Ver. 1. How long wilt thou mourn for Saul?] Mourn he might, but it was too long that he mourned. Est modus in rebus: It is not fit to wash stables with sweet water. Ad ignem charitatis incalescente pectore liquefactus intus pietatis adeps foras emanabat per oculos, saith Bernard, speaking of Samuel’s mourning. Fill thine horn with oil.] See 1 Samuel 10:1. [See Trapp on “1Sa 10:1”] I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite.] First, Samuel was told that God had found him out a man after his own heart; (1 Samuel 13:14) now, that this man shall be one of the sons of Jesse the Bethlehemite; and lastly, that it should be David, after a refusal of his other brethren. God oft revealeth not his will to men, but at sundry times, and by various degrees. So the Messiah was made known to the Church: first, that he should be the seed of the woman; then, that he should be of the posterity of Abraham; then, of the tribe of Judah; then, of the house of David; then, that he should be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14) Serm. xii. in Cantic.
Ver. 2. And Samuel said, How can I go?] This he might ask, not so much out of diffidence—for he was old and experienced; and if Solon could say, I fear not to oppose Pisistratus the tyrant, because I am old and must shortly die howsoever, much better might Samuel—as out of a desire to be directed, as Luke 1:34. And say, I am come to sacrifice.] This a prophet might do at any time, and in any place. “In everything give thanks.” But when a king was to be anointed, there was a kind of necessity in this service. Neither was Samuel bound to tell all that he came about. Some part of a truth may lawfully be concealed out of civil prudence. See the like done, Jeremiah 38:27.
Ver. 3. And call Jesse to the sacrifice.] Who was grandchild to Ruth the Moabitess, (Ruth 4:22) now grown a great lady in Bethlehem, great-grandmother to the king of Israel. So little is there lost by adhering to God and his people.
Ver. 4. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming.] Not because they feared him, but themselves, lest guilty of some great sin, or in danger of some grievous judgment, which he came to denounce. They well knew that Samuel was no gadder abroad, and that such a guest came not to them for familiarity. Coming also so unexpectedly and so privately, they might well fear he had fled from Saul, and that evil would befall them for his sake, as it afterwards did to Nob for David’s sake. Comest thou peaceably?] It is a good thing to stand in awe of God’s messengers, and to hold good terms with them upon all occasions. Zedekiah is blamed for not humbling himself before Jeremiah the prophet, speaking from the mouth of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 36:12)
Ver. 5. I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord.] This prophets might do, either upon occasion, or without, for the blessing and comfort of certain places and cities. See 1 Samuel 9:12. Sanctify yourselves.] By washing your garments; (Exodus 19:14,15) but especially your hearts: (Isaiah 1:16) prepare yourselves both legally and spiritually. And called them to the sacrifice.] And to the feast that followed the sacrifice with part of the peace offering, kept, likely, at the house of Jesse.
Ver. 6. He looked on Eliab.] Who was of a goodly stature and presence, but proud and uncourteous. (1 Samuel 17:28) Fronti nulla fides. Samuel had seen how ill Saul proved, though proper and personable. And said, Surely, &c.] This he said by a human judgment, and not as a prophet. See the like, 2 Samuel 7:3.
Ver. 7. Because I have refused him.] Licet primogenitum, pulchrum, et procerum. All these are but as ciphers to God, which signify nothing without some figure set before. For man looketh on the outward appearance.] He seeth but the surface of things—his knowledge is but skin-deep. The Antiochians chose Nectarius for their bishop—next after Nazianzen—for no other reason than this, that he was veneranda canitie, et vultu sacerdote digno, a goodly old man, and a comely person. So did the Constantinopolitans, Arsatius, next after Chrysostom. But the Lord looketh on the heart.] Cor camera Omnipotentis Regis. Baron., Annal. Antonin., tit. x. cap. 9.
Ver. 8. Then Jesse.] Who was now made of the council.
Ver. 9. Then Jesse made Shammah.] Called elsewhere Shimeah; (2 Samuel 13:3) and Shimma. (1 Chronicles 2:13)
Ver. 10. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons.] For he had eight in all, (1 Samuel 17:12) though one of them likely died without issue, and is not therefore reckoned. (1 Chronicles 2:13)
Ver. 11. Are here all thy children?] God will say to such as make not a full confession of their sins, Are here all? There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep.] Him God called “from following the ewes great with young, to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.” (Psalms 78:71) [See Trapp on “Ps 78:71”] Our vocation likewise to glory and virtue is gratuita, et inopinata (Ephesians 1:5)
Ver. 12. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance.] Not rufus, red haired, as Pellicau and Junius render it, but rubicundus, cherry-cheeked, as we say, (Lamentations 4:7 Song of Solomon 5:10) sanguine and spiritful.
Ver. 13. Then Samuel took the horn of oil.] Not a cruse or phial, as when Saul and Jehu were anointed, to show the short continuance of their kingdom, say some. And anointed him in the midst of his brethren,] i.e., Amongst them all, as Deuteronomy 18:15 Ex 33:5. Not in the presence of them all; for then Saul might soon have heard all. Seven may keep counsel, if six be away. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David.] Not the spirit of felicity only, as R. Levi, but the spirit of fortitude, of prudence, of prophecy, and of piety, whereby he became, as his name David signifieth, dilectus et desiderabilis, amiable and acceptable to all, able to do great exploits, and famous for them; so that the courtiers took notice of him, and commended him to their prince. (1 Samuel 16:18)
Ver. 14. But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.] He lost his royal abilities and achievements; he that was before in bellis acer et victor, factus est imbellis, ignavus, iners, nec quidquam praeclare gessit. And the like befell Henry IV of France after that he turned Papist once. Bonus Orbi, but afterwards Orbus Boni, as they wittily anagrammatised his name Borbonius. And an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.] Or, Terrified him, scared him, vexed him. That old man-slayer— permittente Deo aut immittente— assaulted him, and perhaps possessed him, tormented his mind and body, working upon his melancholy and discontent, which is the devil’s bath, and casting him into fits of frenzy and fury. He had preferred his own reason, saith a grave interpreter, before God’s directions in the business of the Amalekites, and so made an idol of his own wisdom and reason: and now God deprives him of the use of his reason, and breaks, as it were, this his idol in pieces. A. Lapide. Mr Jackson.
Ver. 15. And Saul’s servants.] That is, His physicians. “And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians.” (Genesis 50:2) Θεραποντας θεραπευοντας.
Ver. 16. Let our lord now command.] Here the good providence of God beginneth to work for the bringing of David to the court, that he might appear to be a man fit to govern the kingdom, to wear that diadem whereunto his head was destinated after Saul’s death. And thou shalt be well.] Thy melancholy malady shall be much mitigated and allayed by the music, and the voice of the sacred hymn sung therewith shall cause an intermission of Satan’s work. Although it may well be thought that Saul’s counsellors and courtiers took care only for his corporal ease; for else they would have advised him in the first place to send for Samuel to have prayed for him, and with him, and advised him the best way for his soul. Without this, music and other such like diversions would work but a palliate cure, and be but as a cup of cold water to him that is in a high fever. Charles IX of France, after the Parisian massacre acted by him upon his Protestant subjects, was so haunted by the furies of his own evil conscience, that he could neither sleep nor waken without music, which what was it else but the devil’s anodyne, or whistle, to call him off from the practice of repentance, that would soon have settled his mind by that peace of God which passeth all understanding! But this was hid from his eyes. Thuan., lib. lvii.
Ver. 17. Provide me now a man.] Not a wise man, as they call wizards, or a white witch, -Saul, as bad as he was, was yet an utter enemy to such, (1 Samuel 28:9) -but a man that can play well. Musica maestae medicina mentis, Pythagoras cured a frantic young man by music, saith Seneca. And Xenocrates lymphatos carminum modulis a dementia liberavit, saith another, Elisha called for a musician to settle his distempers. (2 Kings 3:15) And what strange alterations that excellent minstrel Timotheus could work in great Alexander, either to enrage or appease him, is well known out of historians. Movit Amphion lapides canendo. Lib. iii. De Ira., cap. 9. Martianus Capella. Alex., Ab Alex. Genial., lib. ii. cap. 17.
Ver. 18. Then answered one of the servants.] Junius thinketh this might be Jonathan; Lyra, that it might be Doeg. But it is not likely that it was either, but another who had heard of David’s great acts and worth, since the Spirit of God came upon him. (1 Samuel 16:13)
Ver. 19. Which is with the sheep.] Saul might easily remember that himself was once of a like employment, and not now so contemptuously speak of it, as if David should therefore be sent him, because he could better prefer him. Shepherdy is ancient and honourable: “ Pascebatque suas ipse Senator oves. ’’— Ovid.
Ver. 20. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread.] Great men love and look for presents, whereby men testify their respects unto them. Reges Parthos non potest quisquam salutare sine munere, saith Seneca. And sent them by David.] Whom he might well have feared to send to Saul; but he trusteth God with him, submitting to his good pleasure and providence. Epist. xvii.
Ver. 21. And he loved him greatly.] But better he had loved him little, so he had loved him long. Trust not in princes. (Psalms 146:3) Alvarez de Luna told them that admired his fortune and great favour with the king of Castile, You do wrong to commend the building before it is finished.
Ver. 22. Let David, I pray thee.] This kindness lasted not long; for David was sent home again shortly after, and loves his hook the better since he saw the court. Magis caulam quam aulam diligebat. -A. Lapide.
Ver. 23. David took a harp.] This music disabled the instrument of Saul’s distemper—melancholy, Not the agent—the devil; unless David withal sang psalms to his harp, as Josephus saith he did; or prayed heartily there while, as others think. See 2 Kings 3:15. Lymphationibus tunc temporis cessantibus. -Tremel.