1 Samuel

Since the Lord rejected Saul as king, He withdrew His Spirit; and Saul received an "evil spirit." The identity of this "evil" spirit has been disputed. Some believe that it was a demon. Others argue that it was a troubling spirit causing emotional disturbance (see Judg. 9:23). Some have suggested that the Lord permitted Satan to afflict Saul as punishment for his sin (see 2 Sam. 24:1 with 1 Chr. 21:1). What is clear is that this spirit was sent by the Lord (see 1 Kgs. 22:20-23) to show that Saul had been rejected. It caused Saul to experience bouts of rage and despondency. Christians do not have to fear that the Lord will remove His Spirit from them, since the Spirit is the believer's permanent possession (Rom. 8:9,12-17; Eph. 1:13; 4:30).

Saul's attendants sought a musician to soothe troubled Saul. David was selected to enter into the service of the king.

David Defeats Goliath (17:1-58). The Philistines were at war with Saul. Their greatest champion, Goliath (who stood over nine feet tall) taunted the Israelites for their cowardice. In ancient times it was common for champions of opposing armies to face off in a personal duel. No Hebrew had the courage to face Goliath.

Jesse's older sons were in the battle lines, and Jesse sent David to the field with provisions. David heard the defiant words of Goliath and was zealous to defend the name of the Lord by challenging the giant to combat. With the weapons of a lowly shepherd but armed with the power of God, he killed Goliath, and the Philistines scattered in defeat.

The stunning victory caused Saul to inquire of Abner, the captain of Israel's army, about the lineage of David. Since David was already in the service of Saul, the inquiry of Saul and his address to David seem out of place. Some scholars have suggested that the two accounts of David's introduction to Saul come from separate sources. This conclusion is reasonable, but this does not mean that the stories are two garbled accounts of the same event. Since Saul would reward David with his daughter in marriage, David's lineage became particularly important. Saul, therefore, investigated David's background anew.

Saul's Fear of David (18:1-30). David's success in battle and the people's love for him made Saul wildly fearful for his kingdom. Saul's son Jonathan loved David and entered a covenant of loyalty with him. Whenever David returned from battle, the women of the city exclaimed, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Saul, in a fit of rage, attempted to spear David twice. Saul feared him because he realized that God had turned to David.

Saul plotted to kill David by the hands of the Philistines. He offered his daughter Michal in marriage if David would kill one hundred Philistines. When David and his men killed two hundred, Saul feared David all the more. Saul knew that God favored David.

God's Spirit Saves David (19:1-24). Saul instructed his men to kill David, but Jonathan intervened. Saul, however, could not control his anger, and again he threw a javelin at David. David fled to his house, where Michal warned him that the king's men planned to kill him in the morning. She helped him escape unseen and then deceived her father about David's whereabouts.

David took refuge with Samuel at Ramah. The Spirit of God protected him from the king by mysteriously causing the king and his men to act "crazy" like the prophets.

Jonathan's Selfless Love (20:1-42). David met his friend Jonathan and appealed for his help. Jonathan knew that he would never be king of Israel because the Lord had chosen David to succeed his father. He loved David (18:1; 20:17), and they covenanted together to spare each other's lives. Jonathan agreed to signal David in the field if his father again planned to kill him.

At the Feast of the New Moon, David's absence caused Saul to become enraged, and he charged Jonathan with treachery. He tried to kill his own son, but Jonathan escaped to warn his friend David.

MAP: David's Flight from Saul

David's Deceptions (21:1-22:5). For fear of his life, David took matters into his own hands. At Nob he lied to the priest Ahimelech to save himself by receiving food and Goliath's sword. His deception would cost many innocent lives (see 22:18-19).

David mistakenly thought he could find refuge as a mercenary soldier in the Philistine city Gath, but Achish the king discovered his identity. David pretended to be a madman to save himself.

Saul Murders Priests (22:6-23). David hid in the wilderness of Adullam where he was joined by social outcasts like himself. He arranged for his family's care in Moab, and he hid in the forest of Hereth at the advice of the prophet Gad. David likely turned to Moab because of his ancestral linkage with Ruth, the Moabitess (Ruth 4:18-22), and because of Moab's hatred for Saul (see 14:47).

Saul learned from Doeg, the Edomite, that David had received comfort from the priest Ahimelech (see 21:1-9). Saul's paranoia led him to think that Ahimelech had conspired with David against him. The deranged Saul ordered the murder of the priests of the Lord! His guards refused to obey, however, because they would not harm the Lord's servants. Doeg, of Edomite descent, had no regard for the Lord and carried out the king's command. Only Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, escaped to David's camp. There he found safety under David's protection.

Dependence on the Lord (23:1-29). David's deception of Ahimelech had led to the death of the Lord's priests. From this tragic episode David learned to depend on the Lord's help to escape Saul. David turned to the priest Abiathar, who possessed the sacred ephod, to inquire of the Lord. He followed God's guidance to save the city Keilah from Philistine invaders. By inquiring of the Lord he also escaped Saul at Keilah and fled successfully from place to place in the wilderness of Ziph. The author presents a striking contrast between Saul, who killed the servants of the Lord, and David, who honored them.

David Spares Saul (24:1-22). Saul pursued David into the region of En Gedi. There he went aside into one of the many caves nearby to relieve himself. David and his men were hidden in the back of the same cave. His men urged him to kill the king, but David chose to trust God's providence. However, he quietly cut off the hem of Saul's garment. David later regretted doing it, however, because the hem was symbolic of Saul's position as the Lord's anointed. Once the king left, David called out to him and showed the hem as evidence of his innocent intentions toward the king. Saul openly admitted his sin against David and confessed with his own mouth that the Lord had chosen David to be king.

David Spares Nabal (25:1-44). The notice of Samuel's death is not incidental to the author. He shows how the people's love for Samuel's godly leadership continued with David as well.

David kindly protected the flocks of a wealthy herdsman named Nabal ( fool). As a result, none of his flocks were stolen or lost to wild animals. It was not unreasonable then for David to ask Nabal to respond kindly to him. But Nabal angrily refused, and David threatened to kill him. The shepherds of Nabal, who had benefited from David's protection, entreated Abigail, Nabal's wife, to intercede. Abigail pleaded with David that the Lord's anointed had no need to avenge himself since the Lord would do so. David grate-fully agreed and resisted the evil deed. Later, God struck Nabal dead. This event exemplifies the Old Testament understanding of God's sovereignty over all things. Everything happens as part of the outworking of God's will.

This famous incident involving Abigail led the author to list David's wives. He married Abigail from Carmel and Ahinoam from Jezreel. His first wife, Saul's daughter Michal, was given to another man (see 18:27).

David Spares Saul Again (26:1-25). The Ziphites feared David and urged the king to pursue him in their territories (see 23:19-24). When David learned of Saul's arrival, he discovered the location of the camp. Abishai joined David in spying out the camp at night. They discovered Saul asleep with Abner resting nearby. Although Abishai interpreted the occasion as the Lord's opportunity for him to kill the king, David rebuked Abishai, pointing out that Saul was the Lord's anointed. Instead, David took a spear that was stuck in the ground at the king's head along with the king's water jug. David left without detection because the Lord had caused Saul to fall into a deep sleep.

David crossed to a distant hill and called out to awaken Abner. He challenged him to consider his lapse in protecting the king. When the king realized that David had taken the spear and jug, he regretted unjustly pursuing David. He believed that because David had spared the Lord's anointed that the Lord in turn would deliver David. Saul confessed a second time that David would triumph (see 24:20).

Some scholars hold that this account is a retelling of how David spared Saul's life at En Gedi (1 Sam. 24). While there are a number of similarities, David's different responses show that the two stories are distinct incidents. As a result of En Gedi and the encounter with Nabal, David realized that God would care for him. David left Judah for a life among the Philistines in order to avoid further contact with Saul.

David Tricks Philistines (27:1-12). David feared that any further encounters with Saul would lead to bloodshed. In the service of King Achish of Gath he would escape Saul's attention. David's troops were headquartered at Ziklag, where he raided the enemies of Judah. He duped the Philistine king into thinking that he was attacking the towns of Judah.

The passage does not condone David's deception of Achish; rather, the author includes this to show how God used David even in this situation to aid the covenant people. Also it continued the theme of how David outwitted the foolish Philistines (see 21:10-15).

The Witch of Endor (28:1-25). The Philistines threatened war in the Jezreel Valley. Out of fear Saul sought a word from the Lord. Ironically, Saul, who had once despised the Lord's will (14:18-19; 15:26), could not discover it now that he desperately needed it. When God refused to answer Saul through legitimate means, Saul sought a spiritual medium.

By deceiving the witch at Endor, Saul convinced her to bring Samuel from the dead. Much to her surprise the appearance was a genuine one, and by it she discovered Saul's true identity. God intervened in an unprecedented way and actually sent Samuel to prophesy Saul's judgment (see 15:27-29). Samuel condemned Saul to death because he "did not obey the Lord." So great was Saul's despondency that he could not continue. At the urging of Saul's men and the sorceress, he took food to strengthen himself for his travel.

The passage contrasts the true prophetic word of Samuel with Saul's attempt to consult the dead (see Saul's condemnation in 1 Chr. 10:13-14). The prophetic word would be fulfilled, and Saul could not hope to escape it.

God Spares David (29:1-11). This episode precedes the events in chapter 28 since the Philistines were gathered at Aphek (29:1) and then moved to Shunem in the Jezreel Valley (28:4; 29:11). This arrangement serves to heighten without interruption David's success against the Lord's enemies (continued in 1 Sam. 30).

The Philistines refused to include David in their battle against Israel. God used the discontent of the Philistines to spare David from fighting against his own people and jeopardizing, in their eyes, his place as the Lord's anointed. Achish apologetically dismissed David to Ziklag.

God Strengthens David (30:1-31). David and his men arrived in Ziklag, where they discovered the city burned and their families captured by raiding Amalekites. So distraught were the men that they threatened to stone David, but the Lord strengthened him. At the instruction of the Lord by the ephod of Abiathar, David pursued the Amalekites.

During the march, two hundred men remained behind because of exhaustion, but four hundred pressed ahead. With the aid of an Egyptian slave who was left behind by the Amalekites, David's men discovered their camp, overtook them, and retrieved all their possessions. David won the hearts of his men and the elders of Judah by sharing with them—even the two hundred who stayed behind—a portion of the booty taken from the Amalekites.

Saul's Shameful End (31:1-13). The final chapter resumes the account of the Philistine war (1 Sam. 28-29). The Israelites were defeated and many killed on Mount Gilboa. The proud king died shamefully by ending his own life. His corpse was publicly abused by the Philistines. Three of Saul's sons were also killed in battle, preparing the way for David to be king.

The people of Jabesh Gilead remembered how Saul had delivered them from the Ammonites (see 11:1-11). They journeyed all night to Beth Shan, where Saul's body had been impaled. They stole the body away and honorably buried Saul at Jabesh, where they mourned his death.

Theological and Ethical Significance. God desires people "after his own heart" (13:14). Such people mirror God's love and faithfulness. God rejected Eli's sons as worship leaders because of their wickedness. In their place God raised up "a faithful priest" who would do what was in God's heart and mind (2:35). God rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience. God looked at David's heart and chose him to lead God's people (16:7).

God is free to choose leaders for His people (see Deut. 17:15). Samuel was not a Levite, but God chose him to minister as a priest (1 Sam. 1:1). Saul was from the least significant family of "the smallest tribe in Israel," but God chose him to deliver His people (9:16,21). David was the youngest in his family, but God chose him as king (16:11-12).

Christians are to respect those whom God has chosen to lead His people. David showed respect for Saul because he was the Lord's anointed. Christians should also remember that God is the true Leader of His people. No Christian leader can take God's place. God dealt harshly with Eli's sons, who had no respect for God's sacrifices and abused the laypeople who looked to them for religious leadership. God dealt harshly with Saul, who disregarded God's command given through the prophet Samuel. No Christian leader is above God's word.

Baldwin, Joyce G. 1 & 2 Samuel. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1988.

Bergen, Robert D. 1, 2 Samuel. New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1996.

Laney, J. Carl. First and Second Samuel. Chicago: Moody, 1982.

Payne, David F. I & II Samuel. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1982.