1 Samuel 19

1 locutus est autem Saul ad Ionathan filium suum et ad omnes servos suos ut occiderent David porro Ionathan filius Saul diligebat David valde

2 et indicavit Ionathan David dicens quaerit Saul pater meus occidere te quapropter observa te quaeso mane et manebis clam et absconderis

3 ego autem egrediens stabo iuxta patrem meum in agro ubicumque fueris et ego loquar de te ad patrem meum et quodcumque videro nuntiabo tibi

4 locutus est ergo Ionathan de David bona ad Saul patrem suum dixitque ad eum ne pecces rex in servum tuum David quia non peccavit tibi et opera eius bona sunt tibi valde

5 et posuit animam suam in manu sua et percussit Philistheum et fecit Dominus salutem magnam universo Israhel vidisti et laetatus es quare ergo peccas in sanguine innoxio interficiens David qui est absque culpa

6 quod cum audisset Saul placatus voce Ionathae iuravit vivit Dominus quia non occidetur

7 vocavit itaque Ionathan David et indicavit ei omnia verba haec et introduxit Ionathan David ad Saul et fuit ante eum sicut fuerat heri et nudius tertius

8 motum est autem rursus bellum et egressus David pugnavit adversus Philisthim percussitque eos plaga magna et fugerunt a facie eius

9 et factus est spiritus Domini malus in Saul sedebat autem in domo sua et tenebat lanceam porro David psallebat in manu sua

10 nisusque est Saul configere lancea David in pariete et declinavit David a facie Saul lancea autem casso vulnere perlata est in parietem et David fugit et salvatus est nocte illa

11 misit ergo Saul satellites suos in domum David ut custodirent eum et interficeretur mane quod cum adnuntiasset David Michol uxor sua dicens nisi salvaveris te nocte hac cras morieris

12 deposuit eum per fenestram porro ille abiit et aufugit atque salvatus est

13 tulit autem Michol statuam et posuit eam super lectum et pellem pilosam caprarum posuit ad caput eius et operuit eam vestimentis

14 misit autem Saul apparitores qui raperent David et responsum est quod aegrotaret

15 rursumque misit Saul nuntios ut viderent David dicens adferte eum ad me in lecto ut occidatur

16 cumque venissent nuntii inventum est simulacrum super lectum et pellis caprarum ad caput eius

17 dixitque Saul ad Michol quare sic inlusisti mihi et dimisisti inimicum meum ut fugeret et respondit Michol ad Saul quia ipse locutus est mihi dimitte me alioquin interficiam te

18 David autem fugiens salvatus est et venit ad Samuhel in Ramatha et nuntiavit ei omnia quae fecerat sibi Saul et abierunt ipse et Samuhel et morati sunt in Nahioth

19 nuntiatum est autem Sauli a dicentibus ecce David in Nahioth in Rama

20 misit ergo Saul lictores ut raperent David qui cum vidissent cuneum prophetarum vaticinantium et Samuhel stantem super eos factus est etiam in illis spiritus Domini et prophetare coeperunt etiam ipsi

21 quod cum nuntiatum esset Sauli misit alios nuntios prophetaverunt autem et illi et rursum Saul misit tertios nuntios qui et ipsi prophetaverunt

22 abiit autem etiam ipse in Ramatha et venit usque ad cisternam magnam quae est in Soccho et interrogavit et dixit in quo loco sunt Samuhel et David dictumque est ei ecce in Nahioth sunt in Rama

23 et abiit in Nahioth in Rama et factus est etiam super eum spiritus Dei et ambulabat ingrediens et prophetabat usque dum veniret in Nahioth in Rama

24 et expoliavit se etiam ipse vestimentis suis et prophetavit cum ceteris coram Samuhel et cecidit nudus tota die illa et nocte unde et exivit proverbium num et Saul inter prophetas

1 Samuel 19 Commentary

Chapter 19

Jonathan reconciles his father to David, Saul again tries to slay him. (1-10) David flees to Samuel. (11-24)

Verses 1-10 How forcible are right words! Saul was, for a time, convinced of the unreasonableness of his enmity to David; but he continued his malice against David. So incurable is the hatred of the seed of the serpent against that of the woman; so deceitful and desperately wicked is the heart of man without the grace of God, ( Jeremiah 17:9 ) .

Verses 11-24 Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a distance was allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not influenced by the same spirit of piety which had dictated Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. He met with little rest or satisfaction in Saul's court, therefore went to seek it in Samuel's church. What little pleasure is to be had in this world, those have who live a life of communion with God; to that David returned in the time of trouble. So impatient was Saul after David's blood, so restless against him, that although baffled by one providence after another, he could not see that David was under the special protection of God. And when God will take this way to protect David, even Saul prophesies. Many have great gifts, yet no grace; they may prophesy in Christ's name, yet are disowned by him. Let us daily seek for renewing grace, which shall be in us as a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Let us cleave to truth and holiness with full purpose of heart. In every danger and trouble, let us seek protection, comfort, and direction in God's ordinances.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 19

This chapter relates the dangers David was exposed unto through Saul's enmity at him, and his deliverance from them, as by the notice Jonathan gave him of his father's designs against him, and by his kind interposition on his behalf, 1Sa 19:1-7; by David's slipping out of Saul's presence, when he was about to cast a javelin at him, 1Sa 19:8-10; by Michal's letting him down through a window, when Saul sent messengers to kill him, and by deceiving them with an image laid in his bed in the room of him, 1Sa 19:11-17, and again by Samuel's protection of him at Naioth, whither David fled, and where Saul sent messengers after him, and at length came himself; and instead of laying hands on David, both he and the messengers were set a prophesying, 1Sa 19:18-24.