1 Samuel 18:17

_AND SAUL SAID TO DAVID, BEHOLD MY ELDER DAUGHTER MERAB, HER WILL I GIVE THEE TO WIFE: ONLY BE THOU VALIANT FOR ME, AND FIGHT THE LORD'S BATTLES. FOR SAUL SAID, LET NOT MINE HAND BE UPON HIM, BUT LET THE HAND OF THE PHILISTINES BE UPON HIM._ My elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife. Though bound to this already, he had found it convenient to forget his former promise, and now holds it out as a new offer, which would tempt David to give additional proofs of his valour. ONLY BE THOU VALIANT FOR ME. But the fickle and perfidious monarch broke his pledge at the time when the marriage was on the eve of being celebrated, and bestowed Merab on another man (see the note at 2 Samuel 21:8) - an indignity as well as a wrong, which was calculated deeply to wound the feelings and provoke the resentment of David. Perhaps it was intended to do so, that advanta

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, Hebrews 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!...

Verse 1 Samuel 18:17. _FIGHT THE LORD'S BATTLES._] Mr. Calmet properly remarks that the wars of the Hebrews, while conducted by the express orders of God, were truly _the wars of the Lord_; but when the spirit of worldly ambition and domination became mingled with them, they were no longer the wars of the Lord, but wars of lust and profanity....

Saul had not hitherto fulfilled the promise of which David had heard (marginal reference); nor was it unnatural that Saul should delay to do so, until the shepherd’s boy had risen to a higher rank....

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 SAUL SAID TO DAVID,.... Not in friendship and good will to him, but designing to lay a snare for him: BEHOLD, MY ELDEST DAUGHTER MERAB, HER WILL I GIVE THEE TO WIFE; most interpreters understand it, that he was obliged to this by promise, on account of David's slaying Goliath, 1 Samuel 17:25; but Abarbinel is of another mind, and he rightly observes, that the words referred to are not the words of Saul, but of the men of Israel, who might suppose what the king would do; or if they heard anything like it spoken by Saul, it was only in a hyperbolical way, signifying he did not care what he gave, and what he parted with, to the man that killed the Philistine, but was not strictly bound to this particular thereby; nor did David ever claim such promise, nor did Saul think himself bound to do it, but proposes it as an instance of his great kindness and favour, as he pret

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

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6. VALIANT. Hebrew son of valour. LET NOT MINE HAND, &c. Compare David and Uriah. 2 Samuel 11:15....

_Merab_ = _Increase_. Saul offered her to David in fulfilment of his promise (1 Samuel 17:25). In return for this honour Saul expects him to fight his battles, treacherously hoping that he may fall by the hand of the Philistines. _the_Lord's _battles_ Israel's wars were "the wars of Jehovah," because they were undertaken for the defence and establishment of His Kingdom, and His aid might be claimed in waging them. Cp. ch. 1 Samuel 25:28; Numbers 21:14 David expresses the same idea in 1 Samuel 17:36; 1 Samuel 17:47....