1 Samuel 18

Jonathan loveth David most dearly, and entereth into Covenant with him, ver. 1, &c. Giving him Presents, 4. Saul maketh him Commander over his souldiery and army, 5. The women extol David in their songs of praise above Saul, 6, Hereat Saul is incensed, 8. He assayed to thrust David thorow with a spear, 10. But David escaped, 11. Saul spareth David, 12, 13. David is prosperous in all his ways, 14. He is beloved of the people, 16. Saul promiseth david fraudulently his daughter Merab, 17. But she is given to Adriel, 19. Afterward Saul promiseth to david his daughter Michal, 20. But to be a snare, 21. The servants of Saul counsel David to take the Kings daughter to wife, 22. David accepteth thereof, 23. Saul demandeth a hundred fore-skins of the Philistines for a Dowry, 25. David promiseth to deliver the same, 26. And delivereth them in double number or quantity: then Saul gave him Michal, 27. She loveth David, 28. Saul feareth David, and becometh his enemy, 29. David prospereth, and is honoured, and becometh famous, 30.

1. It came to pass when he [viz. David] had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was wed to the soul of David: [See the annotate. on Genesis 44:30.] and Jonathan loved him as his soul. [i.e. as himself.]

2. And Saul took him that day, [Above chap.16.16. it is said, that Saul took David to him, that he might play before him on the harp, and then he was at liberty to go and come when he would, above chap.17.15. Now its said there that Saul took David to him, viz. to use him in the war, as one of his Commanders, or Field-officers, v.5. and in that respect he was continually to abide at Court] and he suffered him not to return to his fathers house.

3. Now Jonathan and David made a Covenant, because he loved him as his (own) soul.

4. And Jonathan put off his mantle which he had on, [Heb. Which was upon him] and gave it unto David; also his fathers, [understand this of his military clothes or armour] even to his sword, and to his bowe, and to his girdle.

5. And David went forth whithersoever Saul sent him, he behaved himself prudently, and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted [Heb. Good] in the eys of all the people, and also in the eyes of Sauls servants.

6. Now it came to pass , when they [viz. Saul with his souldiery] came, and David returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, [Heb. of the Philistine; whereby may be understood in the first place the giant Goliath; and secondly the camp of the Philistines in general] that the women went forth out of all the cities of Israel, with singing, dances, to meet King Saul; with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. [The instrument that here is named in the Hebrew, is now adayes unknown to us, but it seemeth to have been an instrument with three strings: see the like examples, Exod.15.20, 21. Judg.11,34.]

7. And the women playing answered (one another) and said: Saul hath slain his thousands [i.e. ten times as many as Saul.]

8. Then Saul kindled greatly, and that word was evil in his eyes, and he said, They have given David ten thousand, but me (but) a thousand; and assuredly the Kingdome will be for him:

9. And Saul had the eye on David, [Heb. Eyed David, i.e. he laid wait for him, and watched all opportunity, to put him to death: or, he looked on him from that very time with an evil eye, and he was his enemy, v.29.] from that day, and forward.

10. And it came to pass the next day, that the evil spirit of God [See above chapter 16. On ver.15.] waxed ready upon Saul, and he prophesied [the meaning is, that Saul being vexed of the evil spirit, fell into an extasie or trance, and bewrayed strange kind of gestures and behaviour. Compare I King.18.29. with the annotate.] in the midst of the house, and David played with his hand on a stringed instrument, as from day to day: [viz. to ease Saul of the disquietness and vexation of the evil spirit, and to cheer him in his melancholy fit: for this purpose was David at first summoned to Court, above chap.16.16.] (now Saul had a spear in the hand.)

11. And Saul shot the spear, and said, [i.e. He thought with himself: for it’s not to be imagined, that he spake this aloud: see the like below ver.17. and 21.] I will smite into David, and into the wall.] but David turned himself twice away from his face.

12. And Saul was afraid of David, [Saul feared that the souldiers that loved David would chuse David to be their King, v.8.] for the LORD was with him, and he was departed from Saul.

13. Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his Commander of a thousand: [Not advancing him to his state and degree of honour out of favour and affection he bare to him, but out of hopes that he should fall into his enemies hands and be slain: see ver.17, and 25.] and he went out, and he went in before the face of the people. [i.e. he brought the people on upon the enemy, and led them off from the enemy, as it besitteth such a valiant Commander to do: see also below v.16.]

14. And David behaved himself prudently in all his ways: and the LORD was with him.

15. Now when Saul saw that he behaved himself very prudently, he feared before his face. [See the cause hereof above v.8.]

16. But all Israel [Understand the eleven tribes] and Juda [i.e. the tribe of Juda] loved David, for he went out, and he went in before their face.

17. Therefore Saul said unto David, Behold, my greatest daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife, [Because Saul durst not put David to death openly, and God preserved him in the war, therefore he seeketh to ensnare him, and to destroy him, under a shew and pretence of love and friendship] onely be thou a valiant son [Heb. a son of valour] unto me, and manage the LORDS war: [i.e. the wars of the people of Israel, which they wage to maintain the honour of God against the idolatrous heathen] (for Saul said, [viz. with himself in his heart] Let not mine hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.) [i.e. I will not slay him with mine own hands, but I will cause him to perish by the hand of the Philistines. This Saul thought with himself, that he might get the ill-will of the people. That were affected to David.]

18. But David said unto Saul; who am I, and what is my life, (and) my fathers family in Israel? that I should be the Kings son in Law. [As if he should say, I am too too mean, that I should be son in Law to a King. Thus speaketh david likewise, 2 sam.7. vers.18.]

19. Now it came to passé, at the time when Merab Sauls Daughter should be given to David; that she was given unto Adriel [He was the son of Brazillai the Ephraimite, 2 Sam.21.8. where it is said, that the five children, which he begat of Merab, were hanged by the Gibeonites] the Meholathite [i.e. who was born at Mehola. This City was called Abel-Mehola, I Judg.7.22.] to wise.

20. But Michal Sauls Daughte loved David: when that was made known to Saul, then was that thing right in his eyes.

21. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, [See below vers.25.] and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him: therefore Saul said unto David, Thou shalt this day [i.e. within a short time; or, on that day, meaning a certain prefixed day, that Saul had appointed for that purpose, within which time David was to bring in his dowry of a hundred foreskins of the Philistines. See here below, vers.26. But Sauls hope and expectation was, that David disposing himself for this, should at one time or other be destroyed] by my son in law by the other. [heb. two: i.e. the sword. See above chap.13. on vers.1.]

22. And Saul commanded his servants, (saying) commune with David secretly, [As iof he should say, let it not appear that you do it by my command but as if you did it of your own accord, without my privity,] saying, Behold, the King hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now then be the Kings son in law.

23. And Sauls servants spake these words before the ears of David: then said David, Is that (thing) light in your eyes, to be the Kings son in law? whereas I am a poor and contemptible man. [As if he should say, I being but a poor and mean fellow in comparison of the King, am not able to give such a large drowry, as becometh a Kings Daughter to receive: for in those times the men did not receive dowries or portions with their wives, but they gave dowries or marriage-portions. See Genes.34.12. Exod.22.16,17. This dowry was at least 50 shekels of silver, Deut.22.25. that is, somewhat more then 12 ounces and an half, which is 12 Rixdollerd and an half, which makes about 12 crowns and an half of our English mony.]

24. And Sauls servants told him, saying, such words [Heb. according to these words] hath David spoken.

25. Then said Saul, Thus shall ye say unto David, The King delighteth not in the dowry, but in a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged on the kings enemies; for Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. [i.e. Saul imagined that David would sooner die in the war, then kill a hundred Philistines.]

26. Now his servants told David those words, and that thing was right in the eyes of David, that he should be the Kings son in law: but the days, [viz. those days that were appointed for the solemnizing of the marriage, or for the delivering in of the foreskins] were not yet expired.

27. Then David gat up, and he and his men went forth, and they slew among the Philistines two hundred men, and David brought their foreskins, and they delivered them fully [i.e. in full tale, or number] to the King, that he might be the Kings son in Law: then Saul gave him his Daughter Michal to wife.

28. And Saul saw, and perceived, that the LORD was with David: and Michal Sauls Daughter loved him.

29. Then Saul was yet the more afraid of David: and Saul was Davids enemy all (his) days, [i.e. as long as Saul lived.]

30. When the Princes of the Philistines marched forth, [viz. To make war against the Israelites] then it came to pass, that when they marched forth, that David was valianter then all the servants of Saul, so that his name was greatly esteemed.