1 Samuel 19:11 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 19:11

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

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

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

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

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 19:11

save not thy life = save not thy soul: i.e. deliver not thyself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:11

MICHAL SAVES HER HUSBAND'S LIFE"That night Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed. So Michal let David down through the window; and he fled away and escaped. Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goat's hair at its head, and covered it with clothes. And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."... read more