1 Samuel 18:12

12 So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:12

And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him,
&c.] Protecting and preserving him, prospering and succeeding him, giving him victory over his enemies, and favour among the people; the Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord was for his help.''

Procopius Gazaeus interprets it of the Holy Ghost, whose grace was vouchsafed unto him: he might be afraid in his melancholy fits, that as he had attempted to take away the life of David, that David would contrive and seek an opportunity, and take away his life, and seize the kingdom which God had given him, and his being with him strengthened these fears:

and was departed from Saul;
so that he was destitute of courage, and greatness of mind, and of wisdom and prudence, and became mean and abject, and exposed himself to the contempt of his subjects.

1 Samuel 18:12 In-Context

10 The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

11 and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

12 So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

14 and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.