1 Samuel 16:14-23
Spirit ............. spirit <07307> [the Spirit.]
Spirit ............ evil spirit <07307 07451> [evil spirit.]
The evil spirit was either sent immediately from the Lord, or permitted to come; but whether this was a diabolic possession, or a mere mental malady, is not agreed: it seems to have partaken of both. That Saul had fallen into a deep melancholy, there is little doubt; and that an evil spirit might work more effectually on such a state of mind, there can be little question. His malady appears to have been of a mixed kind, natural and diabolical: there is too much of apparent nature in it to permit us to believe it was all spiritual; and there is too much of apparently supernatural influence, to suffer us to believe it was all natural.
tormented <01204> [troubled. or, terrified.]
before .... look <06440 01245> [before thee.]
play ................ play <05059> [play.]
warrior <01368> [a mighty.]
articulate <0995> [and prudent.]
articulate <01697> [matters. or, speech. a comely.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
sheep <06629> [with the sheep.]
donkey .... bread <02543 03899> [an ass laden.]
{Chamor lechem,} literally, "an ass of bread," rendered by the LXX. [gomor arton,] a {gomor} of bread; meaning, probably, not an animal, but a vessel containing a certain measure of bread.
stood before <06440 05975> [stood before him.]
liked .... great <0157 03966> [loved him.]
spirit .............................. spirit <07307> [the evil spirit.]
Saul ............... Saul <07586> [Saul.]
1 Samuel 18:10
evil spirit <07307 07451> [the evil spirit.]
prophesied <05012> [and he prophesied.]
{Wyyithnabbai,} rather, "and he pretended to prophesy; for the verb is in {Hithpa‰l,} the signification of which conjugation is not only reflex action, but also affectation of the action: Jer 29:26, 27. The meaning seems to be, that Saul, influenced by the evil spirit, feigned to be prophesying, the better to conceal his murderous intentions, and to render David unsuspicious.
playing <05059> [played.]
spear <02595> [and there was.]
{Wehachanith beyad Sh„ool,} rather, "and the javelin was in the hand of Saul;" for the javelin or spear was the emblem of regal authority; and kings had it always in their hand, as may be seen represented on ancient monuments. In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a sceptre.
1 Samuel 18:2
retained ..... day <03947 03117> [took him.]
1 Samuel 16:11
still <07604> [There remaineth.]
turn <05437> [down. Heb. round.]
1 Samuel 24:1
Saul <07586> [when Saul.]
pursuing <0310> [following. Heb. after. it was told.]
desert <04057> [the wilderness.]
1 Samuel 24:1
Saul <07586> [when Saul.]
pursuing <0310> [following. Heb. after. it was told.]
desert <04057> [the wilderness.]
1 Samuel 22:22
guilty <05437> [I have occasioned.]
1 Samuel 22:1
David <01732> [David.]
cave <04631> [the cave.]
Adullam <05725> [Adullam.]
Adullam was a city of Judah; and, according to Eusebius, ten miles (Jerome says eleven) eastward from Eleutheropolis.
1 Samuel 21:1
Nob <05011> [Nob.]
Nob appears to have been a sacerdotal city of Benjamin or Ephraim. Jerome says, that in his time the ruins of it might be seen not far from Diospolis or Lydda. But the Rabbins assert that Jerusalem might be seen from this town. The tabernacle resided some time at Nob; and after it was destroyed, it was removed to Gibeon; "and the day of Nob and Gibeon were fifty-seven years." Maimonides in Bethhabbechirah, c. 1.
Ahimelech ...... Ahimelech <0288> [to Ahimelech.]
[called Ahiah.]
[called also Abiathar.]
shaking with fear <02729> [afraid.]
