1 Samuel 19:19-24

19:19 It was reported to Saul saying, “David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 19:20 So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied. 19:21 When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied. 19:22 Finally Saul ¹  himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the large cistern that is in Secu, he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” They said, “At Naioth in Ramah.”

19:23 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 19:24 He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay there ²  naked all that day and night. (For that reason it is asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”)

1 Samuel 23:26-28

23:26 Saul went on one side of the mountain, while David and his men went on the other side of the mountain. David was hurrying to get away from Saul, but Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men so they could capture them. 23:27 But a messenger came to Saul saying, “Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!”

23:28 So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth. ³ 

Psalms 124:6-8

124:6 The Lord deserves praise, ⁴ 

for ⁵  he did not hand us over as prey to their teeth.

124:7 We escaped with our lives, ⁶  like a bird from a hunter’s snare.

The snare broke, and we escaped.

124:8 Our deliverer is the Lord, ⁷ 

the Creator ⁸  of heaven and earth.

Psalms 124:2

124:2 if the Lord had not been on our side,

when men attacked us, ⁹ 

Psalms 2:9

2:9 You will break them ¹⁰  with an iron scepter; ¹¹ 

you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’” ¹² 

¹ tn Heb “he” (also in v. 23). the referent (Saul) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

² tn Heb “and he fell down.”

³ sn The name הַמַּחְלְקוֹת סֶלַע (Sela Hammakhleqoth) probably means “Rock of Divisions” in Hebrew, in the sense that Saul and David parted company there (cf. NAB “Gorge of Divisions”; TEV “Separation Hill”). This etymology assumes that the word derives from the Hebrew root II חלק (khlq, “to divide”; HALOT 322 s.v. II חלק). However, there is another root I חלק, which means “to be smooth or slippery” (HALOT 322 s.v. I חלק). If the word is taken from this root, the expression would mean “Slippery Rock.”

⁴ tn Heb “blessed [be] the Lord.”

⁵ tn Heb “[the one] who.”

⁶ tn Heb “our life escaped.”

⁷ tn Heb “our help [is] in the name of the Lord.”

⁸ tn Or “Maker.”

⁹ tn Heb “rose up against us.”

¹⁰ tc The LXX reads “you will shepherd them.” This reading, quoted in the Greek text of the NT in Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15, assumes a different vocalization of the consonantal Hebrew text and understands the verb as רָעָה (ra’ah, “to shepherd”) rather than רָעָע (ra’a’, “to break”). But the presence of נָפַץ (nafats, “to smash”) in the next line strongly favors the MT vocalization.

¹¹ tn The Hebrew term שֵׁבֶט (shevet) can refer to a “staff” or “rod,” but here it probably refers to the Davidic king’s royal scepter, symbolizing his sovereignty.

¹² sn Like a potter’s jar. Before the Davidic king’s awesome power, the rebellious nations are like fragile pottery.