1 Samuel 18

Jonathan and David

1 As soon as David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan's life became bound up with David's life, and Jonathan loved David as much as himself.
2 From that point forward, Saul kept David in his service and wouldn't allow him to return to his father's household.
3 And Jonathan and David made a covenant together because Jonathan loved David as much as himself.
4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his armor, as well as his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5 David went out and was successful in every mission Saul sent him to do. So Saul placed him in charge of the soldiers, and this pleased all the troops as well as Saul's servants.

Saul jealous of David

6 After David came back from killing the Philistine, and as the troops returned home, women from all of Israel's towns came out to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with tambourines, rejoicing, and musical instruments.
7 The women sang in celebration: "Saul has killed his thousands, but David has killed his tens of thousands!"
8 Saul burned with anger. This song annoyed him. "They've credited David with tens of thousands," he said, "but only credit me with thousands. What's next for him—the kingdom itself?"
9 So Saul kept a close eye on David from that point on.
10 The next day an evil spirit from God came over Saul, and he acted like he was in a prophetic frenzy in his house. So David played the lyre as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand,
11 and he threw it, thinking, I'll pin David to the wall. But David escaped from him two different times.
12 Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with David but no longer with Saul.
13 So Saul removed David from his service, placing him in command of a unit of one thousand men. David led the men out to war and back.
14 David was successful in everything he did because the LORD was with him.
15 Saul saw that he was very successful, and he was afraid of him.
16 Everyone in Israel and Judah loved David because he led them out in war and back again.
17 Saul said to David, "Look, here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage on this condition: you must be my warrior and fight the LORD's battles." I won't raise my hand against him, Saul thought; let the Philistines do that!
18 "I'm not worthy," David replied to Saul, "and neither is my family or my father's clan in Israel, to become the king's son-in-law."
19 And so when the time came for Saul's daughter Merab to be married to David, she was given to Adriel from Meholah instead.
20 Now Saul's younger daughter Michal loved David. When this was reported to Saul, he was happy about it.
21 I'll give her to him, Saul thought; she'll cause him problems, and the Philistines will be against him. So Saul said to David a second time, "Become my son-in-law now."
22 Saul instructed his servants, "Tell David in private: ‘Look, the king likes you, and all his servants love you. You should become the king's son-in-law.'"
23 Saul's servants whispered these things in David's ear. But David said, "Do you think it's a simple matter to become the king's son-in-law? I don't! I'm poor and insignificant."
24 Saul's servants reported what David said,
25 and Saul replied, "Tell David this: ‘The king doesn't want any bridal gift, just a hundred Philistine foreskins as vengeance on the king's enemies.'" (Saul was hoping that David would die at the hands of the Philistines.)
26 When the servants reported this to David, he was happy to become the king's son-in-law. Even before the allotted time had expired,
27 David got up and went with his soldiers and killed one hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins and counted them out for the king so he could become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to him in marriage.
28 When Saul knew for certain that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him,
29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was David's enemy for the rest of his life.
30 And whenever the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David would have more success than the rest of Saul's officers, so his fame spread widely.

1 Samuel 18 Commentary

Chapter 18

Jonathan's friendship for David. (1-5) Saul seeks to kill David. (6-11) Saul's fear of David. (12-30)

Verses 1-5 The friendship of David and Jonathan was the effect of Divine grace, which produces in true believers one heart and one soul, and causes them to love each other. This union of souls is from partaking in the Spirit of Christ. Where God unites hearts, carnal matters are too weak to separate them. Those who love Christ as their own souls, will be willing to join themselves to him in an everlasting covenant. It was certainly a great proof of the power of God's grace in David, that he was able to bear all this respect and honour, without being lifted up above measure.

Verses 6-11 David's troubles not only immediately follow his triumphs, but arise from them; such is the vanity of that which seems greatest in this world. It is a sign that the Spirit of God is departed from men, if, like Saul, they are peevish, envious, suspicious, and ill-natured. Compare David, with his harp in his hand, aiming to serve Saul, and Saul, with his javelin in his hand, aiming to slay David; and observe the sweetness and usefulness of God's persecuted people, and the barbarity of their persecutors. But David's safety must be ascribed to God's providence.

Verses 12-30 For a long time David was kept in continual apprehension of falling by the hand of Saul, yet he persevered in meek and respectful behaviour towards his persecutor. How uncommon is such prudence and discretion, especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitate this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisely in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of spirit, nothing wrong in our conduct? Opposition and perverseness in others, will not excuse wrong tempers in us, but should increase our care, and attention to the duties of our station. Consider Him that endured contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds, ( Hebrews 12:3 ) . If David magnified the honour of being son-in-law to king Saul, how should we magnify the honour of being sons to the King of kings!

Footnotes 8

  • [a]. Or soul; also twice more in this verse and in 18:3
  • [b]. The following verses are absent from LXXB: 18:1-5, 10-11, 17-19, 29b-30.
  • [c]. MT lacks in his service.
  • [d]. MT; LXX to meet David
  • [e]. Or to Saul
  • [f]. Heb uncertain
  • [g]. LXX, cf 2 Sam 3:14; MT two hundred
  • [h]. Or Saul became David’s constant enemy.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 18

This chapter gives an account of the respect shown to David by Saul and Jonathan, by the servants of Saul, and all the people, and of what was said in his praise in the songs of the women, 1Sa 18:1-7; which latter gave Saul a great offence, and upon which he envied him, and eyed him, and indeed sought his life, and removed him from him; and yet still he continued the darling of the people, behaving wisely among them, which greatly embarrassed Saul, that be knew not what to do, 1Sa 18:8-16; he proposed his eldest daughter to him in marriage, which he had a claim to by killing the Philistine, and then he cheated him by giving her to another, 1Sa 18:17-19; and then he offered his youngest daughter to him, on condition that he would bring him an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, execution of which he thought his life would be exposed to danger, which yet he performed, 1Sa 18:20-27; and having the affection of his wife, and the good esteem of the servants of Saul, Saul was more afraid of him, and became his enemy, 1Sa 18:28-30.

1 Samuel 18 Commentaries

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