1 Samuel 26:5-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:1-5

Here, 1. Saul gets information of David's movements and acts offensively. The Ziphites came to him and told him where David now was, in the same place where he was when they formerly betrayed him, 1 Sam. 23:19. Perhaps (though it is not mentioned) Saul had given them intimation, under-hand, that he continued his design against David, and would be glad of their assistance. If not, they were very officious to Saul, aware of what would please him, and very malicious against David, to whom they... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:6-12

Here is, I. David's bold adventure into Saul's camp in the night, accompanied only by his kinsman Abishai, the son of Zeruiah. He proposed it to him and to another of his confidants (1 Sam. 26:6), but the other either declined it as too dangerous an enterprise, or at least was content that Abishai, who was forward to it, should run the risk of it rather than himself. Whether David was prompted to do this by his own courage, or by an extraordinary impression upon his spirits, or by the oracle,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:5

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched ,.... Came near it, within sight of it; so that he could take a view of it with his naked eye, and observe where and in what manner he was encamped: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner , the captain of his host ; where he and his general had their quarters in the camp: and Saul lay in the trench ; or circuit; not in the foss or ditch thrown up, in which an army sometimes lies entrenched;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:6

Then answered David ,.... Or addressed himself to the two following persons: and said to Ahimelech the Hittite ; who was either an Hittite by birth, but was become a proselyte, or he was an Israelite that had dwelt among the Hittites, and so had this name given him; the former seems most probable; some say F11 Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 76. M. this was Uriah the Hittite: and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab ; Zeruiah was the sister of David, 1... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:7

So David and Abishai came to the people by night ,.... Josephus F12 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 13. sect. 9. wrongly says, that he took with him both Abishai and Ahimelech; he chose to have but one, for the greater secrecy. This was a bold enterprise, for two men to go into a camp of three thousand men, though it was in the night; when though they might suppose the greater part of them were asleep, yet they could not well suppose this of all, and especially of the guards or sentinels; but no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:8

Then said Abishai to David ,.... Seeing Saul fast asleep, and a spear so near him: God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day : or at this time, properly it was night: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear ; with Saul's own spear, which was stuck in the ground at his bolster. He remembered that David would not put forth his hand to stay him before, when he had an opportunity; and since now another offered, he did not move it to him to do it, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 26:9

And David said to Abishai, destroy him not ,.... He laid his commands upon him not to hurt him: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless ? since Saul was king, and appointed to that office by the Lord, and was anointed by his order for it, and invested with it by him, his person was sacred, and not to be touched; nor could his life be taken away by any without being guilty of a very great crime indeed, which it might be justly expected the Lord... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:5

David arose - As David and his men knew the country, they had many advantages over Saul and his men; and no doubt could often watch them without being discovered. Saul lay in the trench - The word במעגל bammaegal , which we translate in the trench, and in the margin in the midst of his carriages, is rendered by some in a ring of carriages, and by others in the circle, i.e., which was formed by his troops. Luther himself translates it wagenburg , a fortress formed of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:6

Abishai the son of Zeruiah - She was David's sister; and therefore Abishai and Joab were nephews to David. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 26:8

God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand - Here Abishai uses the same language as did David's men, when Saul came into the cave at En-gedi, (see 1 Samuel 24:4 , etc.), and David uses the same language in reply. read more

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