Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 16:18
Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him.
18. one of the servants ] The word here used for “servants” literally means “young men” (Vulg. pueri), as it is rendered in 1Sa 14:1, and probably refers to military attendants: that used in 1Sa 16:15-17 literally means “slaves” (Vulg. servi), and includes the servants in general.
a mighty valiant man, &c.] David had proved his courage while still tending his sheep. See 1Sa 17:32-36. “A man of war” describes his capacity and promise rather than actual warlike experience.
prudent in matters ] Rather, “skilled in word,” eloquent. Possibly he had already composed psalms, but of those which have come down to us only Psalms 8 can be referred to this period, and even that is probably somewhat later. Psalms 19, 23, , 29, describing the phenomena of nature, doubtless contain recollections of his shepherd life.
the Lord is with him ] See note on 1Sa 3:19.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
A mighty valiant man … – Davids reputation for courage, skill, discretion, and manly beauty, was already great. Since the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, his natural qualities and powers had been greatly enhanced. His feat of killing the lion and the bear (see the marginal references) had been performed, like Samsons feats of strength Jdg 14:6, Jdg 14:19; Jdg 15:14, under the same supernatural influence, and was probably more or less known.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 18. I have seen a son of Jesse] Dr. Warburton supposes the story is anticipated from 1Sa 16:14-23, and that the true chronology of this part of David’s life is the following: –
1. David is anointed by Samuel;
2. Carries provisions to his brethren in the army;
3. Fights with and kills Goliath;
4. Is received into the king’s court,
5. Contracts a friendship with Jonathan;
6. Incurs Saul’s jealousy;
7. Retires to his father’s house;
8. Is after some time sent for by Saul to sooth his melancholy with his harp;
9. Again excites Saul’s jealousy, who endeavours to smite him with his javelin. This anticipation between the 14th and 23d verse comes in, in the order of time, between verses 9 and 10, 1Sa 18:9; 1Sa 18:10, where the breach is apparent.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Wonder not that David was so suddenly advanced, from a poor contemptible shepherd, to so great reputation; for these were the effects of that Spirit of the Lord, which he received when he was anointed; though some would hence infer, that the things related in this chapter happened after the history of 1Sa 17, though it be placed before, such transpositions being not unusual in historical relations.
The Lord is with him, i.e. directs and prospers all his undertakings.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then answered one of the servants,…. Which the Jews say m was Doeg the Edomite, who out of envy and ill will to David spake of him, that Saul might have an opportunity of slaying him; but this is not at all likely; rather it was one of David’s friends and acquaintance, that was desirous of promoting him at court, and no doubt was directed to that motion by the overruling providence of God:
and said, behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite; he does not mention the name of his son, but so describes him, that he might be easily known by those who knew anything of the family of Jesse; besides it was sufficient that he was one of Jesse’s sons, to find him out:
[that is] cunning in playing; that is, on the harp; has good skill in music, and is expert in it:
and a mighty valiant man; as appeared by his encountering with and slaying the lion and the bear; an event now past, as very probable:
and a man of war some think this character of him was given after the affair of his fighting with Goliath and killing him, but here put by a prolepsis or anticipation; and indeed if David had been taken into Saul’s court before that affair, it is difficult to account for Saul’s ignorance of him, since he must be so near him, and so often with him, as his musician and armourbearer; though that difficulty may be removed, as may be observed in its proper place:
and prudent in matters; in his talk and conversation, and conduct and behaviour; knew how to carry himself, even in a prince’s court: and a comely person; which always recommended to the courts of the eastern nations; [See comments on Da 1:4].
and the Lord is with him; prospering and succeeding him in whatsoever he is engaged; and seeing the Lord was with him, it might be expected the evil spirit would depart from Saul, when this person, with whom the Lord was, was in his presence. The Targum is,
“the Word of the Lord is for his help;”
all that is said of him showed that he was fit to be in the palace of a king, and a proper person to be with Saul in his present circumstances.
m T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 2. So in Hieron. Trad. Heb in lib. Reg. fol. 76. C.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) Then answered one of the servants.The Dean of Canterbury calls attention to the fact that the word in the original here rendered servants is not the same as was translated by servants in 1Sa. 16:15-17. In each of these passages the Hebrew word rendered servant, no doubt signifies officers connected with the royal court. Here the different word hann-rim lays stress on the royal attendant in question being a young man. Probably, the one spoken of in this place was a contemporary of David, very likely a youth trained with David in Samuels prophetic school at Naioth in Ramah, and consequently able to speak thus in detail about the young shepherd pupil of the great seer.
Cunning in playing.As a boy, it is certain that David possessed rare gifts of poetry, and, no doubt, of music. It is probable that some of his early Psalms were originally composed while watching his fathers sheep among those hills and vales round the village of Bethlehem, where in later centuries shepherds were still watching over their flocks by night, when the angel host appeared to them to tell them of the birth of a child in Bethlehem.
These gifts of poetry and music were further cultivated and developed in the prophets school of Samuel, and there the young pupil of the seer no doubt quickly acquired among his companions that reputation and skill which induced the young man of the court of Saul to tell his afflicted master of the shepherd son of Jesse, famous for his cunning in playing.
And a mighty valiant man, and a man of war.The description of the Bethlehemite David at a mighty valiant man can well be explained from what is related in 1Sa. 17:34-35, about the young shepherds prowess in the conflicts with the lions and the bears. A question has, however, been raised respecting the expression a man of war, as it would seem from the narrative of 1 Samuel 17 that the combat with the giant Philistine was Davids first great military exploit. It has, however, been suggested that, in addition to the combat with those wild beasts, which we know in those days frequented the thickets of the Jordan, and were a terror to the Israelitish shepherds, David had most likely been engaged in repelling one or more of the Philistine marauding expeditions so common in those wild days. Bethlehem, we know, was a strong place or garrison of these hereditary foes of Israel. (See 2Sa. 23:14; 1Ch. 11:16.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. A mighty valiant man, and a man of war From what we learn in 1Sa 17:34-35, of David’s early conflicts with wild beasts, we may readily infer that long before his warlike abilities became patent to the public eye there were individuals who knew of these his early conflicts, and discerned in the youthful hero the beginnings of a mighty warrior.
Prudent in matters Hebrew, knowing of speech; skilled in the use of language. The words and psalms of David show him to have been eloquent.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him.
Ver. 18. Then answered one of the servants. ] Junius thinketh this might be Jonathan; Lyra, that it might be Doeg. But it is not likely that it was either, but another who had heard of David’s great acts and worth, since the Spirit of God came upon him. 1Sa 16:13
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
servants. Not the same word as in verses: 1Sa 16:15-17, but “young men “as in 1Sa 14:1. Perhaps Saul’s body-guard; possibly fellow-pupils of Samuel at Naioth.
and. Note Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) in these verses.
matters = speech.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a mighty: 1Sa 17:32-36, 2Sa 17:8, 2Sa 17:10
and prudent: 2Sa 14:20
matters: or, speech.
a comely: 1Sa 16:12
the Lord: 1Sa 3:19, 1Sa 10:7, 1Sa 18:12-14, Gen 39:2, Gen 39:23, Mat 1:23, Mat 28:20
Reciprocal: Num 27:18 – a man 1Sa 16:13 – the Spirit 1Sa 17:12 – David 1Sa 17:31 – sent for him 1Sa 17:58 – I am the son 1Sa 18:14 – the Lord 1Ch 9:20 – the Lord Psa 89:19 – I have laid Psa 131:1 – my heart Pro 12:8 – commended Hag 2:4 – for Zec 10:5 – as Luk 1:66 – And the Joh 7:42 – where
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 16:18. Then answered one of the servants, &c. It is likely this was some friend or acquaintance of David, who here gives him a very high character, which he did not disgrace, but fully verified, insomuch that Saul for a time highly esteemed him, finding him amiable in his spirit, and prudent in matters, and therefore useful to him in many other ways, as well as by his skill in music. We need not wonder that David was so suddenly advanced from a poor shepherd to so great a reputation; for this was the effect of those graces and gifts of the Divine Spirit which he had received when he was anointed. The Lord is with him Said the servant; that is, directs and prospers all his undertakings.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a {f} son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him.
(f) Though David was now anointed king by the prophet, yet God would strengthen and test him in various ways before he had the use of his kingdom.