35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

C

37 David said moreover, The LORD, that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and d the LORD be with thee. 38 T And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine came on, and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he h disdained him: for he was but a youth, and i ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

e Pa. 18. 16, 17. & 63. 7. & 77. 11. 2 Cor. 1. 10. 2 Tim. 4. 17, 18.-d Ch. 20. 13. 1 Chron. 22. 11, 16.-e Heb. clothed David with his clothes.-f Or, valley-g Heb. vessel.-h Psa. 123 4,5 1 Cor. 1 27, 23-i Ch. 16 12-k Ch. 21. 14. Sam. 3 8. & 9. 8. & 16. 9. 2 Kings 8. 13.-1 1 Kings 20. 10, 11.-m 2 Sam. 22. 33, 35. Psa. 124.

Verse 35.-The slaying of the lion and the bear, mentioned here, must have taken place at two different times: perhaps the verse should be read thus-I went out after him, (the lion,) and smote him, &c. And when he, (the bear) rose up against me, I caught him by the beard, and slew him.

Verse 37. Go, and the LORD be with thee.] Saul saw that these were reasonable grounds of confidence; and, therefore, wished him success.

Verse 38. Saul armed David] He knew that, although the battle was the Lord's, yet prudent means should be used to secure success.

Verse 39. I cannot go with these] In ancient times, it required considerable exercise and training to make a man expert in the use of such heavy armour armour which, in the present day, scarcely a man is to be found who is able to carry: and so it must have been then, until that practice, which arises from frequent use, had made the proprietor perfect. I have not proved them, says David: I am wholly unaccustomed to such armour, and it would be an incumbrance to me.

Verse 40. He took his staff] What we would call his crook.

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

D

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

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

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

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

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine

8. & 125. 1. 2 Cor. 10. 4. Heb. 11. 33, 34.-n Ver. 10.-o Heb. shut thee up-p Dent 28, 26.-q Josh. 4. 24. 1 Kings 8. 43. & 18. 36. 2 Kings 19. 19. Isai. 52 10-r P 44. 6, 7. Hos. 1. 7. Zech. 4. 6-8 2 Chron. 20. 15.-1 Chapter 21. 9. Eccius 47. 1 Mac. 4. 30. See Judges 3. 31. & 15. 15. Ch. 23. 21.

stantly bound about their head; to have used the second as a girdle; and to have carried the third always in their hand. See DIOD. Sic. lib. v. chap. 18. page 286. Edit. Bipont.

In the use of the sling, it requires much practice to hit the mark; but, when once this dexterity is acquired, the sling is nearly as fatal as the musket or bow. See on ver. 49. David was evidently an expert marksman: and his sling gave him greatly the advantage over Goliath; an advantage of which the giant does not seem to have been aware. He could hit him within any speaking distance: if he missed once, he had as many chances as he had stones; and, after all, being unencumbered with armour, young and athletic, he could have saved his life by flight. Against him the Philistine could do but little, except in close fight: it is true, he appears to have had a javelin, or missile spear; see on ver. 6: but David took care to prevent the use of all such weapons, by giving him the first blow.

Verse 41. The man that bare the shield] See on ver. 7. Verse 42. He disdained him] He held him in contempt: he saw that he was young; and, from his ruddy complexion, supposed him to be effeminate.

A shepherd's bag] That in which he generally carried his provisions, while keeping the sheep in the open country, And his sling] The sling, both among the Greeks and Hebrews, has been a most powerful offensive weapon. See what has been said on Judg. xx. 16. It is composed of two strings, and a leathern strap: the strap is in the middle, and is the place where the stone or bullet lies. The string, on the right end of the strap, is firmly fastened to the hand: that on the left, is held between the thumb and middle joint of the fore-finger. It is then whirled two or three times round the head; and, when discharged, the finger and thumb let go their hold of the left end string. The velocity and force of the sling are in proportion to the distance of the strap, where the bullet lies, from the shoulder joint. Hence the ancient Balleares, or inhabitants of Majorca and Minorca, are said to have had three slings of different lengths: the longest they used when the enemy was at the greatest distance; the middle one, on their nearer approach; and the shortest, when they came into the ordinary fighting distance in the field. The shortest is the most certain, though not the most powerful. The Bellearians are said to have had one of their slings con

hand.

Cursed David by his gods.] Prayed his gods to curse him. This long parley between David and Goliath is quite in the style of those times. Homer's heroes have generally an altercation before they engage; and sometimes enter into geographical and genealogical discussions; and vaunt and scold most contemptibly.

Verse 44. Come to me, and I will give thy flesh) He intended, as soon as he could lay hold on him, to pull him to pieces.

Verse 45. Thou comest to me WITH a sword] I come to thee WITH the name ( be shem) of Jehovah of hosts; the God of the armies of Israel. What Goliath expected from his arms, David expected from the ineffable name.

Verse 46. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand] This was a direct and circumstantial prophecy of what did take place.

Verse 47. For the battle is the LORD's] It is the Lord's war: you are fighting against him and his religion, as the champion of your party. I am fighting for God, as the champion of his cause.

Verse 48. The Philistine arose] This was an end of the parley: the Philistine came forward to meet David: and David, on his part, ran forward to meet the Philistine.

Verse 49. Smote the Philistine in his forehead] Ex

with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him: but there was no sword in the hand of David.

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

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

V

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

u Heb. 11. 34-v Josh. 15. 36.-w See Ch. 16. 21, 22.

Διο και κατα

Diodorus Siculus, lib. v. c. 18. p. 287. Edit. Bipont, says, "The Balleares, in time of war, sling greater stones than any other people; and, with such force, that they seem as if projected from a catapult." τας τειχομαχίας ἐν ταῖς προσβολαις τύπτοντες τους προ των επάλξεων εφεστώτας, κατατραυματίζουσιν' εν δε ταις παρατάξεσι | τους τε θυρεους και τα κράνη, και παν σκεπας ηρίον ὅπλον συντριβουσι. Κατά δε την ευστοχίαν όυτως ακριβεις εισιν, ώστε κατά το πλείσον μη αμαρτάνειν τον προκειμένου σκοπού. "Therefore, in assaults made on fortified towns, they grievously wound the besieged: and in battle they break in pieces the shields, helmets, and every species of armour by which the body is defended. And they are such exact marksmen, that they scarcely ever miss that at which they aim."

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

55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, w whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

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

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

tine in his hand.

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

x Verse 51-y Verse 12.

"Had every version of the Hebrew text," says Mr. Pilkington, "agreed to give a translation of this passage, as we now find, the attempts of clearing it from its embarrassments would have been attended with very great difficulties; but, as in several other cases before mentioned, so here, the providence of God seems to have so far secured the credit of those who were appointed to be the penmen of the oracles of truth, that the defence of their original records may be undertaken upon good grounds, and supported by sufficient evidence. For we are now, happily, in possession of an ancient version of these two chapters, which appears to have been made from a Hebrew copy, which had none of the thirty-nine verses which are here supposed to have been interpolated, nor was similar to what we have at present in those places, which are here supposed to have been altered. This version is found in the Vatican copy of the Seventy; which, whoever reads and considers, will find the accounts there given regular, consistent, and probable. It will be proper, therefore, to examine the several parts where such altertions are supposed to have been made in the Hebrew text; in order to produce such other external or internal evidence, as shall be necessary to support the charge of interpolation; which ought not to be laid merely upon the authority of any single version.

I have given these passages at large, because they contain several curious facts; and sufficiently account for the force and accuracy with which David slung his stone at Goliath. We find also, in the un apapraveiv, not miss the mark, of the historian, the true notion of apaprave, to sin, which I have contended for elsewhere. He who sins, though he aims thereby at his gratification and profit, misses the mark of present and eternal felicity.

Verse 51. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.] They were panic-struck; and not being willing to fulfil the condition which was stipulated by Goliath, they precipitately left the field. The Israelites took a proper advantage of these circumstances, and totally routed their enemies.

Verse 54. David took the head of the Philistine] It has been already remarked that this, with the following verses, and the five first verses of the xviiith chapter, are omitted by the Septuagint. See the observations at the end. Verse 58. Whose son art thou, thou young man?] That Saul should not know David, with whom he had treated a little before, and even armed him for the combat; and, that he should not know who his father was, though he had sent to his father for permission to David to reside constantly with him, chap. xvi. 22. is exceedingly strange! I fear all Bishop Warburton's attempts to rectify the chronology, by assumed anticipations, will not account for this. I must honestly confess they do not satisfy me; and I must refer the reader to what immediately follows, on the authenticity of the verses which concern this subject. On the subject of that large omission in the Septuagint, of which I have spoken on ver. 12. I here subjoin the reasons of Mr. Pilkington and Dr. Kennicott, for supposing it to be an interpolation of some rabbinical writer; added at a very early period to the Hebrew text.

"It is obvious to remark upon this passage: "1. That after David had been of so much service to the king, in causing the evil spirit to depart from him; after its being recorded how greatly Saul loved him, and that he had made him his armour-bearer; after the king had sent to Jesse, to signify his intention of keeping his son with him; all of which are particularly mentioned in the latter part of the preceding chapter: the account of his keeping his father's sheep afterward, and being sent to his brethren upon this occasion, must appear to be somewhat improbable.-2. That what is here said of the premium that Saul had offered to him who should conquer the Philistine is not well consistent with the accounts afterward given; of which we shall have occasion to take particular notice.-3. That Eliab's behaviour, as here represented, is not only remarkable, but unaccountable and absurd.-And, 4. That the inquiries of a young man, who is not said to have declared any intentions of accepting the challenge of the Philistine, would scarcely have been related to the king. But now, if this passage be supposed to have been interpolated, we must see how the connexion stands upon its being omitted.

"Verse 11. 'When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.'

"Verse 32. "Then David said unto Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.'

"No connexion can be more proper; and in this view David is represented as being at that time an attendant upon the king: and, when we had been told just before, chap. xvi. 21. that Saul had made him his armour-bearer, we might justly expect to find him with him when the

battle was set in array, chap. xvii. 2. In this connexion | David is also represented as fully answering the character before given of him; 'A mighty valiant man, and a man of war,' chap. xvi. 18. and ready to fight with the giant upon the first proposal; (for the account of the Philistine presenting himself forty days is in this passage here supposed to have been interpolated, chap. xvii. 16.) I shall leave it to the critical Hebrew reader to make what particular remarks he may think proper in respect to the style and manner of expression in these twenty verses; and let Jesse go for an old man among men in the days of Saul, &c." PILKINGTON's Remarks upon several passages of Scripture, p. 62.

"The authorities," says Dr. Kennicott, "here brought to prove this great interpolation, are the internal evidence arising from the context, and the external arising from the Vatican copy of the Greek version. But how then reads the Alexandrian MS.? The remarks acknowledge that this MS. agrees here with the corrupted Hebrew; and, therefore, was probably translated, (in this part,) from some late Hebrew copy, which had been thus interpolated: see pages 72, 75. Now that these two MSS. do contain different readings, in some places, I observed in pages 399-401. and 414, And in this xviith chapter of Samuel, ver. 4. the Alexandrian MS. says, (agreeably to the present Hebrew,) that the height of Goliath was six cubits and a span; i. e. above eleven feet: but the Vatican MS. (agreeably to Josephus,) that it was four cubits and a span; i. e. near eight feet.

"And, in ver. 43, what the Vatican renders he cursed David by his gods, the Alexandrian renders by his idols. But though the Hebrew text might be consulted, and a few words differently rendered by the transcriber of one of these MSS. or by the transcribers of the MSS. from which these MSS. were taken; yet, as these MSS. do contain in this chapter, as is almost universally the same (in verb, noun, and participle,) I presume, that they contain here the same translation with the designed alteration of a few words, and with the difference of the interpolated verses found in the Alexandrian MS.

"But, after all, what if the Alexandrian MS. which now has these verses, should itself prove them interpolated? What if the very words of this very MS. demonstrate that these verses were not in some former Greek MS.? Certainly, if the Alexandrian MS. should be thus found, at last, not to contradict, but to confirm the Vatican in its omission of these twenty verses, the concurrence of these authorities will render the argument much more forcible and convincing.

"Let us then state the present question; which is, Whether the twenty verses, between ver. 11. and 32. which are now in the Hebrew text, are interpolated? The Vatican MS. goes on immediately from the end of the 11th verse, (kat epoẞnonoav opodpa,) to ver. 32, which begins Kai cine Aavid whereas the 12th verse in the Hebrew begins not with a speech, but with David's birth and parentage. If, then, the Alexandrian MS. begins its present 12th verse as the 32d verse begins, and as the 12th verse could not begin properly, I appeal to any man of judgment, whether the transcriber was not certainly copying from a MS. in which the 32d verse succeeded the 11th verse; and, if so, then from a MS. which had not these intermediate verses? Now, that this is the fact, the case will at once appear upon examining the Alexandrian copy, where the 12th verse begins with KAI EINE AAYIA; exactly as the 32d verse begins, and as the 12th verse could not begin properly.

"The case seems clearly to be, that the transcriber, having wrote what is now in the 11th verse, was beginning what is now the 32d verse; when, after writing Kat Ene Aavid, he perceived that either the Hebrew, or some other Greek copy, or the margin of his own copy, had several intermediate verses; upon which, without blotting out the significant word EINE, he goes on to write the addition; thus fortunately leaving a decisive proof of his own great interpolation. If this addition was in the margin of that MS. from which the Alexandrian was transcribed, it might be inserted by that transcriber; but, if it was inserted either from the Hebrew, or from any other Greek copy, the transcriber of this MS. seems to have had too little learning for such a proceeding. If it was done by the writer of that former MS. then the interpolation may be a hundred, or a hundred and fifty years older than the Alexandrian MS. Perhaps the earliest Christian writer who enlarges upon the strong circumstance of David's coming from the sheep to the army, is Chrysostom, in his homily upon David and Saul: so that it had then been long in some copies of the Greek version. The truth seems to be, that the addition of these twenty verses took its first rise from what Josephus had inserted in his

variation and embellishment of this history; but that many circumstances were afterward added to his additions. 'For, (and it is extremely remarkable,) though Josephus has some, he has not half the improbabilities which are found at present in the Sacred History: as, for instance, nothing of the armies being fighting in the valley, or fighting at all; when David was sent by his father, as in ver. 19. Nothing of the host going forth, and shouting for the battle, at the time of David's arrival, as in ver. 20. Nothing of all the men of Israel fleeing from Goliath, as in ver. 24: on the contrary, the two armies, (it should seem,) continued upon their two mountains. Nothing of David's long conversation with the soldiers, ver. 25-27; in seasons so very improper, as, while they were shouting for the battle, or while they were fleeing from Goliath; and fleeing from a man after they had seen him, and heard him twice in every day for forty days together, ver. 16: the two armies, all this long while, leaning upon their arms, and looking very peaceably at one another. Nothing of Goliath's repeating his challenge every morning and every evening, as in ver. 16. David. (it is said, ver. 23.) happened to hear one of these challenges; but, if he heard the evening challenge, it would have been then too late for the several transactions before, and the long pursuit after, Goliath's death; and David could not well hear the morning challenge, because he could scarce have arrived so early, after travelling from Beth-lehem to the army, (about fifteen miles,) and bringing with him an ephah of parched corn, and ten loaves, and ten cheeses; as in ver. 17, 18. Nothing of encouraging any man to fight Goliath, by an offer of the king's daughter, ver. 25; which, as it seems from the subsequent history, had never been thought of; and which, had it been offered, would probably have been accepted by some man or other out of the whole army. Nothing of Eliab's reprimanding David for coming to see the battle, as in ver. 28; but for a very different reason: and, indeed, it is highly improbable that Eliab should treat him at all with contempt and scurrility, after having seen Samuel anoint him for the future king of Israel, see chap. xvi. 1-13. Nothing of a second conversation between David and the soldiers, as in ver. 30, 31. Nothing of Saul and Abner's not knowing who was David's father, at the time of his going forth against the Philistine, as in ver. 55. Nothing of David's being introduced to the king by Abner, in form, after killing the Philistine, ver. 57; at a time when the king and the captain of the host had no leisure for complimental ceremony; but were set out, ver. 57. in immediate and full pursuit of the Philistines.-Nor, lastly, is any notice taken here by Josephus, of what now begins the xviiith chapter, Jonathan's friendship for David, which is related elsewhere, and in a different manner: on the contrary, as soon as Josephus has mentioned Goliath's death, and told us that Saul and all Israel shouted, and fell at once upon the Philistines; and that, when the pursuit was ended, the head of Goliath was carried by David into his own tent, (and he could have then no tent of his oron, if he had not been then an officer in the army;) I say, as soon as Josephus has recorded these circumstances, he goes on to Saul's envy and hatred of David, arising from the women's songs of congratulation; exactly as these capital parts of the history are connected in the VATICAN MS. And with this circumstance I shall conclude these remarks; earnestly recommending the whole to the learned reader's attentive examination.

"It must not, however, be forgot, that the learned F. Houbigant has, in his Bible, placed these twenty verses, (from the 11th to the 32d,) between hooks; as containing a passage which comes in very improperly.

"If it be inquired as to this interpolation in Samuel, when it could possibly be introduced into the text? It may be observed that, about the time of Josephus, the Jews seem to have been fond of enlarging, and, (as they vainly thought,) embellishing the Sacred History, by inventing speeches, and prayers, and hymns, and also new articles of history; and these of considerable length: witness the several additions to the Book of Esther; witness the long story concerning wine, women, and truth, inserted amidst parts of the genuine history of Ezra and Nehemiah, and worked up into what is now called the First Book of Esdras; witness the hymn of the three children in the fiery furnace, added to Daniel; and witness also, the many additions in Josephus. Certainly, then, some few remarks might be noted by the Jews, and some few of their historical additions might be inserted in the margin of their Hebrew copies; which might afterward be taken into the text itself by injudicious transcribers.

"The history of David's conquest of the mighty and insulting Philistine is certainly very engaging; and it gives a most amiable description of a brave young man,

CHAPTER XVIII.

Jonathan and David commence a lasting friendship; and David acts prudently with respect to Saul, 1---5. Saul becomes jealous of David, on account of the esteem in

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and

val is ma le captain over a thousand; and the people love and respect him, 13-16. Sanl, in order to ensnare him, offers him his daughter in oarriage, 17-24. And requires a hundre1 foreskins of the Philistines for a dowry; hoping that, in endea voining to procure them, Davil might fall by the hand of the Philistines, 25. David agrees to the conditions, fulfils them, and has Michal to wife, 26-30. An Exod. lor.

423. Anno ante

1. Olymp. 287.

ND it came to pass, when he had

and to his girdle.

relying with firm confidence upon the aid of the Gop of battle, against a blaspheming enemy. It is not, therefore, very strange that some fanciful rabbin should be particularly struck with the strange circumstances of the Philistine's daring to challenge all Israel; and David's cutting off the giant's head with the giant's own sword. And then, finding that Josephus had said that David came from the sheep to the camp, and happened to hear the challenge, the rabbin might think it very natural that David should be indignant against the giant, and talk valorously to the soldiers, and that the soldiers should mightily encourage David; and then, (to be sure,) this was the most lucky season to introduce the celebrated friendship of Jonathan for David; particularly when, (according to these additions,) Jonathan had seen Abner leading David in triumph to the king's presence; every one admiring the young hero, as he proudly advanced with the grim head of the Philistine in his hand. So that this multiform addition, and fanciful embellishment of the rabbin, reminds one of the motley absurdity described by the poet in the famous lines

Humano capiti cervicem pictor equinam
Jungere si velit, et varias inducere plumas, &c.

"The passage, supposed to be interpolated here, was in the Hebrew text before the time of Aquila; because there are preserved a few of the differences in those translations of it, which were made by Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus. These verses, being thus acknowledged at that time, would doubtless be found in such copies as the Jews then declared to be genuine, and which they delivered afterward to Origen as such. And that Origen did refer to the Jews for such copies as they held genuine, he allows in his Epistle to Africanus: for there he speaks of soothing the Jews, in order to get pure copies from them." KENNICOTT'S Second Dissertation on the Hebrew Text, p. 419. In the general dissertation which Dr. Kennicott has | prefixed to his edition of the Hebrew Bible, he gives additional evidence that the verses in question were not found originally in the Septuagint, and consequently not in the Hebrew copy used for that version. Several MSS. in the royal library at Paris either omit these verses, or have them with asterisks, or notes of dubiousness. And the collation by Dr. Holmes, and his continuators, have brought farther proof of the fact. From the whole, there is considerable evidence that these verses were not in the Septuagint in the time of Origen; and, if they were not in the MSS. used by Origen, it is very probable they were not in that version at first; and, if they were not in the Septuagint at first, it is very probable that they were not in the Hebrew text one hundred and fifty years before Christ; and, if not then in the Hebrew text, it is very probable they were not in that text originally. See Dissertation on Gen. p. 9; and Remarks on Select Passages, P. 104.

I have only to remark here, that the historical books of the Old Testament have suffered more by the carelessness, or infidelity, of transcribers, than any other parts of the sacred volume: and of this the two Books of Samuel, the two Books of Kings, and the two Books of Chronicles, give the most decided and unequivocal proofs. Of this, also, the reader has already had considerable evidence; and he will find this greatly increased as he proceeds.

It seems to me that the Jewish copyists had not the same opinion of the divine inspiration of those books as they had of those of the law and the prophets; and have, therefore, made no scruple to insert some of their own traditions, or the glosses of their doctors, in different parts: for, as the whole must evidently appear to them as a compilation from their public records, they thought it no harm to make different alterations and additions, from popular statements of the same facts, which they

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the d Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

e Or, prospered. Ver. 14, 15, 30-d Or, Philistines.-e Exod. 15. 20.
Judg. 11. 31-f Heb. three stringed instruments.

found in general circulation. This is notoriously the case in Josephus: this will account, and it does to me very satisfactorily, for many of the various readings now found in the Hebrew text of the Historical Books. They were held in less reverence, and they were copied with less care, and emended with less critical skill, than the Pentateuch and the Prophets: and on them the hands of careless, ignorant, and temerarious scribes, have too frequently been laid. To deny this, only betrays a portion of the same ignorance which was the parent of those disorders; and attempts to blink the question, though they may with some be an argument of zeal, yet, with all the sincere and truly enlightened friends of divine revelation, they will be considered to be as dangerous as they are absurd.

Where the rash or ignorant hand of man has fixed a blot on the divine records, let them who, in the providence of God, are qualified for the task, wipe it off: and, while they have the thanks of all honest men, God will have the glory.

There have been many who have affected to deny the existence of giants. There is no doubt that the accounts given of several, are either fabulous, or greatly exaggerated. But men of an extraordinary size are not uncommon even in our own day: I knew two brothers, of the name of Knight, who were born in the same township with myself, who were seven feet six inches high; and another, in the same place, Charles Burns, who was eight feet six! These men were well and proportionably made. I have known others of this height, whose limbs were out of all proportion; their knees bent in, and joints rickety.

Ireland, properly speaking, is the only nation on the earth that produces GIANTS: and let me tell the poor, that this is the only nation in the world that may be said to live on potatoes; with little bread, and less flesh-meat.

I have seen, and entertained in my house, the famous Polish dwarf, the Count Boruulaski, who was about thirty-six inches high, every part of whose person was formed with the most perfect and delicate symmetry. The prodigious height and bulk of Charles Burns, and the astonishing diminutiveness of Count Boruulaski, could not be properly estimated but by comparing both together. Each was a perfect man; and yet, in quantum, how disproportionate! Man is the only creature in whom the extremes of minuteness and magnitude are so apparent; and yet the proportion of the parts in each strictly correlative.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XVIII. Verse 1. When he had made an end of speaking] These five first verses are omitted by the Septuagint. See the notes on the preceding chapter.

Jonathan loved him as his own soul.] The most intimate friendship subsisted between them; and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. No love was lost between them: each was worthy of the other. They had a friendship which could not be affected with changes or chances; and which exemplified all that the ancients have said on the subject: Την φιλίαν ισότητα είναι, και μιαν ψυχην, τον φίλον έτεραν αυτον—Friendship produces an entire sameness; it is one soul in two bodies: a friend is another self."

Verse 4. Jonathan stripped himself] Presents of clothes, or rich robes, as tokens of respect and friendship, are frequent in the East. And how frequently arms and clothing were presented by warriors to each other, in token of friendship, may be seen in Homer, and other ancient

writers.

Verse 5. Set him over the men of war] Made him generalissimo; or what we would call field-marshal.

Verse 6. When David was returned] This verse connects well with the 54th verse of the preceding chapter; and carries on the narration without any break or interruption. See the notes there.

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul," and he prophesied in the midst of the house; and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11 And Saul P cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

a

b

18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?

19 But it came to pass at the time when Me

g Exod. 15. 21.—h Ch. 21. 11. & 29. 5. Ecclus. 47. 6.-i Heb. was evil in his eyes. Eccles. 4. 4.-1 Ch. 15. 28.-m Ch. 16. 14.-n Ch. 19. 24. 1 Kings 18. 29. Acts 16. 16. Ch. 19. 9-p Ch. 19. 10. & 20. 33. Prov. 7. 4.-q Ver. 15, 29-r Ch. 16. 13, 18. Ch. 16. 14. & 23. 15.- Ver. 16. Numb. 27. 17. 2 Sam. 5. 2-u Or, prospered. Ver. 5.-v Gen. 39. 2, 3, 33. Josh. 6. 27.-w Verse 5.-x Ch. 17. 25.—y Heb. a son of valour.

The women came out] It was the principal business of certain women to celebrate victories, sing at funerals, &c.

With instruments of music] The original word we shalashim, signifies instruments with three strings: and is, I think, properly translated by the Vulgate, cum sistris, with sistrums. This instrument is well known as being used among the ancient Egyptians: it was made of brass, and had three, (sometimes more,) brass rods across; which, being loose in their holes, made a jingling noise when the

instrument was shaken.

Verse 7. Saul hath slain his thousands] As it cannot literally be true that Saul had slain thousands, and David ten thousands, it would be well to translate the passage thus: Saul hath smitten, or faught against thousands; David against tens of thousands. "Though Saul has been victorious in all his battles; yet he has not had such great odds against him as David has had: Saul, indeed, has been opposed by thousands; David by ten thousands." We may here remark, that the Philistines had drawn out their whole forces at this time; and, when Goliath was slain, they were totally discomfited by the Israelites, led on chiefly by David.

Verse 10. The evil spirit from God] See chap. xvi. 14, &c.

33 66

He prophesied in the midst of the house] He was beside himself; made prayers, supplications, and incoherent imprecations: "God preserve my life," Destroy my enemies;" or such like prayers might frequently escape from him in his agitated state. The Arabic intimates that he was actually possessed by an evil spirit; and that, through it, he uttered a sort of demoniacal predictions.

But let us examine the original more closely it is said that Saul prophesied in the midst of his house; that is, he prayed in his family, while David was playing on the harp; and then suddenly threw his javelin, intending to have killed David. Let it be observed that the word Nann vayethnabe, is the third person singular of the future, hithpael; the sign of which is not only to do an action on or for one's self, but also to feign or pretend to do it. The meaning seems to be: Saul pretended to be praying in his family, the better to conceal his murderous intentions, and render

20 T And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in the one of the twain.

22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now, therefore, be the king's son-in-law.

23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

1

25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hun dred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law: and the days were not Pexpired.

27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him.

z Numb. 32 20, 27, 29. Ch. 25. 28-a Ver. 21, 25. 2 Sam 12 9-b See Ver 2 Ch. 9. 21. 2 Sam. 7. 18.-c 2 Sam. 21. 8.-d Judg. 7. 22-e Ver. 28-f Heb. was right in his eyes.-g Exod. 10. 7-h Verse 17.-i See Verse 26-k Heb according to these words-1 Gen. 34. 12. Exod. 22. 17.-m Chap. 14. 24-n Verse 17.-e Sce Verse 21.-p Heb. fulfilled-q Verse 13.-r 2 Samuel 3. 14.

David unsuspicious; who was, probably, at this time, performing the musical part of the family worship. This view of the subject makes the whole case natural and plain.

Verse 11. Saul cast the javelin] The javelin, or spear, was the emblem of regal authority: kings always had it at hand; and, in ancient monuments, they are always represented with it.

In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a diadem: Per ea tempora reges hastas pro diademate habebant, Hist. lib. xliii. And, as spears were the emblems of supreme power, hence they were reputed as attributes · of the divinity, and were worshipped as representatives of the gods. Ab origine rerum, pro Dus immortalibus veteres HASTAS coluerunt, ob cujus religionis memoriam, adhuc deorum simulachris HASTE adduntur. Ibid.

Verse 13. Made him his captain] This was under pretence of doing him honour; when it was, in effect, only to rid himself of the object of his envy.

Verse 15. He was afraid of him] He saw that, by his prudent conduct, he was every day gaining increasing influence.

Verse 17. Fight the LORD's battles.] Mr. Calmet properly remarks, that the wars of the Hebrews, while conducted by the express orders of God, were truly the wars of the Lord: but, when the spirit of wordly ambition and domination became mingled with them, they were no longer the wars of the Lord, but wars of lust and profanity.

Verse 21. That she may be a snare to him] Saul had already determined the condition on which he would give his daughter to David: viz. that he should slay one hundred Philistines: this he supposed he would undertake for the love of Michal, and that he must necessarily perish in the attempt; and thus Michal would become a snare to him.

Verse 25. But a hundred foreskins] That is, Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines; and thou shalt produce their foreskins, as a proof not only that thou hast killed one hundred men; but that these are of the uncircumcised.

Verse 27. Slew two hundred men] The Septuagint has only one hundred men. Saul covenanted with David for a hundred; and David himself says, 2 Sam. iii. 14. that