1 Samuel 19

Saul seeketh to kill David, ver.1, &c. Jonathan giveth David notice, 2. And speaketh in his behalf unto Saul, 4. Who seeketh that he will not put David to death, 6. David returneth to Court, 7. He marcheth into the field, and smiteth the Philistines, 8. Wherefore he fleeth, 12. Michal deceiveth her father, 13. David cometh to Rama unto Samuel, 18. Saul sendeth messengers to Najoh, to apprehend David: they prophesie, 20. He sendeth other messengers that prophesie likewise, 21. He goeth himself thither, 22. And he prophesieth likewise, 23.

1. Therefore Saul spake unto his son Jonathan, and to all his servants, to kill David: but Jonathan; Sauls son, took great delight in David.

2. And Jonathan told David, saying, my father Saul seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thy self in the morning, [For Sauls’s Life-guard intended to kill him in the morning, ver.11. Oth. until morning; for in the mean while Jonathan had undertaken to speak unto Saul in David’s behalf, and to sift it out, whether Saul yet persisted in his wicked intent] and abide in (a) secret (place), and hide thy self.

3. But I will go forth, and stand at my fathers hand on the field, [Oth. In the field] where thou shalt be, and I will speak of thee unto my father: and will see: [or, hearken, or, perceive] what it is, that I will tell thee.

4. So then Jonathan spake good of David unto his Father Saul: and he said unto him, Let not the King sinne against his servant David, [viz. Doing him wrong, and pursuing him thus in a deadly manner] because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his actions are very good before thee.

5. For he hath put his soul into his hand, [as if he should say, he hath adventured his life, and put himself in danger of death: see the like phrase chap.28.21. Judg.12.3.] and he hath smitten the Philistine, [Oth. the Philistines; see above chap.18.6.] and the LORD wrought great salvation (for) all Israel, thou sawest it, and thou didst rejoice: wherefore shouldest thou then sinne against innocent blood, killing David without a cause?

6. Now Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, (as true as) the Lord liveth, he shall not be killed. [i.e. by my command: so that Saul here desisteth from his intention, ver.1. Heb. If he be killed: see the annotate. on Gen.14.23.]

7. And Jonathan called David, and acquinted him with all these words: and Jonathan brought David unto Saul, and he was before his face as yesterday (and) ere yesterday. [i.e. He came to Court, and did his office, as he had done a foretime.]

8. And there was war again: and David went forth, and fought against the Philistines, and he smote them with a great slaughter, and they fled before his face.

9. But the evil spirit of the LORD was upon Saul, and he sat in his house, and his spear was in his hand: and David played with the hand upon a stringed instrument.

10. Now Saul sought to thrust David thorow to the wall, [See above chap.18.11.] Bu he escaped from the face of Saul, that smote with the spear into the wall: then David fled, and escaped the same night.

11. But Saul sent away messengers to Davids house, to watch him, and to kill him in the morning: [See above ver.2.] this Michal his wife made known to David, saying, If thou save not thy soul [i.e. thyself, thy person, thy life] this night, then thou shalt be killed in the morning.

12. And Michal let David down thorow a window: [For the doors were beset with Sauls servants] and he fled, and went away, and escaped.

13. And Michal took an image, [Heb. Teraphin; as below ver.16.] and she laid it in the bed, and she laid a goats skin at his head-pillow, [as if so be it had been David’s hair] and covered it close with a cloth.

14. Now Saul sent messengers to fetch, [Otherwise, To apprehend. Heb. to take] David; she then said, he is sick.

15. Then Saul sent messengers to see David, [i.e. To visit him; as if so be they out of love came to visit him, or see how he did, in his sickness. But they came chiefly to see if he were sick indeed, or whether he onely feigned himself sick, and in whatever condition he was, to take him along with them,] saying: Bring him up to me in the bed, that they may kill him.

16. When the messengers came, then behold, there was an image in the bed, and there was a goat-skin at his head pillow.

17. Then Saul said unto Michal, [viz. After Sauls messengers had told him, what had befallen them] Why hast thou deceived me? And hast let mine enemy go, that he is escaped? Now Michal said unto Saul, he said unto me, Let me go, why should I kill thee? [Inimating, that David had threatened to kill her, if she would not have let him go. See the like phrase, 2 Samuel 2:22.]

18. So David fled, and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Rama, [viz. To ask counsel what he should do, and also because he thought he should be there more safe and secure then elsewhere, to wit, in the company of Samuel, and the other Prophets, who were safe & secure eating at Gibea, notwithstanding the Philistines had their garrison there, I Sam.10.10.] and he made known to him all that Saul had done to him; and he and Samuel went their ways, and they abode at Najoth. [This is a place where the Prophets had a Colledge or school, lying by Rama, where Samuel dwelt.]

19. And it was told Saul, saying: Behold, David is at Najoth by Rama, [Thus is the Hebrew letter Beth plainly taken, Jos.5.13, &c.]

20. Then Saul sent forth messengers to fetch David, [See above vers.14.] who saw [Heb. Saw, in the singular number; i.e. every one of them saw] an assembly of Prophets prophesying, [i.e. praising God, and magnifying his Name with prayers and hymnes] and Samuel standing, appointed over them: and the spirit of God was upon Sauls messengers, and they prophesied likewise; [i.e. they behaved themselves as the Prophets did when they prophesie. See above chap.18.10. It seemeth that these messengers of Saul were so altered in their mind and opinion. That putting off their armour, they thought no more of seizing Davids person, whereas they were sent out for that very intent.]

21. When it was told Saul, then he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise: then Saul went on, and sent the third messengers, and they prophesied likewise.

22. Afterward he himself also went to Rama, and he came to the great Well, which was at Socha, [see concerning this city the annotations on I Sam.17.1.] and he asked, and said, Where is Samuel and David? Then it was told him, Behold, they are at Najoth by Rama.

23. Then went he hither to Najoth by Rama: and the same spirit of God was upon him also, and he going on prophecied, until he came to Najoth in Rama.

24. And he himself stript off his cloaths also, [i.e. He put off his Royal Robe, or souldiers upper garment wherewith he was come to apprehend David] and he himself prophesied also before the face of Samuel, and he fell down [understand, that he fell as it were into an extasie, as it sometimes befell the Prophets: see Numb.24.4. or, he fell down as the other, stretching themselves thus together before the Lord] bare [or, naked. Understand this thus, that he stript himself of his Royal Robe, or upper garment, or of his souldiers coat: see the like, Isa.20.2. Mich.1.8.] that same whole day, and all the night: wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the Prophets? [see above chapter 10. on vers.12. Here this Proverb is applicable to those, who are wonderfully disappointed of God in their intention, as it befell Saul here. See the like History, Numb.23. and 24. in Bileam, and Act.9. in Saul]