1 Samuel 18:16

16 and all Israel and Judah love David when he is going out and coming in before them.

1 Samuel 18:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:16

And all Israel and Judah loved David
The verb is singular, and denotes that everyone of them loved him in all the tribes of Israel, as well as in Judah his own tribe; in such general esteem was he, and so much had he got the hearts and affections of the people:

because he went out and came in before them;
the people, as in ( 1 Samuel 18:13 ) ; so the Septuagint version, in which, according to the Vatican copy, the verses ( 1 Samuel 18:17-19 ) are wanting.

1 Samuel 18:16 In-Context

14 And David is in all his ways acting wisely, and Jehovah [is] with him,

15 and Saul seeth that he is acting very wisely, and is afraid of him,

16 and all Israel and Judah love David when he is going out and coming in before them.

17 And Saul saith unto David, `Lo, my elder daughter Merab -- her I give to thee for a wife; only, be to me for a son of valour, and fight the battles of Jehovah;' and Saul said, `Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.'

18 And David saith unto Saul, `Who [am] I? and what my life -- the family of my father in Israel -- that I am son-in-law to the king?'