1 Samuel 18:10

_AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW, THAT THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD CAME UPON SAUL, AND HE PROPHESIED IN THE MIDST OF THE HOUSE: AND DAVID PLAYED WITH HIS HAND, AS AT OTHER TIMES: AND THERE WAS A JAVELIN IN SAUL'S HAND._ On the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul. This rankling thought brought on a sudden paroxysm of his mental malady. HE PROPHESIED, х_ WAYITNABEE'_ (H5012)]. The term denotes one under the influence either of a good or a bad spirit. In the present instance it is used to express that Saul was in a frenzy-a violent raving (cf. 1 Samuel 19:24). [The Septuagint, mistaking the sense-has proefeeteusen, prophesied, which our translators borrowed. But it is an unhappy translation.] David, perceiving the symptoms, "played with his hand" ...

6-11 David's troubles not only immediately follow his triumphs, but arise from them; such is the vanity of that which seems greatest in this world. It is a sign that the Spirit of God is departed from men, if, like Saul, they are peevish, envious, suspicious, and ill-natured. Compare David, with his harp in his hand, aiming to serve Saul, and Saul, with his javelin in his hand, aiming to slay David; and observe the sweetness and usefulness of God's persecuted people, and the barbarity of their persecutors. But David's safety must be ascribed to God's providence....

Verse 1 Samuel 18:10. _THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD_] See on 1 Samuel 16:14, c. _HE PROPHESIED IN THE MIDST OF THE HOUSE_] He was _beside himself_ made _prayers, supplications_, and incoherent _imprecations_: "God preserve my life," "Destroy my enemies," or such like prayers, might frequently escape from him in his agitated state. The Arabic intimates that he was actually possessed by an evil spirit, and that through it he uttered a sort of demoniacal predictions. But let us examine the original more closely: it is said that Saul prophesied in the midst of his house, that is, he _prayed_ in his family, while David was playing on the harp; and then suddenly threw his javelin, intending to have killed David. Let it be observed that the

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; Acts 19:15; 1 John 4:1). 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

PERSONAL RELATIONS OF SAUL AND DAVID (CHS. 18-27). FRIENDSHIP OF DAVID AND JONATHAN (CHS. 18-20). EXPOSITION JONATHAN LOVES DAVID (1 Samuel 18:1). 1 SAMUEL 18:1 WHEN HE HAD MADE AN END OF SPEAKING. This conversation took place as soon as the pursuit of the Philistines and the collecting of the spoil were over. There would then be a muster of the Israelites, and Abner would naturally present the youthful champion to the king, who is represented as having virtually forgotte

AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW,.... After the women had met him with their music and dancing, and when returned home: THAT THE EVIL SPIRIT FROM GOD CAME UPON SAUL; thinking on the above things that had passed, he became melancholy: AND HE PROPHESIED IN THE MIDST OF THE HOUSE; either really, delivering out divine songs, as the prophets did; according to Abarbinel, he foretold that David would be king, and the kingdom would be taken from him, and given to him; or he feigned himself a prophet, mimicking their motions and gestures; or, as the Targum, acted like a mad man, or a fool, uttering foolish words, and using ridiculous gestures, which seems most agreeable to the evil spirit in him: AND DAVID PLAYED WITH HIS HAND AS AT OTHER TIMES; upon his harp, to remove the evil spirit, or melancholy disposition from Saul; for though he was now advanced at court, and an officer in the army, a...

3. JONATHAN AND DAVID--SAUL'S JEALOUSY CHAPTER 18 _ 1. Jonathan's love for David (1 Samuel 18:1)_ 2. The beginning of Saul's jealousy (1 Samuel 18:5) 3. David's marriage (1 Samuel 18:17) A beautiful scene opens this chapter. Jonathan, the man of faith, loves David. He was about 40 years old and David about 17. Jonathan made a covenant with David and loved him as his own soul. He showed also his great devotion by giving to David, his robe, his garments, his sword, his bow and his girdle. Thus he stripped himself of all for David's sake. Such devotion and love should we manifest towards Him, who is greater than David. No doubt Jonathan's devotion was kindled by the deed young D

1 Samuel 18:10 to 1 Samuel 19:17. SAUL'S PLOTS AGAINST DAVID. COMPILED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 1 Samuel 18:10 f. (R). Saul makes an unsuccessful attempt to kill David. A premature duplicate of 1 Samuel 19:9 f. The verses are omitted by the LXX MSS which omit (B) in 1 Samuel 17:1 to 1 Samuel 18:5, and will be from the same source as (B). 1 Samuel 18:12 ff. is the natura

EVIL. See note on 1 Samuel 16:16. SPIRIT. Hebrew. _ruach._ App-9. GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4....

_he prophesied_ The word "prophesy" describes _an ecstatic condition due to supernatural influence good or evil:_the result in the one case being prophetic inspiration or religious enthusiasm: in the other raving madness. See on 1 Samuel 10:5. _and there was a javelin in Saul's hand_ Render, AND THE SPEAR WAS IN SAUL'S HAND. The spear served as a sceptre, and was the symbol of royalty. The King held it in his hand when he sat in council (1 Samuel 22:6) or in his house (1 Samuel 19:9); it was kept by his side when he sat at table (1 Samuel 20:33); stuck in the ground by his pillow as he slept in camp ...