1 Samuel 18:16

18:12-30 For a long time David was kept in continual apprehension of falling by the hand of Saul, yet he persevered in meek and respectful behaviour towards his persecutor. How uncommon is such prudence and discretion, especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitate this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisely in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of spirit, nothing wrong in our conduct? Opposition and perverseness in others, will not excuse wrong tempers in us, but should increase our care, and attention to the duties of our station. Consider Him that endured contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds, Heb 12:3. If David magnified the honour of being son-in-law to king Saul, how should we magnify the honour of being sons to the King of kings!

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 are wanting.

16 . because he went out and came in before them ] Acted as their leader in war. Saul made David captain over a thousand partly to get rid of him from his presence, partly perhaps in the hope that he might lose his life in battle ( 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 18:25 ): but the result was that he became firmly established in the affections of the people. Cp. 1 Samuel 18:5 . 1 Samuel 18:16

1 Samuel 3:19 to 1 Samuel 4:1 . Samuel established as a Prophet in Israel 19 . The Lord was with him ] This was the one source of strength for all the “heroes of Hebrew history;” for Abraham, Genesis 21:22 ; Jacob, Genesis 28:15 ; Joseph, Genesis 39:2 ; Moses, Exodus 3:12 ; Joshua, Joshua 1:5 ; Gideon, Jdg 6:16 ; David, 1 Samuel 16:18 ; 1 Samuel 18:14 . did let none of his words fall to the ground ] The fulfilment of his prophetic utterances was the attestation of his divine mission. Cp. Deuteronomy 18:21-22 . ‘ Falling ’ is a natural metaphor in all languages for ‘ failing .’ Comp. Gk. πίπτειν , Lat. cadere. The word rendered ‘perform’ in 1 Samuel 3:12 is the exact opposite, literally meaning ‘to raise up.’

He prophesied - This, as the effect of the evil spirit coming upon him, is singular as regards Saul, but is borne out by what we read in 1 Kings 22:22 . (Compare Acts 16:16-18 ; Acts 19:15 ; 1 John 4:1-3 ). It is impossible to give the sense of "raving" to the word "prophesied," as though a merely natural state of frenzy were intended. The "prophesying" here was as directly the effect of the coming of the evil spirit upon Saul, as the "prophesying" in 1 Samuel 10:10 was the effect of the Spirit of God coming upon him. At the same time it is quite true that "madness" and "prophesyings" were considered as near akin (see Jeremiah 29:26 ; 2 Kings 9:11 ).

(16) But all Israel and Judah. —This distinct mention of the two great later divisions of the chosen people seems to point to the fact that the compiler of the Books of Samuel lived after the final separation of the ten tribes from Judah and Benjamin, in the reign of Rehoboam. It is, however, clear from other notices (see, for instance, 1Samuel 11:8 ; 1Samuel 15:4 , in this book) that at a period long anterior to the final disruption between the north and south a marked distinction between the two had begun to exist. In David’s case, however, although he was of Judah, the future king was equally popular with the northern tribes.

1Sa 18:13-16. Fears Him for His Good Success. 13. Therefore Saul removed him from him—sent him away from the court, where the principal persons, including his own son, were spellbound with admiration of the young and pious warrior. made him captain over a thousand—gave him a military commission, which was intended to be an honorable exile. But this post of duty served only to draw out before the public the extraordinary and varied qualities of his character, and to give him a stronger hold of the people's affections.

As chief commander over thousand, he went out and in before the people, i.e., he carried out military enterprises, and that so wisely and prosperously, that the blessing of the Lord rested upon all he did. But these successes on David's part increased Saul's fear of him, whereas all Israel and Judah came to love him as their leader. David's success in all that he took in hand compelled Saul to promote him; and his standing with the people increased with his promotion. But as the Spirit of God had departed from Saul, this only filled him more and more with dread of David as his rival. As the hand of the Lord was visibly displayed in David's success, so, on the other hand, Saul's rejection by God was manifested in his increasing fear of David.

Therefore his brethren would do homage to him: not merely the sons of his mother, who are mentioned in other places ( Genesis 27:29 ; Judges 8:19 ), i.e., the tribes descended from Leah, but the sons of his father-all the tribes of Israel therefore; and this was really the case under David ( 2 Samuel 5:1-2 , cf. 1 Samuel 18:6-7 , and 1 Samuel 18:16 ). This princely power Judah acquired through his lion-like nature.

6. Incurs Saul's jealousy; 7. Retires to his father's house; 8. Is after some time sent for by Saul to sooth his melancholy with his harp; 9. Again excites Saul's jealousy, who endeavors to smite him with his javelin. This anticipation between the 14th and 23d verse comes in, in the order of time, between 1 Samuel 16:9 and 1 Samuel 16:10, 1 Samuel 18:9, 1 Samuel 18:10, where the breach is apparent. 1SAMUEL 16: 19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.” 1SAMUEL 16: 20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul. 1. I have courage to undertake it, and strength to perform it.