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in the Divine conduct； as knowing that God is wiser than men。
（12） By this answer of Samuel； and that from a Divine commission；
which is fuller in l Samuel 13：14； and by that parallel note in
the Apostolical Constitutions just now quoted； concerning the
great wickedness of Saul in venturing； even under a seeming
necessity of affairs； to usurp the priest's office； and offer
sacrifice without the priest； we are in some degree able to
answer that question； which I have ever thought a very hard one；
viz。 Whether； if there were a city or country of lay Christians
without any clergymen； it were lawful for the laity alone to
baptize； or celebrate the eucharist； etc。； or indeed whether they
alone could ordain themselves either bishops； priests； or
deacons； for the due performance of such sacerdotal
ministrations； or whether they ought not rather； till they
procure clergymen to come among them； to confine themselves
within those bounds of piety and Christianity which belong alone
to the laity； such particularly as are recommended in the first
book of the Apostolical Constitutions； which peculiarly concern
the laity； and are intimated in Clement's undoubted epistle；
sect。 40。 To which latter opinion I incline。
（13） This rash vow or curse of Saul； which Josephus says was
confirmed by the people； and yet not executed； I suppose
principally because Jonathan did not know of it； is very
remarkable； it being of the essence of the obligation of all
laws； that they be sufficiently known and promulgated； otherwise
the conduct of Providence； as to the sacredness of solemn oaths
and vows； in God's refusing to answer by Urim till this breach of
Saul's vow or curse was understood and set right； and God
propitiated by public prayer； is here very remarkable； as indeed
it is every where else in the Old Testament。
（14） Here we have still more indications of Saul's affectation of
despotic power； and of his entrenching upon the priesthood； and
making and endeavoring to execute a rash vow or curse； without
consulting Samuel or the sanhedrim。 In this view it is also that
I look upon this erection of a new altar by Saul； and his
offering of burnt…offerings himself upon it； and not as any
proper instance of devotion or religion； with other commentators。
（15） The reason of this severity is distinctly given； 1 Samuel
15：18； 〃Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites：〃 nor
indeed do we ever meet with these Amalekites but as very cruel
and bloody people； and particularly seeking to injure and utterly
to destroy the nation of Israel。 See Exodus 17：8…16； Numbers
14：45； Deuteronomy 25：17…19； Judges 6：3； 6； 1 Samuel 15：33；
Psalms 83：7； and； above all； the most barbarous of all cruelties；
that of Haman the Agagite； or one of the posterity of Agag； the
old king of the Amalekites； Esther 3：1…15。
（16） Spanheim takes notice here that the Greeks had such singers
of hymns； and that usually children or youths were picked out for
that service； as also； that those called singers to the harp； did
the same that David did here； i。e。 join their own vocal and
instrumental music together。
（17） Josephus says thrice in this chapter； and twice afterwards；
ch。 11。 sect。 2； and B。 VII。 ch。 1。 sect。 4； i。e。 five times in
all； that Saul required not a bare hundred of the foreskins of
the Philistines； but six hundred of their heads。 The Septuagint
have 100 foreskins； but the Syriac and Arabic 200。 Now that these
were not foreskins； with our other copies； but heads； with
Josephus's copy； seems somewhat probable； from 1 Samuel 29：4；
where all copies say that it was with the heads of such
Philistines that David might reconcile himself to his master；
Saul。
（18） Since the modern Jews have lost the signification of the
Hebrew word here used； cebr； and since the LXX。； as well as
Josephus； reader it the liver of the goat； and since this
rendering； and Josephus's account； are here so much more clear
and probable than those of others； it is almost unaccountable
that our commentators should so much as hesitate about its true
interpretation。
（19） These violent and wild agitations of Saul seem to me to have
been no other than demoniacal； and that the same demon which used
to seize him； since he was forsaken of God； and which the divine
hymns and psalms which were sung to the harp by David used to
expel； was now in a judicial way brought upon him； not only in
order to disappoint his intentions against innocent David； but to
expose him to the laughter and contempt of all that saw him； or
heard of those agitations； such violent and wild agitations being
never observed in true prophets； when they were under the
inspiration of the Spirit of God。 Our other copies； which say the
Spirit of God came him； seem not so here copy； which mentions
nothing of God at all。 Nor does Josephus seem to ascribe this
impulse and ecstasy of Saul to any other than to his old
demoniacal spirit； which on all accounts appears the most
probable。 Nor does the former description of Saul's real
inspiration by the Divine Spirit； 1 Samuel 10：9…12； Antiq。 B。 VI。
ch。 4。 sect。 2； which was before he was become wicked； well agree
with the descriptions before us。
（20） What is meant by Saul's lying down naked all that day； and
all that night； 1 Samuel 19：4； and whether any more than laying
aside his royal apparel； or upper garments； as Josephus seems to
understand it； is by no means certain。 See the note on Antiq。 B。
VIII。 ch。 14。 sect。 2。
（21） This city Nob was not a city allotted to the priests； nor
had the prophets； that we know of； any particular cities allotted
them。 It seems the tabernacle was now at Nob； and probably a
school of the prophets was here also。 It was full two days'
journey on foot from Jerusalem； 1 Samuel 21：5。 The number of
priests here slain in Josephus is three hundred and eighty…five；
and but eighty…five in our Hebrew copies； yet are they three
hundred and five in the Septuagint。 I prefer Josephus's number；
the Hebrew having； I suppose； only dropped the hundreds； the
other the tens。 This city Nob seems to have been the chief； or
perhaps the only seat of the family of Ithamar； which here
perished； according to God's former terrible threatenings to Eli；
1 Samuel 2：27…36； 3：11…18。 See ch。 14。 sect。 D； hereafter。
（22） This section contains an admirable reflection of Josephus
concerning the general wickedness of men in great authority； and
the danger they are in of rejecting that regard to justice and
humanity； to Divine Providence and the fear of God； which they
either really had； or pretended to have； while they were in a
lower condition。 It can never be too often perused by kings and
great men； nor by those who expect to obtain such elevated
dignities among mankind。 See the like reflections of our
Josephus； Antiq。 B。 VII。 ch。 1。 sect。 5； at the end； and B。 VIII。
ch。 10。 sect。 2； at the beginning。 They are to the like purport
with one branch of Agur's prayer： 〃One thing have I required of
thee； deny it me not before I die： Give me not riches； lest I be
full； and deny thee； and say； Who is the Lord ？〃 Proverbs 30：7…9。
（23） The phrase in David's speech to Saul； as set down in
Josep