1 Samuel 19

1 Samuel 19:1-7

It’s have here four escapes of David from the sword of Saul, 1. By the mediation of Jonathan, ver. 1—7. 2. By his own quick-wife, ver. 8—10. 3. By Michal’s fidelity, ver. 11—17. 4. By Samuel’s protection, ver. 18—24. Thus God has many ways of preserving his people. Providence is never at a life.

AND ‘Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 1. But Jonathan Saul’s son ‘delighted much in David: and ‘Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 3. And I will go out and stand before my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee: and what I see, that I will tell thee. 4. And Jonathan spoke good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let me the king ‘fin against his servant, against David: because ‘he hath not finned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-want very good. 5. For ‘he did put his life in his hand, and flew the Philistines, and ’the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou saweest it, and didst rejoice; ‘wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6. And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul ‘sware, as the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7. And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things: and Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

Saul no longer seeks to cloak his bloody designs, but gives public orders to kill David as a matter, and particularly to Jonathan, to dispatch the rival of his crown; but Jonathan’s love was stronger than the ambition of a throne; and Saul’s malice, by being undisguised, was the seller disappointed.

1. He warns David of his danger, and bids him hide himself till the morning in some secret place, because of the order which had been given, and by that time he hoped to procure some change in his cruel father, or at least to let David know how to proceed.

2. He takes the first opportunity, the next morning, to ex-populate with his father, and to pacify his resentment. He urges the kindnesses David had shewn him, the great obligations the whole land owed him, nay Saul’s own acknowledgments of it. How ungrateful and false then to murder so faithful a servant, and so valiant a subject! Had he committed ought worthy of death indeed this might cancel his past services, but Saul must be conscious of his innocence; and therefore, to shed his blood would be as inhuman as unjust. Nate, Such a friend as Jonathan, so disinterested, so faithful, is rare.

3. Saul having slept, his passion was cooled. Conviction accompanied Jonathan’s arguments; he swears to save David harmless, revokes his bloody edict, and restores him to his place at court, with every apparent mark of regard and confidence. Nate, (1.) The oath of a common swearer is bad security. (2.) Good advice, though from an inferior, deserves attention. (3.) Sudden changes of passionate men prognosticate no long continuance.

4. And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and flew them with a great daughter; and they had from him. 9. And ’the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10. And ‘Saul fought to smite David

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even to the wall with his javelin; but he slept away out of Saul’s presence: and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and ’escaped that night.

1 Samuel 19:8-10

David is ever armed in Israel’s cause; we find him again in the field, fighting the Lord’s battles, and again victorious over the Philistines. But every freth laurel on David’s brow puts a sharp thorn in Saul’s boilers; his melancholy returns; and willing to relieve him, his son thinks it not beneath his dignity again to handle the harp: but whilst, in kind regard, he sought to soothe the torments of his heart, he lites subjects the spear that stood ready to pierce his own. Swift and violent Saul hurts the javelin, to pierce him to the wall, but his agility avoids the blow, and leaving his presence, where it was no longer life to slay, he seeks, he sights, to have himself from the enraged monarch. Nate, (1.) Something will always be found to allay the joys of our triumphs. (2.) No kindness can cure the rankings of inveterate malice.

11. Saul also ‘sent messengers unto David’s house to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou shalt be slain. 12. ‘So Michal let David down ’through a window: and he went and fled, and escaped. 13. And Michal took ‘an image and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goat’s hair for his brother, and covered it with a cloth. 14. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. 15. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. 16. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goat’s hair for his brother. 17. And Saul said unto Michal, ‘Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

1 Samuel 19:11-17

David was now in imminent danger; for Saul supposing him fled to his own house, dispatches a party to watch him and kill him there; but through mercy he escapes.

1. Michal, from whom Saul hoped to ruin him, loves him too well to betray him; no sooner is she apprized of his danger, than she informs him; and in the night, through the window, lets him down, that he might not be perceived by those who had before the house: and in the morning, to give him more leisure to escape, fugues he is sick, puts an image in his bed, and deserves thus the messengers of Saul. Nate, (1.) Wives must love their husbands, and cleave to them even beyond their own parents. (2.) A woman’s wife are often shatser than her husband’s; it is no disparagement for a man to follow his wife’s advice.

2. Saul’s rage will not put up with excuse; he will have David brought in his bed, that he may have the satisfaction of murdering him by his own hand. Nate, Wicked men grow worse and worse as they resist their convictions, and provoke God to give them up to their violent passions.

3. Michal, when the cheat was discovered, well knowing her father’s mad rage, seeks to appease him; and as she stuck not at one lie to save her husband, she hesitates not at another to excuse herself, even at the expence of her husband’s character. Nate, One he usually hardens the conscience for another.

4. ‘So 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 slept in Naioth. 19. And ‘it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 20. And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and ’they also prophesied. 21. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise: and Saul sent messengers again ’the third time, and they prophesied also. 22. Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23. And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and ’the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and ‘prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah: 24. And he slain off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner + and lay down naked all that day, and all that night. Wherefore they say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets?

calls so God to be between them for ever, keeping them faithful to their vows, or as the avenger if they failed. For Jonathan loved David as his own foul, therefore his anxious solicitude appeared so urgent. Note, (1.) It is a great mercy to have the love of those who have the evident blessing of God upon them. (2.) Fervent love seems often importunate, and is jealous of every shadow that might breed a separation.

3. Before they part, if the interview on the third day should be dangerous, Jonathan proposes a method that would convey the intelligence to him, whilst he lay hid in the field, v. 20-22. that so he might retire undiscovered, and save himself if danger was before him.

4. ¶ So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 25. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. 26. Nevertheless, Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. 27. And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul had unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jeffe to meat, neither yesterday nor to day? 28. And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me, to go to Beth-lehem: 29. And he said, Let me go, I pray thee, for our family hath a sacrifice in the city, and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there; and now if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away I pray thee, and see my brethren: Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. 30. Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he laid unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jeffe to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? 31. For as long as the son of Jeffe liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom: wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. 32. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33. And Saul call a javelin at him to smote him; whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. 34. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

1 Samuel 19:24-34

As was expected, we have here,

1. Saul enquiring for David, His seat was vacant, but the first day Saul imputed it to some ceremonial uncleanness, and therefore repressed his enquiries. When the second day’s feath came, and David did not appear, he can no longer contain, but afas in displeasure for the son of Jeffe. Note, They were come to the Lord’s table with rancor in their heart, may be assured their offerings are an abomination.

2. Jonathan makes his excuse, that it was not through want of respect to the king, or without leave he was absent; but a family-facrifice, and his elder brother’s presiding invitation had made him desirous to pay this duty to his relations, and he had asked of him, and obtained permission to go.

3. Saul’s rage can no longer be contained, he publicly abuses Jonathan with opprobrious names as a baffard or traitor; reproaches him as a fool, for his regard to his rival, declares his determined purpose to destroy David, and bids him fetch him instantly from Beth-lehem. Jonathan cannot forbear a vindication of his friend, and Saul now mad with him for such an expostulation, dares his javelin at him, to kill him. With indignation at such treatment, he rises from the table, and passes the day falling, through vexation; grieved for himself to be so visited and ill used, but more grieved for the danger of his friend, whose ruin now he saw resolved upon. Note, (1.) Foul language is always a sign of a bad cause. (2.) Every angry man is a murderer in heart, and wants nothing but provocation and impunity to make him so in deed. (3.) It is a bitter grief to see those who are near and dear to us, act vitally and wickedly. (4.) A generous spirit can sooner bear to be inflicted himself, than bear his friend abused. (5.) Vexation and anguish of mind destroy the appetite, and make us forget to eat our bread.

4. ¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field, at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. 36. And he laid unto his lad, Rum, find out now the arrows which

I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow by sound him. 37. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, It not the arrow beyond thee! 38. And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haite, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his matter. 39. But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. 41. ¶ And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David it exceeded. 42. And Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, S forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy feed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

1 Samuel 19:35-42

On the third morning, according to appointment, with his lad he walked into the field where David was hid, and shot the arrow that carried the fatal tidings. David well understood the signal, beyond you; and concludes the desperateness of his feastmen. Jonathan being more near, dismisses his lad, and seeks one moment’s conversation ere they part; perhaps to meet no more; nor did they ever again, but once by death in a wood, chap. xxiii. 16. The same was unoppressibly tender; how could it be otherwise between such affectionate friends? David, with deepest gratitude, acknowledges his obligations to him; then clasp’d in affectionate embraces, distresses unutterable steps for a time the power of utterance; whilst foods of tears run down their manly cheeks, and befriend the bitter anguish of their hearts. David exceeded, not because his affection was most violent, for tenderer heart than Jonathan’s nature never formed, but because his situation was most afflictive; banished from his friends, his family, his all; treated as an outlaw, each flop in danger, and each breath in jeopardy; cut off from the sanctuary of God, and dragging on, at best, in exile, the miserable remains of a precarious life. But Jonathan seeks to console and encourage him; reminds him of the covenant betwixt them; and since part they must, with sad reluctance, and many a wishful look, no doubt, behind them, David departs to secure himself, and Jonathan carries back his melancholy heart to Gibeah. Note, It should be a comfort to us in every trial, that they are short; and if our souls are interested in the everlasting covenant established with the friend of sinners, we know we shall meet him to part no more, where every tear will be wiped from our eyes.