1 Samuel 18
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Samuel 18
NJB (MT versing) Jonathan and David Saul Resents David Saul Becomes Jealous of David David Is Presented to Saul (17:55-18:5) David the Conqueror of Goliath is Presented to Saul (17:55-18:5) 18:1-5 18:1-4 18:1-5 18:1-5 18:1-5 18:5-9 Saul Becomes Jealous of David Saul Starts Being Jealous 18:6-9 (7) (7) 18:6-9 (7) 18:6-9 18:6-7 (7) Saul Turns Against David 18:8-9 18:10-11 18:10-11 18:10-11 18:10-11 18:10-11 18:12-16 18:12-16 18:12-16 18:12-16 18:12-16 David Marries Michal David Marries Saul's Daughter David's Marriage 18:17-19 18:17-21 18:17-19 18:17 18:17-19 David Marries Saul's Daughter 18:18-19 18:20-29 18:20-29 18:20-22 18:20-25 18:22-27 18:23 18:24-27 18:26-27 18:28-30 18:28-29 18:28-30 18:30 18:30 18:30 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The Philistines They were Aegean people probably from the island of Crete. They tried to invade Egypt around 1200 b.c. but were defeated and subsequently settled on the southwestern coast of Palestine about the time of Joshua's invasion of the land. They were the only possessors in the area of Iron Age technology. They assimilated Canaanite culture instead of importing their own, therefore, there was a rapid degree of settlement and stability. Saul's Problems Saul's problems begin when he disobeys and rebels against God. 1 Sam. 13:12-13, where he offered a sacrifice without waiting for Samuel 1 Sam. 15:20-23, where he did not fulfill God's orders in killing the Amalekites The rejection of Saul and the anointing of David at Bethlehem had already occurred by 1 Samuel 18. "The evil spirit of the Lord" is an OT understanding of only one God, one source in the universe (cf. 1 Sam. 16:13-14; 19:9; Jdgs. 9:23; 2 Chr. 20:6; Eccl. 7:14; Isa. 14:24-27; 43:13; 15:7; 54:16; Jer. 18:11; Lam. 3:33-38; Amos 3:6). Saul's personality problems can be seen in his changing attitudes toward David. love, 1 Sam. 16:21 anger, 1 Sam. 18:8 fear, 1 Sam. 18:12 awe, 1 Sam. 18:15
1 Samuel 18:1-5
18:1 "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David" This VERB (BDB 905, KB 1153, Niphal PERFECT), "was knit," was used of Jacob and Benjamin in Gen. 44:30. This strong bond of friendship is similar to Naomi and Ruth in Ruth 1:16-17. ▣ "soul. . .soul" The term nephesh (BDB 659) speaks of one's personhood or a physical life. See full note online at Gen. 35:18 and Lev. 17:11. ▣ "Jonathan loved him as himself" In 1 Sam. 20:17 it says Jonathan loved David better than his own life. In 2 Sam. 1:26 it says Jonathan loved David better than the love of a woman. Many have tried to interpret this as a homosexual relationship but this is obviously an attempt to read modern presuppositions into an ancient text. David is married in this chapter. This is just a metaphor for the deep friendship. The same idiom is used in Deut. 13:6. SPECIAL TOPIC: HOMOSEXUALITY ▣ "Jonathan" There are two forms of this name (BDB 220). 42 times ‒ יונתן 79 times ‒ יהונתן 18:3 "Then Jonathan made a covenant with David" This covenant involved not only friendship and faith but apparently politics, cf. 1 Sam. 18:4; 23:17. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT 18:4 "Jonathan stripped himself of the robe" This was probably a political symbol of the crown prince. ▣ "with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt" The magnitude of this gift can be seen from the fact that Saul and Jonathan were the only members of the entire Israeli army that had weapons of iron (cf. 1 Sam. 13:19,22). 18:5 "So David went out wherever Saul sent him and prospered" David became very popular with the military with all the people in the sight of Saul's bureaucrats
1 Samuel 18:6-9
18:6 "the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing" This was the common procedure for greeting returning soldiers (cf. Exod. 15:20-21; Jdgs. 11:4; Ps. 68:25; 149:3). ▣ "musical instruments" The exact type of musical instrument is unknown (BDB 1026 II). The root of the Hebrew word means "three," therefore, many have supposed that it was a triangle or three stringed instrument. This root is used only here (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 126). 18:7 "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands" From this point on throughout the chapter, Saul's jealousy, immaturity, and lack of self-worth can be easily seen. Notice how the author describes Saul's motives. 1 Sam. 18:8 ‒ became very angry (jealousy) 1 Sam. 18:9 ‒ looked at David with suspicion (paranoia) 1 Sam. 18:10 ‒ an evil spirit. . .he raved 1 Sam. 18:11 ‒ murderous plan 1 Sam. 18:12 ‒ was afraid 1 Sam. 18:13 ‒ removed David from court 1 Sam. 18:15 ‒ dreaded David 1 Sam. 18:21 ‒ wanted his daughter to become a snare to David 1 Sam. 18:25 ‒ planned for David to be killed in battle by Philistines 1 Sam. 18:29 ‒ Saul was continually more afraid of David In the MT, "thousand" is SINGULAR, but Masoretic scholars suggest the PLURAL form. 18:9 "Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on" Notice it is not David's actions, but other's actions that caused Saul to begin to doubt David. The VERB "looked" (BDB 745, KB 817, Qal PARTICIPLE) occurs only here. BDB suggests a translation as "eye enviously" or "look askance," and KB "consider suspiciously."
1 Samuel 18:10-11
18:10 "an evil spirit from God came upon Saul" This phrase occurs in 1 Sam. 16:13-14; 19:9; Isa. 45:7. See Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 211-212 and see my full note at 1 Sam. 16:13. SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS ▣ "raved" The root (BDB 612, KB 659, Hithpael IMPERFECT with waw) is related to "prophet." The early prophets were an ecstatic group, cf. 1 Sam. 19:18-24. Raving was viewed as a spiritual state. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHETS (OT) ▣ "a spear was in Saul's hand" This (BDB 333) was a symbol of his kingship (cf. 1 Sam. 22:6) 18:11 "I will pin David to the wall" Saul intended to kill David in vv. 10 and 11, 17,21,25; 19:9-10. ▣ NASB, NKJV "escaped" NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "eluded" TEV, REB "dodged" "evaded" The MT has the VERB (BDB 685, KB 738, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) which basically means "to turn about," so all of the English translations catch the thought. Notice this kind of event happened twice. David was ministering to a mentally ill person, but remained!
1 Samuel 18:12-16
18:12 "for the Lord was with him" Saul knew YHWH had rejected him and chosen another (cf. 1 Sam. 16:13,18). He clearly saw how David "prospered" (vv. 5,14). Saul knew "the Lord was with David" (v. 28) but this caused even more fear and paranoia (v. 29). This specific phrase is used of Abraham ‒ Gen. 21:22 Jacob ‒ Gen. 28:15 Samuel ‒ 1 Sam. 3:19 David ‒ 1 Sam. 18:12,14; 2 Sam. 5:10 Hezekiah ‒ 2 Kgs. 18:8
1 Samuel 18:17-19
18:17-19 "Then Saul said to David, 'Here is my older daughter'" Saul had promised to whoever fought and defeated the Philistine giant he would give his daughter in marriage in 1 Sam. 17:25. However, David refused this offer in v. 18 because he simply did not have the money to pay the dowry. We learn from this text that Saul was not doing this to fulfill his promise but in order that the Philistines might kill David in battle. 18:17 "fight the Lord's battles" Notice that the enemies of Israel were the enemies of YHWH. He was their "Divine Warrior." The battles were His (cf. Num. 21:14; 1 Sam. 18:17; 25:28). 18:18 NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta "what is my life" NRSV, REB, JPSOA footnote "who are my kinsfolk" "what is my lineage" The MT has "what is my life" (BDB 311) but with a change of vocalization this can read, "who are my kin," which seems to fit the context better. The UBS Text Project supports the MT but suggests it is an ancient scribal error and supports the conjecture of "my kinfolk," but without any MSS or ancient version support (see Gesenius' Lexicon, p. 312 b ). This same sense of family humility also characterized Saul at first (cf. 1 Sam. 9:21; 15:17). 18:19 "she was given to Adriel the Meholathite" This man was from Gilead. Saul had a special relationship with the men of this area (cf. 1 Samuel 11). This was a direct attempt to humiliate David.
1 Samuel 18:20-29
18:20 This is a surprising verse. Why was Saul pleased knowing his daughter loved David (cf. v. 28)? He saw it as a chance to manipulate David into a battle in which he would hopefully be killed (vv. 21,25). To marry the oldest daughter entitled one to a special title, "son-in-law of the king," but this title would not go to the one who married a younger daughter. The VERB (BDB 448, KB 449, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) basically means "to be smooth," "to be straight," or "to be right." Here, it is an idiom for "pleasure" (i.e., 1 Sam. 18:20,26; 2 Sam. 17:4; 1 Chr. 13:4; 2 Chr. 30:4). 18:21 "For a second time you may be my son-in-law today" This seems to be related to v. 26, "before the days had expired." There was apparently a time limit for David to provide a dowry and marry one of Saul's daughters (v. 25). However, by changing one of the consonants in the Hebrew text, this phrase can mean "within two years." Whatever the time limit imposed, it is obvious there was a time limit. 18:25 "dowry" This is the Hebrew word "mohar" (BDB 555). It appears only three times in the OT (cf. Gen. 34:12; Exod. 22:16; here) but it reflects the marriage custom of the ANE. The bride's father set the amount. For a good brief discussion see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, "Typical Israelite Marriage," pp. 26-29 and NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 859-862. The price could be money/weight of metals/valuables (the normal way) service (Gen. 29:20,27-28; Exod. 2:21) act of valor Caleb (Josh. 15:16-17; Jdgs. 1:12) David (1 Sam. 17:25; 18:20-27; 2 Sam. 3:14) 18:27 How would you liked to have beeen the person who extracted these "foreskins" from these dead soldiers? This gesture was to prove the number of dead to prove they were Philistines 18:28 This verse should have made Saul happy, but no, just the opposite (cf. v. 29). The LXX (RSV) has "that all Israel loved him" (NJB). The UBS Text Project supports the MT ("Saul's daughter loved him") with a "B" rating (some doubt).
1 Samuel 18:30
18:30 This is a summary statement of how everyone knew YHWH was with David. David's reputation grew!