1 Samuel (1 Kings) 31
Commentary from 2 fathers
And the Philistines press closely on Saul and his sons, and the Philistines smite Jonathan, and Aminadab, and Melchisa son of Saul.
καὶ συνάπτουσιν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι τῷ Σαοὺλ καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ τύπτουσιν ἀλλόφυλοι τὸν ᾿Ιωνάθαν καὶ τὸν ᾿Αμιναδὰβ καὶ τὸν Μελχισᾶ υἱοὺς Σαούλ.
И҆ снидо́шасѧ и҆ноплемє́нницы съ саꙋ́ломъ и҆ съ сынмѝ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ᲂу҆би́ша и҆ноплемє́нницы і҆ѡнаѳа́на и҆ а҆мїнада́ва и҆ мелхїсꙋ́а, сы́ны саꙋ́лѡвы.
The Philistines attacked Saul and his sons, etc. The surrounding nations attacked with full intention to destroy the kingdom of Judea and to remove the sons of that kingdom from their midst, and they corrupted the priests, Scribes, and Pharisees with their corruption, namely the sons and teachers of that kingdom. They even prevented the heretics from preaching or worshiping the grace of the Holy Spirit with a simple heart, which is to strike Jonathan, that is, the gift of the dove. They forbade praising the Father, who made us his sons not by nature but by adoption, with worthy confession; which signifies the killing of Abinadab, that is, my voluntary Father. They opposed believing that salvation would come to the world in the kingdom of Christ; which indicates the killing of Melchisue, who is called My King Salvation, I believe. A philosopher, who seduced Arius, killed Melchisue as if; who Macedonius, Jonathan; who Manichae, Abinadab, because namely that one taught to deny the omnipotence of the true king Christ, that one to derogate from the gifts of the Holy Spirit, this one to blaspheme the goodness of the highest Father, master of corruption.
Commentary on Samuel
And the battle prevails against Saul, and the shooters with arrows, even the archers find him, and he was wounded under the ribs.
καὶ βαρύνεται ὁ πόλεμος ἐπὶ Σαούλ, καὶ εὑρίσκουσιν αὐτὸν οἱ ἀκοντισταί, ἄνδρες τοξόται, καὶ ἐτραυματίσθη εἰς τά ὑποχόνδρια.
И҆ ѡ҆тѧготѣ̀ бра́нь на саꙋ́ла, и҆ ѡ҆брѣто́ша є҆го̀ копе́йницы мꙋ́жїе стрѣльцы̀, и҆ ᲂу҆ѧ́звенъ бы́сть (саꙋ́лъ) во ᲂу҆тро́бꙋ.
“I will inebriate my arrows with blood, and my sword will devour flesh.” These are the spiritual arrows of the Lord with which he strikes the heart of the human race and drains our spiritual blood. For just as Christ himself is called an arrow, chosen by the hand of the Father, so also his apostles are named arrows metaphorically, whom his powerful bow dispersed throughout the entire breadth of the world. Perhaps Jonathan shot the same arrows as a sign that David should flee from the hand of his cruel king. And Saul was struck by these very arrows, that such an obviously worthless king would be deprived of the Israelite kingdom. These are the arrows that drink the blood of our infidelity and carnal sins, for which reason it is said concerning them: “They will eat the sins of my people.”
Commentary on the Ecclesiastical Canticles, on Deuteronomy 43
The entire weight of the battle turned upon Saul, etc. The gentiles were exerting all their strength to destroy the kingdom of Judea. And men most adept in the arts of deception drew near to him, and the leaders of that kingdom were severely seduced and corrupted by them, who, by seizing the simplicity of the truth from their hearts, inflicted a multi-faceted wound of fraud and cunning. For just as an enemy's sword signifies an open enticement to idolatry and graver sins, so the subtler arguments of deception are represented by an arrow. Saul did not perish by the sword of the Philistines, but by arrows; because the leaders of the Jewish kingdom did not perish, with the kingdom, by open crimes, which no one would doubt to be deadly, but rather by those acts which, under the guise of piety, bore the most impious poison of death. For example, when God says: "Honor your father and mother," they, on the contrary, taught their listeners to say to their parents: "Whatever gift is from me, will benefit you," and thus completely cease to honor them. Similarly, they said: "Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; whoever swears by the gold of the temple, is obligated," and other such things, which the Lord sternly reprimands them for in the Gospel, especially that they killed the very Lord of the Law and the Gospel as if He were a transgressor of the Law. All of these arguments of sins are imitated by the gentiles for cunning, when they turn a mind trained in philosophical studies to nefarious arts, undoubtedly falling by the arrows of the Philistines. However, nothing prevents the archers from being understood as unclean spirits, whose deceptions caused their ruin.
Commentary on Samuel
And Saul said to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword and pierce me through with it; lest these uncircumcised come and pierce me through, and mock me. But his armour-bearer would not, for he feared greatly: so Saul took his sword and fell upon it.
καὶ εἶπε Σαοὺλ πρὸς τὸν αἴροντα τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ· σπάσαι τὴν ῥομφαίαν σου καὶ ἀποκέντησόν με ἐν αὐτῇ, μὴ ἔλθωσιν οἱ ἀπερίτμητοι οὗτοι καὶ ἀποκεντήσωσί με καὶ ἐμπαίξωσί μοι. καὶ οὐκ ἐβούλετο ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐφοβήθη σφόδρα· καὶ ἔλαβε Σαοὺλ τὴν ρομφαίαν καὶ ἐπέπεσεν ἐπ᾿ αὐτήν.
И҆ речѐ саꙋ́лъ къ носѧ́щемꙋ ѻ҆рꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀: и҆зсꙋ́ни ме́чь тво́й и҆ прободи́ мѧ и҆́мъ, да не прїи́дꙋтъ неѡбрѣ́заннїи сі́и и҆ и҆збодꙋ́тъ мѧ̀, и҆ порꙋга́ютсѧ мнѣ̀. И҆ не хотѧ́ше носѧ́й ѻ҆рꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ ᲂу҆боѧ́сѧ ѕѣлѡ̀. И҆ взѧ̀ саꙋ́лъ ме́чь сво́й и҆ падѐ на него̀.
And Saul said to his armor-bearer: Draw your sword, etc. The armor-bearer of Saul signifies the doctors of the law; for just as the arms and arrows of the Philistines are the deceits of the wicked, so on the contrary, the arms of the Israelites ought to be mystically understood as the words of spiritual doctrine, by which the people of God had to fortify themselves against all dangers. But Saul, wounded unto desperation by the archers, preferred to die by the sword of his armor-bearer rather than by that of the uncircumcised, because the rulers of the kingdom of the Jews, once having set the purpose of dying in their sins, preferred to be destroyed by their doctors who were dissolving the commandments of the law and thus teaching them, rather than to be polluted by the company of the gentiles, whom they called common and unclean. Moreover, they feared to enter the praetorium of a gentile, so that they would not be contaminated, but could eat the Passover (John XVIII). Nevertheless, they did not fear to contaminate that same Passover, turned for their ruin by the law, which they had received, with the blood of the innocent.
Commentary on Samuel
And his armor-bearer did not want, etc. There is no doubt that among the reprobate teachers of the law there have been some who, through a sinister interpretation, did not want the sharpness of the word to kill their own listeners, and yet those listeners turned to their own ruin either by despising or, what is worse, by blaspheming the things rightly said by their teachers. Upon seeing their spiritual death, that is, their obstinacy in sinning, those ministers of the word, deteriorated over time, saw that the testimonies of the law, which they had feared to interpret wrongly, when contemptuously disregarded, became an occasion of downfall for them. We regret to acknowledge that the same things happen often today. But even heretics, wounded by their own sins, when they twist the words of divine scriptures into arguments for their error, surely turn their own weapons upon their own chests as they are about to die; and any brother, even remaining in the unity of the catholic Church, when he defiles any skill he has learned for the common good of the Church and those among whom he lives with the contagion of pride, arrogance, avarice, or any other vice, miserably pierces himself with his own sword, because that which ought to have been defended against the enemy, instead aided the enemy.
Commentary on Samuel
And his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, and he fell also himself upon his sword, and died with him.
καὶ εἶδεν ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ὅτι τέθνηκε Σαούλ, καὶ ἐπέπεσε καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τὴν ρομφαίαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπέθανε μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
И҆ ви́дѣ носѧ́й ѻ҆рꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ ᲂу҆́мре саꙋ́лъ, и҆ падѐ и҆ то́й на ме́чь сво́й и҆ ᲂу҆́мре съ ни́мъ.
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, in that day together.
καὶ ἀπέθανε Σαοὺλ καὶ οἱ τρεῖς υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὁ αἴρων τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ κατὰ τὸ αὐτό.
И҆ ᲂу҆́мре саꙋ́лъ и҆ трїѐ сы́нове є҆гѡ̀, и҆ носѧ́й ѻ҆рꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀, и҆ всѝ мꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀ въ де́нь то́й кꙋ́пнѡ.
And the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those beyond Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead; and they leave their cities and flee: and the Philistines come and dwell in them.
καὶ εἶδον οἱ ἄνδρες ᾿Ισραὴλ οἱ ἐν τῷ πέραν τῆς κοιλάδος καὶ οἱ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ ᾿Ιορδάνου ὅτι ἔφυγον οἱ ἄνδρες ᾿Ισραὴλ καὶ ὅτι τέθνηκε Σαοὺλ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ καταλείπουσι τὰς πόλεις αὐτῶν καὶ φεύγουσι· καὶ ἔρχονται οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι καὶ κατοικοῦσιν ἐν αὐταῖς.
И҆ ви́дѣша мꙋ́жїе і҆и҃льстїи, и҆̀же ѡ҆б̾ ѡ҆́нъ по́лъ ю҆до́ли и҆ и҆̀же ѡ҆б̾ ѡ҆́нъ по́лъ і҆ѻрда́на, ꙗ҆́кѡ бѣжа́ша мꙋ́жїе і҆и҃льстїи, и҆ ꙗ҆́кѡ ᲂу҆́мре саꙋ́лъ и҆ сы́нове є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ѡ҆ста́виша гра́ды своѧ̑ и҆ бѣжа́ша: и҆ прїидо́ша и҆ноплемє́нницы и҆ всели́шасѧ въ ни́хъ.
But the men of Israel saw, etc. Seeing, however, certain unlearned and ignorant of the true remedies of humility and the salutary washing of baptism, the learned in Judea, their own teachers, being defeated in the spiritual contest by the triumph of sin, and also the not small multitude of the common people, who had been close to their teaching, driven by the adversary from their ancient seat of constancy, they themselves, perturbed by the fall of their elders, lost all works of virtue and defenses of spiritual knowledge that they had; and the sins of the Gentiles came and all studies of virtue in the unbelieving Jews were corrupted by perverse inhabitation; unclean spirits came, and the hearts devoid of the constancy of faith were occupied; or certainly the Gentiles came and made the once best studies of the Jews their own by believing. For even in former times, they had themselves made the divine words, which they had already partly abandoned, be interpreted for them; and now they have received the faith of Christ cast away by them, along with the divine Scriptures, and they possess them as if by inhabitation. Indeed, that which was said, beyond the valley, and beyond Jordan, should be explained more clearly mystically, the very site of the place being intimated to a few. There is a great valley around the Jordan, itself flat, extending in immense length, called in Hebrew Elon or Aulon, which is surrounded on both sides by succeeding and coherent mountains, beginning from Lebanon and reaching beyond it to the desert of Pharan; and notable cities are in that Aulon, that is, in the flat valley, Scythopolis, Tiberias, and the lake near it; but also Jericho, the Dead Sea, and the surrounding regions; through which, as we said, the Jordan flows in the middle, rising from the sources of Paneas and ending in the Dead Sea. Since, therefore, it is not hidden that the valley signifies the lowliness of humility, and Jordan, in which the Lord deigned to be baptized, signifies the waters of baptism, it is rightly embraced by the valley of Jordan, so that the very site of the place may admonish us to seek humbly the entrance into the saving fountain and to behave humbly after we have left it. Whoever, therefore, were not in the valley of Jordan, but beyond the valley and beyond Jordan, they flee; because those who either neglect to receive or to keep the remedy of humility and baptism, can by no means prevail against evil spirits. This can generally be understood about Jews and pagans, about heretics and bad Catholics.
Commentary on Samuel
And it came to pass on the morrow that the Philistines come to strip the dead, and they find Saul and his three sons fallen on the mountains of Gelbue.
καὶ ἐγενήθη τῇ ἐπαύριον ἔρχονται οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἐκδιδύσκειν τοὺς νεκροὺς καὶ εὑρίσκουσι τὸν Σαοὺλ καὶ τοὺς τρεῖς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ πεπτωκότας ἐπὶ τὰ ὄρη Γελβουέ.
И҆ бы́сть на ᲂу҆́трїе, и҆ прїидо́ша и҆ноплемє́нницы ѡ҆бнажи́ти ме́ртвыхъ, и҆ ѡ҆брѣто́ша саꙋ́ла и҆ трѝ сы́ны є҆гѡ̀ па́дшыѧ на горѣ̀ гелвꙋѐ,
And they turned him, and stripped off his armour, and sent it into the land of the Philistines, sending round glad tidings to their idols and to the people.
καί ἀποστρέφουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἐξέδυσαν τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀποστέλλουσιν αὐτὰ εἰς γῆν ἀλλοφύλων κύκλῳ εὐαγγελίζοντες τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν καὶ τῷ λαῷ.
и҆ ѡ҆брати́ша є҆го̀, и҆ снѧ́ша ѻ҆рꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ѿсѣко́ша главꙋ̀ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ посла́ша въ зе́млю и҆ноплеме́нничꙋ ѡ҆́крестъ возвѣща́юще і҆́дѡлѡмъ и҆́хъ и҆ лю́демъ и҆́хъ:
And they cut off the head of Saul, etc. The corruptors or demons persecuted Judea with the weapons of impiety to such an extent that they completely deprived it of the principal kingdom itself and snatched away the defenses of the sacred law, by which they prevailed against all adversities. Their downfall was soon spread widely by heralding to their accomplices as a sign of their own triumph and a cause of joy; and the increase of wickedness in the armor of God, which the blessed apostle Paul commanded us, who are to fight against the spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians VI), and who first put it on, fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith, receiving from the Lord the crown of righteousness (II Timothy IV); this, I say, the armor of heavenly warfare. The Jews, deceived and deceiving, tried to carry the divine words into infernal places, that is, to equate the doctrines of demons. It is evident that they did this and are doing this in two ways; either by carnally interpreting spiritual words perversely, or by treating the same divine letters, as common and not supported by any divine authority, according to their wishes. Indeed, the very nation deprived of the stronghold of the kingdom of Judea, reduced to nothing, and handed over to the power of enemies, the deceivers publicly displayed as a joke and a common proverb; which figuratively is the body of Saul, truncated on the wall of Bethshan, that is, displayed as an enemy’s house, suspended by impious hands. But even heretics, struck down by the arrows of preceding sins, deprive themselves of the protection of charity, which is the fortress of all virtues. Just as the impure spirit cuts off the head of Saul when they persuade to follow their own sense rather than that of the Scripture. They strip them of arms when they pervert the divine words to their own, that is, diabolical sense. They place the arms of Saul in the temple of Ashtaroth. Ashtaroth indeed, not only because it is an idol, but also because it means the creation of spies, signifies the doctrine of malignant spirits, who, wandering around the folds of the faithful daily, explore if they can devour someone. When they perversely change the works with which they had served God to the service of their own wickedness, they hang the members, truly devoid of light and life, on the wall of the enemy’s house.
Commentary on Samuel
And they set up his armour at the temple of Astarte, and they fastened his body on the wall of Baethsam.
καὶ ἀνέθηκαν τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ᾿Ασταρτεῖον καὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ κατέπηξαν ἐν τῷ τείχει Βαιθσάν.
и҆ положи́ша ѻ҆рꙋ́жїе є҆гѡ̀ ᲂу҆ а҆ста́рта, тѣ́ло же є҆гѡ̀ воткнꙋ́ша на стѣнѣ̀ веѳса́мли.
And the inhabitants of Jabis Galaad hear what the Philistines did to Saul.
καὶ ἀκούουσιν οἱ κατοικοῦντες ᾿Ιαβὶς τῆς Γαλααδίτιδος ἃ ἐποίησαν οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι τῷ Σαούλ·
И҆ ᲂу҆слы́шаша живꙋ́щїи во і҆аві́сѣ галаадїті́йстѣмъ, ꙗ҆̀же сотвори́ша и҆ноплемє́нницы саꙋ́лꙋ,
When the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard this, etc. Jabesh, which is interpreted as "dried up," designates the Church, which from all the flow of carnal desire, from every pollution of flesh and spirit, the fervor of justice of the Sun, that is, the aspiration of divine love, tempers. Whence, rightly is such situated on a mountain. And itself is called Gilead, that is, a heap of testimony, to signify the most subtle life of the saints, so that it cannot be turned aside to error, being established by fitting testimonies of Scriptures. Moreover, it is the city which, at the beginning of his reign, Saul, when he still served the Lord with humble piety, liberated from the siege of enemies. So, when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard whatever the Philistines had done to Saul, all the strongest men rose up.
Commentary on Samuel
And they rose up, [even] every man of might, and marched all night, and took the body of Saul and the body of Jonathan his son from the wall of Baethsam; and they bring them to Jabis, and burn them there.
καὶ ἀνέστησαν πᾶς ἀνὴρ δυνάμεως καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν ὅλην τὴν νύκτα καὶ ἔλαβον τὸ σῶμα Σαοὺλ καὶ τὸ σῶμα ᾿Ιωνάθαν τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ τείχους Βαιθσὰν καὶ φέρουσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς ᾿Ιαβὶς καὶ κατακαίουσιν αὐτοὺς ἐκεῖ.
и҆ воста́ша всѝ мꙋ́жїе си́льнїи, и҆ и҆до́ша всю̀ но́щь, и҆ взѧ́ша тѣ́ло саꙋ́лово и҆ тѣ́ло і҆ѡнаѳа́на сы́на є҆гѡ̀ съ стѣны̀ веѳса́мски, и҆ принесо́ша ѧ҆̀ во і҆аві́съ, и҆ сожго́ша ѧ҆̀ та́мѡ:
And they walked all night, etc. When the inhabitants of the city of Christ situated on the mountain, Judea, from which they recollected heralds and ministers of salvation had come to them in patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, were treated with contempt and ridicule by the gentiles, they rose to the work of the word, all zealously rejoicing to act; and amidst the darkness of erring ones themselves walking the path of virtues, they forbade rejoicing in the public insultation of those whose fault brought salvation to the gentiles as if pertaining to the house of the devil. They say, if the first fruit be holy, so also is the lump; and if the root be holy, so also are the branches. But if some of the branches have been broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and made a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches (Rom. XI), and the other things which the Apostle miraculously and elaborately addressed to the Romans.
Commentary on Samuel
They came to Jabesh and burned them there, etc. The corpses, carnal or fleshly bones, signify the strongest and the works of virtues. Therefore, they burned the corpses of Saul and his sons, who left the weaknesses of the downfall of the Jews to divine judgment, so that they might understand that these things were done or permitted according to the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Rom. XII), according to the inscrutable counsel of His will. Indeed, we must understand the burning in this place according to that which is commanded regarding the receiving and searching of the sacraments of the Lord's passion under the type of eating the lamb: If anything remains, you shall burn it with fire (Exod. XII). They buried the bones in the forest of Jabesh, as when they found any strength and firmness in the weak, they did not despise them as worthless, but preferred to add them to the fruitful works of the saints; if they knew any among the carnal and frail to strive for the virtues of the soul, they took care to number them with the fellowship of the saints. For indeed, the fruit of good works is known to be expressed through the forest, which in reading Genesis, understands what or what kind of forest Abraham planted in Beersheba. Otherwise, Saul, dead and ridiculed for his sins, is rescued from public disgrace by the men of Jabesh, whom he saved. The corpse is burned, and the bones are placed in the forest; for it is indeed fitting, that if any of the faithful and great men, overcome by sin, incur spiritual death, they may be helped especially by those whom he benefited in goodness, so that he may be able to revive, and that his carnal [deeds] may be revealed by their most fervent prayers in compunction, and his spiritual deeds may be commended to their Creator, worthy of His kindness.
Commentary on Samuel
And they take their bones, and bury them in the field that is in Jabis, and fast seven days.
καὶ λαμβάνουσι τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῶν καὶ θάπτουσιν ὑπὸ τὴν ἄρουραν τὴν ἐν ᾿Ιαβὶς καὶ νηστεύουσιν ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας.
и҆ взѧ́ша кѡ́сти и҆́хъ, и҆ погребо́ша ѧ҆̀ въ дꙋбра́вѣ ꙗ҆̀же во і҆аві́сѣ, и҆ пости́шасѧ се́дмь дні́й.
And they fasted for seven days. Literally and rightly for the dead, so that they may reach rest, it is fasted for seven days, which after the six ages of this world, in which we labor in the flesh, the seventh is in that world the age of rest for the souls freed from the flesh, in which the blessed await that glorious time when they may deserve to rise. The figure of this rest and resurrection, and the seventh day in the law, and the seventh or fiftieth year, in which rest of works was given, typologically foretold. The Lord showed the same example of our hope and dispensation of faith, who was crucified on the sixth day of the week, rested on the seventh in the tomb with His body, and on the eighth which is the first day of the week, rose from the dead. But in part of the allegory, regarding the blindness of the Jews who thus far observe the Sabbath carnally, his faithful fellow citizens and kinsmen rightfully retain sorrow and continuous grief in their hearts, as if they are fasting for seven days; because while their brothers and kin are still established in error, they can in no way have full joy. But when they too have fully understood the mystery of the eighth day, that is, of the Lord's and their own resurrection, both together, aided by the grace of Christ, will rejoice in perpetual festivity.
Commentary on Samuel
And the Philistines fought with Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and they fall down wounded in the mountain in Gelbue.
ΚΑΙ οἱ ἀλλόφυλοι ἐπολέμουν ἐπὶ ᾿Ισραήλ, καὶ ἔφυγον οἱ ἄνδρες ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ προσώπου τῶν ἀλλοφύλων, καὶ πίπτουσι τραυματίαι ἐν τῷ ὄρει τῷ Γελβουέ.
И҆ и҆ноплемє́нницы воева́хꙋ на і҆и҃лѧ, и҆ бѣжа́ша мꙋ́жїе і҆и҃лєвы ѿ лица̀ и҆ноплеме́ннича, и҆ па́дахꙋ ꙗ҆́звеннїи на горѣ̀ гелвꙋѐ.