1 Samuel 18
Butler18 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet 7 king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with instruments of music. And the women sang one to another in their play, and said,
Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.
8. And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have 9 more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10. And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day 11 by day: and Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will 12 smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice. And Saul was 13 afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
Verses 17-27. Saul offers his eldest daughter in marriage to David, but gives her to another. He offers Michal on condition of David’s slaying a hundred Philistines. David slays two hundred. 28 And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David; and Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
19 1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David. But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to slay thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and if I see aught, I will tell thee. And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: for he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great victory for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be put to death. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as before time.
Verses 8-17. After an interval of quiet, David’s success in conflict awakens Saul’s hatred and assault. David escapes with Michal’s connivance. 18 Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit of God came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes, and he also prophesied before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
The phase of David’s history on which we now enter embraces the period from his introduction to the court of Saul to the death of that monarch; the period of what may be called his hero life. It was for David a time of very various fortune. Whether in Saul’s service—first as captain over a thousand of the ordinary tribal conscripts, and, latterly, as commander of the king’s body-guard; or, again, as the chief of a band of freebooters, who gathered around him after his outlawry, in the wilderness of Judah, and in the land of the Philistines at Ziklag, a common character belonged to the life of David all through these years. Wild feats of arms, often against overwhelming odds, in which, by his great military genius, his personal daring, and the command he exercised over his comrades in arms, he met with almost unvarying success—such were the every-day incidents of his life at a period in which he appears to have been undergoing the special discipline, previously denied him, for an important part of the work which awaited him after his accession to the throne. Lee.
6-9. The narrative has made a digression to relate the circumstances of David’s permanent reception into Saul’s service, the commencement of the friendship between him and Jonathan, and his ultimate promotion and success. It now goes back to relate the welcome which
David received when the army returned in triumph from the successful completion of the Philistine war. Ch. 18 : 6 is to be read (as it actually stands in the Sept.) in connection with 17 : 54, though some time may have elapsed, during which the army was occupied in following up its first success. A. F. K.
The fact that David was held in such high esteem came to Saul’s notice in a way that was specially offensive,—in a comparison of himself with David, and that on the score of personal valor and success in conflict. As David was returning after signal victory over the Philistines, the women of the cities, as was their wont, came forth to celebrate the victor’s triumph with song and dance. And although Saul saw that David remained unmoved by their praise, and still “behaved himself very wisely,” though he knew that the victories of David only enured to his own glory and the firmer establishment of his throne, yet the proud, haughty soul of the king heeded naught but his own selfish feeling of humiliation in the comparison set forth by the women’s song. Combined envy and jealousy were gendered in his heart, and bred instant suspicion that this was the man who should supplant him on his throne. And as these evil passions rankled within him, the suspicion ripened into the thought that David was even now seeking his overthrow. A new development this of the progress of wilful selfishness, of the evil spirit in his heart. First, working self-dependence and positive disobedience to God—then repeated falsehood, meanness in asking Samuel to honor him before the people, and utter disregard of Jehovah, and now malignant envy and jealousy leading to “cruel hatred,” and afterward to deliberate, murderous persecution of David. He sees falsely because of his own falseness of heart; thinks evil of another because he thinks it in himself. Under the control of the “evil spirit” he has become fixedly disobedient, lost to truth, to manliness, to honor, to gratitude, to truth. Therefore “from that day and forward he eyed David,” watched him closely, with envious, malignant feeling and murderous purpose. B.
Envy is the worst of all passions, and feedeth upon the spirits, and they again upon the body; and so much the more because it is perpetual, and, as it is said, keepeth no holidays. Bacon.—As it shows itself in hatred it strikes at the person envied; but as it affects a man in the nature of grief it recoils and does execution upon the envier. It lies at the heart like a worm, always gnawing and corroding and piercing it with a secret, invisible sting and poison.
South.—Derangement was the consequence of disobedience. The wilfulness which first resisted God next preyed upon itself, as a natural principle of disorder; his moods and changes, his compunctions and relapses, what were they but the convulsions of the spirit when the governing power was lost? Newman.
10,11. Saul’s first attempt to take the life of David. This occurred during a frenzy of madness, induced by this letting loose of his own passions upon him, with the seconding of Satan (both of which are brought about through the permissive agency of God in simply abandoning self-willed sinners to “their own way”). At the very moment when the still faithful, helpful David holds the harp, and, as aforetime, gently sweeps its strings in kindly service of soothing to the monarch’s troubled mind, Saul grasps his spear and hurls it with deadly purpose at the breast of David. Twice did he this, and twice the watchfulness and prompt avoidance of David averted the guilt of actual murder from the wretched Saul. And here, too, the courage and faith of David are to be noted. With no feeling of anger or thought of retaliation, without even a word of remonstrance, yet not lacking in spirit, he withdraws himself, and returns again to discharge his helpful ministry, and desists only when it is plain that his presence only aggravates the king’s insanity, and uselessly endangers himself. Faithful to God, he is faithful to the Lord’s anointed king. His assurance is still the same; that the Lord will continue to deliver him from peril encountered in fulfilling duty. B.
The spear served as a sceptre, and was the symbol of royalty. The King held it in his hand when he sat in council (22 : 6) or in his house (19 : 9); it was kept by his side when he sat at table (20 : 33); stuck in the ground by his pillow as he slept in camp (26 : 7). A. F. K.
12,13. David dismissed from the palace to the camp. When Saul “came to himself,” the failure of his double attempt upon David’s life seems to have suggested the thought of God’s interposition, and of his own daring defiance in thus himself seeking directly to thwart the will of Jehovah. This alone explains his fear of David. But it wrought no change in his purpose, only in his plans, of which we read hereafter. Now he only seeks to be rid of the hated presence, and the sight of the favor and affection with which David is regarded in the palace. He therefore removes him from his court, separates him from his son, exiles him to the camp, and for a long period engaged him constantly in military expeditions. And so unwittingly Saul counteracted his own selfish purposes by giving David the opportunity, through wise, upright, and valiant behavior, of securing the “love of all Israel and Judah as he went out and came in before them.”
14. David’s prudence in all his ways, the Lord being with him. He behaved wisely because “the Lord was with him,” and the Lord continued to be with and to prosper him because “he behaved wisely in all his ways,” because he trusted only in God, seeking simply to know and do His will. With consummate prudence, in true loyalty of soul, he fulfils every mandate of the king, adds to his high repute as a warrior and leader, and augments the good-will and draws forth the commendations of the people, by the fuller manifestation of his inherently devout and kingly spirit.
15, 16. Saul’s fear increases, with the people’s love of David. As men commonly act, we might infer that the fear should have been on David’s part, as his life was the endangered one. But all the fear is in Saul’s heart. And the ground of Saul’s fear (thrice referred to in this chapter) was that David was encompassed with a Divine protection, was Divinely endowed with a royal spirit, and so worthy of a Divine anointing and appointing to the kingdom; while from himself the Lord had departed, with all of nobleness that had once been his, and now he, by his own doing, was consciously unworthy of the throne, nay, unworthy to live. How could he help fearing, and how must such fear, rankling in his conscience and maddening his soul, breed suspicion and hate, which spurred him on to the planned attempts for David’s destruction which follow! B.
24,25. David’s answer exactly fell in with Saul’s purposes, and he forthwith asked as a dowry proof of David having slain a hundred Philistines. As this slaughter would have to be effected not in regular warfare, but in a sort of private raid, there would be every likelihood of David being overpowered by a rapid gathering of the Philistines and slain in attempting it. R. P. S.
27-30. When the time expired, he appeared before the king with not only an hundred, but with two hundred, such proofs of his prowess as the king had required. This great exploit led only to David’s greater honor, and materially advanced the results which the king desired to avert. Kit.—Michal cannot be refused, and he becomes the king’s son-in-law. Again the Philistines come out to battle, and again David behaves himself more wisely and more valiantly than all the servants of Saul, and stands, not by marriage only, but by merit, nearer than any other subject to the throne. Lee.—Saul thought, by putting him upon dangerous services, to have him taken off, but that very thing confirmed his interest in the people; for the more he did against the Philistines, the better they loved him, so that his name was much set by, which would make his coming to the crown the more easy. Thus God makes even the wrath of man to praise him, and serves his designs of kindness to his own people by it. H.
19: 1-6. All this but deepens the hatred of the king. Craft has failed. Let the purpose then be openly avowed, and force be tried. Saul speaks “to Jonathan and to all his servants that they should kill David.” The sharp remonstrance of his own son lays bare, even to Saul’s own sight, the ingratitude and the baseness of the project; and in a moment of relenting, Saul swears that he shall not be put to death. Hanna.—Jonathan, on this occasion, showed himself an admirable son, thus solicitous to preserve his father’s honor; and an incomparable friend, thus to plead for his innocent, injured friend, even in opposition to the tyrant who was bent on his destruction. Chandler.
8-10. Saul seems to have been quiet till a new occasion of jealousy arose; “war again;” David went out and fought, and slew the Philistines with great slaughter, and they fled. Then the evil spirit of jealousy came again upon Saul; David played before him; Saul again hurled his javelin to kill him, with no better success than before. David not only evaded the shaft, but escaped from the house. H. C.—Again the devil of jealousy creeps into his morbid, selfish heart, and he sees in David, the faithful servant of his throne, a scheming usurper only and traitor, waiting to vault into his place. The evil he sees in David is really in his own wild, ugly passion, but instead of strangling that, he tries to murder him! Bushnell.
God continues his care of David, and Saul missed his blow; David fled and by a kind providence escaped that night. To these preservations among others David often refers in his psalms when he speaks of God’s delivering his soul from death. H.—That night was the commencement of his open persecution by Saul, and of the long and varied troubles he experienced as an outlaw. He had been at court some three or four years, and now at three-and-twenty went forth to his seven years’ wanderings. B. D.—Here we may begin to find definite points of coincidence between this history of David, written probably by Samuel or by Gad (David’s
seer), and his own Psalms. Psalm 59 is definitely located at this point in his history, “When Saul sent and they watched the house to kill him.” Here, then, we may raise the question, What were the thoughts of his heart under these stern and sore afflictions? Did he look upward to God for help? Did he prove the priceless comfort of prayer in human emergencies? He himself gives the answer in the psalm. H. C.
18. As might almost have been anticipated, David’s destination in his flight was Ramah. To tell Samuel, who had anointed him, all that had happened; to ask his guidance, and seek refreshment in his company, would obviously suggest itself first to his mind. For greater safety, the two withdrew from the city, to “Naioth,” “the dwellings,” which seems to have been a block of dwellings within a compound, occupied by an order of prophets, of which Samuel was the “president,” and, we may add, the founder. A. E.—In this sanctuary the son of Jesse remained some time before Saul learned where he was. Here he was in an atmosphere congenial to his best feelings, his highest tastes, and holiest aspirations; and here his accomplishments in sacred minstrelsy and song had ample scope and exercise, enabling him to join heart and soul in their harmonious
“prophesyings.” Kit.—He found there only temporary safety from Saul’s persecution, but abiding consolation and strength in the inspired prophetic word, in the blessings of the fraternal community, and in the consoling and elevating power of the holy poetic art, whereby he doubtless stood in peculiarly intimate connection with the community. Erdmann.
21. Saul’s messengers came to lay hold on David: God lays hold on them. No sooner do they see a company of prophets busy in these Divine exercises, under the moderation of Samuel, than they are turned from executioners to prophets. Many a one hath come into God’s house to carp, or scoff, or sleep, or gaze, that hath returned a convert. Bp. H.
23. He went on, and prophesied. So strangely obstinate and wicked was Saul that he not only contended with the Spirit of God in sending others, but resolved at the last to go himself, as if he could oppose the Spirit of God: on the way, however, he was inspired by God and he sang praises as did the prophets. This was to convince him that he labored in a vain pursuit after David, whom the Spirit of God powerfully defended. Patrick.—He was seized by this mighty influence of the Spirit of God in a more powerful manner than his servants were, both because he had most obstinately resisted the leadings of Divine grace, and also in order that, if it were possible, his hard heart might be broken and subdued by the power of grace. If, however, he should nevertheless continue obstinately in his rebellion against God, he would then fall under the judgment of hardening, which would be followed by destruction. Keil.
24. He had taken off his outward garment, his military habit and royal robe, and thus appeared like the rest of the prophets, a plain, disarmed, and therefore naked man. Chandler.—
Wherefore they say, Is Saul also.
This was mentioned as a proverb, by anticipation, at ch. 10 : 11, 12, since the origin of the proverb is here expressly referred to this second prophesying. This proverb was used to express anything unlooked for and improbable. The meaning is, Is Saul, who throughout his whole reign hath so much slighted and contemned the law, and would conduct his actions by the mere rules of human policy, is he at length become studious of, and zealous for, the law of God? Warburton.