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Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

1 Samuel 16:15

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).

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See also 1 Samuel 16:15 in other biblical comments:

  • 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

    GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim_ (App-4). Saul's servants not in communion with Jehovah, the Covenant God. App-4....

  • 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...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    SAUL'S SERVANTS SAID, &C.— The remainder of this chapter is undoubtedly an anticipation, but introduced by the sacred historian very properly and very naturally; for, having related at large how God h...

  • 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

    _AND SAUL'S SERVANTS SAID UNTO HIM, BEHOLD NOW, AN EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD TROUBLETH THEE._ Saul's servants said unto him. The Hebrew physicians knew of no remedy for a malady of the sort but music, whi...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    16:15 from (f-12) Lit. 'of.' so vers. 16,23; chs. 18.10; 19.9....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    AN EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD] apparently a gloomy, suspicious melancholy bordering on madness. To the Hebrew, every visitation, alike of good and evil, is directly from Jehovah: cp. 1 Kings 22:22; Amos 3:6...

  • 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

    AN EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD. — The form in which the evil spirit manifested itself in Saul was apparently an incurable melancholy, which at times blazed forth in fits of uncontrollable jealous anger. When...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּאמְר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי ־שָׁא֖וּל אֵלָ֑יו הִנֵּה...

  • 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...

  • 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

    AND SAUL'S SERVANTS SAID UNTO HIM,.... His courtiers, who observing him to act in a frantic manner, to be dull and melancholy, timorous, and irresolute, unsteady, divided, and distressed; or his physi...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. Ver. 15. And Saul's servants.] That is, His physicians. "And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians." Gen...

  • 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

    No text from Poole on this verse....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 16:15 Sauls H7586 servants H5650 said H559 (H8799) distressing H7451 spirit H7307 God H430 troubling H1204

  • 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 ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 16:14 Saul and David become acquainted when David begins serving Saul. As the story develops, David will become Saul’s most successful servant. ⇐

  • 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...

  • 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...

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