The National tribune., 1889-09-12
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


ADAB MALcHIsHUA AND THE ARMoR-
BEARER.
l. Data
We find the accounts of the deaths of Saul, his
Sons, and armor- bearer in Sam, 81: Ia, and
Chrou., 10: 1-6. The two reports are prao-
tically the same. (Read and compare them.)
1t is generally held that Samuel wrote the first
"a chapters of Samuel, and that the remain
der of Samuel and the entire book of III Sam
uel were composed by the Prophets Cad and
Nathan. The reports of the events were prob
ably written on the spot after their
occurrence. Ezra compiled or composed the
two books of the Chronicles.
q When.
We may put the date of Saufs death A. M.
29lS, or Il. c. 1856. 1t was. hence, 2,945 years
ago. We may suppose Saul WIS 60 years of age.
Jonathan was abont IS years old. Saul had
ruled 40 years. ACTS, 3:2i.) David's anoint-
ing took place seven years prior to the lesson.
3. Where.
The battle was in array. Tho Pbilistines
had position in Shunem, while the Israelites
were in GilbOa. con Shunem, see Josh, ID: 49,
Shunem is now Sulem, "A village on the slope OF
Little Hermon. The valley and spring of Jez-
reel were between tho forces. (2S: A; 2 SAM,
4:4.)
4. Circumstances
Time aud again the Israelites and Philis-
tines came into conflict. There could be no
harmony between them. 1t was the business
OF the lsraeIites TO expel the Philstnes from
Canaan. The Philistines were called the IN
cireumcised. Q4:6; :26.) This was in dis
tinction from the Jews. who ever since Abra-
ham have been circumcised as a religious and
distinguishing rite.
From time to time the Israeites were vic
tori0us over their Phiiistine foes. This was
noticeably so in the staying of the Philistine
by David. II was Gods purpose TO rid Canaan
OF alI idolatrous inhabitants. Had the Israel
ties boon brave in spirit and trusttul IN God
they might have overcome all neighbOring
wicked nations and gained possession OF all the
territory promised TO them.
At times "a defeat Is ultimate victory.
Thorc were reasons why God might withdraw
his assistance in the case before us. From the
time Saul became seli-dependent and disobedi-
ent his woeiul destiny was fixed. This was
specially apparent in the attitude taken by
Jehovah in the OF Saul versus Agog. Sam-
uel gave Saul TO understand that God was not
willing to bless disObedience. (See chapter IL,
and specially verse % Add 26: 10.) The
sequel shows the trnthluness and certainty of
the law of relribution. Sins find men out.
The way of transgressors is hard. Kicking
against pricks IS sure to hurt.
s. The Deaths.
We have account of the mortal end of four
conspicuous persons belonging to the regal
family. The King and his three sons met vio-
lent deaths.
The name of Jonathan leads the list 1t is q
sad fact that retrbntion To the wicked often
involves those free Of guilt. job asks in 4: 4
who ever perished being innooent2 or where
was tho righteous cut Off" He announced a
general principle to the effect that righteous
ness the long run is most protective to
health aud life and success. 1t was best that
the rcigning family become extinct, since
Providence had determined on David bccom-
ing King. The punishment Of Saul was rem
dcrea the moro painful 10 him and the more
adInontory 10 the people by the fact favorite
son had fallen victim TO war. Doubtless the
three sons OF Saul were slain prior 10 the de-
cease OF their father The DeighboTing nations
had hereditary governments, and the jews
were anxious to initiate them, Gods purpose
was to exhibit ali possible emphatic lisapproyal
of every idolatEous practice and precedent.
Granting King. Jehovah did not permit the
establishment of royal family. David was
destined TO become a King aud it was well to
ciear tho road Tor him. Though Jonathan
would not of his own accord get into the way
of David ruling. yet tho people might, in thoir
anxiety for likeness to heathen governments,
press the matter, insisting OH Jonathan accept
ing his fathers crown. This very fact was
illustrated by the conduct OF some OF the people
rs To Isb- b0sketh. u SAM, 2: 81 II certain
ones could see any fair claim for 30 feeble q
candidate lsh- bosk eth for kingship il might
DO that MASSES would rise up. resisting David
and forcing Jonathan upon the throne. One
thing II certain. the good are often involved in
tho harm Inflicted on the evil. Thus is sug-
gested to US the fact OF future life in which
there shall be Offsets for the apparent injustice
endured by many n one in this world. That ii
should be with Jonathan as with Saul aud
other unworthy persons is severe reflection
/ on Johovah's Government, providing there be
no future rewards.
As 10 Abinadab see ] Chron.. s.: 80. He was
| also called Ishui. Il Sam. ID: 49, As to Mel
ehiahua l sam, Il: ~ Malchishua of /
Chron., SO. is the same person. Saul had
| another son. lie was named lsh bosketh. q
| sam, =: q; 4: H. lie is styled Eshbaal in
| Chron., 3 81. Saul was father also OF two
daughters. q Sam, 14:49)
| The King Saul, WAS also - victim of the defeat
! Ho foresaw the inevitable. He recalled the
| treatment of Samson by the Philistines. Death
/ was better than such abuse. His three son:
were dead lis capture was certain. Suicide
| was odious to the Jews. aud hence as enphe-
| mism for such crime Saul begged the armor
bearer Co STAY him. For Illustrations of abuse
! OF prisoners OF war see Josh, 8: 20; 10: 24-27
There was insult before DEATH and after death
| there were sports aud indignities over tn,
| corpse. Saul dreaded the abuse then commonly
| prteticed on eaptives OF war. Aud Saul did not
escape. He aud his sons became victims o
| shocking indignities. Hanna puts it thus:
First come the prowiing Amaleiites, whose crop
Ing fingers, cot,ed with blood, rudely handled IL
| Next tho Philistines come upon the corpse. Tit
is of tho brow, tho bracelet OF the arm bu
they enough Ia let them know whose body IL IL
They exIatingy seize il, the head they cut on &
put up for display la the house OF their God Dagger
| Il Ghron. 10 iO)i the armor To hang up la the
| house of Ashtaroth. The naked trunk, with th,
| bodies OF his SONS they nail To the wall at Beth
shan there To rot In complete disgrace.
For once the King was disobeyed. Hi
arnor. bearer refused TO kill him. He wa
afraid (V. A.; afraid To murder; afraid to d,
| indignity 10 his King; unnamed by the fear
| full surroundings. Saul committed suicide
| The examples of the great arc readily followed
| Though not brave enough to STAY his master
| the armor- bearer had courage TO kill himself
by "all /" i'll verse we probably have sort o
| hypefbola. (See 2 Sam, l;4.) We know til,
''young man" q Sam, 1 s. escaped.
If by the armor- bearer we arc To understand
Doeg, as many believe, there Is some reason Il
hold the deaths OF Saul aud the srmor- bearo
were terrible instances of rctribution. Saul
suspectug the priests sympathized with David
commanded Doeg 10 Stay them. He execute,
the order. Il SAM, ~ Is, 1917 The weapon
was sword--Doeg's sword. Saul said to Doeg
"Draw thy sword" ". A. Probably il wa
the same weapon with which he slew the priest
of God. If so, there was wondrous fitness il
tho fact both Saul and Doeg met their death
by tho Same sword that slew the priests. Simi
larly Brutns and Cassius killed themselves b.
tho same sword with which they had kille
Cesar. So, too, Calippus was killed by the sam
weapon with which he had stabbed Die. Read