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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary

1 Samuel 18:18

My life, i.e. my manner of living. How obscure is that condition in which I was born, and have been bred! Or rather thus, How little is my life worth, that by the exposing of that to some hazard (which Saul required of him). I should purchase a king's daughter! In these expressions David showeth not only his humility, but also his wisdom, in discovering so deep a sense of his own meanness, that Saul might see how far he was from aspiring at the kingdom, and might have no occasion to suspect that he was already anointed thereto.

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See also 1 Samuel 18:18 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHAT IS MY LIFE - i. e., condition, or means of living (Proverbs 27:27 margin)....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    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...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _what is my life_ Probably, WHO ARE MY FOLK, EVEN MY FATHER'S FAMILY? David acknowledges himself unworthy of the proposed honour on the score of social position....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Saul's treacherous offer of his daughter Merab to David 17 19 This section and the clause of 1 Samuel 18:21 which refers to it are omitted in the Sept. (B). See Note VI. p. 241....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    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 S...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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?_ No JFB commentary on these verses....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WHAT _is_ MY LIFE] RM 'Who are my kinsfolk?' The word denotes a division of the tribe larger than a 'father's family.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LOVE OF JONATHAN FOR DAVID 1 Samuel 18:6 of this chapter seem to be connected with 1 Samuel 16:14 and not to be taken from the same document as 1 Samuel 17:1 to...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 18 V1 David finished talking with Saul. Jonathan, Saul’s son, became a very close friend with David. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHAT IS MY LIFE? — These words in David’s modest and wise answer have been variously interpreted. (_a_) They have been taken to refer to David’s personal life; but surely _that_ has been alluded to in...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל ־שָׁא֗וּל מִ֤י אָֽנֹכ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXV. _ SAUL'S JEALOUS-DAVID'S MARRIAGE._ 1 Samuel 18:1. THE conqueror of Goliath had been promised, as his reward, the eldest daughter of the king in marriage. The fulfillment of that promis...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    PROTECTED FROM DASTARDLY ASSAULTS 1 Samuel 18:10 The Lord was evidently with David. Mark how the sacred chronicle keeps this fact in view, 1 Samuel 18:12; 1 Samuel 18:14;...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here, in the account of Jonathan and David, begins one of the most perfect stories of love and friendship in the world. The story is all the more beautiful because of its dark background. Love is in i...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Life. What exploits have I performed deserving such an honour? or what offices have my relations yet enjoyed? (Calmet) --- David considers only his abject condition, and forgets his victories. (Haydo...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Now that we have heard the prophet's judgment of king Saul, there follows next the choice of Jehovah. The chapter gives us in a very striking manner the manifest sentence of death on all the thoughts...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 18 AND 19. But when Christ makes Himself known, the remnant (which Jonathan represented) loves Him as his own soul, and this beloved one becomes the object of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND DAVID SAID UNTO SAUL,.... Surprised at the offer Saul made him, yet not refusing it, but expressing himself with great modesty and humility: WHO [AM] I? as to his person, parentage, and employmen...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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? Ver. 18. _And David said unto Saul, Who am I?_] Time was, when...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _David said, Who am I? and what is my life?_ How little is my life worth, that by the exposing of that to some hazard, I should purchase a king's daughter! In these expressions David showeth not only...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Ionathan loueth Dauid. 5 Saul enuieth his praise, 10 Seeketh to kill him in his furie, 12 Feareth him for his good successe, 17 Offereth him his daughters for a snare. 22 Dauid perswaded to be...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And David said unto Saul, in true modesty, without the least suspicion of Saul's guile, 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? David imp...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    SAUL PLANS TO HAVE DAVID REMOVED...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Jonathan, the son of Saul stands in refreshing contrast to his father. He was present when David returned to Saul. Doubtless David's victory had attracted Jonathan, but David's words decide him. When...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 18:18 David H1732 said H559 (H8799) Saul H7586 life H2416 fathers H1 family H4940 Israel H3478 son-in-law...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    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...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Love covenant of Jonathan and David. Saul's jealousy and attempts on David's life. Saul's daughter given to David. CHARACTERS: God, David, Saul, Jonathan, Merab, Michal, Adriel. CONCLUSION:...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 18:4. _Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David._ This was the highest mark of favour he could show him, and it is still esteemed as such in the oriental...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _What is my life?_ THE GRANDEUR OF LIFE “Who am I?” and “What is my life?” Am I only like some larger ephemera on the leaves of the green bay tree of existence, born in the morning and gone at evenin...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul._ DAVID’S JEOPARDY Saul was afraid of David. This is most remarkable, for was not Saul the king, and David but...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And Saul eyed David from that day and forward._ DAVID’S ENEMY-SAUL It is the enmity of Saul which we are to consider--its beginning, its rapid growth, its deadly purpose. The excitement of the war b...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 18:6 As David’s success increases, Saul’s jealousy also increases. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 18:18 WHO AM I? Saul used David’s humble reply as an excuse to give Merab to another man. ⇐...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 18:5. “DAVID WENT OUT.” “That this refers to war and not to general business is plain, not only from the following account, which mentions not only military un...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    PERSONAL RELATIONS OF SAUL AND DAVID (CHS. 18-27). FRIENDSHIP OF DAVID AND JONATHAN (CHS. 18-20). EXPOSITION JONATHAN LOVES DAVID ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan [Saul's son was just sort of] knit with the soul of David, Jonathan loved him as himself (1 Samuel 18:1...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 18:23; 1 Samuel 9:21; 2 Samuel 7:18; Exodus 3:11; Jeremiah 1:6

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    What is my life — How little is my life worth, that by the exposing of that to some hazard, I should purchase a king's daughter! In these expressions David sheweth not only his humility, but also his...

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