. If Jonathan had agreed, after the death of Saul, to resign to David, in compliance with the revealed will of God, what harm would that do to Saul? Yet thus the best friends to their prince and country have often been odiously represented as enemies to both; even Christ himself was so. Saul took it for granted that Jonathan and David were in a plot against him, his crown and dignity, and was displeased with his servants that they did not give him information of it, supposing that they could not but know it; whereas really there was no such thing. See the nature of a jealous malice, and its pitiful arts to extort discoveries of things that are not. He looked upon all about him as his enemies because they did not say just as he said; and told them, (1.) That they were very unwise, and acted against the interest both of their tribe (for they were Benjamites, and David, if he were advanced, would bring the honour into Judah which was now in Benjamin) and of their families; for David would never be able to give them such rewards as he had for them, of fields and vineyards, and such preferments, to be colonels and captains. (2.) That they were unfaithful: You have conspired against me. What a continual agitation and torment are those in that give way to a spirit of jealousy! If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked (Prov. xxix. 12), that is, they seem to be so in his eyes. (3.) That they were very unkind. He thought to work upon their good nature with that word: There is none of you that is so much as sorry for me, or solicitous for me, as some read it. By these reasonings he stirred them up to act vigorously, as the instruments of his malice, that they might take away his suspicions of them.
II. Though he could not learn any thing from his servants against David or Jonathan, yet he got information from Doeg against Ahimelech the priest.
1. An indictment is brought against Ahimelech by Doeg, and he himself is evidence against him, 1Sa 22:9; 1Sa 22:10. Perhaps Doeg, as bad as he was, would not have given this information if Saul had not extorted it, for had he been very forward to it he would have done it sooner: but now he thinks they must be all deemed traitors if none of them be accusers, and therefore tells Saul what kindness Ahimelech had shown to David, which he himself happened to be an eye-witness of. He had enquired of God for him (which the priest used not to do but for public persons and about public affairs) and he had furnished him with bread and a sword. All this was true; but it was not the whole truth. He ought to have told Saul further that David had made Ahimelech believe he was then going upon the king’s business; so that what service he did to David, however it proved, was designed in honour to Saul, and this would have cleared Ahimelech, whom Saul had in his power, and would have thrown all the blame upon David, who was out of his reach.
2. Ahimelech is seized, or summoned rather to appear before the king, and upon this indictment he is arraigned. The king sent for him and all the priests who then attended the sanctuary, whom he supposed to be aiding and abetting; and they, not being conscious of any guilt, and therefore not apprehensive of any danger, came all of them to the king (v. 11), and none of them attempted to make an escape, or to flee to David for shelter, as they would have done now that he had set up his standard if they had been as much in his interests as Saul suspected they were. Saul arraigns Ahimelech himself with the utmost disdain and indignation (v. 12): Hear now, thou son of Ahitub; not so much as calling him by his name, much less giving him his title of distinction. By this it appears that he had cast off the fear of God, that he showed no respect at all to his priests, but took a pleasure in affronting them and insulting them. Ahimelech holds up his hand at the bar in those words: “Here I am, my lord, ready to hear my charge, knowing I have done no wrong.” He does not object to the jurisdiction of Saul’s court, nor insist upon an exemption as a priest, no, not though he is a high priest, to which office that of the judge, or chief magistrate, had not long since been annexed; but Saul having now the sovereignty vested in him, in things pertaining to the king, even the high priest sets himself on a level with common Israelites. Let every soul be subject (even clergymen) to the higher powers.
3. His indictment is read to him (v. 13), that he, as a false traitor, had joined himself with the son of Jesse in a plot to depose and murder the king. “His design” (says Saul) “was to rise up against me, and thou didst assist him with victuals and arms.” See what bad constructions the most innocent actions are liable to, how unsafe those are that live under a tyrannical government, and what reason we have to be thankful for the happy constitution and administration of the government we are under.
4. To this indictment he pleads, Not guilty, 1Sa 22:14; 1Sa 22:15. He owns the fact, but denies that he did it traitorously or maliciously, or with any design against the king. He pleads that he was so far from knowing of any quarrel between Saul and David that he really took David to have been then as much in favour at court as ever he had been. Observe, He does not plead that David had told him an untruth, and with that had imposed upon him, though really it was so, because he would not proclaim the weakness of so good a man, no, not for his own vindication, especially to Saul, who sought all occasions against him; but he insists upon the settled reputation David had as the most faithful of all the servants of Saul, the honour the king had put upon him in marrying his daughter to him, the use the king had often made of him, and the trust he had reposed on him: “He goes at thy bidding, and is honourable in thy house, and therefore any one would think it a meritorious piece of service to the crown to show him respect, so far from apprehending it to be a crime.” He pleads that he had been wont to enquire of God for him when he was sent by Saul upon any expedition, and did it now as innocently as ever he had done it. He protests his abhorrence of the thought of being in a plot against the king: “Be it far from me. I mind my own business, and meddle not with state matters.” He begs the king’s favour: “Let him not impute any crime to us;” and concludes with a declaration of his innocency: Thy servant knew nothing of all this. Could any man plead with more evidences of sincerity? Had he been tried by a jury of honest Israelites, he would certainly have been acquitted, for who can find any fault in him? But,
5. Saul himself gives judgment against him (v. 16): Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, as a rebel, thou and all thy father’s house. What could be more unjust? I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there, Eccl. iii. 16. (1.) It was unjust that Saul should himself, himself alone, give judgment in his own cause, without any appeal to judge or prophet, to his privy council, or to a council of war. (2.) That so fair a plea should be overruled and rejected without any reason given, or any attempt to disprove the allegations of it, but purely with a high hand. (3.) That sentence should be passed so hastily and with so much precipitation, the judge taking no time himself to consider of it, nor allowing the prisoner any time to move in arrest of judgment. (4.) That the sentence should be passed not only on Ahimelech, himself, who was the only person accused by Doeg, but on all his father’s house, against whom nothing was alleged: must the children be put to death for the fathers? (5.) That the sentence should be pronounced in passion, not for the support of justice, but for the gratification of his brutish rage.
6. He issues out a warrant (a verbal warrant only) for the immediate execution of this bloody sentence.
(1.) He ordered his footmen to be the executioners of this sentence, but they refused, v. 17. Hereby he intended to put a further disgrace upon the priests; they may not die by the hands of the men of war (as 1 Kings ii. 29) or his usual ministers of justice, but his footmen must triumph over them, and wash their hands in their blood. [1.] Never was the command of a prince more barbarously given: Turn and slay the priests of the Lord. This is spoken with such an air of impiety as can scarcely be paralleled. Had he seemed to forget their sacred office or relation to God, and taken no notice of that, he would thereby have intimated some regret that men of that character should fall under his displeasure; but to call them the priests of the Lord, when he ordered his footmen to cut their throats, looked as if, upon that very account, he hated them. God having rejected him, and ordered another to be anointed in his room, he seems well pleased with this opportunity of being revenged on the priests of the Lord, since God himself was out of his reach. What wickedness will not the evil spirit hurry men to, when he gets the dominion! He alleged, in his order that which was utterly false and unproved to him, that they knew when David fled; whereas they knew nothing of the matter. But malice and murder are commonly supported with lies. [2.] Never was the command of a prince more honourably disobeyed. The footmen had more sense and grace than their master. Though they might expect to be turned out of their places, if not punished and put to death for their refusal, yet, come on them what would, they would not offer to fall upon the priests of the Lord, such a reverence had they for their office, and such a conviction of their innocence.
(2.) He ordered Doeg (the accuser) to be the executioner, and he obeyed. One would have thought that the footmen’s refusal would awaken Saul’s conscience, and that he would not insist upon the doing of a thing so barbarous as that his footmen startled at the thought of it. But his mind was blinded and his heart hardened, and, if they will not do it, the hands of the witness shall be upon the victims, Deut. xvii. 7. The most bloody tyrants have found out instruments of their cruelty as barbarous as themselves. Doeg is no sooner commanded to fall upon the priests than he does it willingly enough, and, meeting with no resistance, slays with his own hand (for aught that appears) on that same day eighty-five priests that were of the age of ministration, between twenty and fifty, for they wore a linen ephod (v. 18), and perhaps appeared at this time before Saul in their habits, and were slain in them. This (one would think) was enough to satiate the most blood-thirsty; but the horseleech of persecution still cries, “Give, give.” Doeg, by Saul’s order no doubt, having murdered the priests, went to their city Nob, and put all to the sword there (v. 19), men, women, and children, and the cattle too. Barbarous cruelty, and such as one cannot think of without horror! Strange that ever it should enter into the heart of man to be so impious, so inhuman! We may see in this, [1.] The desperate wickedness of Saul when the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him. Nothing so vile but those may be hurried to it who have provoked God to give them up to their hearts’ lusts. He that was so compassionate as to spare Agag and the cattle of the Amalekites, in disobedience to the command of God, could now, with unrelenting bowels, see the priests of the Lord murdered, and nothing spared of all that belonged to them. For that sin God left him to this. [2.] The accomplishment of the threatenings long since pronounced against the house of Eli; for Ahimelech and his family were descendants from him. Though Saul was unrighteous in doing this, yet God was righteous in permitting it. Now God performed against Eli that at which the ears of those that heard it must needs tingle, as he had told him that he would judge his house for ever ch. iii. 11-13. No word of God shall fall to the ground. [3.] This may be considered as a great judgment upon Israel, and the just punishment of their desiring a king before the time God intended them one. How deplorable was the state of religion at this time in Israel! Though the ark had long been in obscurity, yet it was some comfort to them that they had the altar, and priests to serve at it; but now to see their priests weltering in their own blood, and the heirs of the priesthood too, and the city of the priests made a desolation, so that the altar of God must needs be neglected for want of attendants, and this by the unjust and cruel order of their own king to satisfy his brutish rage–this could not but go to the heart of all pious Israelites, and make them wish a thousand times they had been satisfied with the government of Samuel and his sons. The worst enemies of their nation could not have done them a greater mischief.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Saul’s Frustration, vs. 6-16
Saul is presented in these verses in his city of Gibeah, with his spear in his hand, and his men gathered around him. The symbol of his obsession, his spear, seems to be with him at all times, indicating again the extremity of his insanity. Further he is seen to have been filled with much self-pity and suspicion of his own servants. He still can refer to David only with the scurrilous term “son of Jesse”. He suspected that his servants preferred David over him and reminded these, his fellow tribesmen, how he had elevated them in his kingdom. Would the “son of Jesse” have done that?
Somehow Saul had learned of the covenant of friendship between David and Jonathan. He suspected that everyone had known about it but himself, and he chided these around him for concealing it from him. None of them felt sorry for him, he said.
Among his servants was the chief herdman, Doeg, who had been at Nob the morning that David fled and heard David’s deceit of the priest. This was his opportunity to ingratiate himself with the king at the expense of the priests. He proceeded to tell a story about it which would recommend him highly to the king’s favor. He reported that David had received food and the sword of Goliath from Ahimelech, which was true. He also said that David had inquired of the Lord, implying that he sought the Lord against Saul, through the high priest, which he did not do.
As intimated earlier in this study it is possible that Saul held an enmity for Ahimelech (or Ahiah) because he could not inquire of the Lord for him in the war with the Philistines (1Sa 14:18-19; 1Sa 14:37). Thus he sent for all the priests, who came humbly and obediently to Saul. He began immediately to charge Ahimelech with conspiracy against him by giving David food, weapons, and inquiring of the Lord for him.
Ahimelech gave Saul a very reasonable answer. There was among Saul’s servants none more loyal than David, he was the king’s son-in-law, he willingly obeyed all Saul’s commands, and behave himself honorably in all of Saul’s family. How could Ahimelech have thought David intended to do King Saul harm? or that he was raising an insurrection against him as Saul implied to the priest? As for inquiring of the Lord for David, the king was imputing a thing to the priest which was untrue.
But Saul had determined to take out his spite for David on the house of the high priest. He said, “Thou shaft surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father’s house.”
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES
1Sa. 22:6. Abode under a tree, etc. Rather, was sitting under a tamarisk tree upon the height. (For Ramah see Notes on 1Sa. 1:1.) Oriental princes frequently sit with their court under some shady canopy in the open air. A spear was the early sceptre, as we are informed by Justin Sauls spear might be distinguished from common spears by its length as well as its decorations; and that this was likely to be the case may be inferred from the relics of Egypt and Assyria. (Jamieson.) All his servants. It was therefore a full assembly of the personnel of the court. (Erdmann.)
1Sa. 22:7. Ye Benjamites. Showing how isolated the tribes still were, and how, for the most part, Saul was surrounded by his own tribesmen only. (Biblical Commentary.) In Sauls words there is the latent sense: Will he, of another tribe, reward you, as I have done to you, my fellow tribesmen? Will he not rather favour his tribesmen, the men of Judah? Will it not be to your interest to stand on my side? (Erdmann.)
1Sa. 22:9. Which was set over the servants, etc. As this does not agree with the position assigned to Doeg in the former chapter, some render the clause And he stood with the servants, etc. Keil thinks that Doeg had been invested with the office of marshal of the court.
1Sa. 22:10. He inquired of the Lord, etc. Some think this was untrue, but the words of Ahimelech in 1Sa. 22:15 seem to admit the fact.
1Sa. 22:14. Faithful, rather proved, tried. Goeth at thy bidding. Probably this should be read, Has access to thy private audience. The Hebrew word is so rendered elsewhere. (See 2Sa. 23:23, and 1Ch. 11:25.)
1Sa. 22:15. Did I then begin, etc. The most obvious meaning of these words is, Was it the first time that I had inquired of the Lord for David concerning enterprises with which the king had entrusted him? So Keil, Erdmann, and others. Some however (Bib. Commentary, etc.) understand Ahimelech to deny having done such a thing on the ground that this was a duty which he owed to the king only.
1Sa. 22:17. Footmen, i.e., runners, halberdiers.
1Sa. 22:18. A linen ephod. The allusion to the priestly clothing, like the repetition of the expression, priests of Jehovah, serves to bring out into its true light the crime of the bloodthirsty Saul and his executioner Doeg. (Keil.)
1Sa. 22:20. Abiathar. How he escaped can only be conjectured. Bishop Patrick suggests that he was left in charge of the sanctuary when the other priests obeyed Sauls summons.
NOTE.During this first period of Davids life as outlaw, several incidents occurred which are not mentioned in this narrative. We learn from 2Sa. 23:13 that three of his chief heroes came to him in the cave of Adullam, one of whom was his nephew Abishai, afterwards a famous general. A little after (1Ch. 11:15-19) occurred that noble act of loving daring, when the three mightiest broke through the Philistine army and brought their leader water from the well of Bethlehem, for which he longed. This was while he was in the hold, and at this time apparently came to him the stout band of lion-faced, gazelle-footed Gadites, who swam the Jordan when its banks overflowed, and scattered all enemies before them (1Ch. 12:8-15), and an enthusiastic body of men of Judah and Benjamin, for whose friendship Amasai answered in a passionate speech (1Ch. 12:8-15).(Trans. of Langes Commentary).
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.1Sa. 22:6-23
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE PRIESTS
I. Jealousy is a medium through which the best friends are transformed into foes. It matters not how beautiful the human faceif looked at through a distorted medium it will present the appearance of deformity and ugliness, and will probably look more like a monster than a man. And the passion of jealousy has the same distorting effect upon human character, and upon human actions and purposes. Elijah was the truest friend that king Ahab possessed, and the most self-denying patriot then living in his kingdom; but Ahabs jealousy made him appear as his personal enemy, and as the troubler of Israel (2Ki. 18:18; 2Ki. 21:20). Jonathan and David were men of rare nobility of character, and Sauls faithful sons and servants, yet his unreasoning jealousy transformed them into bitter foes.
II. The vilest purposes will not fail for lack of instruments. Jealousy is a passion which has given birth to some of the darkest purposes which the heart of man has ever conceived; but, alas! the blackest plots rarely, if ever, miscarry for want of instruments. A man bent upon murder can find a weapon of iron or stone to execute the deed, if he cannot lay his hand upon a well-tempered sword or a diamond-hilted dagger; and although the conscience of Sauls Hebrew servants revolted against his inhuman command, Doeg the Edomite was at hand to do the deed of blood.
III. The noble and ignoble deeds of men unite to fulfil the Divine purposes. The use man makes of his freedom of action seals him as a saint or a sinner; but whether his acts be godlike or devilish, they are used by God to carry out His purposes. Often Gods creatures are the conscious executors of His will, and knowingly and intentionally carry out His designs, but sometimes even His own servants are unconscious instruments of His plans. The terrible incident with which this chapter closes was a fulfilment of the sentence long ago passed upon the house of Eli (1Sa. 2:31), but the Divine sentence was fulfilled by the united action of men whose lives were governed by very different motives, and whose deeds ranged from the lowest depth of moral depravity to high moral heroism. The inhumanity and devilishness of Doeg and Saul, the lying of David, and the courageous boldness of Ahimelech, united all unconsciously to themselves to fulfil the purpose of God.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Pictures of human nature.
1. A man in authority, whose misfortunes, though due to his own fault, make him suspicious and cruelly unjust (1Sa. 22:8-16).
2. A basely ambitious man, who seeks to build himself up by ruining others (1Sa. 22:9-10; 1Sa. 22:18, comp. Psalms 52).
3. An innocent man accused, who defends himself both with forcible argument (1Sa. 22:14) and with dignified denial (1Sa. 22:15).
4. A good, but erring man, who mournfully sees that his sin has brought destruction on his friends.Transr. of Langes Commentary.
1Sa. 22:18-19. Behold in this history how impossible it is to arrest the consequences of our evil actions. David lied to Ahimelech, probably thinking not only to secure his own safety thereby, but also to keep the priest from being involved with him in the displeasure of Saul. But mark what ensued. Eighty-five priests, together with all the inhabitants of Nob, both men and women, children and sucklings, were put to death for this sin of which he, and not they, had been guilty. I have no doubt that when David heard of all this he would willingly have given all that he had, ay, even his hopes of one day sitting on the throne of Israel, if he could have recalled the evil which he had spoken, and undone its dismal consequences. But it was impossible. The lie had gone forth from him; and having done so, it was no longer under his control, but would go on producing its diabolical fruits. And so it is yet. We cannot arrest the consequences of the evil which we do. Whether we will or not, it will continue to work on. We may, indeed, repent of our sin; we may even, through the grace of God for Christs sake, have the assurance that we are forgiven for it; but the sin itself will go on working its deadly results. You may as soon think of staying an avalanche midway in its descent from the Alpine ridge, and so saving the village in the valley from destruction, or of stopping the bullet midway in its flight from the musket to the heart of him who will be destroyed by it, as think of arresting the consequences of the evil which you once have done.Dr. W. M. Taylor.
O the wise and deep judgments of the Almighty! God owed a revenge to the house of Eli, and now, by the delation of Doeg, He takes occasion to pay it. It was just in God, which in Doeg was most unjust. Sauls cruelty, and the treachery of Doeg, do not lose one dram of their guilt by the counsel of God; neither doth the holy counsel of God gather any blemish by their wickedness. If it had pleased God to inflict death upon them sooner, without any pretence of occasion, His justice had been clear from all imputations; now, if Saul and Doeg be instead of a pestilence or fever, who can cavil?Bp. Hall.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Sauls Increasing Jealousy. 1Sa. 22:6-16
6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)
7 Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, 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;
8 That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
10 And he inquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his fathers house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.
13 And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as this day?
14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the kings son-in-law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honorable in thine house?
15 Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.
16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy fathers house.
4.
Why was Saul under a tree? 1Sa. 22:6
The unsophisticated society of the early Israelites did not demand that the king have a palace which was equipped with finery. Saul evidently held court in the open air. This was the custom in the days of Deborah. We read of her that she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment (Jdg. 4:5). Conditions had not changed greatly in the days of Saul, and his judgments were passed out to the people under similar circumstances.
5.
What was the meaning of Sauls question? 1Sa. 22:7-8
In order to elicit response from his servants, Saul asked them if David was in a position to reward them for their services. David obviously could not make any of them captains of thousands because he had less than a thousand in his band. By accusing his people of conspiring against him, Saul reveals that he is yet not quite rational. The corrupt state of his mind is brought out in his statement that nobody felt sorry for him. He even indicated that he thought Jonathan had stirred up David against him to lie in wait to kill him. Such an evaluation of the situation was a complete reversal of the facts. It was Saul who was lying in wait for David. David was not lying in wait for Saul. Saul must have learned of Jonathans final covenant with David; for he asked why nobody had told him that his son had made a league with David, the son of Jesse.
6.
Who reported the action of Ahimelech to Saul? 1Sa. 22:9-10
Doeg, the Edomite, told Saul of Davids coming to Nob. He did not tell all the facts. He did not tell Saul that David had told Ahimelech that he was on a secret and hurried mission for the king. For his part in the transaction, Saul afterwards took fearful vengeance upon the priest and his associates at Nob. The verse prepares us for the account of Doegs betrayal of David. Some have therefore supposed the earlier verse to be an interpolation, but the later passage seems to presuppose the earlier. Doeg, the Edomite, who is described as Sauls muleherd, was kept at the sanctuary by some ceremonial obligation.
7.
Who was Ahimelech? 1Sa. 22:11
Ahimelech was the high priest and successor of Eli, although of a different line. He was the son of Ahitub and not the son of Hophni or Phinehas, the sons of Eli. His name is a good Hebrew word signifying that his father was king. His father was probably not really king, but the name has this meaning. His father was the leading priest, and in the position of ruling over the other priests.
8.
Had Ahimelech inquired of God for David? 1Sa. 22:13 The scripture contains no reference to Ahimelechs making any sacrifice for David. There is no statement of his having used the Urim or Thummim to find out the Lords will for Davids life. The only benefits bestowed on David by Ahimelech were his giving him some of the shewbread and the sword of Goliath. These two items are mentioned by Saul, but he was evidently more concerned about the possibility of Davids having secured the blessing of God at the hands of the high priest. If Saul thought that this had been done, he would have felt that not only men but God himself were surely against him. Indeed God was against him for Saul had failed to obey God.
9.
What was Ahimelechs reply to the king? 1Sa. 22:14-15
Ahimelech took the same position that Jonathan had taken. He reasoned with the king that there was nobody in all of Israel more faithful to Saul than David. The high priest also assured Saul that he had not transferred his allegiance to David. He was not serving as Davids high priest. He denied that he had inquired of God for him. What Ahimelech had done he had done in integrity.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(6) When Saul heard.No note of time is here given. Probably the return of David with a disciplined force to the land, and the pitching of an armed camp in the forest of Hareth, excited anew Sauls jealous fears.
Now Saul abode in Gibeah.In Gibeah of Saul, his own royal city. The LXX. wrongly render, instead of Gibeah, on the hills. The margin of the English Version, under a grove in a high place, is correct as regards the later words, baramah signifying here upon the height. Under a tree is, however, nearer the original than under a grove. The literal rendering would be under a tamarisk tree. The sentence then should run, Now Saul abode in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height. The tamarisk, which grows so abundantly on the sea-shore of England and in warmer climates, develops into a very graceful tree, with long feathery branches and tufts. Sauls love for trees has been noticed before. This solemn council of his, when the darkest deed of his reign was decided upon, was held in the spot Saul loved so well, under the spreading tamarisk branches. There we see him, leaning, as was his wont in peace as in war, upon his tall spear, surrounded by his valiant captains, chosen apparently, with one exception, from his own tribe of Benjaminthe exception being his wicked counsellor, the Edomite Doeg, who was over the royal herds. This is one of the earliest councils we have any definite account of in the worlds history. The king, surrounded by his chosen fideles, complaining of the treason of one of them lately exiled from their midst, bewailing the want of fidelity of his son, the heir to the thronethen the stepping forward of one of these fideles, one invested with high office, and publicly denouncing the chief religious official of the kingdomforms a striking and vivid picture.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
SAUL’S ANGER, AND HIS SLAUGHTER OF THE PRIESTS OF NOB, 1Sa 22:6-19.
6. Saul heard that David was discovered That is, Saul received information that David had gathered around him a band of men. This fact became generally known, and the events of this section probably took place while David was in the forest of Hareth.
Under a tree in Ramah Rather, Under the tree on the height, referring to some well known tree at Gibeah, perhaps the pomegranate mentioned 1Sa 14:2.
All his servants were standing about him As an assembly called together for a council of war.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Saul Reveals His True Colours ( 1Sa 22:6-19 ).
While David was going through his period of refining, Saul was displaying his true colours. Unlike David he did not learn from his tribulations. He rather used them as a base from which to launch further evils.
It appears that he had had his spies out constantly for David, for at length he learned that David ‘was discovered’, that his whereabouts were known, and that he had accumulated a good number of followers. This caused him to panic and he immediately set his mind to establishing his own position, first by promising rewards to those who followed him, and secondly by 1salessly destroying all whom he saw as opposing him, in this case the priests of Nob. The state of his mind comes out in that he even accused Jonathan his own son of plotting against him and of stirring up David to cause him trouble He seems to have thrown off all restraint. The truth was that the thought of David was eating into his soul, sadly at this time to the detriment of the innocent priests of Nob. He was a different man from the young man whom Samuel had anointed to be king so many years before, and in the end it had all come about through one or two major acts of disobedience against YHWH.
a And Saul heard that David was discovered (‘was known’), and the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him (1Sa 22:6).
b And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjaminites. Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none who discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (1Sa 22:7-8).
c Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he enquired of YHWH for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine” (1Sa 22:9-10).
d Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob, and all of them came to the king (1Sa 22:11).
e And Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord” (1Sa 22:12).
f And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” (1Sa 22:13).
g Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and is given audience with you, and is honourable in your house?” (1Sa 22:14).
f “Have I today commenced enquiring of God for him? Be it far from me. Do not let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father, for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more” (1Sa 22:15).
e And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house” (1Sa 22:16).
d And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn, and slay the priests of YHWH, because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall on the priests of YHWH (1Sa 22:17).
c And the king said to Doeg, “Turn you, and fall on the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell on the priests, and he slew on that day eighty five persons who wore a linen ephod. And he smote Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword (1Sa 22:18-19).
b And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain YHWH’s priests (1Sa 22:20-21).
a And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father’s house. Stay with me, and do not be afraid. For he who seeks my life seeks your life. For with me you will be under protection” (1Sa 22:22-23).
Note that in ‘a’ Saul was consulting in counsel with his chief courtiers as a result of his discovery about the nefarious activities of the evil David, theoretically judging Israel righteously, whilst in the parallel the same ‘evil David’ is talking to the only surviving Priest of YHWH and assuring him of his protection from the illegalities of Saul. (We may seriously ask, who was acting as YHWH’s legitimate ‘anointed one’ in this case?). In ‘b’ Saul is buttering up the Benjaminites and bribing them to remain faithful while charging them with failure to inform him of treasonable activities, while in the parallel David is being informed by an orphaned Abiathar of what this same Saul has done to YHWH’s priests, which was worse than treasonable, it was sacrilegious. In ‘c’ Doeg the Edomite informs on what he sees as Ahimelech’s treachery, and in the parallel he slays Ahimelech and all his relatives for that assumed treachery. In ‘d’ Saul calls for all the priests of Nob, and in the parallel orders their slaughter. In ‘e’ Saul call on ‘the son of Ahitub’ to speak, and in the parallel he tells him that he and all Ahitub’s house must die. In ‘f’ Saul accuses Ahimelech of enquiring of YHWH on behalf of David, and in the parallel Ahimelech points out that he had not just started doing so, but had been doing it for some time with the knowledge of the king. Centrally in ‘g’ the worthiness of David is emphasised and underlined.
1Sa 22:6
‘ And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.’
The passage begins with Saul calling his advisory council together because his spies have discovered the whereabouts of David, and had also brought the news that he has gathered a host around him. It was common in Israel for such activities as Saul’s to take place in the opening air under the shade of trees (compare Jdg 4:5). In this case it was under ‘the tamarisk tree on the height’ where it would be cool. He was sat there carrying his ceremonial spear (all councillors beware), whilst all the councillors were standing around. It was a formal situation, seemingly of the utmost legality. But the passage will end up with an orphaned victim who was holy to God seeking protection from this legality with David, in the light of the slaughter of all YHWH’s holy High Priests as a result of a spurious verdict of this same court.
1Sa 22:7-8
‘ And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, you Benjaminites. Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none who discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” ’
Saul then addresses his ‘servants’ (his courtiers and commanders). The fact that he calls them ‘Benjaminites’ demonstrates how parochial Saul’s government has become. He now ruled through his favourites, of whom his son at this moment was clearly not one, and favoured his own tribe. And he points out to them that under the son of Jesse they would lose their special entitlements and honours, for he was not a Benjaminite. It would thus pay them to keep in with him. They were to be good politicians.
But he then demonstrates his paranoia by suggesting that his son Jonathan is in league with David against him and is planning his downfall, and indeed that David is in some way ‘lying in wait’ for him. Both were untrue. But he was so obsessed with the idea that David was seeking to take over his kingdom that he could not separate fact from fiction.
Note the threefold description, ‘none have disclosed that his son is in league with David’, ‘none of them is sorry for him’, ‘none have disclosed what his own son has done in stirring up David against him’. In other words everyone is completely holding back on him, (and that about things that they could not possibly have known anything about).
So everything is wrong about his statement which is simply a revelation of a paranoid ruling badly and unjustly, fulfilling only too literally what Samuel had warned against in 1Sa 8:10-18.
1Sa 22:9-10
‘ Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he enquired of YHWH for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” ’
The only one who replied to his unjust accusations was Doeg the Edomite. All the rest remained quiet with their own thoughts. But Doeg wanted to curry favour with Saul. Indeed we discover what kind of man he was in 1Sa 22:18-19. And he informed on Ahimelech. He did not actually lie. But he cannot be acquitted of deliberately feeding Saul’s unjustified suspicions without regard for the consequences, and he made no attempt to indicate the real truth concerning what he had seen. He presents no prettier picture than Saul.
Doeg is described as ‘standing by the servants of Saul’. In other words he was a hanger on. He was presumably there because he was Saul’s chief shepherd, which would be quite an important post, whilst not making him a member of the inner council composed of court officials and field commanders. He possibly felt both this and his inferiority as an Edomite, and he may even have resented the way in which he had been treated at the Sanctuary as a proselyte. He thus appears happy to vent his spleen by criticising the priests in order to demonstrate that they were not as good as they claimed. It is, however, doubtful if he realised how far Saul would go. But we should note in this regard that when he found out he gladly and heartlessly took advantage of it. So he was an unpleasant character altogether.
1Sa 22:11
‘ Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob, and all of them came to the king.’
Suitably stirred in his suspicions Saul sent for Ahimelech, and along with them ‘all his house’. This last fact already demonstrates that Saul had evil intentions towards them. He was looking for scapegoats. And that in spite of the fact that almost everyone would have recognised that Ahimelech was probably guiltless. Why should he have suspected the king’s son-in-law? It is doubtful if the majority of the priests wanted to come. Saul’s unaccountable moods were well known. But they had no choice but to obey a royal command, and no doubt came fearfully.
1Sa 22:12
‘ And Saul said, “Hear now, you son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” ’
Saul addresses him as ‘you son of Ahitub’. That was not a very promising beginning. To speak of a man in that way was usually seen as insulting, as though he was not worthy of his own name being given. But Ahimelech replied respectfully, and openly. His conscience was clear.
1Sa 22:13
‘ And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” ’
As with the case of Jonathan in verse 8 Saul links Ahimelech with ‘the son of Jesse’ (another insulting expression) as though the two had been conniving together. But the things included in the charge were innocent enough. He had simply provided David with bread and a sword and guidance from YHWH because he had thought that he was there in the service of Saul. These were innocent enough things if provided to someone about whom he had no suspicion.
1Sa 22:14
‘ Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and is taken into your council, and is honourable in your house?”
Indeed, Ahimelech made his position clear. Why should he have been suspicious of a man who had served Saul faithfully, who was his son-in-law, who had constant audience with Saul, and had an honoured position in his house? The description is not only intended by the writer to be a defence, but also to be a true description of the character of David. He wanted all to recognise that this really was what David was like, an honourable and trustworthy courtier and commander.
1Sa 22:15
“ Have I today begun to enquire of God for him? Be it far from me. Do not let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father, for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more.”
He pointed out further that his enquiring of YHWH on his behalf was not a new thing as though he had not done it before. He had often enquired of YHWH for him, and no one had ever suggested that it was wrong. Thus it was far from the truth to suggest that by it he was in any way conspiring with him. And thus he asked the king not to read anything into it that was not true, both for his own sake, and for the sake of his father’s house whom he recognised to be in some danger, otherwise they would not have been there. The propensity of kings for widespread slaughter when they suspected treason was far too well known to be ignored. And he ended up by taking any guilt on himself, while assuring Saul that it would not be justified. The truth was, he urged, that he knew nothing of any conspiracy.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Saul takes Revenge upon the Priests of Nob
v. 6. When Saul heard that David was discovered, v. 7. then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, v. 8. that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that showeth me that my son, v. 9. Then answered Doeg, the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, v. 10. And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, v. 11. Then the king sent to call Ahimelech, the priest, the son of Ahltub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob, v. 12. And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub, v. 13. And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day? v. 14. Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, And who is so faithful, v. 15. Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? v. 16. And the king, v. 17. And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, v. 18. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod, v. 19. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, v. 20. And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David, v. 21. And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the Lord’s priests, v. 22. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, v. 23. Abide thou with me, fear not; for he that seeketh my life,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
1Sa 22:6. (Now Saul abode in Gibeah, &c. Though mean people, travelling in the East, might make use of trees for shelter, we may perhaps think it almost incredible that kings should; imagining that either proper houses would be marked out for their reception, or, if that could not be conveniently done in some of their routes, that, at least, they would have tents carried along with them, as persons of more than ordinary rank and condition are supposed by Dr. Shaw to do. For these reasons, we may possibly have been extremely surprised at the present passage: Now Saul abode in Gibeah, under a tree in Ramah, (or, according to the Margins, under a grove in an high place,) having his spear in his hand; and all his servants were standing about him. Yet, strange as this may appear to us, it is natural enough according to the present customs of the East, where we know the solemnity and awfulness of superiority is kept up as high as ever. Thus, when Dr. Pococke was travelling in the company of the governor of Faiume, who was treated with great respect as he passed along, they spent one night, he tells us, (vol. 1: p. 56.) in a grove of palm trees. The governor might, no doubt, had he pleased, have lodged in some village, but he rather chose a place which we think very odd for a person of figure. The position of Saul, which was on an high place, according to the Margin, reminds me of another passage in this author, (p. 127.) where he gives us an account of the going out of the caia or lieutenant of the governor of Meloui, on a sort of Arabic expedition, towards a place where there was an ancient temple, attended by many people with kettle-drums and other music: the bishop visited that temple, and upon his return from it he went to the caia, “whose carpet and cushions were laid on an height on which he sat, with the standard by him, which is carried before him when he goes out in this manner. I sat down by him, and coffee was brought. The sardar [or governor] himself came after, as incognito.” Saul seems, by the description given of him, as well as by the following part of the history, to have been pursuing after David, and, stopping, to have placed himself, according to the present oriental mode, in the posture of chief. Whether the spear in his hand, or, at his hand, (see Noldius,) was the same thing to Saul’s people that the standard was to those of the caia, I know not: if it was, there are three things in this text illustrated by the doctor’s account; the stopping under a tree, or grove; the stopping on an high place; and the sacred historian’s remarks, that he had his spear by him. It is certain, that when a long pike is carried before a company of Arabs, it is a mark that an Arab scheich, or prince, is there; which pike is carried before him, and when he alights, and the horses are fastened, the pike is fixed, as appears from Norden, part ii. p. 181. and p. 71. See Observations, p. 293. Bishop Patrick well observes, that Justin, speaking of the first times of the Romans, (about the reign of Saul,) says, “In those days kings had spears as signs of royal authority, which the Greeks call sceptres. From time immemorial the ancients worshipped spears for immortal gods, in memory of which religion, spears are still added to the images of the gods.” Justin, lib. iii. c. 43.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(6) When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) (7) Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; (8) That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?
Reader! remark the progress of iniquity in this unhappy man. Not able to bring his son Jonathan over to his own persuasion, he now implicates him in the supposed treachery of David; and thus seeks a pretence in the counsel of the wicked for David’s destruction. Doth not the Reader call to mind an higher instance of this turpitude, in the conduct of the High Priest towards the person of our adorable Redeemer. Answerest thou nothing? (said this pretended upright and conscientious High Priest) behold how many things they witness against thee. And when our dear Lord, agreeable to what had been predicted of him, standing, as a lamb before her shearers is dumb, and opened not his mouth, still remained silent. “I adjure thee (says he) by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God?” And when to this solemn demand, the Son of God, who came to bear witness to the truth, openly professed who he was: the High Priest rent his clothes, and pronounced it to be blasphemy. See Mat 26:62-65 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 22:6 When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that [were] with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants [were] standing about him;)
Ver. 6. When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him. ] This vexed him at the heart, and rendered all his felicities miserable. Philip Comineus saith that if he should write of all the princes of his time, that in the judgment of men seemed to live in great felicity, and yet to those that knew them familiarly, lived in a miserable estate, that matter alone would require a reasonable volume.
“ Miser atque infelix eat etiam rex,
Nec quenquam (mihi crede) facit diadema beatum. ”
Under a tree in Ramah.
Having his spear in his hand.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
men. Hebrew. ‘enosh. App-14.
now Saul. Note the Figure of speech Parenthesis. App-6.
in Ramah. Or, in the high place.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
tree: or, grove in a high place
spear: 1Sa 18:10, 1Sa 19:9, 1Sa 20:33
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 22:6-8. Having his spear in his hand It seems, as an ensign of majesty, for in old times kings carried a spear instead of a sceptre. Ye Benjamites You that are of my own tribe and kindred, from whom David designs to translate the kingdom to another tribe. Will he distribute profits and preferments among you Benjamites, as I have done? Will he not rather prefer those of his own tribe before you? That all of you have conspired against me To conceal Davids designs from me, if not to assist him in them. See the nature of jealousy, and its arts of flattering and wheedling to extort discoveries of things which have no existence! That my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse He suspects Jonathan had made a league with David, but did not certainly know it, much less what the league was. His jealousy even carried him so far as to make him suspect that Jonathan not only sided with David, but had encouraged him to take up arms, and to appear openly, as having many friends and supporters. For since Saul threw the javelin at Jonathan, it is likely the latter had absented himself from court, or did not appear so frequently, or looked discontented when he came into his fathers presence.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
22:6 When Saul heard that David was {e} discovered, and the men that [were] with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants [were] standing about him;)
(e) That a great brute came on him.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Saul’s slaughter of the priests 22:6-23
The writer’s attention focused next on Saul’s activities. He used the literary device of focusing on David, then on Saul, then on David, etc. He used the same technique in chapters 1-3 with Samuel and Eli’s sons to contrast Samuel’s goodness with the wickedness of Hophni and Phinehas. The same purpose is in view in chapters 21-31 with David and Saul.
Saul was aware that some in his army, apparently even some of his tribal kinsmen from Benjamin, had deserted to David (1Sa 22:7). He showed signs of paranoia when he claimed that Jonathan had encouraged David to ambush him (1Sa 22:8; 1Sa 22:13). There is no indication that Jonathan had done this. Doeg was obviously loyal to Saul (1Sa 22:9-10), but he proved disloyal to Yahweh (1Sa 22:18-19).
Ahimelech appealed to Saul on David’s behalf much as Jonathan had done earlier (1Sa 22:14-15; cf. 1Sa 17:4-5). Nevertheless this time Saul did not respond to reasonable persuasion (1Sa 22:16). Saul’s disregard for Yahweh’s will is obvious in his command to kill the priests-whom God had appointed to serve Him. This punishment was entirely too severe, since the crime Saul charged them with was simply failing to tell Saul where David was.
Saul’s soldiers had too much respect for the priesthood to slay the anointed servants of the Lord (1Sa 22:17). Moreover they probably realized that Saul’s order was irrational. Doeg was an Edomite, a foreigner who had less respect for the Mosaic Law (cf. 1Sa 21:7). He not only obeyed the king but went beyond Saul’s command and slaughtered all the men, women, children, and animals in Nob (1Sa 22:19). Nonetheless Saul was also responsible (1Sa 22:21). Earlier Saul had failed to slay all the Amalekites at the Lord’s command (1Sa 15:9). Now he was slaying all the Nobites without divine authorization.
"Through the hand of a foreigner, Saul perpetrates upon Israelites, priests of the Lord, what he himself did not perpetrate upon foreigners, the Amalekites." [Note: Miscall, p. 136.]
God preserved one of Eli’s descendants even though 85 other priests died. This man fled to David, so from then on the priesthood was with David rather than Saul. David acknowledged that his deception of Ahimelech was responsible for the slaughter of the priests (1Sa 22:22; cf. 1Sa 21:2). David became the protector of the priesthood. The king-elect and the priest-elect now became fellow fugitives from Saul. Psalms 52 provides insight into how David felt during this incident.
When people refuse to submit to God’s authority over them, they begin to die: spiritually, socially, psychologically, and physically (Rom 6:23). Eli and Saul had both refused to submit to God’s authority. Eli, the priest, put his family before God. Consequently God cut off his family. Even though David was the cause of 85 priests’ deaths, this was one way God partially fulfilled the prophecy concerning Eli’s descendants (1Sa 2:27-36). God used David’s folly to accomplish His will. So even in this David became a blessing. This in no way justifies David’s lie (1Sa 21:2), but it does show how even in his sinning, David was used by God for blessing (cf. Psa 76:10; Rom 6:1-2). Saul, the king, put himself before God. Therefore God cut off his life. Saul became increasingly paranoid, isolated from others, hateful toward his supporters as well as his enemies, and guilty of shedding innocent blood.
Conversely, when people submit to God’s authority over them, they really begin to live (Joh 10:10). David submitted to God’s authority over him. His sins, including deceiving Ahimelech, bore bad consequences for himself and others. Nevertheless God continued to bless and use David. He blessed him personally: David continued to rise to the throne. God also blessed him by using him to accomplish God’s will, here the pruning of Eli’s descendants.
Therefore we conclude that the most important issue is one of long-term authority, not incidental acts. Acts are important, but who is in control-God or self-is even more important. For a believer the most important issue is authority. Believers can determine who is in control of our lives fairly easily by asking ourselves two test questions. Do I ask God for guidance, or do I ignore Him and make my own plans and decisions without praying? And, do I submit to His word, or do I disobey it, having ignored it or disregarded it?