1 Samuel 19
Overview
1 Samuel 19 is a dramatic chapter that further develops the conflict between Saul and David. It highlights Saul's increasing hostility toward David and the efforts of Jonathan and Michal to protect him. This chapter is crucial for understanding the deepening divide in the royal house of Israel. Key aspects include:
Saul Orders David’s Death: Saul commands his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. However, Jonathan, a loyal friend to David, warns him of Saul’s intentions.
Jonathan’s Defense of David: Jonathan speaks well of David to Saul, reminding him of David’s loyalty and the fact that he has not sinned against Saul. Saul heeds Jonathan’s plea and vows not to kill David, allowing David to return to the court.
Saul’s Renewed Attempt on David’s Life: Despite his promise, Saul’s jealousy and fear resurface, especially after another military victory by David. Saul tries to kill David by throwing a spear at him, but David evades it twice.
Michal Helps David Escape: David’s wife, Michal (Saul’s daughter), learns of another plot to kill David and helps him escape by lowering him through a window. She deceives Saul’s messengers by placing an idol in the bed and claiming David is ill.
David Flees to Samuel: David flees to Samuel in Ramah and tells him all that Saul has done. They go to Naioth, where they are joined by a group of prophets.
Saul’s Messengers Prophesy: When Saul sends messengers to capture David, they end up prophesying upon encountering the group of prophets. This happens three times, and even Saul, when he personally goes to Naioth, begins to prophesy.
1 Samuel 19 paints a picture of increasing desperation and irrational behavior by Saul, contrasted with the loyalty and quick thinking of Jonathan and Michal. The interventions to save David highlight the complexities of royal and familial relationships. The chapter also underscores the divine protection over David, as evidenced by the prophetic episodes thwarting Saul’s plans. David’s transition from a favored hero in Saul’s court to a fugitive reflects the perilous nature of his journey to kingship.
Saul Orders David’s Death: Saul commands his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. However, Jonathan, a loyal friend to David, warns him of Saul’s intentions.
Jonathan’s Defense of David: Jonathan speaks well of David to Saul, reminding him of David’s loyalty and the fact that he has not sinned against Saul. Saul heeds Jonathan’s plea and vows not to kill David, allowing David to return to the court.
Saul’s Renewed Attempt on David’s Life: Despite his promise, Saul’s jealousy and fear resurface, especially after another military victory by David. Saul tries to kill David by throwing a spear at him, but David evades it twice.
Michal Helps David Escape: David’s wife, Michal (Saul’s daughter), learns of another plot to kill David and helps him escape by lowering him through a window. She deceives Saul’s messengers by placing an idol in the bed and claiming David is ill.
David Flees to Samuel: David flees to Samuel in Ramah and tells him all that Saul has done. They go to Naioth, where they are joined by a group of prophets.
Saul’s Messengers Prophesy: When Saul sends messengers to capture David, they end up prophesying upon encountering the group of prophets. This happens three times, and even Saul, when he personally goes to Naioth, begins to prophesy.
1 Samuel 19 paints a picture of increasing desperation and irrational behavior by Saul, contrasted with the loyalty and quick thinking of Jonathan and Michal. The interventions to save David highlight the complexities of royal and familial relationships. The chapter also underscores the divine protection over David, as evidenced by the prophetic episodes thwarting Saul’s plans. David’s transition from a favored hero in Saul’s court to a fugitive reflects the perilous nature of his journey to kingship.
1 Samuel 19
1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
End of 1 Samuel 19
1 Year Plan: Apr 30 - 1 Sa 18, 1 Sa 19, 1 Sa 20, Ps 48, Ps 49
2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?
18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
End of 1 Samuel 19
1 Year Plan: Apr 30 - 1 Sa 18, 1 Sa 19, 1 Sa 20, Ps 48, Ps 49
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