1 Samuel 18:17

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 18:17

17. Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife—Though bound to this already [1 Samuel 17:25], he had found it convenient to forget his former promise. He now holds it out as a new offer, which would tempt David to give additional proofs of his valor. But the fickle and perfidious monarch broke his pledge at the time when the marriage was on the eve of being celebrated, and bestowed Merab on another man (see on 1 Samuel 17:25- :); an indignity as well as a... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 18:1-17

3. The results of God’s selection of David 18:1-19:17Earlier the writer narrated Saul’s anointing, military success, and the popular reaction to him (chs. 10-11). Now he followed the same pattern by recording David’s anointing, military success, and the popular reaction to him (1 Samuel 16:1 to 1 Samuel 19:17). The popular reaction to Saul was fairly simple: most of the people supported him, though a few opposed him (1 Samuel 11:12-15). The popular reaction to David was much more complex and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 18:17-30

Saul’s indirect attempts to kill David 18:17-30Since he had been unsuccessful in murdering David himself, Saul also tried to get other people to kill him (cf. 2 Samuel 11:15). Saul had promised his daughter in marriage to Goliath’s victor (1 Samuel 17:25). In spite of this, Saul now added the condition that David also had to fight more battles for his king. David, on the other hand, did not aspire to marry the king’s daughter even though such a marriage would have advanced his career greatly (1... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 18:1-30

The Love of Jonathan for David1 Samuel 18:6-30 of this chapter seem to be connected with 1 Samuel 16:14-23 and not to be taken from the same document as 1 Samuel 17:1 to 1 Samuel 18:5. LXX omits a large part of this section and only retains 1 Samuel 18:6-8; 1 Samuel 12; 1 Samuel 13-16, 20-21; 1 Samuel 22-26; 1 Samuel 27-29 a. In this case the LXX text gives an easy and straight forward account, and many suppose that it is the original. But the character of the LXX omissions in 1 Samuel 17... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 18:17

(17) Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife.—This was but the fulfilment of a much earlier promise. The king had said he would give his daughter in marriage to the hero who should slay the Philistine giant champion. For one cause or other he had declined, or at least postponed, the carrying out of his pledge; and the dark thought crossed his mind, Could he not endanger the hated life, while seeming to wish to keep the old promise? He speaks of the Philistine war as the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:1-30

CHAPTER XXV.SAUL’S JEALOUS-DAVID’S MARRIAGE.1 Samuel 18:1-30.THE conqueror of Goliath had been promised, as his reward, the eldest daughter of the king in marriage. The fulfillment of that promise, if not utterly neglected, was at least delayed; but if David lost the hand of the king’s daughter, he gained, what could not have been promised - the heart of the king’s son. It was little wonder that ’’the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 18:1-30

3. Jonathan and David--Saul’s jealousy CHAPTER 18 1. Jonathan’s love for David (1 Samuel 18:1-4 ) 2. The beginning of Saul’s jealousy (1 Samuel 18:5-16 ) 3. David’s marriage (1 Samuel 18:17-30 ) A beautiful scene opens this chapter. Jonathan, the man of faith, loves David. He was about 40 years old and David about 17. Jonathan made a covenant with David and loved him as his own soul. He showed also his great devotion by giving to David, his robe, his garments, his sword, his bow and his... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 18:17

18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and {g} fight the LORD’S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.(g) Fight against them that war against God’s people. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 18:1-30

Jonathan, the son of Saul stands in refreshing contrast to his father. He was present when David returned to Saul. Doubtless David's victory had attracted Jonathan, but David's words decide him. When he had heard David he was drawn to love him as his own soul. How good it is if the work and the words of the Lord Jesus have such an effect on our own hearts! His WORK and His WORDS should always draw our attention to the beauty of His PERSON. Verse 2 shows that Saul was evidently glad to employ... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:5-30

DAVID AND JONATHAN JEALOUSY AND FEAR (1 Samuel 18:0 ) Jonathan’s love for David is put to a serious test, but is found genuine. On the homeward march from the victory over the Philistines, the women of Israel, following oriental custom, met the warriors and accompanied them along the road, singing and dancing. But their joy outran their judgment, so that they praised David more than their king. A better man than Saul could scarcely have resisted the temptation to envy, sinful as it was (1... read more

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