1 Samuel 18:12

12 Sha'ul became afraid of David, because ADONAI was with him and had left Sha'ul.

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 following day an evil spirit from God came powerfully over Sha'ul, so that he fell into a frenzy in the house. David was there, playing his lyre as on other occasions. This time Sha'ul had his spear in his hand;

11 and he threw the spear, thinking, "I will pin David to the wall!" But David dodged out of the way twice.

12 Sha'ul became afraid of David, because ADONAI was with him and had left Sha'ul.

13 Therefore Sha'ul put him at a distance from himself by making him commander over a thousand; his goings and comings became public knowledge.

14 David had great success in all his ways; ADONAI was with him.