1 Samuel18
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.
8And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. And Saul had his spear in his hand;
11and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12And Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Jehovah was with him.
15And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
17And Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight Jehovah’s battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18And David said unto Saul, Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?
19But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20And Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.
22And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.
23And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. And the days were not expired;
27and David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28And Saul saw and knew that Jehovah was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
29And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Samuel 18.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jonathan's friendship for David. (1–5). Saul seeks to kill David. (6–11). Saul's fear of David. (12–30).
vv1-5
The friendship of David and Jonathan was the effect of Divine grace, which produces in true believers one heart and one soul, and causes them to love each other. This union of souls is from partaking in the Spirit of Christ. Where God unites hearts, carnal matters are too weak to separate them. Those who love Christ as their own souls, will be willing to join themselves to him in an everlasting covenant. It was certainly a great proof of the power of God's grace in David, that he was able to bear all this respect and honour, without being lifted up above measure.
vv6-11
David's troubles not only immediately follow his triumphs, but arise from them; such is the vanity of that which seems greatest in this world. It is a sign that the Spirit of God is departed from men, if, like Saul, they are peevish, envious, suspicious, and ill-natured. Compare David, with his harp in his hand, aiming to serve Saul, and Saul, with his javelin in his hand, aiming to slay David; and observe the sweetness and usefulness of God's persecuted people, and the barbarity of their persecutors. But David's safety must be ascribed to God's providence.
vv12-30
For a long time David was kept in continual apprehension of falling by the hand of Saul, yet he persevered in meek and respectful behaviour towards his persecutor. How uncommon is such prudence and discretion, especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitate this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisely in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of spirit, nothing wrong in our conduct? Opposition and perverseness in others, will not excuse wrong tempers in us, but should increase our care, and attention to the duties of our station. Consider Him that endured contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds, Heb 12:3. If David magnified the honour of being son-in-law to king Saul, how should we magnify the honour of being sons to the King of kings!
Key Words
כָּלָה: to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete, prepare, consume)
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
שָׁאוּל: Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
נֶפֶשׁ: properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
יְהוֹנָתָן: Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites
קָשַׁר: to tie, physically (gird, confine, compact) or mentally (in love, league)
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
אָהַב: to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)
לָקַח: to take (in the widest variety of applications)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
Cross References
1 Samuel 18Direct recurrence of the evil spirit coming on Saul as David plays, and Saul throwing a javelin.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Establishes the origin of Saul's affliction by the evil spirit from God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Explicitly identifies Adriel the Meholathite as the husband of Saul's daughter, confirming the broken pledge.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David later demands his wife Michal, mentioning the dowry of a hundred Philistine foreskins.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Highlights Jonathan's love for David, repeating that he loved him as his own soul.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Illustrates the high Eastern honor of wearing clothing worn by the king or heir.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the custom of women coming out with dances and tabrets to celebrate military victory.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Saul's earlier unfulfilled public promise of giving his daughter to the slayer of Goliath.
Supported by JFB
Identical Hebrew idiom for souls being 'knit' or bound together in deep love.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Classic precedent of women leading triumphal dancing and singing after national deliverance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Philistines quote this exact triumphal song, showing its widespread renown and impact.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David later adopts Saul's wicked strategy: sending Uriah to the front to die by enemies.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The military/leadership idiom of 'going out and coming in' before the people.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Illustrates the ancient Near Eastern custom of a bride price or dowry (mohar).
Supported by JFB
Reinforces the theme of David behaving himself wisely under all circumstances.
Supported by Matthew Henry