1 Samuel 18:5

5 egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat posuitque eum Saul super viros belli et acceptus erat in oculis universi populi maximeque in conspectu famulorum Saul

1 Samuel 18:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:5

And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him
About any business whatsoever, especially about martial affairs, for which he was abundantly qualified:

[and] behaved himself wisely;
in the management of them, using great prudence and discretion, and so failed not of success, and of recommending himself; the Targum renders it "prospering"; he was prosperous and successful in whatsoever he engaged, for the Lord was with him, and blessed him:

and Saul set him over the men of war;
that is, of some of them, gave him the command of a troop; for Abner was captain or general of the army, and continued so:

and he was accepted in the sight of all the people;
of all the people in the land in general, of all that knew or heard of him; being looked upon as a wise, valiant, and successful commander, and which gained him the esteem and affection of the people:

and also in the sight of Saul's servants;
which was very much, and a rare thing, for servants are too apt to envy such as are rising in their credit and reputation; though this must not be understood of all, without exception; but of the generality of them; nor is the word "all" used of them, as is of the people; for some of them took the part of Saul afterwards against David, and were secretly his enemies, see ( 1 Samuel 18:22-26 ) .

1 Samuel 18:5 In-Context

3 inierunt autem Ionathan et David foedus diligebat enim eum quasi animam suam
4 nam expoliavit se Ionathan tunicam qua erat vestitus et dedit eam David et reliqua vestimenta sua usque ad gladium et arcum suum et usque ad balteum
5 egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul et prudenter se agebat posuitque eum Saul super viros belli et acceptus erat in oculis universi populi maximeque in conspectu famulorum Saul
6 porro cum reverteretur percusso Philistheo David egressae sunt mulieres de universis urbibus Israhel cantantes chorosque ducentes in occursum Saul regis in tympanis laetitiae et in sistris
7 et praecinebant mulieres ludentes atque dicentes percussit Saul mille et David decem milia
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.