1 Samuel (1 Kings) 27
Commentary from 3 fathers
So David arose, and the six hundred men that were with him, and he went to Anchus, son of Ammach, king of Geth.
καὶ ἀνέστη Δαυὶδ καὶ οἱ ἑξακόσιοι ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπορεύθη πρὸς ᾿Αγχοῦς υἱὸν ᾿Αμμὰχ βασιλέα Γέθ.
И҆ воста̀ даві́дъ и҆ ше́сть сѡ́тъ мꙋже́й и҆̀же съ ни́мъ, и҆ и҆́де ко а҆гхꙋ́сꙋ сы́нꙋ а҆мма́ховꙋ царю̀ ге́ѳскꙋ.
“What,” you say, “have you to do with the kings of this world, in whom Christianity has never found anything save envy toward it?” Having said this, you endeavored to reckon up what kings the righteous had found to be their enemies, and [you] did not consider how many more might be enumerated who have proved their friends. The patriarch Abraham was both most friendly treated, and presented with a token of friendship, by a king who had been warned from heaven not to defile his wife. Isaac his son likewise found a king most friendly to him. Jacob, being received with honor by a king in Egypt, went so far as to bless him. What shall I say of his son Joseph, who, after the tribulation of a prison, in which his chastity was tried as gold is tried in the fire, being raised by Pharaoh to great honors, even swore by the life of Pharaoh4—not as though puffed up with vain conceit but being not unmindful of his kindness. The daughter of a king adopted Moses. David took refuge with a king of another race, compelled thereto by the unrighteousness of the king of Israel.
The Letters of Petilian, the Donatist 2.93.204
And David arose, and he went himself, etc. The Lord leaves the seat which He used to hold in the hearts of the Jews from ancient times and went to acquire the Gentiles for His faith, He himself and the ministers of His word, notable by their multiplicity, that is, intent on perfect work in this present time, and suspended in their mind by the undoubted hope of heavenly things in the future.
Commentary on Samuel
And David dwelt with Anchus, he and his men, each with his family; and David and both his wives, Achinaam, the Jezraelitess, and Abigaia the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
καὶ ἐκάθισε Δαυὶδ μετὰ ᾿Αγχοῦς, αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ, ἕκαστος καὶ ὁ οἶκος αὐτοῦ, καὶ Δαυὶδ καὶ ἀμφότεραι αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτοῦ, ᾿Αχινὰαχ ᾿Ιεζραηλῖτις καὶ ᾿Αβιγαία ἡ γυνὴ Νάβαλ τοῦ Καρμηλίου.
И҆ пребы́сть даві́дъ ᲂу҆ а҆гхꙋ́са въ ге́ѳѣ, са́мъ и҆ мꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀ всѝ и҆ до́мъ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ даві́дъ и҆ ѻ҆́бѣ жєны̀ є҆гѡ̀, а҆хїнаа́мъ і҆езраилі́тынѧ и҆ а҆вїге́а жена̀ нава́ла карми́льскагѡ.
He was from the tribe of Caleb. The teachers of the synagogue were from the disciples of the lawgiver. For the scribes and Pharisees sat on Moses' seat (Matthew XXIII); who, since they then led other mortals by the grace of both human and divine wisdom, can, not unjustly, be called Caleb, that is, the whole heart; or because we read that patriarch Caleb was powerful in faith and virtue, we can say that the faithfulness of the faithful is the increase of damnation for the faithless, who have degenerated from the life of their parents.
Commentary on Samuel
And David dwelt with Achish in Gath, etc. Gath, which is translated as winepress, signifies the pressures and tribulations by which the faith of the Church is tested in this life; as also the Psalms, which are titled for the winepresses, declare. Achish, who is called Brother of man, signifies the people of the nations who, by believing in Christ, rejoice to be his brother through grace, and to act manfully. For Maoch, his father, who is translated into emasculation, that is, deprived of manly action, mind, and virtue, demonstrates the Gentiles of earlier times, who, serving idols, remained void both of the work and reward of virtue. Therefore, the Lord dwelt among the nations first in persecutions and very great pressures, until they themselves could know to accept his faith; he and his apostles: every shepherd, with the Church subjected to him which he governs and educates; Christ himself as the one shepherd of twin flocks, namely those he brought from the Gentiles, and those from the Jews dispersed in the day of gloom and cloud, whom he does not cease to preserve and feed among the nations. David’s two wives can also be understood as the chaste souls of the faithful, adhering to Christ in the lifestyle of two ways of life, namely active and contemplative. Ahinoam the Jezreelite, that is, my brother’s beauty, deriving origin from the seed of God, may be she whose eyes of an enlightened mind burn with all their strength to see the King in his beauty. Abigail, on the other hand, that is, my Father’s exultation; the wife of Nabal the Carmelite, that is, the foolish and soft one, can be understood as she who, recently saved by repentance from the blandishments of a foolish teacher, brings such joy in the Father in heaven along with the angels, more than over the ninety-nine righteous who do not need repentance.
Commentary on Samuel
And it was told Saul that David had fled to Geth; and he no longer sought after him
καὶ ἀνηγγέλη τῷ Σαοὺλ ὅτι πέφευγε Δαυὶδ εἰς Γέθ, καὶ οὐ προσέθετο ἔτι ζητεῖν αὐτόν.
И҆ возвѣсти́ша саꙋ́лꙋ, ꙗ҆́кѡ ѿбѣжѐ даві́дъ въ ге́ѳъ, и҆ не приложѝ ктомꙋ̀ (саꙋ́лъ) и҆ска́ти є҆го̀.
And Saul added no more to seek him. This signifies the present time of the Church; when the Jews, seeing it glorified among the nations, and also protected by the favor of secular kings, although they do not cease to hate it, have nevertheless lost all hope and intention of overcoming it altogether.
Commentary on Samuel
And David said to Anchus, If now thy servant has found grace in thine eyes, let them give me, I pray thee, a place in one of the cities in the country, and I will dwell there: for why does thy servant dwell with thee in a royal city?
καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πρὸς ᾿Αγχοῦς· εἰ δή εὕρηκεν ὁ δοῦλός σου χάριν ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς σου, δότωσαν δή μοι τόπον ἐν μιᾷ τῶν πόλεων τῶν κατ᾿ ἀγρὸν καὶ καθήσομαι ἐκεῖ· καὶ ἱνατί κάθηται ὁ δοῦλός σου ἐν πόλει βασιλευομένη μετὰ σοῦ;
И҆ речѐ даві́дъ ко а҆гхꙋ́сꙋ: а҆́ще ѡ҆брѣ́те ра́бъ тво́й благода́ть пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма твои́ма, да да́си мѝ мѣ́сто во є҆ди́нѣмъ ѿ градѡ́въ и҆̀же на селѣ̀, и҆ сѧ́дꙋ та́мѡ: и҆ вскꙋ́ю сѣди́тъ ра́бъ тво́й во гра́дѣ ца́рственнѣмъ съ тобо́ю;
But David said to Achis, "If I have found favor in your eyes," etc. The Lord said through his disciples to the Gentile people: "If the doctrine of truth, which I preach, and the life which I promise, are pleasing to you, let a humble heart of the listeners be given to my words in the firm unity of the faithful, where I dwell by the grace of the Holy Spirit."
Commentary on Samuel
And he gave him Sekelac in that day: therefore Sekelac came into possession of the king of Judea to this day.
καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τὴν Σεκελάκ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγενήθη Σεκελὰκ τῷ βασιλεῖ τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης.
И҆ дадѐ є҆мꙋ̀ а҆гхꙋ́съ въ де́нь то́й секела́гъ: сегѡ̀ ра́ди бы́сть царю̀ і҆ꙋде́йскꙋ секела́гъ до дне́шнѧгѡ днѐ.
Therefore Achis gave him on that day Siceleg, etc. Siceleg is interpreted as the purification of a raised voice; but to purify a voice is to bring a voice to itself, with careful discretion, to inquire which speech smells of truth, which of falsehood. Therefore, the believers from the Gentiles gave to Christ, to dedicate their dwelling, which is understood as the Church, throngs of souls who, coming to themselves from the voices of preachers, knew how to discern, by reason, and to separate the purity of the apostolic voice from the dregs of the philosophical or pagan voice. For this reason, such assemblies of souls, having been withdrawn from gentile ceremonies, have become subject in perpetuity to the authority of the apostles. This sense, I believe, is also aided by the history of Josephus in the Antiquities (Book XVI, Chapter 13), which says: "To whom the king gave a certain village called Siceleg. This village he so loved, that when David reigned, he and his men honored it as their own possession."
Commentary on Samuel
And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was four months.
καὶ ἐγενήθη ὁ ἀριθμὸς τῶν ἡμερῶν, ὧν ἐκάθισε Δαυὶδ ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων τέσσαρας μῆνας.
И҆ бы́сть число̀ дні́й, въ нѧ́же сѣдѧ́ше даві́дъ на селѣ̀ и҆ноплеме́нничи, четы́ри мцⷭ҇ы.
Now the number of days that David lived in the land of the Philistines, etc. There was, is, and will be a time of Christ's dwelling in the Church of the Gentiles, until he fills the four corners of the world with the complete light of his heavenly grace, until he pours the light of the Gospel, which is contained in the unanimous variety of the four books, into the believing hearts of the Gentiles. And note that David, coming to the Philistines, begins to dwell in Geth; but soon, with Achis' permission, he turns to Siceleg: because, coming to the Gentiles in the disciples, Christ, first pressed by the winepress of pressures by the unbelievers, finally after many grapes of the martyrs pressed, he approached to instruct those who among the dregs and wine of intellectual innkeepers, that is, those teaching various senses, knew how to judge.
Commentary on Samuel
And David and his men went up, and made an attack on all the Gesirites and on the Amalekites: and behold, the land was inhabited, (even the land from Gelampsur) by those who come from the fortified [cities] even to the land of Egypt.
καὶἀνέβαινε Δαυὶδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπετίθεντο ἐπὶ πάντα τὸν Γεσιρὶ καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν ᾿Αμαληκίτην· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἡ γῆ κατῳκεῖτο ἀπὸ ἀνηκόντων ἡ ἀπὸ Γελαμψοὺρ τετειχισμένων καὶ ἕως γῆς Αἰγύπτου.
И҆ восхожда́ше даві́дъ и҆ мꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀ и҆ напада́хꙋ на всѧ́каго гессе́ра и҆ на а҆маликі́та, и҆ сѐ, землѧ̀ населѧ́шесѧ ѿ ламсꙋ́ра и҆ до землѝ є҆гѵ́петскїѧ:
And David and his men went up, etc. Upon the rock, Egypt sounds darkness. Therefore, the Church was growing through the steadfastness of Christ's disciples, and was rescuing souls from pagan rites, which, following the examples of not new but ancient men, had clung to earthly desires, with all going to the hardness of heart, and arriving as far as the dark land, covered with the gloom of death, the land of the misery of darkness, where the shadow of death, and no order, and eternal horror dwells.
Commentary on Samuel
And he smote the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive; and they took flocks, and herds, and asses, and camels, and raiment; and they returned and came to Anchus.
καὶ ἔτυπτε τὴν γῆν καὶ οὐκ ἐζωογόνει ἄνδρα ἢ γυναῖκα καὶ ἐλάμβανον ποίμνια καὶ βουκόλια καὶ ὄνους καὶ καμήλους καὶ ἱματισμόν, καὶ ἀνέστρεψαν καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς ᾿Αγχοῦς.
и҆ поража́ше даві́дъ зе́млю, и҆ не ѡ҆ставлѧ́ше въ живы́хъ мꙋ́жеска по́лꙋ и҆ же́нска: и҆ взима́хꙋ стада̀, и҆ бꙋ́йвѡлицы и҆ ѻ҆слѧ́та, и҆ вельблю́ды и҆ ри̑зы, и҆ возвраща́ющесѧ прихожда́хꙋ ко а҆гхꙋ́сꙋ.
And David struck all the land, etc. The Lord strikes with the sword of His word whatever earthly and lowly thing He finds in unbelievers; nor does He allow anyone of those who truly receive the faith, either in spirit or in flesh, to live further in their prior conduct, but makes all by true confession say with the Apostle: But it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me (Gal. II).
Commentary on Samuel
And he took the sheep and the cattle, etc. Christ, taking from the nations souls of diverse character, hastens to gather them all into the unity of the preexisting Church in Himself.
Commentary on Samuel
And Anchus said to David, On whom have ye made an attack to-day? And David said to Anchus, On the south of Judea, and on the south of Jesmega, and on the south of the Kenezite.
καὶ εἶπεν ᾿Αγχοῦς πρὸς Δαυίδ· ἐπὶ τίνα ἐπέθεσθε σήμερον; καὶ εἶπε Δαυὶδ πρὸς ᾿Αγχοῦς· κατὰ νότον τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας καὶ κατὰ νότον ᾿Ιεσμεγὰ καὶ κατὰ νότον τοῦ Κενεζί.
И҆ речѐ а҆гхꙋ́съ къ даві́дꙋ: на кого̀ нападо́сте нн҃ѣ; И҆ речѐ даві́дъ ко а҆гхꙋ́сꙋ: къ ю҆́гꙋ і҆ꙋде́и и҆ къ ю҆́гꙋ і҆есмегѝ и҆ къ ю҆́гꙋ кенезі́а:
But Achis said to him: Against whom have you made a raid today? etc. Although he seems to deceive in the literal sense, who, rising against the Philistines, devastating the province not far from them, said he had made a raid against the one who arouses their king against his own people: yet the figure of speech does not deceive, because while he draws the nations to faith, Christ arises against the clear and burning blasphemy of the Jews. For by His just judgement, blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, and thus all Israel shall be saved (Rom. XI): therefore, while bringing in the nations, He rises against Judea, which, out of pride, broke not a few branches of the good olive tree, so that by grafting in the wild olive tree, He might make it a partaker of the good root and fatness of the olive tree. And it is well said to be a rising against, because He who falls, says He, upon this rock, will be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (Luke XX).
Commentary on Samuel
And I have not saved man or woman alive to bring them to Geth, saying, Lest they carry a report to Geth against us, saying, These things David does. And this was his manner all the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines.
καὶ ἄνδρα καὶ γυναῖκα οὐκ ἐζωογόνησα τοῦ εἰσαγαγεῖν εἰς Γὲθ λέγων· μὴ ἀναγγείλωσιν εἰς Γὲθ καθ᾿ ἡμῶν λέγοντες· τάδε Δαυὶδ ποιεῖ, καὶ τόδε τὸ δικαίωμα αὐτοῦ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, ἃς ἐκάθητο Δαυὶδ ἐν ἀγρῷ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων.
и҆ мꙋ́жеска по́лꙋ и҆ же́нска не ѡ҆ставлѧ́хъ въ живы́хъ є҆́же вводи́ти въ ге́ѳъ, глаго́лѧ: да не возвѣстѧ́тъ въ ге́ѳѣ на на́съ, глаго́люще: сїѧ̑ твори́тъ даві́дъ. И҆ сїѐ ѡ҆правда́нїе є҆гѡ̀ во всѧ̑ дни̑, въ нѧ́же сѣдѧ́ше даві́дъ на селѣ̀ и҆ноплеме́нничи.
David did not bring to life a man and a woman, etc. Christ forbids those converted to Him from living in sins. Just as first showing this to the teacher of His Church, He commands the multitudes of impure hearts, saying: Rise, Peter, kill and eat (Acts X). And Paul teaches that they are not dead to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus (Ephesians II). But neither does He now command believers to undergo martyrdom or deaths for His name from the impious.
Commentary on Samuel
Saying, Lest perhaps they speak, etc. Therefore, he did not bring to life, lest they speak against him. For the listener bears witness against his teacher, who, less perfectly educated either in believing or in acting, shows himself less extinguished by improper action or thought.
Commentary on Samuel
So David had the full confidence of Anchus, who said, He is thoroughly disgraced among his people in Israel and he shall be my servant for ever.
καὶ ἐπιστεύθη Δαυὶδ ἐν τῷ ᾿Αγχοῦς σφόδρα λέγων· ᾔσχυνται αἰσχυνόμενος ἐν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ ἐν ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ἔσται μοι δοῦλος εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
И҆ ᲂу҆вѣ́рисѧ даві́дъ а҆гхꙋ́сꙋ ѕѣлѡ̀, глаго́лѧ: ѡ҆мерзѣ́нїемъ ѡ҆мерзѣ̀ въ лю́дехъ свои́хъ во і҆и҃ли, и҆ бꙋ́детъ мѝ ра́бъ во вѣ́ки.
Therefore Achish believed in David, etc. The entire fraternity of the nations believes in Christ, saying that the people in which He was born He abandoned due to their infidelity; and because of this infidelity, threw down so many branches of the good olive tree, so that by believing it might graft itself in, and cast those to be burned into the fire. Indeed, for me now believing, hoping, loving, He is the debtor of eternal life; so that without Him I can do nothing, both in the present the pledge of the Spirit, and in the future He will provide me with the eternal grace of His protection. Concerning this perpetual servitude bestowed upon faithful servants by God the Lord, the Lord Himself says: Amen I say to you, He will gird Himself, and will make them sit down to eat, and passing will minister to them (Luke XII).
Commentary on Samuel
And David said in his heart, Now shall I be one day delivered [for death] into the hands of Saul; and there is no good thing for me unless I should escape into the land of the Philistines, and Saul should cease from seeking me through every coast of Israel: so I shall escape out of his hand.
ΚΑΙ εἶπε Δαυὶδ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ λέγων· νῦν προστεθήσομαι ἐν ἡμέρᾳ μιᾷ εἰς χεῖρας Σαούλ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι μοι ἀγαθόν, ἐὰν μὴ σωθῶ εἰς γῆν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ ἀνῇ Σαοὺλ τοῦ ζητεῖν με εἰς πᾶν ὅριον ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ σωθήσομαι ἐκ χειρὸς αὐτοῦ.
И҆ речѐ даві́дъ въ се́рдцы свое́мъ, глаго́лѧ: нн҃ѣ впадꙋ̀ въ де́нь є҆ди́нъ въ рꙋ́ки саꙋ̑ли, и҆ не бꙋ́детъ мѝ бла́го, а҆́ще не спасꙋ́сѧ въ землѝ и҆ноплеме́нничи, и҆ преста́нетъ саꙋ́лъ и҆ска́ти менѐ во всѧ́комъ предѣ́лѣ і҆и҃левѣ, и҆ спасꙋ́сѧ и҆з̾ рꙋкѝ є҆гѡ̀.