1 Samuel 19

David Delivered from Saul

1 Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.^[a] But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much,^[b]

2 so he told him: "My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there.

3 I'll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what [he says], I'll tell you."^[c]

4 Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: "The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn't sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you.

5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine,^[d] and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?"^[e]

6 Saul listened to Jonathan's advice and swore an oath: "As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed."

7 So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as [he did] before.

8 When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such a great force that they fled from him.

9 Now an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing [the harp],^[f]

10 and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear.^[g] As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul and escaped. That night he ran away.

11 Saul sent agents to David's house to watch for him and kill him in the morning.^[h] But his wife Michal^[i] warned David: "If you don't escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!"

12 So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped.^[j]

13 Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goats' hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.

14 When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, "He's sick."

15 Saul sent the agents [back] to see David and said, "Bring him on his bed so I can kill him."

16 When the messengers arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goats' hair on its head.

17 Saul asked Michal, "Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!" She answered him, "He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?' "

18 So David fled and escaped and went to Samuel at Ramah and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel left and stayed at Naioth.

19 When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah,

20 Saul sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul's agents, and they also started prophesying.

21 When they reported to Saul, he sent other agents, and they also began prophesying. So Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents, and even they began prophesying.

22 Then Saul himself went to Ramah. He came to the large cistern at Secu, looked around, and asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" "At Naioth in Ramah," someone said.

23 So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him, and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah.

24 Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel; he collapsed [and lay] naked^[k] all that day and all that night. That is why they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"^[l]

1 Samuel 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Jonathan reconciles his father to David, Saul again tries to slay him. (1-10) David flees to Samuel. (11-24)

Verses 1-10 How forcible are right words! Saul was, for a time, convinced of the unreasonableness of his enmity to David; but he continued his malice against David. So incurable is the hatred of the seed of the serpent against that of the woman; so deceitful and desperately wicked is the heart of man without the grace of God, ( Jeremiah 17:9 ) .

Verses 11-24 Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a distance was allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not influenced by the same spirit of piety which had dictated Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. He met with little rest or satisfaction in Saul's court, therefore went to seek it in Samuel's church. What little pleasure is to be had in this world, those have who live a life of communion with God; to that David returned in the time of trouble. So impatient was Saul after David's blood, so restless against him, that although baffled by one providence after another, he could not see that David was under the special protection of God. And when God will take this way to protect David, even Saul prophesies. Many have great gifts, yet no grace; they may prophesy in Christ's name, yet are disowned by him. Let us daily seek for renewing grace, which shall be in us as a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Let us cleave to truth and holiness with full purpose of heart. In every danger and trouble, let us seek protection, comfort, and direction in God's ordinances.

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 18:8-9
• [b]. 1 Sm 18:1-3
• [c]. 1 Sm 20:32-33
• [d]. 1 Sm 17:42-51
• [e]. 1 Sm 20:32; Dt 19:10-13
• [f]. 1 Sm 16:14-16; 18:10
• [g]. 1 Sm 18:11; 20:33
• [h]. Ps 59 superscription
• [i]. 1 Sm 18:20
• [j]. Jos 2:15; Ac 9:23-25
• [k]. Isa 20:2; Mc 1:8
• [l]. 1 Sm 10:5-13

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 19

This chapter relates the dangers David was exposed unto through Saul's enmity at him, and his deliverance from them, as by the notice Jonathan gave him of his father's designs against him, and by his kind interposition on his behalf, 1Sa 19:1-7; by David's slipping out of Saul's presence, when he was about to cast a javelin at him, 1Sa 19:8-10; by Michal's letting him down through a window, when Saul sent messengers to kill him, and by deceiving them with an image laid in his bed in the room of him, 1Sa 19:11-17, and again by Samuel's protection of him at Naioth, whither David fled, and where Saul sent messengers after him, and at length came himself; and instead of laying hands on David, both he and the messengers were set a prophesying, 1Sa 19:18-24.