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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

1 Samuel 16:16-18

1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 Samuel 16:16 David was already skillful in playing the lyre, but a man of valor, a man of war probably refers to his ability and not his experience (see 1 Samuel 17:13, 1 Samuel 17:33). Perhaps some of Saul’s men knew of how David had single-handedly defeated both lions and bears (see 1 Samuel 17:36).

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See also 1 Samuel 16:16-18 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    The medicinal effects of music on the mind and body, especially as appeasing anger, and soothing and pacifying a troubled spirit, are well known. It is deeply interesting to have the youthful David th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. DAVID, THE KING AFTER GOD'S HEART--HIS EXILE AND SUFFERING 1. David Anointed King and the Departure of the Spirit from Saul CHAPTER 16 _ 1. David anointed king (1 Samuel 16:1)_ 2. The Spirit...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID, SAUL'S MINSTREL. (J), the ancient narrative, continues 1 Samuel 14:52. The earlier and more authentic of the two accounts of David's introduction to Saul (_cf._ 1 Samuel 17:55 ff.). Saul became...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MAN. Hebrew. _'ish._ App-14. CUNNING. skilful. HARP _= kinnor._ An instrument of many strings....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _a cunning player_ "Cunning," from A.-S. _cunnan_, to know, _ken_, is generally used in the E. V. in its original sense of _knowing, skilful_, without any idea of underhand dealing. _thou shalt be wel...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    David's introduction to the Court of Saul 14. _But the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul_ Note the contrast to 1 Samuel 16:13. As David rose, Saul sank. _an evil spirit from the Lord_ The cause o...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _Saul Seeks a Musician._ 1 Samuel 16:14-23 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil sp...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _LET OUR LORD NOW COMMAND THY SERVANTS, WHICH ARE BEFORE THEE, TO SEEK OUT A MAN, WHO IS A CUNNING PLAYER ON AN HARP: AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD IS UPON THEE, THAT HE SHA...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DAVID IS ANOINTED KING OVER ISRAEL From 1 Samuel 16 on, the interest centres in David rather than in Saul....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 16 SAMUEL *ANOINTS DAVID V1 The *Lord said to Samuel, ‘You should not continue to be sad about Saul. I do not accept him as the king of *Isra...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS... THOU SHALT BE WELL. — It has been a well-known fact in all ages that music exerts a powerful influence on the mind. We have several instances in ancient Greek literature,...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    יֹאמַר ־נָ֤א אֲדֹנֵ֨נוּ֙ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ לְ פָנֶ֔יךָ...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE YOUNG HARPER BEFORE THE DEJECTED KING 1 Samuel 16:14 In one sentence we are told of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon David, 1 Samuel 16:13, and in the next of the departure of the Spirit from S...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    We now come to the third section of this Book, throughout which David is the principal figure. It would seem that Samuel had given himself over to the sadness occasioned by Saul's failure. Jehovah reb...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Easily. The effects which have been produced by music are truly surprising, if we may believe what the ancients have related. Our music may not at present be so striking, or we may keep a greater rest...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (15) And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. (16) Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning playe...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Now that we have heard the prophet's judgment of king Saul, there follows next the choice of Jehovah. The chapter gives us in a very striking manner the manifest sentence of death on all the thoughts...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In chapter 16 Samuel is sent of Jehovah to anoint this His chosen one. All glorying in the flesh and its birthright are here set aside; and the youngest, despised and forgotten of all, who kept the sh...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    LET OUR LORD NOW COMMAND THY SERVANTS WHICH ARE BEFORE THEE,.... Meaning either themselves, or some of a more inferior rank, who were in some post and office at court, waiters there, such as yeomen of...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Let our lord now command thy servants, [which are] before thee, to seek out a man, [who is] a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _His servants said_, &c. His courtiers could not but observe the change which had taken place in him, and the strange disturbance in his mind, and very probably ascribed it to the hand of God upon him...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Samuel sent by God, vnder pretence of a sacrifice, commeth to Bethlehem. 6 His humane iudgement is reprooued. 11 He anointeth Dauid. 15 Saul sendeth for Dauid to quiet his euill spirit. 1 AND th...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Samuel's mourning for Saul was deep and real; nevertheless it must not be too long protracted. The Lord stirs him up now to some positive action. God has chosen a king from among the sons of Jesse, a...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-23 Saul is made a terror to himself. The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. If God and his grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us. The devil, by the Divine permission, t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    And the success confirms their opinion. For although music cannot directly have any influence upon an evil spirit to drive him away; yet because the devil, as it seems, had not possession of him, but...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 16:16 master H113 command H559 (H8799) servants H5650 before H6440 out H1245 (H8762) man H376 skillful...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    SAUL'S SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION RESULTS IN DAVID BEING INTRODUCED INTO COURT CIRCLES (1 SAMUEL 16:14). Sadly for Saul the Spirit of YHWH had departed from him. YHWH had now rejected him as king, and...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Choice of David as king. His annointing and visit to Saul. CHARACTERS: God, Holy Spirit, Samuel, David, Jesse, Saul, Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah. CONCLUSION: Whom God appoints, He annoints, a...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 16:7. _The Lord said to Samuel._ A cloud of proofs demonstrate, that the Eternal Word did personally accompany the holy prophets, and talk with them by voice in open vision. What nation had G...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem._ SAMUEL’S VISIT TO BETHLEHEM 1. How much history is entwined around one locality! The very name of a village recalls events most mome...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 16:13. “THEN SAMUEL TOOK THE HORN OF OIL,” etc. “There is nothing recorded concerning any words of Samuel to David at the time of the anointing, and in explanat...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    DAVID ANOINTED AS THE FUTURE KING, AND HIS FIRST INTRODUCTION TO SAUL. (1 Samuel 16:1) EXPOSITION CHOICE OF DAVID AS

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So God said to Samuel, How long are you gonna mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being the king, or reigning over Israel? [This change of attitude, "I've rejected him, now how long are yo...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 10:8; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 16:21; 1 Samuel 16:22; 1

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    DAVID, THE SWEET PSALMIST OF ISRAEL 1 Samuel 16:11 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. David the shepherd lad. When Samuel came to Jesse, all of his sons were brought before him, excepting David. The eldest, Eli...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Be well — And the success confirms their opinion. For although music cannot directly have an influence upon an evil spirit to drive him away; yet, because the devil, as it seems, had not possession of...

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