And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
Ver. 1. And Samuel died.] After a long race run without cessation or cespitation: he was one of those few that lived and died with honour. Nabal did not; so: Contraria iuxta se posita, &c. "The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked doth rot." Pro 10:7
And lamented him.] As well they might, and their own folly in laying him aside;
“ Virtutem incolumem odimus:
Sublatam ex oculis quaerimus invidi. ” - Horat.
And buried him in his house at Ramah.] Where he had, likely, prepared himself a sepulchre; for so was the custom of that people, and others also. The Thebans had a law, that no man should make a house for himself to dwell in, but he should first make his grave.
And David arose.] He had lost a fast friend in Samuel, - cuius consilio subsidioque fretus commodius in regno versabatur, a - and therefore speedeth away to the wilderness of Paran, whereof see Numbers 10:12 .
a Jun.