Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 19:14
And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He [is] sick.
14. 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 sick.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Messengers, to wit, other messengers in the morning, supposing the former to be either slow or perfidious.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when Saul sent messengers to take David,…. Either the same who in the morning inquired for David, or those staying longer than Saul expected, and fearing they were negligent or corrupted, he sent others: to whom
she said, he [is] sick; and in bed, and cannot be spoke with; this lie she told through her affection to David, and to preserve his life; and this stratagem she devised to gain time, that while she was amusing the messengers with this tale of hers, before they could discover the truth of the matter David would be out of their reach; whereas, had she denied his being at home, or signified that he had made his escape, they would have immediately pursued after him, and he would have been in danger of being taken by them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1Sa 19:14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He [is] sick.
Ver. 14. She said, He is sick. ] This officious lie she held belike either no sin, or a very peccadillo, since it was to save the life of her husband: wherein she becometh an example of human infirmity.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
she said: Jos 2:5, 2Sa 16:17-19, 2Sa 17:20
Reciprocal: 1Sa 19:17 – He said 1Sa 19:20 – sent messengers
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 19:14-17. Saul sent messengers to take David As he did not come out of doors, where they waited for him, Saul sent other messengers to take him in the house. She said, He is sick Her affection for David, and fear for his life, induced her to tell a plain lie, in which she is neither to be justified nor imitated. She intended hereby, however, to keep Saul in suspense for a while, till David should arrive at some place of safety. He said, Let me go; why should I kill thee? This was another untruth; and an untruth very injurious to Davids reputation. Far was it from him either to intend or threaten to kill any one, much more his own wife. But Michal feared to enrage her father to too high a degree if she told the truth. Her weakness is to be pitied, while it is to be condemned and shunned.