Day 108-11

VII The Reign of Saul - 1065-1025 B.C. ~ cont.

B. Decline of Saul and rise of David (5 years) ~ cont.

3. David's mercy to Saul and his rise in popularity ~ cont.

f. Goes to land of Philistines - 1 Samuel 27:1

(1) David goes to Gath again - 1 Samuel 27:24

(2) Achish gives Ziklag to David - 1 Samuel 27:5-6

(3) David's activity while at Ziklag - 1 Samuel 27:7; 1 Chronicles 12:1-6; 1 Samuel 27:8-12

4. Saul's downfall

a. Saul's third war against the Philistines

(1) Philistines gather for battle - 1 Samuel 28:1-2

(2) David prevented from fighting against Israel - 1 Samuel 29:1-11
(3) Men that joined David on trip back to Ziklag - 1 Chronicles 12:19-22
(4) David's victory over Amalekites - 1 Samuel 30:1-31
(5) Positions for coming battle - 1 Samuel 28:4

{pages 476 - 480}

~*~*~NOTE -Outline is taken from the Reese Chronological Bible~*~*~

David lies to King Achish...and he believes David.

And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.  And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines. And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.   (1 Samuel 27:10-12)

JFB commentary on 10:

Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to-day? — that is, raid, a hostile excursion for seizing cattle and other booty.

David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites — Jerahmeel was the great-grandson of Judah, and his posterity occupied the southern portion of that tribal domain.

the south of the Kenites — the posterity of Jethro, who occupied the south of Judah (Jdg_1:16; Num_24:21). The deceit practiced upon his royal host and the indiscriminate slaughter committed, lest any one should escape to tell the tale, exhibit an unfavorable view of this part of David’s history.

Wesley on 10:

David - These and the following words are ambiguous, and contrary to that simplicity which became David, both as a prince, and as an eminent professor of the true religion. The fidelity of Achish to him, and the confidence he put in him, aggravates his sin in thus deceiving him, which David seems penitently to reflect on, when he prays, Remove from me the way of lying.

Which made me go back and look.  :-)

Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.  (Psalm 119:29)

Lord, help us all to guard are lips and remove any deception from our hearts and minds.

I thought it intriguing that David was willing to go to battle WITH Achish against Israel and Saul.  In a difficult situation.  Claiming allegiance to Achish, yet unwilling to have killed Saul on two other occasions when the opportunity was available.  Now going into battle against Saul AND Jonathan.  David was in the rereward with Achish...and the lords of the Philistines did not want David anywhere near them in the battle.

Okay, so what is rereward?

rereward - H314 - From H309; hinder; generally late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western.

• H309 - A primitive root; to loiter (that is, be behind); by implication to procrastinate.

Nothing quite like a rabbit trail.  Though the article I found did not give me any real additional insight into the rereward, it was thought provoking and encouraging.

A brief quote:

"On the contrary, the children of God hear the sound of war; the shrill clarion is constantly sounding in their ears; they are compelled to carry with them the sword and the shield, and constantly to gird their armor on, for they are not yet come to the land of peace; they are in an enemy's country, and every day will convince them that such is their position."

So fellow warriors in Christ Jesus, have ye donned your armour this day?

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.  (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Day 107-11

VII The Reign of Saul - 1065-1025 B.C. ~ cont.

B. Decline of Saul and rise of David (5 years) ~ cont.

3. David's mercy to Saul and his rise in popularity ~ cont.

c. David with Nabal and Abigail - 1 Samuel 25:2-38
d. David and his wives
(1) Marries Abigail - 1 Samuel 25:39-42
(2) Status of other wives - 1 Samuel 25:43-45
e. Betrayed again by Ziphites, spares Saul again - 1 Samuel 26:1-25

{pages 472-476}

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.  (1 Samuel 25:3)

Abigail - H26 - From H1 and H1524; father (that is source) of joy; Abigail or Abigal, the name of two Israelitesses.

• H1 - A primitive word; father in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application.
• H1524 - From H1523; a revolution (of time, that is, an age); also joy.
• H1523 - A primitive root; properly to spin around (under the influence of any violent emotion), that is, usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear.

good - H2896 - From H2895; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well).

• H2895 - A primitive root, to be (transitively do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense.

understanding - H7922 - From H7919; intelligence; by implication success.

• H7919 - A primitive root; to be (causeatively make or act) circumspect and hence intelligent.

beautiful - H3303 - From H3302; beautiful (literally of figuratively).

• H3302 - A primitive root; properly to be bright, that is, (by implication) beautiful.

countenance - H8389 - From H8388; outline, that is, figure or appearance.

• H8388 - A primitive root; to delineate; reflexively to extend. (Rimmon methoar by union with H7417.).

Nabal - H5037 - The same as H5036; dolt; Nabal, an Israelite.

• H5036 - From H5034; stupid; wicked (especially impious).
• H5034 - A primitive root; to wilt; generally to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively to be foolish or (morally) wicked; causatively to despise, disgrace.

churlish - H7186 - From H7185; severe (in various applications).

• H7185 - A primitive root; properly to be dense, that is, tough or severe (in various applications).

evil - H7451 - From H7489; bad or (as noun) evil (naturally or morally). This includes the second (feminine) form; as adjective or noun.

• H7489 - A primitive root; properly to spoil (literally by breaking to pieces); figuratively to make (or be) good for nothing, that is, bad (physically, socially or morally). (associate selves and show self friendly are by mistake for H7462.).

Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.  (1 Samuel 25:17)

Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.  (1 Samuel 25:25)

Obviously not gossip?  They can state a fact about someone, including his wife?  To someone outside the family?

I backtracked to verse 3 and pulled Gill's commentary on that verse:

Now the name of the man was Nabal,.... Which signifies a "fool"; one would think his parents should not give him this name, though it is a name proper enough to men in common; and Kimchi thinks this was a nickname, which men gave him agreeably to his genius and conduct, and which is not improbable:

and the name of his wife Abigail; which signifies "my father's joy", he delighting in her for her wit and beauty, as follows: 

and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance; she was not only of a good understanding in things natural, civil, and domestic, but in things spiritual, as her speech to David shows, and which, with her external form, completed her character, and greatly recommended her; which is the character Aelianus (u) gives of Aspasia, wise and fair: 

but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; morose and ill natured in the temper and disposition of his mind, and wicked in his conversation, and fraudulent and oppressive in his dealings with men: 

and he was of the house of Caleb; or he was a Calebite (w), a descendant of that great and good man Caleb the son of Jephunneh; which was an aggravation of his wickedness, that he should be the degenerate plant of such a noble vine: some interpret it, he was as his heart, as his heart was bad, so was he; some men, their outside is better than their inside; but this man was no hypocrite, he was as bad outwardly as he was inwardly: the word "Caleb" sometimes signifies a dog; hence the Septuagint version renders it, a doggish man, a cynic; and to the same purpose are the Syriac and Arabic versions; and so some Jewish writers interpret it; but the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, supply it as we do, that he was of the house or family of Caleb, and so of the tribe of Judah, as David was.

Moving on to verse 17 - just the portion about Nabal being a son of Belial.  Who is Belial?

Belial - H1100 - From H1097 and H3276; without profit, worthlessness; by extension destruction, wickedness (often in connection with H376, H802, H1121, etc.).

• H1097 - From H1086; properly failure, that is, nothing or destruction; usually (with preposition) without, not yet, because not, as long as, etc.
• H3276 - A primitive root; properly to ascend; figuratively to be valuable (objective useful, subjective benefited).

Gill on verse 17:  for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him; meaning Nabal, who was such a worthless, passionate, and ill natured man, such a lawless and imperious one, that he would not suffer a man to speak to him about anything; and it was to no purpose to attempt it, which was a reason this servant did not choose to speak to him about this affair, but to Abigail; and suggests, that it would signify nothing for her to speak to him about it, but it would be most advisable for her to consider with herself what was to be done immediately, without consulting him: the words may be rendered, "for he is a son of Belial that speaks unto him" (a); or when "he speaks unto him", or it is told him; meaning not the servant that reported to David what Nabal said; for Abarbinel observes there were ten of them, and therefore it could not be said of them, he is a son of Belial; but rather David himself, as he and Kimchi observe it may be interpreted of; that though he was so good and upright a man, yet when it should be told him how Nabal had treated him, he would be so provoked at it, that he would become and act like a son of Belial; storm and rage, and vow destruction to Nabal and his family, and come out with his whole army to destroy them; but the first sense is best. 

I definitely think the verse is referring to Nabal, not David, though he did get het up and intended to do some serious damage.

Gill on verse 25:  Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, 

even Nabal,.... He is a worthless man, it must be owned, a weak foolish man, rather to be despised than regarded by him; what either he says or does is unworthy of the notice of any, and much less of so great a person as David was: 

for as his name is, so is he; his natural disposition, genius, and conduct, agree with his name; when anyone knows his name, he may judge what is to be expected from him: 

Nabal is his name: which signifies a fool:

and folly, in Hebrew, "Nebalah":

is with him; attends all, his words and actions. This character of her husband, though no doubt a just one, yet it would not have been right in her to have given it, whose folly she should rather have concealed, but that it was his well known character; and she observes it not to reproach him with it, but to excuse his sin, his rudeness and ingratitude and preserve his life; and suggests that what he had done was not to be imputed to malice in his heart, but to his stupidity and folly, and so not to be regarded, and was not a peculiar single action of his, but what he was daily more or less guilty of; his folly was with him wherever he went and appeared in everything he said or did, and therefore to be overlooked and despised: 

but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send: as she had taken the blame upon herself, now she answers for herself, and pleads ignorance of his messengers, and their message; she had not so much as seen them with her eyes, and much less heard their message when reported; had she, she would have taken care, she intimates, that it should have been attended to; having so much interest in her husband, that she could have prevailed on him to have used them with civility, and granted their request.

I really like the position that Gill takes on Abigail and her jumping into the fray...while acknowledging her husband's character, she places herself in a position to make good the wrong.  Awesome example of how to deflect from a possible collision course.

And what happened to Nabal?

And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.  (1 Samuel 25:38)

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

(Proverbs 31:10)

So what type of woman are you?  Or what type of woman are you looking for as a wife?

Day 106-11

VII The Reign of Saul - 1065-1025 B.C. ~ cont.

B. Decline of Saul and rise of David (5 years) ~ cont.

2. David's dangers and flights ~ cont.

i. David in Ziph still sought by Saul - 1 Samuel 23:14-15; Psalm 13:-5

j. David's last meeting with Jonathan - 1 Samuel 23:16-18

k. David's betraal by the Ziphites - 1 Samuel 23:19-23

l. David escapes to wilderness of Maon - 1 Samuel 23:24-28; Psalm 54:1-7

m. David goes to Engedi - 1 Samuel 23:29; Psalm 17:1-15

3. David's mercy to Saul and his rise in popularity

a. David's mercy to Saul at Engedi - 1 Samuel 24:1-22; Psalm 57:1-1; 108:1-5

b. Death of Samuel (apx 88 years) 1 Samuel 25:1

{pages 468 - 472}

And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.  (1 Samuel 23:18)

I thought it interesting that Jonathan was not actively engaged in helping his father.  He knew where David was...yet he did not participate.  A true friend is a valuable asset.

Friend...what is a friend?  I know I posted a few days back on the friendship of David and Jonathan, but I did not take time to examine the actual word.

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  (Proverbs 17:17)

Friend - H7453 - From H7462; an associate (more or less close).

• H7462 - A primitive root; to tend a flock, that is, pasture it; intransitively to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension to associate with (as a friend).

The next verses have a different Hebrew word for friend:

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  (Proverbs 18:24)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.  (Proverbs 27:6)

H157 - A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise).

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.  (John 3:29)

G5384 - Properly dear, that is, a friend; actively fond, that is, friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.).

A couple to meditate upon:

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.  (Proverbs 27:17)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  (James 4:4)