8 And there was war H4421 again: H3254 and David H1732 went out, H3318 and fought H3898 with the Philistines, H6430 and slew H5221 them with a great H1419 slaughter; H4347 and they fled H5127 from H6440 him.
It is God H410 that girdeth H247 me with strength, H2428 and maketh H5414 my way H1870 perfect. H8549 He maketh H7737 my feet H7272 like hinds' H355 feet, and setteth H5975 me upon my high places. H1116 He teacheth H3925 my hands H3027 to war, H4421 so that a bow H7198 of steel H5154 is broken H5181 by mine arms. H2220 Thou hast also given H5414 me the shield H4043 of thy salvation: H3468 and thy right hand H3225 hath holden me up, H5582 and thy gentleness H6037 hath made me great. H7235 Thou hast enlarged H7337 my steps H6806 under me, that my feet H7166 did not slip. H4571 I have pursued H7291 mine enemies, H341 and overtaken H5381 them: neither did I turn again H7725 till they were consumed. H3615 I have wounded H4272 them that they were not able H3201 to rise: H6965 they are fallen H5307 under my feet. H7272 For thou hast girded H247 me with strength H2428 unto the battle: H4421 thou hast subdued H3766 under me those that rose up H6965 against me. Thou hast also given H5414 me the necks H6203 of mine enemies; H341 that I might destroy H6789 them that hate H8130 me. They cried, H7768 but there was none to save H3467 them: even unto the LORD, H3068 but he answered H6030 them not. Then did I beat H7833 them small as the dust H6083 before H6440 the wind: H7307 I did cast them out H7324 as the dirt H2916 in the streets. H2351 Thou hast delivered H6403 me from the strivings H7379 of the people; H5971 and thou hast made H7760 me the head H7218 of the heathen: H1471 a people H5971 whom I have not known H3045 shall serve H5647 me. As soon as they hear H8088 H241 of me, they shall obey H8085 me: the strangers H1121 H5236 shall submit H3584 themselves unto me. The strangers H1121 H5236 shall fade away, H5034 and be afraid H2727 out of their close places. H4526 The LORD H3068 liveth; H2416 and blessed H1288 be my rock; H6697 and let the God H430 of my salvation H3468 be exalted. H7311 It is God H410 that avengeth H5414 H5360 me, and subdueth H1696 the people H5971 under me. He delivereth H6403 me from mine enemies: H341 yea, thou liftest me up H7311 above those that rise up H6965 against me: thou hast delivered H5337 me from the violent H2555 man. H376 Therefore will I give thanks H3034 unto thee, O LORD, H3068 among the heathen, H1471 and sing praises H2167 unto thy name. H8034 Great H1431 deliverance H3444 giveth he to his king; H4428 and sheweth H6213 mercy H2617 to his anointed, H4899 to David, H1732 and to his seed H2233 for H5704 evermore. H5769
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Samuel 19
Commentary on 1 Samuel 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
1Sa 19:1-7. Jonathan Discloses His Father's Purpose to Kill David.
1. Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David—The murderous design he had secretly cherished he now reveals to a few of his intimate friends. Jonathan was among the number. He prudently said nothing at the time, but secretly apprised David of his danger; and waiting till the morning, when his father's excited temper would be cooled, he stationed his friend in a place of concealment, where, overhearing the conversation, he might learn how matters really stood and take immediate flight, if necessary.
4-7. Jonathan spake good of David—He told his father he was committing a great sin to plot against the life of a man who had rendered the most invaluable services to his country and whose loyalty had been uniformly steady and devoted. The strong remonstrances of Jonathan produced an effect on the impulsive mind of his father. As he was still susceptible of good and honest impressions, he bound himself by an oath to relinquish his hostile purpose; and thus, through the intervention of the noble-minded prince, a temporary reconciliation was effected, in consequence of which David was again employed in the public service.
1Sa 19:8-17. Saul's Malicious Rage Breaks Out against David.
8-10. David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter—A brilliant victory was gained over the public enemy. But these fresh laurels of David reawakened in the moody breast of Saul the former spirit of envy and melancholy. On David's return to court, the temper of Saul became more fiendish than ever; the melodious strains of the harp had lost all their power to charm; and in a paroxysm of uncontrollable frenzy he aimed a javelin at the person of David—the missile having been thrown with such force that it pierced the chamber wall. David providentially escaped; but the king, having now thrown off the mask and being bent on aggressive measures, made his son-in-law's situation everywhere perilous.
11, 12. Saul sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him—The fear of causing a commotion in the town, or favoring his escape in the darkness, seemed to have influenced the king in ordering them to patrol till the morning. This infatuation was overruled by Providence to favor David's escape; for his wife, secretly apprised by Jonathan, who was aware of the design, or by spying persons in court livery watching the gate, let him down through a window (see on Jos 2:15).
13, 14. And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed—"an image," literally, "the teraphim," and laid, not in the bed, but literally on the "divan"; and "the pillows," that is, the cushion, which usually lay at the back of the divan and was stuffed with "goat's hair," she took from its bolster or heading at the upper part of the divan. This she placed lower down, and covered with a mantle, as if to foster a proper warmth in a patient; at the same time spreading the goat's hair skin, so as to resemble human hair in a dishevelled state. The pretext was that David lay there sick. The first messengers of Saul, keeping at a respectable distance, were deceived; but the imposition was detected on a closer inspection.
15. Bring him to me in the bed—a portable couch or mattress.
1Sa 19:18-23. David Flees to Samuel.
18-23. David fled, … and came to Samuel to Ramah—Samuel was living in great retirement, superintending the school of the prophets, established in the little hamlet of Naioth, in the neighborhood of Ramah. It was a retreat congenial to the mind of David; but Saul, having found out his asylum, sent three successive bodies of men to apprehend him. The character of the place and the influence of the sacred exercises produced such an effect on them that they were incapable of discharging their commission, and were led, by a resistless impulse, to join in singing the praises of God. Saul, in a fit of rage and disappointment, determined to go himself. But, before reaching the spot, his mental susceptibilities were roused even more than his messengers, and he was found, before long, swelling the ranks of the young prophets. This singular change can be ascribed only to the power of Him who can turn the hearts of men even as the rivers of water.
1Sa 19:24. Saul Prophesies.
24. lay down naked—that is, divested of his armor and outer robes—in a state of trance. Thus God, in making the wrath of man to praise Him, preserved the lives of all the prophets, frustrated all the purposes of Saul, and preserved the life of His servant.