1 Samuel 19:1, 1 Samuel 23:29 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:1-7

Saul and Jonathan appear here in their different characters, with reference to David. I. Never was enemy so unreasonably cruel as Saul. He spoke to his son and all his servants that they should kill David, 1 Sam. 19:1. His projects to take him off had failed, and therefore he proclaims him an out-law, and charges all about him, upon their allegiance, to take the first opportunity to kill David. It is strange that he was not ashamed thus to avow his malice when he could give no reason for it,... read more

John Gill

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

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son ,.... Who was heir to his crown; and though he knew he loved David, and was in strict friendship with him, yet he might hope, that as his succession to the kingdom was in danger, as he thought, and that David was his rival in it, his mind would be alienated from him; and that he would listen rather to a father than a friend, and would see where his true interest lay, and abandon David, yea, seek his ruin, which Saul was intent upon and to all his... read more

Adam Clarke

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

That they should kill David - Nothing less than the especial interposition of God could have saved David's life, when every officer about the king's person, and every soldier, had got positive orders to despatch him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:1

SUCCESSIVE ATTEMPTS UPON DAVID 'S LIFE FRUSTRATED BY THE LOVE OF JONATHAN AND MICHAL , AND FINALLY BY FLIGHT ( 1 Samuel 19:1-24 .). EXPOSITION JONATHAN 'S LOVE FOR DAVID ( 1 Samuel 19:1-7 ). Saul spake to Jonathan his son...that they should kill David. The translation of the last clause is untenable; it really means "about killing David," and so both the Septuagint and the Syriac render it. The descent of men once full of noble... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:1-7

Open enmity and open friendship. The facts are— 1 . Saul reveals his purpose to kill David. 2 . This being made known to Jonathan, he arranges with David to let him learn the result of an effort to turn Saul from his purpose. 3 . He pleads with Saul David's good services and personal risks, God's approval, and the king's own joy therein. 4 . Saul yields to persuasion, resolves not to shed "innocent blood," and recalls David into his personal service. The historian traces... read more

Joseph Benson

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

1 Samuel 19:1. Saul spake to Jonathan, and all his servants When he could not destroy David by craft, he declares open enmity to him; and commands his son and his whole court to make him away; some of whom he thought would obey him. It is strange he should speak to Jonathan to murder David, if he knew the friendship he had for him; and he could not well be ignorant of it, since he had so publicly declared it, as we read chap. 1 Samuel 18:3-4. But he imagined his love to a father would... 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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:1

DAVID BEGINS LIFE AS A FUGITIVE AND AN OUTLAWThis chapter reports repeated attempts by Saul to murder David, resulting finally in David's permanent exile from Saul's court and his being continually hunted by Saul who forced upon him the status of an outlaw.The remark of H. P. Smith that this chapter has, "Four sections which cannot be reconciled with each other,"[1] exemplifies the confusion and frustration which inevitably come from the false theories of "multiple sources." The chapter... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 19:1-2

1 Samuel 19:1-2. Saul spake to Jonathan— Jonathan, when Saul ordered him to kill David, disobeyed the command, and, instead of murdering him, pleaded his innocence and merits as reasons for saving him. He also disclosed to David his father's design and fixed resolution to destroy him; and, in my judgment, neither was inconsistent with his duty and allegiance to his father and king. He who knows of a conspiracy against an innocent person's life, and does not discover it, or who kills such a one... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 19:1

1. Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David—The murderous design he had secretly cherished he now reveals to a few of his intimate friends. Jonathan was among the number. He prudently said nothing at the time, but secretly apprised David of his danger; and waiting till the morning, when his father's excited temper would be cooled, he stationed his friend in a place of concealment, where, overhearing the conversation, he might learn how matters really... read more

1 Samuel 19:1, 1 Samuel 23:29 Niv