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From: 1 Samuel 18:6-9, 19:1-7

Saul’s Jealousy of David

[6] As they were coming home, when David returned from slaying the Philistine,
the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King
Saul, with timbrels, with songs and with instruments of music. [7] And the wo-
men sang to one another as they made merry, “Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.” [8] And Saul was very angry, and this saying dis-
pleased him; he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me
they have ascribed thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?”
[9] And Saul eyed David from that day on.

David Flees

[1] And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should
kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. [2] And Jonathan
told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you; therefore take heed to yourself in
the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself; [3] and I will go out and
stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father
about you; and if I learn anything I will tell you.” [4] And Jonathan spoke well of
David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant
David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been
of good service to you; [5] for he took his life in his hand and he slew the Philis-
tine, and the LORD wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced;
why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” [6]
And Saul hearkened to the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the LORD lives,
he shall not be put to death.” [7] And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan
showed him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was
in his presence as before.

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Commentary:

118:6-16. Saul’s admiration of David after the defeat of Goliath soon turned into
envy and jealousy. The more the people’s regard and enthusiasm for David grew
(to the point of composing a chant in his honor: cf. 21:12; 29:5), the more jea-
lous the king became. Saul’s attempt on David’s life (cf. 19:9-10) confirms Saul’s
malice and baseness. The key to this episode is provided by the text: “The Lord
was with (David) and had departed from Saul” (v. 12; cf. 18:28). David’s succes-
ses (18:5, 14-15) are due to his skill but above all to God, who protects him.

19:1-24. David’s flight from the court of Saul allows the writer to include some
episodes (not interconnected) which serve to highlight the difference between
the baseness of Saul, and David’s generosity and shrewdness. At a formal go-
vernment meeting (vv. 1-7) Saul proposes that David be killed. The only oppo-
sing voice is that of Jonathan, who stands up for his best friend. Friendship tri-
umphs. Then in an informal situation at home Saul’s viciousness leads him to
throw his spear at his shield-bearer, but David proves too quick. These two epi-
sodes are repeated — the first, at greater length in chapter 20, and the second,
almost word for word, in 18:10-11. The sacred writer includes them here in pas-
sing, the more to contrast the two men.

The third episode takes place in David’s own house (vv. 11-17). Michal, his wife,
cleverly arranges a trick to help David escape and frustrate her father’s plans.
Saul can see that even his own daughter has abandoned him and is on David’s
side. On the “image” (”teraphim”), see the note on Judges 17:5.

The last event (vv. 18-24) also has its parallel (10:10-12); both passages justify
the popular saying recorded in v. 24: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” How-
ever, in this context the episode is a sort of legal suit in which Samuel is the
witness and God the judge the verdict is in David’s favor, and Saul is condemned.
Samuel who in his time anointed both of them and later came out in favor of Da-
vid and against Saul (cf. 13:13-14), can now see that the Lord himself with his
spirit is thwarting the evil intentions of Saul and preventing him from reaching Da-
vid’s base. At Gibe-ah (cf. 1 Sam 10:9ff) a prophetical ecstasy was a method the
Lord used to make known his plans for Saul, but now, here at Ramah, the ecsta-
sy paralyzes Saul, leaves him naked for a whole day and prevents him from do-
ing away with David. This is the final proof, solemnized by the presence of Sa-
muel that David is the one who enjoys the Lord’s protection, whereas Saul has
been rejected.

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.