1 Samuel 16

1 Samuel 16:1

WIth oyle] see upon 1 Samuel 10:1.

1 Samuel 16:2

To sacrifice] namely, a sacrifice of thanksgiving; after which there followed a holy feast. For Prophets, either upon occasion, or without, did doe these acts of particular piety, for the blessing and comfort of certaine places and Cities. See 1 Samuel 9:12.

1 Samuel 16:4

Trembled] at the presence of God in the person of his Prophet, whose holinesse condemned common vices; and whose authority, caused the punishment thereof to be feared, as 1 King. 17. 18. Or simply in a sudden occasion, whereof they knew not the cause, they construed it to be some sinister or unluckie one.

1 Samuel 16:5

Sanctifie] prepare your selves by ceremoniall purifications and abstinences, and by spirituall meditations and devotions, to participate of this sacrifice, See Exodus 19:10. Joshua 3:5.

1 Samuel 16:6

Eliab] Jesse his first borne, 1 Samuel 17:13 And said] within himselfe, of his own motion, and not by any prophetick revelation Anointed] that is to say; he whom God will have consecrated to be King. On whom (in this action wherein God is present by his power, and wherein he governeth by his Spirit) I will bestow and conferre this sacred signe appointed by God, who will ratifie and confirme it by his internall grace and operation.

1 Samuel 16:7

Said] secretly, by a divine and internall inspiration Refused him] that is to say, I have not chosen him The outward appearance] the Italian, On the eyes] that is to say, to such outward appearances as present themselves unto the senses Looketh on] he grounds his calling upon those gifts, which he himselfe hath infused into man by his Spirit, which he alone discerneth and knoweth, and crowneth them with new glories and honours.

1 Samuel 16:8

And he said] it is likely that Iesse onely had notice of the end of this anointing, and David also secretly. 2 Sam. 5 2.

1 Samuel 16:13

The Spirit] that is to say, he presently received divine gifts, and noble qualities, in a supernaturall manner; and was led on, and guided by Gods Spirit, to undertake high and notable enterprizes. Judges 13. 25. & 14. 6. 1 Sam. 10. 6. 10.

1 Samuel 16:14

The Spirit] God took away those gifts from him, which he had conferred upon him for the managing of his royall office, 1 Samuel 10:6. And likewise that joy, comfort, and guide of his good Spirit of sanctification An evill spirit] he was by Gods judgement yeelded into the hands of Sathan, who bred horrible passions in him, and perturbations of sadnesse and despaire: together with rages, violent furies, cruelties, and other excesses.

1 Samuel 16:16

Is upon thee] when thou shalt have thy fits of rage or melancholy upon thee, for he had some respites, and spaces betweene those fits Thou shalt] this is spoken through some experience in the like troubles: not that musicall sounds, or any other corporall meanes have any power upon the devill; but because that with the supernaturall madnesse or rage, there was a corporall defect, in the humours distmperature and exasperation of the spirits, which are the organs of diabolicall operation in such cases: and musick contrariwise bringing the spirits of man for a time to some sweet concordance and harmony, maketh the corporall or bodily instrument, lesse subject to the devils operation. Unlesse this sound were accompanied with some divine word or subject, whose power and respect repressed, and quelled the devils action. Or that some motion of Gods Spirit was awakened in Saul for a time, by the prophetick musick, as 1 Samuel 19:23. by vertue of some order or promise from God, as 2 Kings 3:15. Or that God of his free will did co-operate with Davids sound, to beget him a degree in his vocation.

1 Samuel 16:18

And the Lord] Gods Spirit guideth him and leadeth him to all manner of vertue, and his grace blesseth him, and causeth him to prosper in all his enterprizes.

1 Samuel 16:21

And stood] was imployed in his ordinary and houshold service.

1 Samuel 16:23

Departed] not out of the possession and power which he had over him; but from the present accesse and disturbance.