1 Samuel 18:6-16

Saul's Jealousy of David

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, ¹the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.^[a]

7 And the women ²sang to one another as they celebrated, ³"Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but ⁴the kingdom?"

9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

10 The next day ⁵a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and ⁶he raved within his house while David was ⁷playing the lyre, as he did day by day. ⁸Saul had his spear in his hand.

11 And Saul ⁹hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.

12 ¹⁰Saul was afraid of David because ¹¹the LORD was with him ¹²but had departed from Saul.

13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. ¹³And he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David ¹⁴had success in all his undertakings, ¹⁵for the LORD was with him.

15 And when Saul saw that ¹⁶he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

16 ¹⁷But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

1 Samuel 18:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 15:20; Judges 11:34
• 2. [Exodus 15:21]
• 3. 1 Samuel 21:11; 1 Samuel 29:5
• 4. 1 Samuel 15:28
• 5. 1 Samuel 16:14; [Judges 9:23]
• 6. 1 Samuel 19:23, 24; [1 Kings 18:29; Acts 16:16]
• 7. See 1 Samuel 16:16
• 8. 1 Samuel 19:9
• 9. 1 Samuel 19:10; 1 Samuel 20:33
• 10. ver. 15, 29
• 11. ver. 28; 1 Samuel 16:18
• 12. 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 28:15
• 13. ver. 16; [Numbers 27:17; 2 Samuel 5:2]
• 14. ver. 5
• 15. [See ver. 12 above]
• 16. [See ver. 14 above]
• 17. [ver. 5]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or triangles, or three-stringed instruments