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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:12-30

Saul had now, in effect, proclaimed war with David. He began in open hostility when he threw the javelin at him. Now we are here told how his enmity proceeded, and how David received the attacks of it. I. See how Saul expressed his malice against David. 1. He was afraid of him, 1 Sam. 18:12. Perhaps he pretended to be afraid that David would do himself mischief, to force his way to the crown. Those that design ill against others are commonly willing to have it thought that others design ill... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:20

And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David ,.... His youngest daughter fell in love with him, because of the comeliness of his person, his gallant behaviour, his wise conduct, and the general esteem and reputation he was had in, as may be supposed: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him ; not that his daughter loved David, or that he should be his son-in-law, but that he should have an opportunity, as he hoped, of destroying David, which he had lost by giving his elder daughter to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:21

And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him ,.... The cause and occasion of his fall and ruin, by means of what he should propose to him as the condition of marriage; but instead of proving a snare to him, as he hoped, she was the means of his deliverance, when Saul sent messengers to slay him, 1 Samuel 19:11 , and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him ; provoked by what he should put him upon doing to them. The scheme he had in his head after... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:22

And Saul commanded his servants, saying , commune with David secretly ,.... And persuade him to marry Michal, and assure him of Saul's real regard to him, and good intention towards him; for it seems that David being ill used in the affair of his eldest daughter, did not listen to the proposals of Saul as to the youngest, and therefore Saul took this method to bring him into them: and say, behold, the king hath a delight in thee ; bore a good will towards him, had an high opinion of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:23

And Saul's servants spake these words in the ears of David ,.... Those before related, which Saul commanded them to speak, which they delivered exactly according to their orders, with an audible voice, clearly, plainly, and distinctly, so that David might hear and understand them: and David said, seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law ; a small a trifling matter, an easy thing to come into, every thing requisite to it: seeing that I am a poor man ; and not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:24

And the servants of Saul told him, saying, on this manner spake David. Such and such words were spoken by him, to this purpose; the sum and substance of them were expressive of his unworthiness to be a king's son-in-law, and of his inability to bring a dowry suitable to her quality. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:25

And Saul said, thus shall ye say to David ,.... In answer to his objections, and in order to remove them, and especially what concerned the dowry: the king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies ; that is, he required or desired no other dowry of David, but that he would slay an hundred Philistines, and bring their foreskins to him; by which he would be able to know that they were Philistines he slew, not Israelites who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:26

And when his servants told David these words ,.... That the king desired no other dowry than an hundred foreskins of the Philistines: it pleased David well to be the king's son in law ; on such conditions; partly because of the honour of it, and partly because of his love to Michal; and chiefly because it would give him an opportunity of destroying the enemies of God, and of his people, as well as such a match would lead the way, and be a step in Providence to ascend the throne designed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:27

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men ,.... This he did himself, for the verb is singular, and which were an hundred more than required; this he did to show his regard to the orders of Saul, and his obedience to him, and to testify the sincerity of his afflictions to his daughter, for whose sake he risked his life in this expedition, as well as to express his zeal for God, and his country, against their avowed enemies; the Greek version... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 18:21

That she may be a snare to him - Saul had already determined the condition on which he would give his daughter to David; viz., that he should slay one hundred Philistines: this he supposed he would undertake for the love of Michal, and that he must necessarily perish in the attempt; and thus Michal would become a snare to him. read more

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