1 Samuel 18:6-16

6 Forsooth when David turned again, when the Philistine was slain, and bare the head of the Philistine into Jerusalem, women went out of all the cities of Israel, and sang, and led dances, against the coming of king Saul, in tympans of gladness, and in trumps. (And when David returned, when the Philistine was killed, and carried the Philistine's head into Jerusalem, women came out from all the cities of Israel, and sang, and danced, and greeted King Saul with joyful tambourines, and trumpets.)
7 And the women sang, playing, and saying, Saul hath slain a thousand, and David ten thousand. (And the women sang to one another as they danced, saying, Saul hath killed thousands, but David hath killed tens of thousands.)
8 And Saul was wroth greatly, and this word displeased before him; and he said, They have given ten thousand to David, and but one thousand to me; what leaveth to him, no but the realm alone? (And Saul was greatly angered, for these words displeased him; and he said, They have given tens of thousands to David, but only thousands to me; what is left for him now, but only the kingdom itself?)
9 Therefore Saul beheld David not with rightful eye, from that day and afterward. (And so from that day on, Saul did not look kindly upon David.)
10 Soothly after the tother day, a wicked spirit of God assailed Saul (And the next day, a wicked spirit from God tormented Saul), and he prophesied in the midst of his house. And David harped with his hand, as by all days before; and Saul held a spear,
11 and (then he) cast it, and guessed that he might preen David with the wall, that is, pierce (right through him) with the spear, so that it should pass into the wall; and David bowed [aside] from his face the second time (and twice David veered away from the spear that Saul threw at him).
12 And Saul dreaded David, (or feared him,) for the Lord was with David, and had gone away from him.
13 Then Saul removed David from himself (Then Saul removed David from his household), and made him (a) chieftain upon a thousand men; and David went out and he came in before the people.
14 And David did wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him;
15 and so Saul saw that David was full prudent/was full wise, and he began to beware of David.
16 And all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went in and out 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.