1 Samuel 18:11

11 Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall." David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.

1 Samuel 18:11 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:11

And Saul cast the javelin
Out of his hand at David:

for he said;
in his heart, determining in his mind:

I will smite David even to the wall [with it];
he determined to cast it with such force and violence, that it should pierce through David, and enter into the very wall, by the side of which David was:

and David avoided out of his presence twice;
to escape the javelin cast at him; either he went out at the first time of its being thrown, and then came in again, when he threw it a second time at him, upon which he also withdrew; or this was one of the times, and the other some time after, of which see ( 1 Samuel 19:9 ) . Abarbinel thinks, that David, while he was playing, his eyes were so fixed upon his own hands, that he was not aware of the javelin, and turned himself from Saul without intention both times, and so escaped without knowledge of it; such was the good providence of God towards him, and which, when Saul perceived, it wrought upon him, as follows.

1 Samuel 18:11 In-Context

9 From that moment on, Saul kept his eye on David.

10 The next day an ugly mood was sent by God to afflict Saul, who became quite beside himself, raving. David played his harp, as he usually did at such times. Saul had a spear in his hand.

11 Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall." David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.

12 Now Saul feared David. It was clear that God was with David and had left Saul.

13 So, Saul got David out of his sight by making him an officer in the army. David was in combat frequently.