1 Samuel 16:14-23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:14-23

We have here Saul falling and David rising. I. Here is Saul made a terror to himself (1 Sam. 16:14): The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. He having forsaken God and his duty, God, in a way of righteous judgment, withdrew from him those assistances of the good Spirit with which he was directed, animated, and encouraged in his government and wars. He lost all his good qualities. This was the effect of his rejecting God, and an evidence of his being rejected by him. Now God took his mercy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:14

But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul ,.... As a spirit of prophecy as at first, as a spirit of wisdom and prudence in civil government, and as a spirit of fortitude and courage, as the Targum: and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him ; the reverse of the former, which by the permission of God, and as a punishment to him for his sins, came upon him; he seemed to be a demoniac, as Josephus represents F9 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 8. sect. 2. him, as if possessed with the devil;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:15

And Saul's servants said unto him ,.... His courtiers, who observing him to act in a frantic manner, to be dull and melancholy, timorous, and irresolute, unsteady, divided, and distressed; or his physicians, who were called in to assist him, and remove his disorder from him: behold, now an evil spirit from God troubleth thee : the disorder was not from any natural cause, or any bodily disease, and therefore out of the reach of physicians to do any service, but was from an evil spirit... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:16

Let our Lord now command thy servants which are before thee ,.... Meaning either themselves, or some of a more inferior rank, who were in some post and office at court, waiters there, such as yeomen of the guards: to seek out a man who is a cunning player on the harp : a musical instrument much in use in those days: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee ; when in a melancholy mood, and Satan takes the advantage of it to distress and terrify, to spread... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:17

And Saul said unto his servants ,.... Approving of, and pleased with the advice they gave: provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me; for being a sovereign prince, he could command whom he would to attend to his person and service. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:18

Then answered one of the servants ,.... Which the Jews say F13 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 93. 2. So in Hieron. Trad. Heb in lib. Reg. fol. 76. C. was Doeg the Edomite, who out of envy and ill will to David spake of him, that Saul might have an opportunity of slaying him; but this is not at all likely; rather it was one of David's friends and acquaintance, that was desirous of promoting him at court, and no doubt was directed to that motion by the overruling providence of God: and said,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:19

Wherefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse ,.... For David; not choosing to take him without his leave, though Samuel suggests that kings would do so, 1 Samuel 8:11 . and said, send me David, thy son, which is with the sheep ; he had learnt his name, and what was his employment; and which last he mentions not by way of contempt, it not being reckoned mean and despicable even in the sons of great personages, in those times and countries, to attend flocks and herds: so with the Arabs, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:20

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread ,.... Laden with a load of bread, as the Targum; with as much as it could carry, or was used to carry; the Septuagint version is, an omer of bread, which was as much as a man could eat in one day; and, according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, it may be interpreted an heap of bread, agreeably to the use of the word in Judges 15:16 , and a bottle of wine; or a skin of wine, a leather bag or sack, which held more than our bottles; the Targum is, a flagon of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:21

And David came to Saul, and stood before him ,.... As a servant, and ministered to him in the way, and for the purpose for which he was sent: and he loved him greatly ; being a comely person, and a well behaved youth, and especially as he was serviceable to him with his music, in driving away melancholy from him: and he became his armourbearer ; that is, he appointed him to this office, though we never read that he exercised it; nor did he go with Saul in this capacity to the battle... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:22

And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, let David, I pray thee, stand before me ,.... Continue in his service; which was great condescension in him, and great respect shown to Jesse, not to detain his son without his leave, and to ask it as a favour of him: for he hath found favour in my sight : was very acceptable to him which must be very pleasing to Jesse to hear; especially if he was in any fear that Saul had an ill design upon him, when he first sent for him. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:14-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:19

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 16:22

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