1 Samuel 19:1-7. Jonathan's intercession with his father on David's behalf 1. _Saul spake_, &c. Perhaps in some outburst of passion like Henry the Second's against Thomas à Becket. No definite command seems to have been given.... [ Continue Reading ]
_until the morning_ Rather, IN THE MORNING.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the field where thou art_ Jonathan may have wished David to hear and judge for himself of Saul's intention; or to be close at hand so that he might at once inform him of the result of his appeal.... [ Continue Reading ]
_spake good of David_ Had Jonathan simply advised David to flee, without endeavouring to bring Saul to a better mind, he would have acted to the prejudice of his father's interests, by depriving him of the best support of his kingdom. _to thee-ward_ "Ward" is used as a termination denoting (_a) dir... [ Continue Reading ]
_put his life in his hand_ i.e. voluntarily exposed himself to peril of death. The figure seems to be that of taking a treasure out of a safe place, and carrying it about with the risk of losing it Cp. ch. 1 Samuel 28:21; Judges 12:3; Psalms 119:109. _wrought a great salvation_ See 1 Samuel 11:9 (n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saul sware_ Sincerely no doubt for the time, but with no real repentance for his murderous design.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saul's attempt on David's life 8. _David went out_, &c. This preliminary mention of David's fresh successes implies that Saul's attack of madness was due to jealousy excited by them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the evil spirit_ See on 1 Samuel 16:14. _as he sat_, &c. NOW HE WAS SITTING IN HIS HOUSE WITH HIS SPEAR IN HIS HAND, AND DAVID WAS PLAYING WITH HIS HAND. These words are a parenthesis picturing the circumstances under which Saul attempted to murder David. On Saul's spear see at 1 Samuel 18:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_escaped that night_ It is perhaps better to follow the Sept. in joining "that night" to the next sentence and reading, "and it came to pass that night that Saul, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in the morning_ As he left his house. Cp. Judges 16:2. "We may guess that only the fear of alarming the town, and of rousing the people to rescue their favourite hero, prevented him from directing them to break into the house, and to slay David there." Kitto's _Bibl. Illustr_. Psalms 59 is referre... [ Continue Reading ]
David's escape by the aid of Michal 12. _through a window_ Compare the escape of the spies from Jericho (Joshua 2:15), and St Paul from Damascus (2 Corinthians 11:33). If David's house, like Rahab's, was upon the town wall, it would be easy for him to escape thus though the door was watched by Saul... [ Continue Reading ]
_an image_ THE TERAPHIM. These were the _penates_or house-hold images of the Israelites, brought originally from their Chaldean home (Genesis 31:19). In spite of the strict prohibition of idols, they were used by those who professed to worship Jehovah in the time of the Judges (Judges 17:5; Judges 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_she said, He is sick_ Apparently she took the messengers into the outer chamber and pointed to the figure in bed in an inner closet, not letting them go near enough to detect the imposture. The plan gained David time to escape. The Sept. has, "and _they_[the messengers] brought word that he was sic... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bring him up_ This indicates that Saul's residence was on the hill of Gibeah, David's in the lower town.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was an image_, &c. THE TERAPHIM WAS IN THE BED, AND THE QUILT OF GOAT'S HAIR AT ITS HEAD. 17 _He said unto me_, &c. Michal adds another lie to screen herself from Saul's anger. In this she was but following her father's example (1 Samuel 19:6), and with more excuse. Compare the deceit practi... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
_prophets prophesying_ Some common religious exercise conducted by Samuel, who is described as STANDING AS PRESIDENT over the prophets, is meant by "prophesying." See on 1 Samuel 10:5. The Targum paraphrases: "They saw the company of scribes praising, and Samuel standing as instructor over them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they prophesied also_ Carried away by the religious excitement they forgot their errand, and joined the chant of the prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a great well_ THE GREAT CISTERN, some well known landmark in _Sechu_, a place nowhere else mentioned, between Gibeah and Ramah. The reading is uncertain. The Sept. has "the well of the _threshing-floor_that is in Sephi (or, _the hill_).... [ Continue Reading ]
_until he came to Naioth_ The inspiration seized Saul even before he reached the company of prophets. He was to be convinced of the irresistible might of the Divine Spirit against whose influence he had striven. He was to be taught, if his heart was not already too utterly hardened to learn, that in... [ Continue Reading ]
_naked_ Not literally naked, but stripped of his outer garment. _Is Saul also among the prophets_?] The origin of the proverb is related in 1 Samuel 10:11. It now received a fresh exemplification. This burst of prophetic inspiration was a startling reminder to Saul of that former occasion when the... [ Continue Reading ]