1 Samuel18
World English Bible · Public Domain
1When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.
3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.
5David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
8Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
9Saul watched David from that day and forward.
10On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;
11and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
12Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.
13Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
15When 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.
17Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
18David said to 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 at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
20Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”
22Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’”
23Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”
24The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”
25Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,
27David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.
28Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
29Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30Then the princes of the Philistines went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
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