THE RISE OF DAVID. In this chapter we will learn of the developments that followed David's victory over Goliath, a victory which had naturally thrown him into prominence. It opens by telling us of the love that grew in Saul's firstborn son for David (1 Samuel 18:1; 1 Samuel 18:3), continues by telli... [ Continue Reading ]
JONATHAN'S COMRADELY LOVE FOR DAVID (1 SAMUEL 18:1). Verse 1 follows directly on after 1 Samuel 17, taking up where that chapter left off, so that what follows is to be seen in its light. And the first important result of David's triumph was that Jonathan, Saul's firstborn son, took a great liking... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID'S MILITARY SUCCESS AND SAUL'S GROWING SUSPICION AND AWE OF DAVID (1 SAMUEL 18:5). It will be noted that this passage comes between two inclusios in 1 Samuel 18:5 and 1 Samuel 18:15. In 1 Samuel 18:5 we are told that David ‘behaved himself wisely' and in verse 15 this is confirmed. David's mili... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A RESULT OF HIS ILLNESS SAUL TRIES TO HARM DAVID AND DISMISSES HIM FROM HIS PERSONAL ENTOURAGE, BUT DAVID PROSPERS ALL THE MORE (1 SAMUEL 18:10). The fact that what follows is stated to have been ‘on the morrow' brings out the connection between the praise heaped on David and the return of Saul'... [ Continue Reading ]
SAUL SEES THE POSSIBILITY OF USING HIS PROMISE THAT THE VICTOR OVER GOLIATH SHOULD MARRY HIS DAUGHTER AS A MEANS OF TRAPPING DAVID, BUT IN THE END IT BACKFIRES ON HIM (1 SAMUEL 18:15). In this passage we again have an inclusio based on David's behaving wisely (compare 1 Samuel 18:5 and 1 Samuel 18:... [ Continue Reading ]
BOUND BY HIS PROMISE SAUL SEEKS TO FULFIL IT BY GIVING ONE OF HIS DAUGHTER'S TO DAVID TO BE HIS WIFE (1 SAMUEL 18:17). Saul had publicly promised that to the victor over Goliath he would give him one of his daughters to be his wife (1 Samuel 17:25), and it was thus not a promise that he could avoid... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID CONTINUES TO PROSPER (1 SAMUEL 18:28). Saul continued to recognise that YHWH was with David, and was thus all the more afraid of him because he saw in him a potential threat to his throne, and especially to his descendants' likelihood of inheriting it (1 Samuel 20:31). The result was that he... [ Continue Reading ]