1 Samuel 18:6

6 Forsooth when David turned again, when the Philistine was slain, and bare the head of the Philistine into Jerusalem, women went out of all the cities of Israel, and sang, and led dances, against the coming of king Saul, in tympans of gladness, and in trumps. (And when David returned, when the Philistine was killed, and carried the Philistine's head into Jerusalem, women came out from all the cities of Israel, and sang, and danced, and greeted King Saul with joyful tambourines, and trumpets.)

1 Samuel 18:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:6

And it came to pass, as they came
The armies of Israel, with their commanders at the head of them:

when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine;
either from the slaughter of Goliath, with his head in his hand, going to Jerusalem, and Saul accompanying him; or rather from the slaughter of the Philistines at some other time, the singular being put for the plural; since, according to the order of the history, this seems to be done after David was brought to court, and had been made a captain, and had been sent out on military expeditions, and had been successful therein, and from one of which he now returned:

that the women came out of all the cities of Israel;
through which they passed:

singing and dancing;
as were usual after great victories obtained, and deliverances wrought, the female sex being generally greatly affected with such things; since when things go otherwise they suffer much, and their fears rise high in time of battle; and when victory goes on their side, it gives them great joy, and which they used to express in this way:

to meet King Saul;
the commander-in-chief, with his other officers, and David among the rest:

with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music;
with pipes or flutes, which they both blew with their mouths, and played on with their hands, and other musical instruments exciting joy; the last word is, by the Targum, rendered,

``with cymbals;''

and so the Septuagint version; it signifies a musical instrument of three cords, according to Kimchi; and others, as Ben Gersom, understand it of principal songs, in which things wonderful, excellent, and honourable, were spoken of: see ( Exodus 15:20 ) ( Judges 11:34 ) . Such sort of women were among the Romans called Cymballatriae and Tympanistriae ^F20, who shook the cymbals, and beat upon tabrets and drums at times of rejoicing.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 Vid. Pignorium de Servis, p. 166, 174.

1 Samuel 18:6 In-Context

4 for why Jonathan unclothed himself from the coat that he was clothed in, and he gave it to David, and his other clothes, unto his sword and his bow, and unto his girdle.

5 And David went forth to all things, to whatever things Saul sent him, and he governed himself prudently; and Saul setted him over the men of battle, and he was accepted in the eyes of all the people, and mostly in the sight of the servants of Saul (and even before Saul's officers).

6 Forsooth when David turned again, when the Philistine was slain, and bare the head of the Philistine into Jerusalem, women went out of all the cities of Israel, and sang, and led dances, against the coming of king Saul, in tympans of gladness, and in trumps. (And when David returned, when the Philistine was killed, and carried the Philistine's head into Jerusalem, women came out from all the cities of Israel, and sang, and danced, and greeted King Saul with joyful tambourines, and trumpets.)

7 And the women sang, playing, and saying, Saul hath slain a thousand, and David ten thousand. (And the women sang to one another as they danced, saying, Saul hath killed thousands, but David hath killed tens of thousands.)

8 And Saul was wroth greatly, and this word displeased before him; and he said, They have given ten thousand to David, and but one thousand to me; what leaveth to him, no but the realm alone? (And Saul was greatly angered, for these words displeased him; and he said, They have given tens of thousands to David, but only thousands to me; what is left for him now, but only the kingdom itself?)