1 Samuel 18:11

11 And threw it, thinking to nail David to the wall: and David stept aside out of his presence 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 And Saul did not look on David with a good eye from that day and forward.

10 And the day after, the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of his house. And David played with his hand as at other times. And Saul held a spear in his hand,

11 And threw it, thinking to nail David to the wall: and David stept aside out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul himself.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him a captain over a thousand men, and he went out and came in before the people.