1 Samuel 18:16

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 18:16

And all Israel and Judah loved David ,.... The verb is singular, and denotes that everyone of them loved him in all the tribes of Israel, as well as in Judah his own tribe; in such general esteem was he, and so much had he got the hearts and affections of the people: because he went out and came in before them ; the people, as in 1 Samuel 18:13 ; so the Septuagint version, in which, according to the Vatican copy, the verses 1 Samuel 18:17 are wanting. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:12-16

Saul was afraid of David. new feeling. To his jealousy succeeded a sense of powerlessness, as knowing that a higher power was with David, while he had lost the Divine protection. This miserable feeling grew upon the unhappy king, till before the battle of Gilboa we find him with all his old heroic spirit gone, a miserable wreck, seeking for comfort at the hands of a woman of the most worthless kind ( 1 Samuel 28:5 , 1 Samuel 28:7 , 1 Samuel 28:20 ). In this despondent state of mind he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:12-16

The disturbing power of goodness. The facts are— 1 . Saul, seeing the signs of God's presence with David, fears him, and removes him to a distance. 2 . Increasing wisdom of David adds to Saul's fear, and secures the favour of the people. 3 . The departure of God from Saul explains his self-abandonment to the Influence of this fear. We have here a statement of the diverse relation of God to David and Saul,—he was with the one and was departed from the other,—and the consequences... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:1-30

David’s success and Saul’s jealousy (18:1-30)Once David came to live at Saul’s court, he and Jonathan became close friends. In fact, Jonathan promised loyalty to David as if bound to him by covenant. David continued to produce outstanding successes as a soldier, and Saul made him an officer. The promotion was popular with army officers and common people alike (18:1-5). David’s popularity, however, stirred up Saul’s jealousy, and Saul tried to kill him (6-11). Saul was now afraid of David, so... 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 18:10-16

Saul’s first direct attempt to kill David 18:10-16The evil spirit from the Lord (cf. 1 Samuel 16:4, whatever it was) afflicted Saul the very next day. David and Saul each had something in their hand. David held a harp with which he sought to help the king by playing soothing music. Saul held a spear with which he sought to harm his helper. The writer stated the reason Saul attempted to pin David to the wall clearly in 1 Samuel 18:12. God was with David, and He had withdrawn from Saul (cf. 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 18:16

(16) But all Israel and Judah.—This distinct mention of the two great later divisions of the chosen people seems to point to the fact that the compiler of the Books of Samuel lived after the final separation of the ten tribes from Judah and Benjamin, in the reign of Rehoboam. It is, however, clear from other notices (see, for instance, 1 Samuel 11:8; 1 Samuel 15:4, in this book) that at a period long anterior to the final disruption between the north and south a marked distinction between 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

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