1 Samuel 18:1-5
1 Samuel 18:1-5. Jonathan's friendship for David 1 5. This section also is not found in the Septuagint (B).... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Samuel 18:1-5. Jonathan's friendship for David 1 5. This section also is not found in the Septuagint (B).... [ Continue Reading ]
_the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David_ The same expressive phrase is used of Jacob's love for Benjamin in Genesis 44:30, which might be rendered "seeing his soul is knit up with the lad's soul." _loved him as his own soul_ Cp. 1 Samuel 20:17; Deu 13:6; 2 Samuel 1:26. Thus commenced t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jonathan stript himself_, &c. Jonathan gave David (1) his _mĕîl_or long outer robe for ordinary wear (see on 1 Samuel 2:19); (2) his military dress (1 Samuel 17:38) and girdle: (3) even his sword, and the famous bow which was his special weapon (2 Samuel 1:22). The act was at once a ratification of... [ Continue Reading ]
_David went out_&c] David was appointed to some post of command, and "went out" upon military expeditions. In these "he behaved himself wisely" the word combines the ideas of _prudence_and consequent _success:_and in spite of this sudden promotion, which might naturally have excited the jealousy of... [ Continue Reading ]
The celebration of David's victory 6. _And it came to pass_, &c. 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 t... [ Continue Reading ]
_answered one another_ The women who "played" i.e. danced and gesticulated sang in antiphonal chorus (Exodus 15:21) the refrain of a popular song, which evidently became widely current, as it was well known even among the Philistines (1 Samuel 21:11; 1 Samuel 29:5). _David his ten thousands_ For th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul eyed David_ With a suspicious jealousy which soon ripened into a deadly hatred. There is no need to suppose that David's anointing by Samuel had been reported to him. "The prophet had distinctly told him in the day of his sin, that the Lord had rent the kingdom from him, and had given it to a... [ Continue Reading ]
_he prophesied_ The word "prophesy" describes _an ecstatic condition due to supernatural influence good or evil:_the result in the one case being prophetic inspiration or religious enthusiasm: in the other raving madness. See on 1 Samuel 10:5. _and there was a javelin in Saul's hand_ Render, AND THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul's attempt to murder David 10, 11. The last sentence of 1 Samuel 18:8 and 1 Samuel 18:10 are not found in the Sept. (B). The narrative certainly gains by their omission, and describes the gradual growth of Saul's enmity more naturally. At the same time there is no impossibility in supposing tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul cast the javelin; for he said_ Probably; SAUL LIFTED (or BRANDISHED) THE SPEAR, AND SAID. It does not seem to be meant that he actually cast it, as he did upon the later occasion (1 Samuel 19:10). The threatening gesture was twice repeated, and David prudently withdrew on both occasions. _avo... [ Continue Reading ]
David's advancement 12. In the Sept. (B) this verse follows immediately after the clause of 1 Samuel 18:8, "to me they have ascribed but thousands," and reads simply, "and Saul was afraid of David.... [ Continue Reading ]
_made him his captain over a thousand_ What was summarily mentioned by anticipation in 1 Samuel 18:5 is here related with more detail in the order of time.... [ Continue Reading ]
_was afraid of him_ STOOD IN AWE OF HIM, a stronger expression than that in 1 Samuel 18:12, denoting primarily _the avoidance of the person feared_. (Cp. Sept. εὐλαβεῖτο ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_because he went out and came in before them_ Acted as their leader in war. Saul made David captain over a thousand partly to get rid of him from his presence, partly perhaps in the hope that he might lose his life in battle (1 Samuel 18:17_; 1 Samuel 18:25_): but the result was that he became firml... [ Continue Reading ]
_Merab_ = _Increase_. Saul offered her to David in fulfilment of his promise (1 Samuel 17:25). In return for this honour Saul expects him to fight his battles, treacherously hoping that he may fall by the hand of the Philistines. _the_Lord's _battles_ Israel's wars were "the wars of Jehovah," becau... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul's treacherous offer of his daughter Merab to David 17 19 This section and the clause of 1 Samuel 18:21 which refers to it are omitted in the Sept. (B). See Note VI. p. 241.... [ Continue Reading ]
_what is my life_ Probably, WHO ARE MY FOLK, EVEN MY FATHER'S FAMILY? David acknowledges himself unworthy of the proposed honour on the score of social position.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the Meholathite_ Of _Abel-Meholah_, a town in the Jordan valley near Beth-shan. It was the birth-place of Elisha (1 Kings 19:16). Why Saul changed his purpose does not appear. It has been inferred from 1 Samuel 18:25 that Adriel had given a rich dowry.... [ Continue Reading ]
David's marriage with Michal 20. _Michal Saul's daughter loved David_ According to the text of the Sept. this follows immediately upon 1 Samuel 18:16. By his bravery David won the affections of the people, and even of the king's daughter.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a snare_ Michal was to he the _bait_to lure David into some venturesome raid upon the Philistines in which he might lose his life _Wherefore Saul_, &c. Probably, AND SAUL SAID TO DAVID A SECOND TIME, NOW SHALT THOU BE MY SON-IN-LAW. The Sept. (B) omits the clause, but adds, "Now the hand of the Ph... [ Continue Reading ]
_Commune_ i.e. "converse." The word is derived from Lat. _communicare_, through the old Fr. _communier_. It would seem that David mistrusted Saul and returned no answer, so Saul set his courtiers to work to persuade him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a poor man_ And therefore unable to offer the "dowry," or price such as it was usual for the suitor to pay to the father of the bride, either in money (Genesis 34:12) or in service (Genesis 29:20). The same custom prevailed among the ancient Greeks (Hom. _Il._XVI. 178; _Od_. VIII. 318), Babylonians... [ Continue Reading ]
_the days were not expired_ Apparently referring to some time which had been fixed for David to accept or decline the king's offer. The Sept. (B) omits the words.... [ Continue Reading ]
_two hundred men_ He slew double the stipulated number of Philistines. The Sept. however reads "one hundred." Cp. 2 Samuel 3:14. _in full tale_ "Tale" = a number told or counted off, a reckoning. Compare "Every shepherd tells his _tale_ Under the hawthorn in the dale." Milton, _L'Allegro, l_. 67... [ Continue Reading ]
_that Michal Saul's daughter loved him_ The reading of the Sept. certainly suits the context better: "that all Israel loved him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then the princes_, &c. " AND the princes, &c., and it came to pass AS OFTEN AS they went forth, &c." This notice of David's continual success and growing popularity gives the ground of Saul's increasing enmity, and prepares the way for the narrative of the next chapter. _set by_ i.e. esteemed. Cp.... [ Continue Reading ]