And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Ver. 6. And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan.] So far did Jonathan's oratory and David's innocency together triumph in Saul's conscience.
And Saul sware.] He was a customary swearer, and made little reckoning of an oath. His bare word should have been as the laws of the Medes and Persians: how much more when bound thus with an oath? That was a great dishonour to the heathen Romans, that it should be said of them by Mirrhanes the Persian general, Romanis promittere promptum est, promissis autem quanquam iuramento fermatis minime stare, a they are free of their fair promises, but careless of performing the same, yea, although they have sworn to them. But what a base shame is it to the modern Romanists, those pseudo-Christians, that they should so break their promises and oaths made not to Turks only, as did Ladislaus, king of Hungary, by the consent and counsel of the Pope's legate, - but to Protestants: witness their proceedings against John Huss, and Jerome of Prague, contrary to the emperor's safe conduct; and the horrible massacre in France, &e.
He shall not be slain.] And it is very likely Saul now spake as he thought. But if good thoughts look at any time into a wicked heart, they stay not there, as those that like not their lodging. The flashes of lightning may be discerned in the darkest prisons, but they are soon gone thence again: so here.
a Procop., lib. i., De Bell. Pers.