1 Samuel 19:23

_AND HE WENT THITHER TO NAIOTH IN RAMAH: AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS UPON HIM ALSO, AND HE WENT ON, AND PROPHESIED, UNTIL HE CAME TO NAIOTH IN RAMAH._ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THIS VERSE....

11-24 Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a distance was allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not influenced by the same spirit of piety which had dictated Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. He met with little rest or satisfaction in Saul's court, therefore went to seek it in Samuel's church. What little pleasure is to be had in this world, those have who live a life of communion with God; to that David returned in the time of trouble. So impatient was Saul after David's blood, so restless against him, that although baffled by one providence after another, he could not see that David was under the special protection of God. And when God will take this way to protect David, even Sa...

Verse 1 Samuel 19:23. _HE WENT ON, AND PROPHESIED_] The Divine Spirit seemed to have seized him at the well of Sechu; and he went on from that _prophesying_-praying, singing praises, c. till he came to Naioth....

SUCCESSIVE ATTEMPTS UPON DAVID'S LIFE FRUSTRATED BY THE LOVE OF JONATHAN AND MICHAL, AND FINALLY BY FLIGHT (1 Samuel 19:1.). EXPOSITION JONATHAN'S LOVE FOR DAVID (1 Samuel 19:1). 1 SAMUEL 19:1 SAUL SPAKE TO JONATHAN HIS SON...THAT THEY SHOULD KILL DAVID. The translation of the last clause is untenable;

AND HE WENT THITHER TO NAIOTH IN RAMAH,.... He went on from the well towards the place: AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS UPON HIM ALSO; as well as upon his messengers; even the spirit of prophecy, as the Targum: AND HE WENT ON AND PROPHESIED UNTIL HE CAME TO NAIOTH IN RAMAH: in this he differed from his messengers; they did not prophesy till they came to that place, but Saul began to prophesy before he came thither, as he was in his way from the well to it....

4. SAUL'S RENEWED ATTEMPT AND DAVID'S ESCAPE CHAPTER 19 _ 1. Saul and Jonathan (1 Samuel 19:1)_ 2. Saul's new attempt to kill David (1 Samuel 19:8) 3. David's escape (1 Samuel 19:11) 4. Saul's pursuit and his helplessness (1 Samuel 19:19) The lost King goes from bad to worse. First he tried to spear David; then he attempted to take his life through having him killed by the Philistines, and now he speaks openly to his own son and to all his servants that David must be killed. Therefore loving Jonathan warned David and he hid himself Then Jonathan persuades his father to desist an

DAVID AT RAMAH (R). Of uncertain origin, probably late. Partly parallel to 1 Samuel 10:10 ff. David takes refuge with Samuel at Naioth in Ramah. Naioth is apparently not a proper name, but if it is not, its meaning is quite unknown. It has been conjectured that it may have been the quarter of the town inhabited by the prophets. The contagious nature of this ecstatic prophecy is shown by the fact that, first Saul's messengers, and then Saul himself, are seized by it when they come to Naioth. [For 1 Samuel 19:24_ b cf._ 1 Samuel 10:11 f., another story as to the origin of the proverb. A. S. P.]...

THITHER. Septuagint reads "thence"....

David takes refuge with Samuel at Ramah 18. _to Samuel_ Turning naturally for direction at this crisis to the prophet who had anointed him, and hoping that Saul would at least reverence the age and authority of Samuel. No doubt David had had much intercourse with Samuel since their first meeting at Bethlehem. _in Naioth Naioth_, which was at or near Ramah, is a quasi-proper name signifying _dwellings_, and in al probability denotes the _College_, or common residence of the society of prophets collected together at Ramah by Samuel. See Introd. ch. 6 p. 33. Cp. 2 Kings 6:1-2. The Targum renders the word "house of instruction." Hither Samuel took David, partly as being a safer place of refuge than his own house; partly that he might be spiritually strengthened by a share in the religious exercises of the society ...

SAUL SENT MESSENGERS TO TAKE DAVID—AND HE WENT THITHER, &C.— One intent of this prophesying of the messengers and Saul was to prevent them from seizing, and him from murdering, certainly David, and probably, in the same fit of rage, Samuel, and the company of the prophets who harboured them. And whether this prophesying consisted in predicting somewhat future, such as Saul's destruction, and David's advancement to the throne, or what is understood by preaching, yet it had certainly one good effect, worthy the Spirit of God to produce; the preservation of the life of one destined to sit on the throne of Israel. The change in the messengers of Saul was great; but that which was wrought in Saul himself was astonishing. He came to wreak his vengeance: but instead of a murderer he becomes a prophet, and puts himself naked entirely into the hands of Samuel, the prophets, and David, who might h...