XIX. (1 Samuel 19:1) The Hatred of Saul for David. The Love of Jonathan and Michal saves David’s Life. David Escapes to Samuel. The Influence of the Prophetic Schools on (1) Saul’s Men; (2) on Saul himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY SHOULD KILL DAVID. — The literal translation of the original gives a much better sense: “that he intended to kill David,” or “about killing David.” The latter is the rendering of the LXX. and the Syriac. The murderous impulse of the unhappy Saul gradually increased in intensity. First, it... [ Continue Reading ]
JONATHAN TOLD DAVID. — The danger Jonathan saw was a very present one. A very slight expression on the part of a powerful king of his earnest desire to get rid of an obnoxious subject, however eminent or great, is sufficient to stir up unscrupulous men to commit the murder which they might fancy wou... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIELD. — No doubt some garden or quiet place, whither the king was in the habit of resorting with his friends and counsellors.... [ Continue Reading ]
JONATHAN SPAKE GOOD OF DAVID. — The heir to the throne — the one above all men likely to be injured by the growing popularity of David — with great power and intense earnestness, represented to his father the king the great virtues, the unrivalled gifts, and, above all, the splendid services of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAUL HEARKENED. — The moving eloquence of Jonathan touched Saul’s heart, and for a brief space something of the old noble spirit influenced the king, and he swore he would not attempt his life.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IN TIMES PAST. — The old life went on as before, and David seemingly was received on terms of intimacy and affection by the king, but a new cause was soon supplied which again lit up the slumbering fires of jealousy in the king’s heart. The next verse tells us of a successful campaign against the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE EVIL SPIRIT... WAS UPON SAUL. — Again the terrible malady was upon the king — not unlikely brought on by the wild storm of jealous fury which Saul allowed to sweep unchecked across his soul. Once more — “Out of the black mid-tent’s silence, a space of three days, Not a sound hath escaped t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JAVELIN. — This is the great spear, which in so many of the scenes in the First Book of Samuel is represented as in the hand of Saul or by his side.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO MICHAL LET DAVID DOWN. — The princess, his wife, knew well her father’s character, and conscious, now that the veil of his dark design was publicly lifted, that there was no hope for her husband any longer save in his instant flight, she “let David down through a window,” because the king’s guard... [ Continue Reading ]
AN IMAGE. — An image in the Hebrew is _teraphim — _a plural form, but used as a singular. We have no instance of the singular. The Latin equivalent, “penates,” singularly enough, is also only found in the plural form. In this case, probably, it was a life-size figure or bust. The word has been discu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CAME TO SAMUEL. — The influence and authority which Samuel still preserved in the nation even in the stormy close of Saul’s career, must have been very great for the frightened David to have sought a refuge in his quiet home of prayer and learning. The exile, fleeing before his sovereign, felt t... [ Continue Reading ]
NAIOTH. — Naioth, or Nevaioth, as it is also written, was not a town, but, as the name denotes, _a cluster of dwellings or abodes._ It is derived from the verb _navali,_ to rest or abide. Samuel had his own house in Ramah, and these dwellings, where his prophetic schools were established, were in th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMPANY OF THE PROPHETS. — (On the general question of this company of prophets see _Excursus_ H, at the end of this Book.) The Hebrew word rendered “company” occurs only in this place, but the ancient versions agree in rendering it “company,” or “assembly.” The Chaldee paraphrases here “they sa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY PROPHESIED LIKEWISE. — Bishop Wordsworth calls attention here to the fact of “this portion of Scripture, from 1 Samuel 19:18 to end of the chapter, which relates the illapse of the Spirit on Saul’s messengers, and even on Saul himself, the persecutor of David, being appointed by the Church... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE STRIPPED OFF HIS CLOTHES ALSO, AND PROPHESIED BEFORE SAMUEL IN LIKE MANNER. — This was certainly not the first time that Saul had experienced a similar influence of the Spirit of God. We are told (1 Samuel 10:10) that directly after his anointing by Samuel, he met a company of prophets, who w... [ Continue Reading ]