1 Samuel 19:5

5 For ¹he took his life in his hand ²and he struck down the Philistine, ³and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against ⁴innocent blood by killing David without cause?"

1 Samuel 19:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 19:5

For he did put his life in his hand
Exposed himself to the utmost danger, when no one in all the camp of Israel would do the like:

and slew the Philistine;
Goliath of Gath, who defied the armies of Israel; against him he went unarmed, only with his sling and stones, and fought him, and slew him:

and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel;
by his hand, so that they were delivered from their enemies, who fled before them, and they pursued them, and got a complete victory over them:

thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice;
he was an eyewitness of David's going forth against the Philistine, and slaying him, and of all the happy effects of it, which then greatly affected him, and he could not forbear expressing great joy on that occasion:

wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David
without a cause?
and so entail the guilt of it on himself and family.

1 Samuel 19:5 In-Context

3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you."

4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you.

5 For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?"

6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death."

7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 28:21; Judges 12:3; [Judges 9:17]
• 2. 1 Samuel 17:49, 50
• 3. [1 Samuel 11:13; 1 Chronicles 11:14]
• 4. Matthew 27:4