1 Samuel 19:18-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:18-24

Here is, I. David's place of refuge. Having got away in the night from his own house, he fled not to Bethlehem to his relations, nor to any of the cities of Israel that had caressed and cried him up, to make an interest in them for his own preservation; but he ran straight to Samuel and told him all that Saul had done to him, 1 Sam. 19:18. 1. Because Samuel was the man that had given him assurance of the crown, and his faith in that assurance now beginning to fail, and he being ready to say in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:18

So David fled and escaped ,.... Fled from his own house, and escaped falling into the hands of the messengers of Saul, and so of Saul himself: and came to Samuel to Ramah ; the place where Samuel dwelt: to him David chose to come, by whom he had been anointed king, that his faith might be strengthened by him with respect to the kingdom, which might be weakened by what had happened to him; and that he might have some advice and direction from him what he should do, and what course he... read more

John Gill

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

And it was told Saul ,.... By some officious persons who saw David at Ramah, and observed that he and Samuel went together to Naioth: saying, behold, David is at Naioth, in Ramah ; or near it; according to R. Isaiah, Ramah was the name of a hill, or mountain, so called from its height, and Naioth the name of a place on it; it signifies pastures and pleasant places, as meadows and pastures are; and here in the fields near Ramah was the house of doctrine, as the Targum calls it, or the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:20

And Saul sent messengers to take David ,.... Notwithstanding the sacred place he was in, so bent was he upon his destruction: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying ; or praising, as the Targum; singing hymns and songs of praise to God, under the inspiration and influence of the Spirit of God, who endited these songs for them, and excited them to sing them; these prophets belonged to the school or college of prophets at Naioth, whom the messengers saw when they came... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:18

David fled , and escaped - to Samuel - He, no doubt, came to this holy man to ask advice; and Samuel thought it best to retain him for the present, with himself at Naioth, where it is supposed he had a school of prophets. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:20

The company of the prophets prophesying - Employed in religious exercises. Samuel - appointed over them - Being head or president of the school at this place. The Spirit of God was upon the messengers - They partook of the same influence, and joined in the same exercise; and thus were prevented from seizing David. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:18

David...came to Samuel. We have seen that there is every reason to believe that David had been taught and trained by Samuel among the sons of the prophets, and now, conscious of his innocence, he flees for refuge to his old master, trusting that Saul would reverence God's prophet, and give credence to his intercession and his pledge that David was guiltless. He and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. Rather in Nevayoth, as in the written text. This is not the name of a place, but signifies... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:18-24

Saintly refuge and spiritual restraint. The facts are— 1 . David takes refuge with Samuel at Naioth in Ramah. 2 . The messengers sent by Saul to take David are restrained in the presence of Samuel and the prophets, and themselves begin to prophesy. 3 . Other messengers come under the same influence. 4 . Venturing to go himself, he, on approaching the place, also falls under the prophetic influence, and is utterly overcome by it in the presence of Samuel. Human wisdom may be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:18-24

Religious consolation and religious excitement. The consolation was tasted by David; the excitement was shown by Saul. I. CONSOLATION . We are not surprised to learn that David, when driven from his house by the deadly malice of the king, betook himself to the prophet Samuel at his residence in Ramah. In reporting the treatment he had received to the venerable prophet, he reported it to God, whose authority was represented by Samuel. The path of his life seemed to be blocked by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:19-20

On hearing where David was, Saul sends messengers to arrest him, and we thus incidentally gain a most interesting account of the inner condition of Samuel's schools. Evidently after Saul had become king Samuel devoted his main energies to this noble effort to raise Israel from the barbarous depths into which it had sunk; and when the messengers arrive they enter some hall, where they find a regularly organised choir, consisting not of "sons of the prophets," young men still under training, but... read more

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