Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 19:6

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

6. Saul sware ] Sincerely no doubt for the time, but with no real repentance for his murderous design.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 6. He shall not be slain.] In consequence of this oath, we may suppose he issued orders contrary to those which he had given the preceding day.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

This great change is not to be ascribed to any true repentance for his sin against David, or any better affection which he now had to him; but merely to his own worldly interest, because he was convinced by Jonathans discourse that he could not kill him without great inconvenience and shame to himself.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan,…. Not only heard him out what he had to say, but was affected with it, and wrought upon by it, and was convicted for the present that he was wrong in seeking the life of David, and therefore would desist from it; the Lord working upon his mind by what Jonathan said, and inclined him to listen to it, and act accordingly:

and Saul sware, [as] the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain; this oath he added to what he said to Jonathan, for the confirmation of it; and which was taken either with a real intention to keep it, though that intention did not long continue; or with a view to deceive Jonathan, that he might acquaint David with it, and so prevent his flight and escape, and that he might the more easily fall into his hands; but the former seems rather to be the case.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

These words made an impression upon Saul. He swore, “ As Jehovah liveth, he (David) shall not be put to death;” whereupon Jonathan reported these words to David, and brought him to Saul, so that he was with him again as before. But this reconciliation, unfortunately, did not last long.

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

(6) And Saul hearkened.The moving eloquence of Jonathan touched Sauls heart, and for a brief space something of the old noble spirit influenced the king, and he swore he would not attempt his life.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

1Sa 19:6. And Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain To judge of Saul by his future conduct, we should be tempted to believe, that he swore only the better to deceive his son Jonathan. But when we consider well the character of this prince, weak, inconstant, passionate, we may suppose, without much difficulty, that the discourse of Jonathan affected him, and that he sincerely resolved no more to attack the life of David: a resolution, however, which David’s increasing glory soon overthrew, 1Sa 19:8.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

1Sa 19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, [As] the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

Ver. 6. And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan. ] So far did Jonathan’s oratory and David’s innocency together triumph in Saul’s conscience.

And Saul sware. ] He was a customary swearer, and made little reckoning of an oath. His bare word should have been as the laws of the Medes and Persians: how much more when bound thus with an oath? That was a great dishonour to the heathen Romans, that it should be said of them by Mirrhanes the Persian general, Romanis promittere promptum est, promissis autem quanquam iuramento fermatis minime stare, a they are free of their fair promises, but careless of performing the same, yea, although they have sworn to them. But what a base shame is it to the modern Romanists, those pseudo-Christians, that they should so break their promises and oaths made not to Turks only, as did Ladislaus, king of Hungary, by the consent and counsel of the Pope’s legate, – but to Protestants: witness their proceedings against John Huss, and Jerome of Prague, contrary to the emperor’s safe conduct; and the horrible massacre in France, &e.

He shall not be slain. ] And it is very likely Saul now spake as he thought. But if good thoughts look at any time into a wicked heart, they stay not there, as those that like not their lodging. The flashes of lightning may be discerned in the darkest prisons, but they are soon gone thence again: so here.

a Procop., lib. i., De Bell. Pers.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)