It was the purpose of God that David should be anointed at this time as Saul’s successor, and as the ancestor and the type of His Christ. It was not the purpose of God that Samuel should stir up a civil war, by setting up David as Saul’s rival. Secrecy, therefore, was a necessary part of the transac... [ Continue Reading ]
TREMBLED - There was evidently something unusual in Samuel’s coming to Bethlehem; and the elders, knowing that Samuel was no longer at friendship with Saul, foreboded some evil.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN - i. e., including the three who had already passed. It appears that Jesse had eight sons; but in 1 Chronicles 2:13, only seven are ascribed to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WILL NOT SIT DOWN ... - . literally, we will not turn round to sit at the table.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT ... CAME UPON DAVID - The exact phrase used of the Judges and Saul. See 1 Samuel 10:6, note; Judges 3:10, note; Judges 6:34, note; Judges 11:29, note; Judges 14:18, note; Judges 15:14, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
The “evil” or “melancholy” spirit here spoken of was “the Spirit of God,” or “of Jehovah,” as being God’s messenger and minister, sent by Him to execute His righteous purpose upon Saul (see 1 Kings 22:19 note).... [ Continue Reading ]
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 thus brought before us, as using music for its highest purpose, that of turning the soul to the harmon... [ Continue Reading ]
A MIGHTY VALIANT MAN ... - David’s reputation for courage, skill, discretion, and manly beauty, was already great. Since “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him,” his natural qualities and powers had been greatly enhanced. His feat of killing the lion and the bear (see the marginal references) had bee... [ Continue Reading ]
The difficulty of reconciling this verse with 1 Samuel 17:55, is met thus: The words here are the ultimate sequence of David’s first visit to Saul, and of his skill in music, and are therefore placed here; but they did not really come to pass until after David’s victory over Goliath (see 1 Samuel 18... [ Continue Reading ]