1 Samuel 18:5-16

5 So David went out wherever * Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

6 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that ¹the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments.

7 The women ²sang as they played, and said, "³Saul has slain his thousands, ⁴And David his ten thousands."

8 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased * him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now ⁵what more can he have but the kingdom?"

9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

Saul Turns against David

10 Now it came about on the next day that ⁶an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and ⁷he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, ⁸as usual; and ⁹a spear was in Saul's hand.

11 ¹⁰Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from his presence twice.

12 Now ¹¹Saul was afraid of David, ¹²for the LORD was with him but ¹³had departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and ¹⁴he went out and came in before the people.

14 David was prospering in all his ways for ¹⁵the LORD was with him.

15 When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him.

16 But ¹⁶all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

1 Samuel 18:5-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 18

This chapter gives an account of the respect shown to David by Saul and Jonathan, by the servants of Saul, and all the people, and of what was said in his praise in the songs of the women, 1Sa 18:1-7; which latter gave Saul a great offence, and upon which he envied him, and eyed him, and indeed sought his life, and removed him from him; and yet still he continued the darling of the people, behaving wisely among them, which greatly embarrassed Saul, that be knew not what to do, 1Sa 18:8-16; he proposed his eldest daughter to him in marriage, which he had a claim to by killing the Philistine, and then he cheated him by giving her to another, 1Sa 18:17-19; and then he offered his youngest daughter to him, on condition that he would bring him an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, execution of which he thought his life would be exposed to danger, which yet he performed, 1Sa 18:20-27; and having the affection of his wife, and the good esteem of the servants of Saul, Saul was more afraid of him, and became his enemy, 1Sa 18:28-30.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 15:20, 21; Judges 11:34; Psalms 68:25; Psalms 149:3
• 2. Exodus 15:21; 1 Samuel 21:11; 1 Samuel 29:5
• 3. 1 Samuel 21:11
• 4. 2 Samuel 18:3
• 5. 1 Samuel 15:28
• 6. 1 Samuel 16:14
• 7. 1 Samuel 19:23, 24
• 8. 1 Samuel 16:23
• 9. 1 Samuel 19:9
• 10. 1 Samuel 19:10; 1 Samuel 20:33
• 11. 1 Samuel 18:15, 29
• 12. 1 Samuel 16:13, 18
• 13. 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 28:15
• 14. Numbers 27:17; 1 Samuel 18:16; 2 Samuel 5:2
• 15. Gen 39:2, 3, 23; Joshua 6:27; 1 Samuel 16:18
• 16. 1 Samuel 18:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "acted wisely"
• [b]. I.e. triangles; or three-stringed instruments
• [c]. Or "danced"
• [d]. Lit "was evil in his eyes"
• [e]. Lit "day by day"
• [f]. Lit "the"
• [g]. Lit "strike David and the wall"
• [h]. Lit "turned about"
• [i]. Lit "with him"
• [j]. Or "acting wisely"
• [k]. Or "acting very wisely"