1 Samuel 19 Study Notes

19:13-14 The household idol (Hb teraphim) was apparently large enough that it would appear as though David’s body lay on the bed under a garment. Such idols also could be smaller in size (Gn 31:19,34). No explanation is given for why such a thing was in David’s house.

19:15 Saul’s agents apparently did not want to challenge Michal’s word about David’s illness (v. 14), so they returned to the king without him.

19:16 The agents arrived at David’s house a second time, only to discover what Michal had done. By then, David had escaped.

19:17 When Saul challenged his daughter Michal about her deception, she replied that David had threatened to kill her if she did not cooperate. Saul could not prove she was lying since no witnesses were present.

19:18 David fled three miles to Samuel at Ramah. The prophet also feared of Saul (16:2), and the two of them went to Naioth, perhaps a designation of dwellings for prophets in Ramah (vv. 19,22).

19:19-21 As the king’s agents encountered a group of prophets prophesying with Samuel, God’s divine touch overrode their human intentions and they also started prophesying. This also happened with the next two groups that Saul sent (v. 21).

19:22 The large cistern at Secu is mentioned only here, but it may be alluded to in 9:11.

19:23 The Spirit of God overruled Saul’s intentions just as he had done with the king’s agents. The one who sought to kill God’s servant now spoke God’s praises.

19:24 The king laid aside his royal clothes, perhaps as a sign that he was soon to lay aside the kingship. He lay naked, an act of further humiliation for anyone, but especially for someone of such high rank. The proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? (cp. 10:11), once again pointed to actions that were out of character for Saul.