Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 19:8
And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
8 11. 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.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
8-10. David went out, and foughtwith the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughterAbrilliant victory was gained over the public enemy. But these freshlaurels of David reawakened in the moody breast of Saul the formerspirit of envy and melancholy. On David’s return to court, the temperof Saul became more fiendish than ever; the melodious strains of theharp had lost all their power to charm; and in a paroxysm ofuncontrollable frenzy he aimed a javelin at the person of Davidthemissile having been thrown with such force that it pierced thechamber wall. David providentially escaped; but the king, having nowthrown off the mask and being bent on aggressive measures, made hisson-in-law’s situation everywhere perilous.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And there was war again,…. Between Israel and the Philistines; it does not appear that either of them sent out their whole force, only some parties or detachments, between which there were skirmishes:
and David went out and fought with the Philistines; he went out with his thousand men, over which he was made captain, 1Sa 18:13; for he had not the command of the whole army; that belonged to Abner:
and slew them with a great slaughter, and they fled from him; he killed many of them in his engagements with them, and the rest fled, and he returned victorious; which stirred up the envy and increased the jealousy of Saul, to observe which this is related.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Another great defeat which David had inflicted upon the Philistines excited Saul to such an extent, that in a fit of insanity he endeavoured to pierce David with his javelin as he was playing before him. The words Ruach Jehovah describe the attack of madness in which Saul threw the javelin at David according to its higher cause, and that, as implied in the words Ruach Jehovah in contrast with Ruach Elohim (1Sa 18:10; 1Sa 16:15), as inflicted upon him by Jehovah. The thought expressed is, that the growth of Saul’s melancholy was a sign of the hardness of heart to which Jehovah had given him up on account of his impenitence. David happily escaped this javelin also. He slipped away from Saul, so that he hurled the javelin into the wall; whereupon David fled and escaped the same night, i.e., the night after this occurrence. This remark somewhat anticipates the course of the events, as the author, according to the custom of Hebrew historians, gives the result at once, and then proceeds to describe in detail the more exact order of the events.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| David Escapes from Saul. | B. C. 1058. |
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
Here I. David continues his good services to his king and country. Though Saul had requited him evil for good, and even his usefulness was the very thing for which Saul envied him, yet he did not therefore retire in sullenness and decline public service. Those that are ill paid for doing good, yet must not be weary of well doing, remembering what a bountiful benefactor our heavenly Father is, even to the froward and unthankful. Notwithstanding the many affronts Saul had given to David, yet we find him, 1. As bold as ever in using his sword for the service of his country, v. 8. The war broke out again with the Philistines, which gave David occasion again to signalize himself. It was a great deal of bravery that he charged them; and he came off victorious, slaying many and putting the rest to flight. 2. As cheerful as ever in using his harp for the service of the prince. When Saul was disturbed with his former fits of melancholy David played with his hand, v. 9. He might have pleaded that this was a piece of service now below him; but a humble man will think nothing below him by which he may do good. He might have objected the danger he was in the last time he performed this service for Saul, ch. xviii. 10. But he had learned to render good for evil, and to trust God with his safety in the way of his duty. See how David was affected when his enemy was sick (Psa 35:13; Psa 35:14), which perhaps refers to Saul’s sickness.
II. Saul continues his malice against David. He that but the other day had sworn by his Maker that David should not be slain now endeavors to slay him himself. So implacable, so incurable, is the enmity of the serpent against that of the woman, so deceitful and desperately wicked is the heart of man without the grace of God, Jer. xvii. 9. The fresh honours David had won in this last war with the Philistines, instead of extinguishing Saul’s ill-will to him, and confirming his reconciliation, revived his envy and exasperated him yet more. And, when he indulged this wicked passion, no marvel that the evil spirit came upon him (v. 9), for when we let the sun go down upon our wrath we give place to the devil (Eph 4:26; Eph 4:27), we make room for him and invite him. Discomposures of mind, though helped forward by the agency of Satan, commonly owe their origin to men’s own sins and follies. Saul’s fear and jealousy made him a torment to himself, so that he could not sit in his house without a javelin in his hand, pretending it was for his preservation, but designing it for David’s destruction; for he endeavored to nail him to the wall, running at him so violently that he struck the javelin into the wall (v. 10), so strong was the devil in him, so strong his own rage and passion. Perhaps he thought that, if he killed David now, he would be excusable before God and man, as being non compos mentis—not in his right mind, and that it would be imputed to his distraction. But God cannot be deceived by pretences, whatever men may be.
III. God continues his care of David and still watches over him for good. Saul missed his blow. David was too quick for him and fled, and by a kind providence escaped that night. To these preservations, among others, David often refers in his Psalms, when he speaks of God’s being his shield and buckler, his rock and fortress, and delivering his soul from death.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Saul’s Jealousy Renewed, vs. 8-17
The continuing war with the Philistines flared up again, and once again David went out with his men to battle. Once again, also, he had great success against the enemy, so that the Philistines were beaten and fled before David. All this was very pleasing to the people, and he was easily the hero of the hour.
All this drove Saul back to his madness, and David was called on with his harp to attempt to soothe him. It appears that when Saul was seized by the demon he had some kind of obsession with his javelin, and was constantly brandishing it. This time, however, David was wary, and as he played kept his eyes on the spear in the king’s hand. Thus he dodged the thrust of the spear and escaped, but the javelin embedded itself in the wall.
David went to his house, where Saul set messengers to watch lest David escape that night, intending to take him and kill him the next day. The devotion of Michal was used of the Lord to save David, for she realized that David would be killed if he remained until that night without making his escape. Therefore she let him down through a window and he escaped. There is no account that David saw his wife, Michal, again until many years later, when he was at last enthroned as king over all. Israel (see 2Sa 3:13-16).
Michal took further measures to protect David until he could make good his escape. She took a statue and put it in his bed, with a goats’ hair pillow at the head to look like his hair, and covered it with a sheet. The next morning she told Saul’s messengers who came to take him that David was sick in bed. When Saul heard this he commanded his messengers to bring David to him in the bed so that he might kill him. He was very angry with Michal when he learned that she had concealed David and helped him to escape. Because of her father’s insane rage for David Michal was compelled to lie to save her life. She told him that David had threatened her life if she did not allow him to escape.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES
1Sa. 19:9. The evil spirit from the Lord (Jehovah). While this evil spirit is in 1Sa. 16:15 and 1Sa. 18:10 referred to Elohim, the Deity in general Jehovah is here affirmed to be its sender, because Sauls condition, which was there only ascribed in general to a higher Divine causality in respect to his person, is here regarded as a judgment of the Covenant-God of Israel on the reprobate king who hardens his heart against God. (Erdmann.)
1Sa. 19:11. To slay him in the morning. We may guess that only the fear of alarming the town, and of rousing the populace to rescue their favourite hero, prevented Saul from directing them to break into the house and slay David there. (Kitto.)
1Sa. 19:13. Image. Literally, the teraphim as in Gen. 35:2, evidently household gods which were still in use to some extent among the Israelites. See Jdg. 17:5; Jdg. 18:14, etc. The plural here represents a single image which it seems must have had the human form, at least as to head and face, though the size may have varied since Rachel concealed it under the camel-saddle. (Erdmann.) Pillow. The word so rendered occurs only here, and is derived from the Hebrew verb Cabar, to plait or braid. Hence it means something bound together or woven, evidently a portion of the bed-furniture, which Michal so arranged as to make her deception more complete.
1Sa. 19:17. Michal evidently here pretends that her own life would have been in danger from her husband if she had not allowed him to escape.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.1Sa. 19:8-17
DAVIDS FIRST FLIGHT
I. Human transgressors axe surrounded by divinely raised barriers intended to prevent their departure from the right way. A soldier weary of the hardships of the camp forms a plan to desert his regiment, and thus to expose himself to dishonour and to punishment. But all around him are stationed sentinels who stand to prevent him from doing what would ruin all his prospects for life. It is well for him if the thought of the cold steel which encompasses him leads him to dismiss the idea from his mindif the opposition which he knows he should meet with makes him pause and allow the purpose to die. But should he persist he will not succeed in making good his escape without encountering many a bayonet and bullet, each of which is a witness against him bearing testimony that he is a transgressor against martial law. In like manner God puts sentinels in the path of men which are intended to keep them from breaking through moral laws, and by the opposition which they offer to transgression to convince them of the self-destroying nature of sin. First and foremost stands the voice of conscience, and then, it may be, the pleadings of family affection, the arguments of reason and even the warnings of self-interest. Saul was surrounded by such divinely raised barriers, which he broke down one after another. His conscience and his reason echoing the remonstrance of Jonathan, had but lately stood across his path, and for a time had turned him from his purpose. But he had silenced them again, and now the opposition of his daughter, like another sentinel, rises up before him, and hinders him from staining his hands with innocent blood. Michals interposition surely reminded him that the man whose life he sought was not an obscure subject and a stranger but one whom his own act had made the husband of his daughter and a member of the royal household, and therefore one who, from family and political interests, had a claim upon him even if he was not open to influence from higher motives. Each admonition and hindrance which Saul encountered was a witness against him, and warned him that he was pursuing a path of self-destruction.
II. Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake may serve God better by fleeing than by fighting. It costs a courageous man much more to flee than to fight, and yet there are times and circumstances when the voice of duty commands the former rather than the latter. The commander may feel a strong desire to encounter the enemy, and yet he may feel that a retreat for the present may ensure a victory with less loss of life in the future. Or he may long to attack a certain stronghold and yet he may feel assured that if he delay, it will shortly be surrendered without bloodshed. In both cases he will be acting wrongly if he allows his physical courage and martial ardour to get the better of his humanity. It will be better to expose himself to the charge of cowardice than to do that which will be least for the honour of his God and his country. Up to this period of his life David had never turned his back upon an enemy, or retreated when exposed to personal danger, excepting so far as to avoid the javelin of Saul. It must have been harder for him to flee with the help of a woman than it would have been to remain and face the messengers of the king. But he doubtless felt that the course which was least in accordance with his feelings was most in accordance with his duty. If he had come forward in open opposition to Saul he could scarcely have failed to rally many friends to his side, but a civil war might have been the result. He therefore chose the course which, though more apparently humiliating to himself, was most conducive to the welfare of his country, and therefore most pleasing to God. In all cases of a similar naturewhenever a servant of God finds himself the subject of unjust treatmentit becomes him to consider not his own personal feelings first, nor even his personal and present reputation merely, but the welfare of his country and the honour of his God.
III. Even good men are sometimes under obligations to unscrupulous and godless persons. Michal was destitute of the pure and lofty motives which governed David, yet at this time she was the instrument of his deliverance. In bringing about the end she desired she did not hesitate to endeavour to clear herself at the expense of her husband, and thus to deprive herself of all claim to our admiration and sympathy. Yet, as David was then situated, he was compelled to be indebted to her exertions, and to let her misrepresentation of his character go unchallenged. There is more than one way of testifying our regard for a friend in a position similar to that in which David war then placed. We may be bold enough openly to avow our affection for them, and take the consequences of so doing. Or we may prefer to show our love by sharing their misfortunesby casting in our lot with theirs, and being willing to fare as they fare. Or we may only have so low a regard for them as to be willing to serve them only so far as we can do it without involving ourselves in trouble for their sakes. This last kind of regard was all apparently that Michal had for David. Jonathan did not scruple openly to seek to save his friends life, and to risk his fathers displeasure in so doing. Michal was willing to save his life if she could do it without exposing herself to Sauls anger; she loved him enough to aid his escape, but not enough to take the blame upon herself. She did not even love him enough to share his exile, although she probably knew that he was the anointed king of Israel; she had some regard for his life, but none for his honour, or she would not have charged the absent hero with threatening to become her murderer (1Sa. 19:17), and so have shielded herself under his blackened reputation. It mattered not to her that she was thus giving Saul some pretext for seeking his lifethat she was thus wounding her husband in a more deadly manner than her fathers sword would have done. The meanness of the act shows us to what a contemptible instrument a noble man may sometimes be indebted for a service. Michals conduct, in contrast with that of her brother, gave David just ground to say in after days, Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women (2Sa. 1:26).
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
As the crystal vessel, though cast into its proper and permanent form, is unfit for use until it has been recommitted to the furnace, and, by the process of annealing, adapted for the rough process of ordinary usage, so the character of David, elevated and beautiful although it had already appeared, was as yet too soft for the strain and pressure of a royal position; years had to be spent in annealing it. The great purpose of God, in Davids early trials, seems to have been to develop and mature those gifts and graces that were to fit him for a royal position.
1. In this view, first of all it was most necessary that the spirit of trust in God, and all the graces depending on it and derived from it, should be exercised and nurtured to the highest measure of strength and endurance and no discipline could have been better fitted than Davids for impressing this lesson
2. Another important grace which Davids early trials seem designed to promote was the spirit of calm self-government under circumstances the most trying and agitating. The germ of this grace (as of the former) was exhibited in the combat with Goliath; but it too required to be strengthened into a steady, constant habit, ere he was qualified to hold the reins of government.
3. The close and painful contact into which he was brought in these early trials with his predecessor, Saul, was obviously designed to serve a very important purpose. The same trials endured at the hand of another man would not have had the same effect. If anything could have made him shudder at the thought of a ruler abandoned by God, and driving at nothing but the gratification of his own base passions, it was being himself the victim of those passions, receiving in his own person the blows aimed by Sauls ungovernable fury.Blaikie.
1Sa. 19:16. The falsehood of Michal, by which she deceived her father Saul, was a retribution on him; it was the fruit of his own evil example, teaching her to practise deceit by his own acts: see 1Sa. 18:17; 1Sa. 18:19-21. His falsehood and treachery recoiled on himself, as Labans falsehood and treachery against Jacob recoiled on Laban himself by the conduct of his daughters to him (Gen. 31:14-20; Gen. 31:35). Saul had cheated David of his wife, as Laban had cheated Jacob of his wife. The daughters of Laban and Saul practised against their fathers the lessons of deceit which they had learned at their own homes.Wordsworth.
1Sa. 19:17. But how shall Michal answer this mockage unto her furious father? Hitherto she hath done like Davids wife; now she begins to be Sauls daughter: He said to me, Let me go, or else I will kill thee. She, whose wit had delivered her husband from the sword of her father, now turns the edge of her fathers wrath from herself to her husband. His absence made her presume of his safety. If Michal had not been of Sauls plot, he had never expostulated with her in those terms: Why hast thou let mine enemy escape? Neither had she framed that answer, He said, Let me go. As she loved her husband better than her father, so she loved herself better than her husband: she saved her husband by a wile; and now she saves herself by a lie, and loses half the thank of her deliverance by an officious slander. Her act was good, but she wants courage to maintain it, and therefore seeks to the weak shelter of untruth. Those that do good offices, not out of conscience, but good nature or civility, if they meet an affront of danger, seldom come off cleanly, but are ready to catch at all excuses, though base, though injurious; because their grounds are not strong enough to bear them out in suffering for that which they have well done.Bishop Hall.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
David Driven Out a Second Time. 1Sa. 19:8-17
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9 And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Sauls presence, and he smote the javelin into the wail: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto Davids house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal Davids wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life tonight, tomorrow thou shalt be slain.
12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats hair for his bolster.
17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
4.
Why did Saul have his spear in his hand? 1Sa. 19:9
Saul probably had the spear as a sceptre. He must have held it in his hand as he presided over his court. This would be in keeping with ancient oriental custom. It is also possible that Saul kept his spear always at hand in order that he might seize upon an opportunity to kill David. The spear that he held was evidently in the form of a javelin which he could throw. On the occasion described in this chapter he threw the javelin, but missed David. The javelin then stuck in the wall as David escaped out of Sauls presence. This is the second incident mentioned in which David escaped from a direct attack on the part of Saul. Since the other occasion mentioned Davids escaping twice, this would make at least three times that David escaped out of Sauls presence (1Sa. 18:10).
5.
Why did Michal have teraphim? 1Sa. 19:13
Teraphim were little household images. The fact that Michal had these in her house reveals that she was not purely a worshipper of the Lord. Teraphim were found in the house of Laban, and Rachel stole them when she left her fathers house (Gen. 31:19). These images were not large, for Rachel was able to hide her fathers teraphim in the camels baggage and sit on them. If Michal had larger images so that only one of the teraphim was put in the bed to look like a human form, they must have been larger than those stolen by Rachel, since it would be hard for Rachel to hide an image of this size. The pillow of goats hair would resemble human hair quite naturally. It was goats hair which Jacob put on his hands to feel like the human hair on Esaus hands (Gen. 27:16). Ancient dramatists in Greece and Rome used kid skin for the making of puppets to resemble humans, and they used kid skin with the hair to make wigs and toupees. Kid skin very nearly resembles human skin in its softness and pliability.
6.
Was Michals answer true? 1Sa. 19:17
Nothing is said about Davids threatening Michal. David may have asked her to let him go and to give him time to escape so that he might protect her. Saul may have been so senseless in his attack on David that he would have killed his own daughter along with David. The inference of her statement is that she could not prevent Davids escape. She gives the impression that David forced her to make up the bed so that it appeared that he was in it, even threatening her life if she failed to cooperate with him. If this be the case, there is no reference to it in the narrative. More than likely it is a piece of deceit on the part of Michal, and she is not justified in lying thus about the matter.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
SAUL’S RENEWED ATTEMPTS UPON THE LIFE OF DAVID, 1Sa 19:8-17.
8. There was war again Saul’s reconciliation soon came to an end. New wars crowned David with fresh laurels, and the king’s envious soul became a prey again of deep melancholy and wicked thoughts. Thus invited, the evil spirit again entered, and fired his darkest passions into sevenfold rage.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Saul Makes Further Attempts On David’s Life ( 1Sa 19:8-17 ).
David’s great success in the wars with the Philistines continued so that Israel continued to enjoy their freedom from oppression. And when battle was again joined Israel were victorious and slew many Philistines with the result that the Philistines, thoroughly defeated, fled from David. But this further success would raise David’s standing even more in the eyes of all Israel and it thus appears to have brought on another bout of Saul’s illness. (Of course we cannot just directly relate the illness with particular events. The illness was permanent and could affect Saul at any time. But bouts of such illness can certainly be triggered off by particular events). It was not, however, only his illness that caused the problems. Part of the blame rested on Saul’s obsession with the kingship and his extreme jealousy, both of which helped to trigger off the illness, and were then symptomatic of it. And the result was to be a determined and sustained attempt on David’s life.
Saul Seeks To Pin David To The Wall ( 1Sa 19:8-10 ).
The first attempt to kill David followed the pattern of previous wild attempts. It was probably not premeditated but occurred as passion was aroused in Saul, for as David played for him in order to soothe him his jealousy over the latest reports of David’s successes, no doubt accompanied by glowing praise of David, got the better of him. And he raised his ceremonial spear and tried to spit David with it.
Analysis.
a
b And an evil spirit from YHWH was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing with his hand (1Sa 19:9).
a And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the spear into the wall, and David fled, and escaped that night (1Sa 19:10).
Note that in ‘a’ the Philistines flee from David, and in the parallel David flees from Saul. (The incongruity of the situation is quite clear). Central in ‘b’ is the fact that David is seeking to do good to Saul. Note how two of Jonathan’s four points in defence of David are being revealed here, his defeating of the Philistines and his doing of good towards Saul.
1Sa 19:8
‘ And there was war again, and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him.’
Once again the Philistines appear to have encroached on Israel, with the result that David went out and fought with them, and utterly routed them. With a general like David as his son-in-law Saul clearly did not see any need for himself or Jonathan to be involved. Besides the invading party may not have been a full-scale one. But whatever was the case it could only enhance David’s prestige.
We should note that the writer continually wants us to see that the Spirit of YHWH is still on David, and that that is why he is now the Deliverer of Israel, while Saul has been thrust into the background. Furthermore it emphasises the truth of Jonathan’s defence of David above. But one of the dangers of being a success is that it arouses the envy of lesser men, and that was what happened in this case.
1Sa 19:9
‘ And an evil spirit from YHWH was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing with his hand.’
The consequence of David’s success and Saul’s bitter jealousy was that it brought on a further heightening of Saul’s illness. A harmful spirit was aroused within him, and because all things are in God’s hands it could be described as ‘from God’. So suffering again from delusion and paranoia he sat in his palace with his spear of authority in his hand, calling on David to come and play for him. And as he played Saul eyed him and saw in him the great enemy. It is always difficult to know what people with Saul’s illness will do next, but David had already had experience of what a moody Saul could do, and was ready for what did happen next.
“Playing with his hand.” It was thus a harp like instrument. There may be intended the thought that David’s hand was acting innocently, while the hand that was gripping Saul’s spear had other intent.
1Sa 19:10
‘ And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the spear into the wall, and David fled, and escaped that night.’
Suddenly, probably with a mad and wild look in his eyes (a pattern common with such people), Saul raised his spear and sought to pin David to the wall. He would make no attempt to hide his intention or to act subtly. This was no carefully planned attempt at murder by an experienced warrior but rather a blatant and crude action from a perverted mind which would have been well advertised. Saul had once again decided that he wanted to see David’s blood, and he made no secret of it. And he also wanted to rid himself of this enemy. But David was able to see what was coming in plenty of time, avoid the blow and flee, thus escaping that night. This is the first major example of David fleeing before Saul (contrast 1 Samuel 7 c and see 1Sa 19:18 ; 1Sa 20:1. Note further 1Sa 19:12, but that is in the middle of a passage).
In fact 1Sa 20:33 suggests that this use by Saul of his ceremonial spear was a ‘normal’ practise when Saul was in this state and became angry. It had thus probably also been experienced by a number of his other courtiers, which would help to explain why David did not see it as indicating that Saul was particularly venomous towards him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Michal Saves David’s Life.
v. 8. And there was war again, v. 9. And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul; v. 10. And Saul, v. 11. Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, v. 12. So Michal let David down through a window. And he went, and fled, and escaped, v. 13. And Michal took an image, v. 14. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, v. 15. And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed that I may slay him; v. 16. And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. v. 17. And Saul,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
(8) And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
How lovely David appears in the field against the common enemy of Israel! How infinitely surpassing all loveliness, doth Jesus the Captain of our salvation appear, when he goeth forth to the renewed assaults of sin and Satan!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Sa 19:8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
Ver. 8. And slew them with a great slaughter. ] His name was no less terrible to them, likely, than was afterwards Hanniade’s to the Turks, or Zisca’s to the Papists in Bohemia and other parts; the mothers quieted therewith their crying children.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
David: Psa 18:32-50, Psa 27:3
him: Heb. his face
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
David’s continuing success and Saul’s renewed jealousy 19:8-10
This section records Saul’s fourth attempt to kill David. The writer set his account of these attempts in chiastic form.
A Saul directly tried to kill David. 1Sa 18:10-16
B Saul indirectly tried using the Philistines. 1Sa 18:17-20
B’ Saul indirectly tried using Jonathan and Saul’s men. 1Sa 19:1-7
A’ Saul directly tried to kill David. 1Sa 19:8-10
This literary structure emphasizes how thoroughly Saul wanted to do away with his rival. Not only did those who desired the best for God love David, but those who desired the best for themselves hated him.
This is the third reference to an evil spirit afflicting Saul (cf. 1Sa 16:14; 1Sa 18:10). This influence overcame Saul’s good intentions and resulted in his breaking his vow to God (1Sa 19:6). Now David had to "flee and escape." This phrase occurs three times in this chapter (1Sa 19:10; 1Sa 19:12; 1Sa 19:18), and it contrasts with David being in Saul’s presence (1Sa 19:7). From now on David was no longer able to stay in Saul’s presence, but he had to flee and escape, seeking refuge from the king wherever he could find it. David’s days as a fugitive (living beyond the king’s reach), which began here, would continue until Saul died.
David’s experience is typical of that of all people who choose to commit themselves to following God faithfully. Because God blesses them and makes them a blessing to others, many people appreciate them. However, others who want those blessings for themselves, but are not willing to do what is necessary to get them, despise them.