--- title: "Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah" author: "Adam Clarke" languages: [en] shelf: "Commentaries" section: 314 of 914 url: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/314/ cite: "Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah, section 314. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/314/" --- # Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible · Volume 1: Genesis to Jeremiah *Adam Clarke* Clarke's learned notes on the Hebrew and Greek, verse by verse, from Genesis to Revelation: volume 1 of 2. ## 314. 1 Samuel · 36 of 37 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/314/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/adam-clarke-commentary-volume-1-genesis-to-jeremiah/314/#p-N ### Verse 14 [¶1] Upon the south of the Cherethites - Calmet and others maintain, that the כרתי kerethi, which, without the points, might be read Creti, were not only at this time Philistines, but that they were aborigines of Crete, from which they had their name Cherethites or Cretans, and are those of whom Zephaniah speaks, [Zep 2:5] : Wo to the inhabitants of the sea-coasts, the nation of the Cherethites. And by Ezekiel, [Eze 25:16] : Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and will cut off the Cherethim. In [2Sam 15:18] we find that the Cherethites formed a part of David's guards. [¶2] South of Caleb - Somewhere about Kirjath-arba, or Hebron, and Kirjath-sepher; these being in the possession of Caleb and his descendants. ### Verse 15 [¶4] Swear unto me - At the conclusion of this verse, the Vulgate, Syriac, and Arabic add, that David swore to him. This is not expressed in the Hebrew, but is necessarily implied. ### Verse 16 [¶6] Out of the land of the Philistines - That these Amalekites were enemies to the Philistines is evident, but it certainly does not follow from this that those whom David destroyed were enemies also. This, I think, has been too hastily assumed by Dr. Chandler and others, in order the better to vindicate the character of David. ### Verse 17 [¶8] There escaped not a man of them - It is well known to every careful reader of the Bible, that the Amalekites were a proscribed people, even by God himself, and that in extirpating them it has been supposed David fulfilled the express will of God. But all this depends on whether he had an express commission to do so, received from God himself, as Saul had. ### Verse 20 [¶10] And David took all the flocks - He and his men not only recovered all their own property, but they recovered all the spoil which these Amalekites had taken from the south of Judah, the Cherethites, and the south of Caleb. When this was separated from the rest, it was given to David, and called David's spoil. ### Verse 22 [¶12] Men of Belial - This is a common expression to denote the sour, the rugged, the severe, the idle, and the profane. ### Verse 23 [¶14] That which the Lord hath given us - He very properly attributes this victory to God; the numbers of the Amalekites being so much greater than his own. Indeed, as many fled away on camels as were in the whole host of David. ### Verse 25 [¶16] He made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel - Nothing could be more just and proper than this law: he who stays at home to defend house and property, has an equal right to the booty taken by those who go out to the war. There was a practice of this kind among the Israelites long before this time; see [Num 31:27]; [Jos 22:8]; and the note on this latter verse. [¶17] Unto this day - This is another indication that this book was composed long after the facts it commemorates. See the hypothesis in the preface. ### Verse 26 [¶19] Unto the elders of Judah - These were the persons among whom he sojourned during his exile, and who had given him shelter and protection. Gratitude required these presents. ### Verse 27 [¶21] To them which were in Beth-el - This was in the tribe of Ephraim. [¶22] South Ramoth - So called to distinguish it from Ramoth Gilead, beyond Jordan. This Ramoth belonged to the tribe of Simeon, [Jos 19:8]. [¶23] In Jattir - Supposed by Calmet to be the same as Ether, [Jos 15:42], but more probably Jattir, [Jos 15:48]. It was situated in the mountains, and belonged to Judah. ### Verse 28 [¶25] In Aroer - Situated beyond Jordan, on the banks of the river Arnon, in the tribe of God. [¶26] Siphmoth - Supposed to be the same with Shepham, [Num 34:10], on the eastern border of the promised land. [¶27] Eshtemoa - Another city in the tribe of Judah. See [Jos 15:50]. ### Verse 29 [¶29] Them which were in Rachal - We know not where this place was; it is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible. Calmet conjectures that Hachilah, [1Sam 23:19], may be the same place; here we know David did conceal himself for some time, till the Ziphites endeavored to betray him to Saul. [¶30] The cities of the Jerahmeelites - See before, [1Sam 27:10] (note). [¶31] And - the cities of the Kenites - A very small tract on the southern coast of the Dead Sea. ### Verse 30 [¶33] Hormah - The general name of those cities which belonged to Arad, king of Canaan; and were devoted to destruction by the Hebrews, and thence called Hormah. See [Num 21:1-3]. [¶34] In Chor-ashan - Probably the same as Ashan in the tribe of Judah: see [Jos 15:42] (note). It was afterwards ceded to Simeon, [Jos 19:7]. [¶35] To them which were in Athach - Probably the same as Ether, [Jos 19:7]. ### Verse 31 [¶37] To them which were in Hebron - This was a place strongly attached to David, and David to it, and the place where he was proclaimed king, and where he reigned more than seven years previously to the death of Ishbosheth, Saul's son, who was, for that time, his competitor in the kingdom. [¶38] David's having sent presents to all these places, not only shows his sense of gratitude, but that the booty which he took from the Amalekites must have been exceedingly great. And we learn from this also that David sojourned in many places which are not mentioned in the preceding history; for these are all said to be places where David and his men were wont to haunt. [¶39] We are not to suppose that the transactions mentioned here and in the preceding chapter took place after Saul's interview with the woman of En-dor, they were considerably antecedent to this, but how long we do not know. What is recorded in the following chapter must have taken place the next day after Saul left En-dor. ### Introduction [¶41] A battle in Mount Gilboa between Israel and the Philistines; in which the former are defeated, and Saul's three sons slain, [1Sam 31:1], [1Sam 31:2]. Saul, being mortally wounded, and afraid to fall alive into the hands of the Philistines, desires his armor-bearer to despatch him; which he refusing, Saul falls on his sword, and his armor-bearer does the same, [1Sam 31:3-6]. The Israelites on the other side of the valley forsake their cities, and the Philistines come and dwell in them, [1Sam 31:7]. The Philistines, finding Saul and his three sons among the slain, strip them of their armor, which they put in the house of Ashtaroth, cut of their heads, send the news to all the houses of their idols, and fasten the bodies of Saul and his three sons to the walls of Beth-shan, [1Sam 31:8-10]. Valiant men of Jabesh-gilead go by night, and take away the bodies; burn them at Jabesh; bury their bones under a tree; and fast seven days, [1Sam 31:11-13]. ### Verse 1 [¶43] Now the Philistines fought - This is the continuation of the account given in [1Sam 29:1-11]. [¶44] The men of Israel fled - It seems as if they were thrown into confusion at the first onset, and turned their backs upon their enemies.