Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:1 - 18:16

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:1 - 18:16


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Saul's Regard Changes to Hatred

v. 1. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, when David had given the king the information which he desired concerning his family, that the soul of Jonathan, the heroic son of Saul, was knit with the soul of David, chained to his in a firm and inseparable union, bound by the band of love; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul, with a total absence of selfishness, in an ideal friendship.

v. 2. And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house;
he was now permanently in the king's service, and could no more, as he formerly did, 1Sa_17:15, return home from time to time to assist in the work and to perform his shepherd's duties.

v. 3. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant,
a formal sealing of their mutual love and friendship, because he loved him as his own soul; they promised each other perpetual friendship.

v. 4. And Jonathan,
as a testimony and token of his love and friendship, stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle. Thus the barrier of rank and position was completely set aside; for Jonathan's object was not only to have David appear at court in proper dress, but also to honor David as a military hero, the conqueror of the terrible Philistine, who should therefore appear in a dress befitting his station.

v. 5. And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him,
on any campaign for which the king thought his military ability fitted him, and behaved himself wisely, being both prudent and prosperous; and Saul set him over the men of war, made him commander of a body of soldiers, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, regarded very highly, and also in the sight of Saul's servants, the officials at Saul's court, who might have been jealous of his success.

v. 6. And it came to pass, as they came,
when the army returned from the pursuit of the Philistines to celebrate the victory, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, to celebrate the victory in the proper manner, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, castanets, with joy, with joyful outcry, and with instruments of music, with triangles.

v. 7. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.
They not only performed choral dances, but also alternate dances intended to interpret the battle and the victory, while, at the same time, they raised their voices in antiphonal singing, their song showing the high regard in which David was held on account of his heroic deed.

v. 8. And Saul was very wroth,
his jealousy immediately flared up, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands and to me they have ascribed but thousands; and what can he have more but the kingdom? All that was missing in David's case was the royal dignity and position, this being a presentiment which may almost have amounted to a suspicion, since Samuel had distinctly stated that the royal power would pass into another family.

v. 9. And Saul eyed David from that day and forward,
he looked upon him with envious suspicion.

v. 10. And it came to pass on the morrow that the evil spirit from God,
1Sa_16:13-16, came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house, he raged and raved in madness; and David played with his hand, performed on the harp, as at other times; and there was a javelin, a small spear used as a scepter, in Saul's hand.

v. 11. And Saul cast the javelin,
made a lunge at him; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it, pass it through David into the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice, he dodged the attack, but remained at his post in the attempt to soothe the king, to drive away his madness.

v. 12. And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him,
as all the evidence plainly showed, and was departed from Saul; the king felt more and more that he had been forsaken and rejected by the Lord in favor of David.

v. 13. Therefore Saul removed him from him,
from his position at court, where he was sheltered, and made him his captain over a thousand, probably promoted him to a higher position in the army; and he went out and came in before the people, in various military campaigns.

v. 14. And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways,
he used good judgment in all his undertakings and was correspondingly successful; and the Lord was with him, crowning his work with blessing.

v. 15. Wherefore, when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him,
every new incident showing the trend of affairs added new fuel to the fire of his jealousy and anger, as well as to his fear.

v. 16. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he went out and came in before them;
their regard for him increased as they noted that he went about his business quietly and effectively, and that all his military undertakings were successful. All believers are bound to expect hatred on the part of the godless world, especially since the infidels cannot help but note that God is on the side of His children. But in the measure that they show their hatred in works of enmity God holds His protecting hand over those that trust in Him.