1 Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:1

KIll David] Before Saul sought Davids life secretly, but now his hypocrisie bursteth forth to open cruelty.

1 Samuel 19:3

what I see] That is, discover and observe.

1 Samuel 19:4

sin against] To wit, in seeking to kill him unjustly, v. 5.

1 Samuel 19:5

his life in his hand] Judg. 9. 17. and 12. 3. Chap. 28. 21. Psalms 119:109. That is, exposed himself to much danger. See Judg. 12. 3.

1 Samuel 19:7

in his presence] To wit, to do him service.

in times past] Hebr. yesterday third day.

him] Hebr. his face.

1 Samuel 19:9

the evil spirit] See Chap. 16. 14. and 18. 10, 11.

javelin] Which he usually had by him like a tyrant, continually in fear, Chap. 18. 11. 20. 23. and 26.

1 Samuel 19:12

a window] Because the doors were beset with Sauls servants that watched David.

1 Samuel 19:13

an image] Heb. Teraphim.

goats hair] As if it had been Davids hair, hereby deluding Sauls men with hope of taking him, till, by their stay, David might have more time to make his escape.

1 Samuel 19:15

see David] That is, whether he were indeed sick, or onely feigned himself to be so; but with commission to bring him, in what state soever he was.

1 Samuel 19:17

Saul said] That is, when he found by his messengers how she had deluded him.

why should I] That is, I will assuredly kill thee, if thou wilt not further me in my flight. So 2 Samuel 2:22. or, why shouldest thou do that, that will provoke me to kill thee?

1 Samuel 19:18

came to Samuel] Both to ask his advice in these extreme dangers; and for security, thinking that the prophets presence would protect him, and deter Saul from his bloody practices; and that the place which was a school of the prophets would be a sanctuary unto him, seeing they lived safely there, though the Philistines garison was neer unto it, Chap. 10. 5. Finally, to be comforted by him in this distresse, and to have his faith confirmed in the promise of the kingdom, which Samuel from God had made unto him; which, through these great trialls, was ready to waver, Psal 116. 11. 1 Samuel 27:1.

to Ramah] Where was Samuels dwelling, and a school of the prophets, whereof he was over-seer, father or president, and at Naioth neer unto it.

1 Samuel 19:20

prophesying] That is, praising God with psalms and songs, and praying unto him, and speaking of divine matters. See Chap. 10. 5.

prophesied] Were transported like the prophets with a divine rapture, and spirit of prophesie, and so forgot their businesse for which they came, which was, To take David.

1 Samuel 19:21

they prophesied] To convince Saul of his sin in pursuing David, when he saw him preserved by such a miracle; and that in vain he persecuted him whom God thus protected.

Sechu] See Chap. 17. 1.

1 Samuel 19:24

also] As his messengers had done before his coming.

and prophesied] That is, was transported with divine rapures, as in an extasie, and joyned with the rest in their propheticall exercises.

lay] Hebr. fell.

naked] That is, stripped of his regall and military habilaments in which he came to take David, being for the time so distracted in his minde and senses, that, like one in a trance, he knew not what he did, Numbers 24:4. and Isaiah 20:2. Micah 1:8.

Is Saul also amng the prophets?] Chap. 10. 11.