1 Samuel 18:9-19

9 From that day on, Sha'ul viewed David with suspicion.

10 The following day an evil spirit from God came powerfully over Sha'ul, so that he fell into a frenzy in the house. David was there, playing his lyre as on other occasions. This time Sha'ul had his spear in his hand;

11 and he threw the spear, thinking, "I will pin David to the wall!" But David dodged out of the way twice.

12 Sha'ul became afraid of David, because ADONAI was with him and had left Sha'ul.

13 Therefore Sha'ul put him at a distance from himself by making him commander over a thousand; his goings and comings became public knowledge.

14 David had great success in all his ways; ADONAI was with him.

15 When Sha'ul saw how very successful he was, he became afraid of him.

16 But all Isra'el and Y'hudah loved David, because they knew about all his campaigns.

17 Sha'ul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merav. I will give her to you as your wife; only continue displaying your courage for me, and fight ADONAI's battles." Sha'ul was thinking, "I don't dare touch him, so let the P'lishtim do away with him."

18 David's response to Sha'ul was, "Who am I, that I should become the king's son-in-law? I don't have any kind of a life, and my father's family has no rank in Isra'el."

19 However, when it was time for Merav Sha'ul's daughter to be given to David, she was given to Adri'el the Mecholati as his wife.

1 Samuel 18:9-19 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.