1 Samuel 18:25

_AND SAUL SAID, THUS SHALL YE SAY TO DAVID, THE KING DESIRETH NOT ANY DOWRY, BUT AN HUNDRED FORESKINS OF THE PHILISTINES, TO BE AVENGED OF THE KING'S ENEMIES. BUT SAUL THOUGHT TO MAKE DAVID FALL BY THE HAND OF THE PHILISTINES._ The king desireth not any dowry. In Eastern countries the husband purchases his wife either by gifts or services. Since neither David nor his family were in circumstances to give a suitable dowry for a princess, the king intimated that he would be graciously pleased to accept some gallant deed in the public service. AN HUNDRED FORESKINS OF THE PHILISTINES. Such mutilations on the bodies of their slain enemies were commonly practiced in ancient war, and the number told indicated the glory of the victory. Saul's willingness to accept a public service had an air of liberality, while his choice of so difficult and hazardous a service seemed only putting a proper val...

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 18:25. _BUT A HUNDRED FORESKINS_] That is, Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines, and thou shalt produce their _foreskins_, as a proof, not only that thou hast killed one hundred men, but that these are of the _uncircumcised_. A custom similar to this still prevails among the Abyssinians, according to Bruce. See his Travels....

AN HUNDRED FORESKINS - This is merely another expression of the spirit which led to the constant application of the epithet uncircumcised to the Philistines 1 Samuel 14:6....

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, THUS SHALL YE SAY TO DAVID,.... In answer to his objections, and in order to remove them, and especially what concerned the dowry: THE KING DESIRETH NOT ANY DOWRY, BUT AN HUNDRED FORESKINS OF THE PHILISTINES, TO BE AVENGED OF THE KING'S ENEMIES; that is, he required or desired no other dowry of David, but that he would slay an hundred Philistines, and bring their foreskins to him; by which he would be able to know that they were Philistines he slew, not Israelites who were circumcised; though it cannot well be thought that Saul should have any suspicion of that, or take such a method to prevent it; but as those were almost, if not altogether, the only uncircumcised persons that were their neighbours, since the Arabians, Edomites, Midianites, c. received circumcision from their ancestors, it would be a clear case to him that these were the men he slew and whom he the rathe...

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

David's marriage with Michal 20. _Michal Saul's daughter loved David_ According to the text of the Sept. this follows immediately upon 1 Samuel 18:16. By his bravery David won the affections of the people, and even of the king's daughter....

David the King's Son-in-law. 1 Samuel 18:17-30 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. 18 And David said unto Saul, Who _am_ I? and what _is_ my life, _or_ my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king? 19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. 20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David. and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-l