But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now [thou art] worth ten thousand of us: therefore now [it is] better that thou succour us out of the city.
Ver. 3. But now thou art worth ten thousand of us.] Christ, of whom David was a type, is "the chief of ten thousand": and so every good heart holdeth him. When David was in danger of being slain by Ishbibenob the giant, Abishai interposed and rescued him. 2Sa 21:17 When our Henry II was in imminent peril of his life at the siege of Bridgenorth, A.D. 1155, Hubert de St Clare preserved his sovereign's life with the loss of his own. a When Mauricius, the young Saxon prince, valiantly charging the Turks at the siege of Pesth, had his horse slain under him, and was in danger to have been there lost himself, Nicholas Ribische, one of his own followers, covered him with his own body, till such time as he was rescued by others, Ribische himself presently dying of his wounds. b A commen soldier at Musselburgh field, in Edward VI's time, finding the Earl of Huntly assaulted by the English, and without his helmet, took off his own headpiece, and put it on the earl's head. The earl was therewith taken prisoner, but the soldier, for want thereof, was presently struck down. c John Careless, martyr, in a letter to Mr Bradford in prison, writeth thus, ‘Oh that my life, and a thousand such wretches' lives more, might go for yours! Oh, why doth God suffer me and such other caterpillars to live, that can do nothing but consume the alms of the Church, and take away so worthy a workman and labourer in the Lord's vineyard! But woe be to our sins and great unthankfulness,' &c. d A public spirited man is all for Christ; and can drown all self-respects in his glory. Vivat et regnet Christus, Let Christ live and rule, is his motto. He is also much taken up with the care of community, and will venture his own particular good for the general: as heavy things will ascend to keep out vacuity, and to preserve the universe.
Therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.] Si fueris nostra causa, pervigil, so Tremellius rendereth; Si fueris nobis praesto civitate, so Piscator. Thou thence shalt help us, or cause us to be helped; thy prayers shall prevail with God for our assistance, - so others, - that God may send us in the supplies of his Spirit, Php 1:19 and thou also may help us with fresh supplies of men and victuals, as there shall be occasion.
a Speed, 501.
b Turk. Hist., 730.
c Life of Edward VI, by Sir J. Heywood.
d Act. and Mon., 1744.