1 Samuel 19:16 NIV

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 19:16

And when the messengers were come in ,.... To David's house, and into the room where he was supposed to lie: behold, there was an image in the bed to their great surprise ; they expected to see David, but instead of him the teraphim, as in 1 Samuel 19:13 ; if they had been in the room before, and thought they had seen David in the bed, they might be the more surprised to find that it was only an image they saw: with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster ; See Gill on 1... 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 19:14-17

When, after waiting till the usual hour for David's appearance, he came not, the watchers send and inform Saul, who now orders his open arrest. But Michal despatches a messenger to tell her father that he is sick. Upon this Saul orders bed and all to be brought, that he may slay him. As an Oriental bed is usually a mere strip of carpet, this would be easy enough. But when the messengers force their way through, in spite of every obstruction which Michal can devise to waste time, and come up... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 19:14-17

1 Samuel 19:14-17. Saul sent messengers to take David As he did not come out of doors, where they waited for him, Saul sent other messengers to take him in the house. She said, He is sick Her affection for David, and fear for his life, induced her to tell a plain lie, in which she is neither to be justified nor imitated. She intended hereby, however, to keep Saul in suspense for a while, till David should arrive at some place of safety. He said, Let me go; why should I kill thee? This... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:1-24

Jonathan, Michal and Samuel (19:1-24)For a while Jonathan was successful in persuading his father to stop trying to kill David (19:1-7). However, David’s further military successes made Saul jealous again. He made two more attempts on David’s life, first at the palace, then at David’s house. This time another of Saul’s family, Michal, helped David escape (8-17; cf. Psalms 59:0).David found safety with Samuel at Ramah. Three times Saul sent men to arrest David, but each time they were overcome... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 19:1-17

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 19:11-17

Michal’s attempt to protect David 19:11-17God’s preservation of His anointed servant David stands out in this section, as it does in the first one in this chapter (1 Samuel 19:1-7). In both cases it was one of Saul’s own children who came to David’s rescue. Jonathan protected David at the beginning of this section (1 Samuel 18:1-5), and Michal did so at its end (1 Samuel 19:11-17). These acts of devotion bracket the chiasm noted above.Saul reactivated his mission of putting David to death, this... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:1-24

Saul’s Hatred of David. David escapes to Samuel2. Until the morning] RV ’in the morning.’6. It was difficult for David to estimate correctly Saul’s feelings towards him, because the king’s repentance was real while it lasted, and because much might be ascribed to his madness.10. That night] David would probably flee at once: hence LXX may be right in joining these words to 1 Samuel 19:11, ’And it came to pass that night that Saul sent.’13. An image] RV ’the teraphim.’ ’Teraphim,’ like ’Elohim,’... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 19:1-24

Religious Enthusiasm, True and False 1 Samuel 19:18-24 This is a sort of subject that needs to be thought out and discreetly treated. And yet it can never be made quite plain. It goes off into mystery on every side; for the action of the nervous system is involved in this, and the whole question of contagious emotion which not the best physiologists thoroughly understand. But without going into physiological questions, there are here things very plain which ought to be known by all intelligent... read more