Shmuel Alef 16:14

14 But the Ruach [Hakodesh] of Hashem departed from Sha’ul, and a ruach ra’ah from Hashem terrified and overwhelmed him [Sha’ul].

Shmuel Alef 16:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 16:14

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul
As a spirit of prophecy as at first, as a spirit of wisdom and prudence in civil government, and as a spirit of fortitude and courage, as the Targum:

and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him;
the reverse of the former, which by the permission of God, and as a punishment to him for his sins, came upon him; he seemed to be a demoniac, as Josephus represents ^F9 him, as if possessed with the devil; by whom he was almost suffocated and strangled, as well as was distracted in his counsels, and became weak and foolish; lost all courage and greatness of mind, was timorous and fearful, and alarmed by everything, and was full of envy, suspicion, rage, and despair.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F9 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 8. sect. 2.

Shmuel Alef 16:14 In-Context

12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was adomoni (ruddy, of healthy red complexion) and withal of a yafeh countenance, and good-looking. And Hashem said, Arise, meshachehu (anoint him); ki zeh hu (for this is he).

13 Then Shmuel took the keren of shemen, v’yimshach (and anointed) him in the midst of his achim; and the Ruach [Hakodesh] of Hashem came upon Dovid from that day forward. So Shmuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

14 But the Ruach [Hakodesh] of Hashem departed from Sha’ul, and a ruach ra’ah from Hashem terrified and overwhelmed him [Sha’ul].

15 And the avdei Sha’ul said unto him, Hinei now, a ruach Elohim ra’ah terrifieth and overwhelmeth thee.

16 Let adoneinu now command thy avadim, which are before thee, to seek out an ish, who is a menagen (player) on the kinnor (harp); and it shall come to pass, when the ruach Elohim ra’ah is upon thee, that he shall play with his yad, and thou shalt be tov (better, well).