1 Samuel 18:12

12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left from Saul.[a]

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 next day an evil spirit from God took control of Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing [the harp] as usual, but Saul was holding a spear,
11 and he threw it, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left from Saul.
13 Therefore, Saul reassigned David and made him commander over 1,000 men. David led the troops
14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him.

Footnotes 1

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