1 Samuel 19:11-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:11-17

Here is, I. Saul's further design of mischief to David. When David had escaped the javelin, supposing he went straight to his own house, as indeed he did, Saul sent some of his guards after him to lay wait at the door of his house, and to assassinate him in the morning as soon as he stirred out, 1 Sam. 19:11. Josephus says the design was to seize him and to hurry him before a court of justice that was ordered to condemn him and put him to death as a traitor; but we are here told it was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:11

And Saul sent messengers unto David's house ,.... Supposing that he was gone thither; where this was is not said, very likely in Gibeah, where Saul lived: to watch him ; that he might not get out from thence in the night: and to slay him in the morning ; the reason why he did not order them to break into the house, and slay him at once, but wait till morning, seems to be, lest should he be alarmed by their breaking in, he might take the advantage of the night, and easily escape, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:12

So Michal let David down through a window ,.... In like manner as Rahab let down the spies from her house in Jericho, when the king's messengers were in quest of them, Joshua 2:15 ; and as the disciples let down the Apostle Paul at Damascus, to preserve him from the designs of the Jews upon him: and he went, and fled, and escaped ; he departed from his house, and ran with all the haste he could, and escaped the messengers that had beset the house, and were waiting for him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:11

To slay him in the morning - When they might be able to distinguish between him and Michal his wife; for, had they attempted his life in the night season, there would have been some danger to Michal's life. Besides, Saul wished to represent him as a traitor; and consequently an attack upon him was justifiable at any time, even in the fullest daylight. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:12

Let David down through a window - As Saul's messengers were sent to David's house to watch him, they would naturally guard the gate, or lie in wait in that place by which David would come out. Michal, seeing this let him down to the ground through a window probably at the back part of the house; and there being neither entrance nor issue that way, the liers in wait were easily eluded. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:8-17

Revived sins and troubles. The facts are— 1 . The fresh fame of David arouses the latent ill-will of Saul, who seeks in vain to smite him with a javelin. 2 . David fleeing to his house, Saul sends men to lie in wait for and slay him. 3 . Michal warns him of danger, and during the night aids his escape. 4 . By a clever device she diverts his enemies from an immediate pursuit, and on being accused of aiding her father's enemy, she pleads self-preservation. The troubles of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:10-12

Saul sought to smite David . The verb used here is not that rendered cast in 1 Samuel 18:11 , where probably we had the record of a purpose threatened, but not carried out. Here Saul actually threw his javelin at David with such violence that it was fixed into the wall. But David, though playing some instrument of music at the time, was on his guard, and slipped away. And David fled, and escaped that night. As usual, the historian gives the ultimate results of Saul's violence first,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 19:11

Saul’s plan was to surround the house at night, and to have David killed as soon as he came abroad unsuspectingly in the morning. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 19:11

1 Samuel 19:11. To slay him in the morning As he went out of the door of his house. By this it is apparent, when Saul missed his blow, he was the more enraged, and implacably pursued David’s destruction. And Michal, David’s wife, told him She had intelligence either from her brother Jonathan, or some other friend at court: or, perhaps, she saw suspicious persons hovering about the house. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 19:12

1 Samuel 19:12. He fled and escaped It seems likely that a considerable part of the eighteenth Psalm, namely, from the 1st to the 29th verse, refers to this escape of David. The 29th verse seems entirely descriptive of it, and applicable to no other event of David’s life that we read of. “By thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” Saul’s messengers, that were sent to slay him in the morning, undoubtedly surrounded his house, and were upon the watch, and... read more

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