1 Samuel 18:16

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

1 Samuel 18:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:16

And all Israel and Judah loved David
The verb is singular, and denotes that everyone of them loved him in all the tribes of Israel, as well as in Judah his own tribe; in such general esteem was he, and so much had he got the hearts and affections of the people:

because he went out and came in before them;
the people, as in ( 1 Samuel 18:13 ) ; so the Septuagint version, in which, according to the Vatican copy, the verses ( 1 Samuel 18:17-19 ) are wanting.

1 Samuel 18:16 In-Context

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

15 When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”