1 SAMUEL - CHAPTER 19

David Protected

Introduction
1^st Samuel 19

Johnathan becomes David’s advocate
Verses 1-7

1 Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.

“Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death.”

Why is Saul now soliciting his son and servants to kill David?

Remembering back to I Samuel 18:8; Saul was displeased because the people gave David greater acclaim than the King.  Jealousy of David quickly kindled into hatred.

Saul’s hatred towards David had reached a feverish pitch.  In Saul’s desperation he was reaching out to those he felt could get close to David to kill him.

We know from 1 Samuel 18:1 that Johnathan Delighted/loved David as himself.  We see Johnathan’s reaction to the king's command in the next verse.

2  So Jonathan told David saying, “Saul my father is seeking to put you to death. Now therefore, please be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself.

“Saul my father is seeking to put you to death.”  -

Johnathan finds David, but instead of killing him, he wanted to protect him from his father’s wrath. 

The secret place may have been a cave that only David and Johnathan knew.  According to Johnathan, David would hear of any threat Saul might make.  At this time we do not know where this hidden place was.  However, in the next verse, we get a clue. “be on guard

in the morning”  -

Why did Johnathan want to wait until the morning to speak to his father?

Johnathan knew his father would be more reasonable in the morning, and he would have a better chance to reason with him regarding David.

3  “I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you; if I find out anything, then I will tell you.”

stand beside my father in the field where you are -

There is some indication that David might have been close enough in his location to hear Saul and Johnathan speaking but not close enough to hear everything. 

I will speak with my father about you -

Johnathan was going to try to persuade his father to give up his quest for David’s death.   We will learn more of this conversation and the approach Johnathan used in verse 4, and Saul’s response.

4  Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.

“spoke well of David” –

Johnathan spoke of David’s attributes and his loyalty with his father.

Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you –

David uses logic and fear to convince the king to give up his death wish for David. 

We will see what Johnathan said to his father in the next three verses.

5  “For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause?”

We see in verse five how fervently Johnathan advocates on David’s behalf. 

struck the Philistine

Johnathan reminds his father of the fact that he owes David a debt for defeating Goliath (the Philistine).

deliverance for all Israel

Saul remembered the promise he made to the one who would defeat Goliath.

putting David to death without a cause

Appealing to Saul’s honor as a man and King; David asks his father why. 

Only one answer remained for Saul (V6).

6  Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.”

Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan –

‘Listened” - was translated from the Hebrew root word shama` shaw-mah' meaning; to hear intelligently.

Saul understood what his son was saying, and for a moment his anger towards David subsided.

Saul vowed –

A vow sworn before the Lord would have bound that Saul to that vow. 

In Numbers 30: 1-16 (“…he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth”).  Even though this verse referenced marital vows; I believe it applies to all vows sworn before God.

We should take to heart the words of Paul in Ecclesiastes 5:2.

7  Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly.

Saul attempts to kill David
8-18

8  When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter, so that they fled before him.

Saul had tried to kill David, and yet David remained faithful and fought the Philistines, and with God’s help defeated them.

9  Now there was an evil spirit from the Lord on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.

evil spirit from the Lord

There is no evil in God (Job 34:10).  Therefore, evil and good do not coexist.  The Spirit of God had already left Saul (I Samuel 16:14 ).  Once the Spirit of God left Saul, the evil spirit filled the heart of Saul.

What was this evil spirit?

Jealousy once again entered Saul’s heart.  Even though Saul had no cause to be jealous of David, this feeling persisted in him.  

Jealousy that persists in a person will bring that person to rash decisions.

with his spear in his hand

Saul was seething in range instead of David’s music soothing Saul it served only to increase his rage.

10  Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, so that he stuck the spear into the wall.  And David fled and escaped that night.

to the wall with the spear -

The wall was probably an interior partition; possibly constructed of bricks made from straw mixed with clay.  Their ancestors learned this method of making bricks while in captivity in Egypt.

It would have taken a lot of force to drive a spear through a man’s body pinning it to a stone wall.  However, this was Saul’s intention and considering Saul was a large and powerful man, perhaps that might have been possible.

David fled and escaped that night -

There was no hiding it now.  Saul would not honor his vow.  Saul wanted David put to death.  David realizing this fled Saul’s court and escaped into the darkness.

11  Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death.”

We are seeing in Saul how Jealousy grows to anger, then hate, and how hate changes a person’s spirit into a ugly specter.

Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house … -

Saul still feared the people’s scorn, he knew the people loved David, and there would be trouble if he openly had David put to death.  Therefore, Saul resorted to subterfuge to kill David, by way of messengers.

The Hebrew word used here is mal'ak mal-awk' from an unused root meaning to dispatch as a deputy.  Michal knew of her father’s treachery and warned her husband.

We do not know how Michal found out about her father’s plans.  We can assume her brother Johnathan might have told her.

It is apparent to me Michal loved David, and her loyalty was with her husband.  Scripture tells us the extent of the union of husband and wife (Genesis 2:24  ).

Hate is a powerful tool used by Satan.  We have seen how sin begets sin; this simple true statement should cause us to realize two things:

We cannot have a close relationship with God and harbor hatred in our hearts towards anyone; and hate brings out the darkest thoughts in man, causing him to seek vengeance.  However, we know scripture tells us that “vengeance is mine says the Lord…” (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19).

 We cannot purge ourselves of hate, apart from Jesus. 

12  So Michal let David down through a window, and he went out and fled and escaped. 13  Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, and put a quilt of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.

At Michal’s insistence David escapes through a window to avoid being seen by the Kings deputies (messengers).

Michal let David down -

Use of the term let down tells me the sleeping quarters were perhaps on the second floor. 

The critical thing to realize here is the presence of an idol in David’s house.  I find it difficult to believe David for find favor with God and have an idol in his house.  I, therefore, believe perhaps this idol belonged to Michal.  The disguise was necessary to fool the would-be assassins.

14  When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” 15  Then Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed, that I may put him to death.”

He is sick.” –

Michal told the messengers that David was sick and could not get out of bed.  Michal’s deception would soon be revealed.  The messengers must have reported David’s illness to Saul who was not satisfied.

that I may put him to death –

Saul impatiently told his messengers to bring David to him so he might kill him.

16  When the messengers entered, behold, the household idol was on the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair at its head.

Each pagan culture has its idols to worship.  Is it surprising to read of idols in a Hebrew dwelling?

Not when you consider the history of Israel.  As slaves in Egypt (Exodus 32:1).  However, the household idols were called teraphim. “The word teraphim comes from the Hebrew word hatterapim that in the Bible usually refers to as household idols or family gods. We first see this word in Genesis 31:19.”(What are teraphim? - GotQuestions.org)

The surprise is that God would permit such a flagrant disregard of His commandment “you shall have no other gods before me” (Deuteronomy 5:7).

Teraphim – “…Probably they had been stealthily brought by Michal from her father's house. "Perhaps," says Bishop Wordsworth, "Saul, forsaken by God and possessed by the evil spirit, had resorted to teraphim (as he afterwards resorted to witchcraft); and God overruled evil for good, and made his very teraphim (by the hand of his own daughter) to be an instrument for David's escape.", Deane's David, p. 32. Josiah attempted to suppress this form of idolatry ( 2 Kings 23:24 ). The ephod and teraphim are mentioned together in Hosea 3:4 . It has been supposed by some (Cheyne's Hosea) that the "ephod" here mentioned, and also in Judges 8:24-27 , was not the part of the sacerdotal dress so called ( Exodus 28:6-14 ), but an image of Jehovah overlaid with gold or silver (Compare Judg. 17,18; 1 Samuel 21:9 ; 1 Samuel 23:6 1 Samuel 23:9 ; 1 Samuel 30:7 1 Samuel 30:8 ), and is thus associated with the teraphim. (See THUMMIM .)” (M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897.)

17  So Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” And Michal said to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I put you to death?’”

Why have you deceived me

Michal was brought before Saul once the deception was discovered.

Michal, fearing the wrath of her father, lied once again; saying in effect, she was only obeying the wishes of her husband.

18  Now David fled and escaped and came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.

"came to Samuel at Ramah -"

We know from I Samuel 7:17 Ramah was where Samuel lived.  Everyone would have known where Samuel lived. 

David was not only seeking asylum with Samuel but also guidance as to Saul’s desire to kill him.

Samuel went and stayed in Naioth -

What was special about Naioth?

“the name was given to the prophetical college established by Samuel near Ramah.  It consisted of a cluster of separate dwellings, and hence its name” [Bible Hub]

God intervenes in Saul’s attempts to kill David
verses 19-24.

19  It was told Saul, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20  Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied

With Samuel standing and presiding over them -

It was common practice for an older prophet to gather younger prophets to teach them.

The Spirit of God was upon this place. And those who Saul had sent were overcome by the Spirit of God, and they acted like the prophets.

The word prophesied used here, comes from the Hebrew word “naba‘ naw-baw meaning speak or sing by.  We must bear in mind that we are not talking about foretelling the future here.  They were undoubtedly speaking as the prophets in a strange tongue.   inspiration” [5]

21  When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.

22  Then he himself went to Ramah and came as far as the large well that is in Secu; and he asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”

"Where are Samuel and David?" -

Secu may have been somewhere between Gibeah where Saul lived and Ramah where Samuel lived.

"the large well "

The community well was a place where people congregated to draw water and perhaps catch up on local gossip.  The public well would be the place to go if you wanted information.

23  He proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

Once again Saul was overcome by the Holy Spirit.  The first time was when Samuel anointed him as King (1 Samuel 10:10). 

The first time the Spirit of God changed his heart and Saul either sang or spoke in a tongue the same as the prophets.  However, this time was different the Spirit came upon Saul for a different purpose.  Saul acted differently in that he disrobed, as we will see in the next verse.

24  He also stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

stripped off his clothes –

Some biblical scholars believe Saul took off his armor and royal robe (the vestige of a King) and began behaving as the prophets.

lay down naked –

The word naked was translated from the Hebrew word  `arowm aw-rome' or marom {aw-rome'}; from 6191 (in its original sense); nude, either partially or totally:--naked. See HEBREW for 06191 [5]

Having done my own research I have concluded that Saul was not completely naked.  Both root words means to be prudent or crafty, and in this case God was causing Saul to cast off his garments of kingship (See also (1 Samuel 17:27) .  

End of Chapter Discussion

Johnathan becomes David’s advocate

Saul attempts to kill David

God intervenes in Saul’s attempts to kill David

Credits Citations and Web links

[1] –scripture verses from Cross wire Study Bible

[2] -  commentaries by /Jamison-Fausset-brown (published in 1871)

[3] – Wikipedia.org

[4] - Bible Hub  - Used by general permission

[5] - Bible Hub concordance

1st Samuel Chapter 18

Saul and David a Love Hate Relationship

Verses 1-5
Saul brings David into the palace.  Johnathan forms a strong bond with David

1 Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
2 Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.

What brought about the affection Johnathan had for David?

1. the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David

After David defeated the Philistines, Johnathan saw David in a new light.  No longer did  Johnathan see David just as a musician but now as a mighty warrior, worthy of his admiration.  This affection Johnathan had for David was a much deeper feeling than admiration. 

2. “did not let him return to his father’s house”.

David no longer lived at home; he was now in residence in the palace (verse 2).  Scripture does not tell us how long David lived in the Palace.  However, it must have been long enough for Johnathan to bond with David.

3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

3. Jonathan made a covenant with David -

This was no meaningless gesture on Johnathan’s part.  This covenant was before God and witnesses ceremonially, similar to the wedding ceremony of today. 

This covenant confirmed David as a brother to Johnathan.  Binding both men in loyalty to each other and their offspring.

We do not know if David felt the same depth of love as Johnathan.  Main-stream theologians see their relationship as being plutonic as a brother would have for his brother.  

4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David-

Was there any significance to the giving of the robe, the sword, and the armor?

Johnathan was paying a very high honor to David by giving his robe, the robe reserved for royalty.  As a prince Johnathan’s robe was royal. 

The sword would have been the symbol of the military arm of the monarchy.

The armor might have been symbolic of royal protection either personally or nationally. 

VERSES 6-12 JEALOUSY COMES OVER SAUL

6  It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. 7  The women sang as they played, and said,
“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.” 8  Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
9. Saul eyed David--that is, invidiously, with secret and malignant hatred.

6. the women came out of all cities of Israel,

It was common place for women to greet the army with songs of triumph and joy. 

They honored their men as they marched into the city.  They saw their men as heroes, and they were undoubtedly overjoyed to see them returning to them.

7.  The women sang as they played

The songs they sang were songs of tribute to the victorious leaders, and to the men they led.

8. Then Saul became very angry

Jealously overtook Saul’s heart, filling it with hatred towards David.  This hatred was due to the people who were singing of David’s victory as being greater than Saul’s.

10 Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand.

an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul,

This is a perplexing statement.  Was this an evil spirit from God?  Let’s look to the translation for the answer.

NO! The word phrase “an evil” was translated from the Hebrew word  ra` rah; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral):-- adversity, affliction, bad, calamity.  The word Spirit was translated from the Hebrew word 7307 ruwach roo'-akh from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, not substantiality;

God can harden a person’s heart (Exodus 4:21).  In plainer words He allows evil feelings to dominate a person inner being by removing Himself; allowing man’s carnality to take over.  God is good (Mark 10:18  ).  Good and evil cannot coexist, they are opposites like darkness is to light.

God has no evil in Him, He is master of the universe and therefore has mastery over Satan (the originator of all evil) and his dominion (Luke 10:17).  Therefore, God could call upon a demon to take over a person; but why would He, when all he needs to do is allow Satan to have his way (verse 11; & I Samuel 16:14).

There was a javelin in Saul's hand-

We can surmise that the hatred (evil spirit) Saul was feeling drove him to grasp the weapon and throw it at David, as we will see in the next verse (also refer to I Samuel 19:9).

11 Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from his presence twice. 12 Now Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.

Now Saul was afraid of David –

Saul must have felt that the Lord was no longer with him because of the hatred he felt towards David.  David had done nothing to warrant this hatred. 

Saul saw how God favored David and envy grasped him.  He became fearful knowing the all-powerful God was with David and no longer with him.  Fear, envy, and jealousy were now Saul’s companions. 

13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 David was prospering in all his ways for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

Therefore Saul removed him from him-

Saul appointed David commander; not as a reward, but rather to remove him from his court of admirers.

However, this action by Saul did not get rid of David from the king's court, but rather served to ingratiate the people even more-so to David.

Gods face shown greatly on David, and the people loved him.

VERSES 17-19 SAUL USES A PROMISE OF MARRIAGE WITH TRETEROUS INTENT.

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

“Here is my older daughter Merab;

David may have seen the king’s daughters hand as the reward promised when he killed Goliath (V 17:25).

With the promise of marriage (the path to royalty) as an inducement; David was sent forth not to triumph, but to die in combat.  Later we will see David as King use the same guile to take what he desired.

18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19 So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

Who am I –

David shows his humility refusing his just reward because he was not of royal birth.  Johnathan would have been next in line for the throne.

Humility is a rare virtue in people of any era.  David was a shepherd who had no aspirations to become royalty.  He was humble and saw himself only as a servant to Saul. 

Unlike in today’s society where a woman selects her husband.  In ancient Israel the parents arranged the marriage.  Suitable matches were most often from the same tribe or the same or a neighboring village (women in ancient Israel).

 VERSES 20-30 DAVID MARRIES SAUL’S YOUNGER DAUGHTER

20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.

When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him.

Why did Saul want David as a son-in-law?

What was Saul’s motives in agreeing to the marriage of Michal to David? (see V 21)

Saul still harbored jealousy and hatred towards David.  Saul was going to use this marriage to snare David.  It is not clear at this point how Saul was going to use this marriage to place David in mortal danger. 

We will get a partial answer in the next verse.

21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23  So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24  The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke.

Behold, the king delights in you

Saul sent his servants to David with a message motivated in deception.  Saul knew David loved him and perhaps this time David would accept the offer of marriage.

A daughter was valuable to the father for the work she did.  Consequently the father would receive a sum of money or other valuable consideration for the hand of his daughter in marriage.  This was called a dowry whereby the husband-to-be would pay the father of the bride an agreed upon price.  This practice is still carried on in some countries.

How much money do you think David would have to pay for the king's daughter?

Saul honored his pledge in the death of Goliath, but David turned down.  

We will see in the next verse what price the King was asking for the marriage to his daughter

  

25 Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

‘The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins

David and his family were poor.  They could not afford the great dowry a King’s daughter would command. 

Saul’s plan is now taking shape.  The King believed if David went into combat with the Philistines he surely would be slain.  Saul’s hands would be clean in the eyes of the people.

Such mutilations on the bodies of their slain enemies a common practice in ancient war, and the number of foreskins validated the victory.

26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days had expired 27 David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. 28 When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually. 30 Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.

26. Before the days had expired –

The expiration referred to was the length of time Saul gave David to complete the assigned task.

27. struck down two hundred men among the Philistines.-

Why 200 foreskins, Saul only asked for 100?

Perhaps David wanted to impress Saul. 

Perhaps David was paying tribute to his bride-to-be.

Scripture does not tell us why David doubled the quota, only that he did. 

CHAPTER DISCUSSION

What did David do to warrant Johnathan’s adoration?

Johnathan admired David for facing Goliath without fear.

Why did Jonathan make a covenant with David ?

Refer to verse 3.

What was the significance of Johnathan’s gifts to David.  (See verse 4)

Jealousy is a major tool of Satan, it turned Saul’s heart and it can destroy us and our witness.

Jealousy begets, hatred, which begets vengeance, which often results in death.

Sin left un-repented, will lead to our destruction.

What lesions have we learned from 1^st Samuel 18?

CITATIONS AND CREDITS

[1] –scripture verses from Cross wire Study Bible

[2] -  commentaries by /Jamison-Fausset-brown (published in 1871)

[3] – Wikipedia.org