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Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 26:8-9

1 Samuel 26:8-9 . Now, therefore, let me smite him Although David would not kill him himself, when he had the like opportunity, 1 Samuel 24:4; yet Abishai thought he might give him leave to do it; and he pledged himself to nail him to the ground with his spear at one thrust, so that he should make no noise by crying out. And David said, Destroy him not Saul having been made king by God’s special appointment, David looked upon it as a high crime to offer any violence to him: as if he had... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 26:10-11

1 Samuel 26:10-11. The Lord shall smite him, &c. David leaves it to the sovereign will and pleasure of God to put an end to Saul’s life when he saw best; either by a sudden stroke, or in the course of nature, or by causing him to fall in battle. Take the spear Which will show where we have been, and what we could have done. And the cruise of water Set there either for Saul to drink, if he were thirsty, or to wash himself, as was prescribed to the Israelites by the law, for many... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

The move to Philistia (26:1-27:12)Although he had every intention of killing Nabal, David still refused to harm Saul; but Saul remained determined to harm David (26:1-5). When another opportunity arose to kill Saul, David refused to act. He was content to leave the matter with God, who would remove Saul when he saw fit (6-12).Once again David produced proof that he had no evil intentions towards Saul (13-17). But clearly David was becoming tired of this continual flight from the mad king. Not... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 26:8

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 . let me smite him . Note Abishai's character. 2 Samuel 16:9 ; 2 Samuel 19:21 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 26:9

Destroy . . . not. See Deuteronomy 9:26 , the subscriptions of Psa 56:57 , Psa 56:58 , Psa 56:74 , and App-65 . the LORD ' S. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 26:7-12

1 Samuel 26:7-12. So David and Abishai came to the people, &c.— This was a bold and hazardous undertaking, which would have been certain death to David had he been discovered. But David was bold and intrepid; and his and Abishai's gallantry in this affair deserves certainly to be no less celebrated than that of Ulysses and Diomed, when they went as spies to the Trojan camp. But there is more in David to be commended than his gallantry. Who can help admiring his magnanimity and piety? What... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 26:8

8-12. Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand—This midnight stratagem shows the activity and heroic enterprise of David's mind, and it was in unison with the style of warfare in ancient times. let me smite him . . . even to the earth at once—The ferocious vehemence of the speaker is sufficiently apparent from his language, but David's magnanimity soared far above the notions of his followers. Though Saul's cruelty and perfidy and general want of right... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 26:11

11. the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water—The Oriental spear had, and still has, a spike at the lower extremity, intended for the purpose of sticking the spear into the ground when the warrior is at rest. This common custom of Arab sheiks was also the practice of the Hebrew chiefs. at his bolster—literally, "at his head"; perhaps, Saul as a sovereign had the distinguished luxury of a bolster carried for him. A "cruse of water" is usually, in warm climates, kept near a... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 26:6-12

Abishai’s offer to kill Saul 26:6-12Ahimelech the Hittite may have been a foreign mercenary (cf. Uriah the Hittite, 2 Samuel 11:3). The writer may have mentioned his Hittite connection to show the extent of David’s appeal. Abishai was David’s nephew, one of the sons of his sister Zeruiah (cf. 1 Chronicles 2:15-16). Joab, who later became David’s commander-in-chief, was Abishai’s brother.Saul had used his spear to attack David three times (cf. 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Samuel 19:9-10; 1 Samuel 20:33).... read more

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