After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where [is] the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:
Ver. 5. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God.] That is, To the high place of Gibeah, thine own city, where was a garrison of the Philistines, 1Sa 13:2 and yet as well a college of prophets, who were looked upon in those days as privileged persons, even in the midst of their enemies; and not molested or meddled with. a Learning was once a protection against tyranny and injury, though now it be otherwise. Witness Antony the Triumvir, who when Varro, his enemy, and of a contrary faction, was proscribed for death, he thus gallantly superscribed his name, Vivat Varro vir doctissimus; Let Varro live for his learning's sake. Constantine the Great freed not only all ministers, but all professors of the arts, from all public duties, taxes, and burdens whatsoever, by a decree.
And they shall prophesy.] That is, By the instinct of God's Spirit they shall speak or sing excellently of sublime and divine matters.
a Junius. Grotius, de iure Pac. et Bel., lib. iii. cap. 11.