1 Samuel 18:1--19:17
Jonathan ......... friendship Jonathan ........... life <03083 05315> [the soul of Jonathan.]
The modesty, piety, and courage of David were so congenial to the character of the amiable Jonathan, that they attracted his most cordial esteem and affection; so that the most intimate friendship subsisted between them from that time, and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. Their friendship could not be affected by the common vicissitudes of life; and it exemplifies by fact what the ancients have written on the subject; [Ten philian isoteta einai, kai mian psychen ton philon heteron auton.] "Friendship is an entire sameness, and one soul: a friend is another self."
friendship ... loved .......... life <0157 05315> [loved him.]
retained ..... day <03947 03117> [took him.]
made ... covenant <03772 01285> [made a covenant.]
took off ... robe <06584 04598> [stripped himself.]
Presents of clothes or rich robes, as tokens of respect or friendship, are frequent in the East.
achieved <07919> [behaved. or, prospered.]
achieved <07919> [wisely.]
men ... war <04421 0582> [the men of war.]
Philistine <06430> [Philistine. or, Philistines. the women.]
instruments <07991> [instruments of music. Heb. three stringed instruments.]
The original {shalishim,} is rendered by the Vulgate {sistris.} The {sistrum} was an ancient Egyptian instrument made of brass, with three, and sometimes more brass rods across; which, being loose in their holes, made a jingling noise when shaken.
sang <06030> [answered.]
Saul <07586> [Saul.]
statement <01697> [the saying.]
[displeased him. Heb. was evil in his eyes.]
kingdom <04410> [and what.]
David <05770 01732> [eyed David.]
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.
threw ... spear <02904 02595> [cast the javelin.]
David ...... David <01732> [And David.]
feared <03372> [afraid.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
departed <05493> [departed.]
removed <05493> [removed.]
out <03318> [he went out.]
Saul was sensible that the Lord was departed from him; while he perceived, with evident sorrow of heart, that the Lord had given David peculiar wisdom, and that he was with him to prosper all his undertakings. This increased the disquietude of his malevolent mind, and his dread of David as a prevailing rival: he therefore removed him from his presence. This impolitic step, however, served the more to ingratiate David with the people, by affording him the opportunity of leading them forth to victory over their enemies.
achieved <07919> [behaved. or, prospered.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
successful <07919> [wisely.]
Israel <03478> [all Israel.]
leading ... out <03318> [he went.]
give <05414> [her will I give.]
brave warrior <01121> [valiant. Heb. a son of valour. the Lord's.]
hand ........ hand <03027> [Let not mine.]
<02416> [Who am I.]
Adriel <05741> [Adriel.]
Meholah <04259> [Meholathite.]
loved David <0157 01732> [loved David.]
[Ge 29:18,20 34:3 Jud 16:4,15 2Sa 13:1 1Ki 11:1,2 Ho 3:2]
[pleased him. Heb. was right in his eyes.]
snare <04170> [a snare.]
hand <03027> [the hand.]
Today <03117> [this day.]
instructed <06680> [commanded.]
servants .............. servants <05650> [servants.]
insignificant <07043> [a light.]
poor .... man <0376 07326> [a poor man.]
lightly-esteemed <07034> [and lightly.]
<01697> [On this manner. Heb. According to these words.]
price .... bride <04119> [dowry.]
hundred <03967> [but an hundred.]
That is, Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines, and thou shalt produce their foreskins as a proof, not only that thou hast killed one hundred men, but that these are of the uncircumcised Philistines.
foreskins <06190> [foreskins.]
avenged <05358> [to be avenged.]
thinking <02803> [thought.]
time ..... expired <03117> [the days.]
expired <04390> [expired. Heb. fulfilled.]
<0582> [his men.]
struck down <05221> [slew.]
men ........ hundred ... men <03967 0376> [two hundred men.]
The Septuagint has only [ ,] one hundred men; and as Saul covenanted for a hundred, as David himself says, (2 Sa 3:14,) that he espoused Michal for a hundred, it is very probable that this is the true reading.
more <03254> [yet the.]
Saul ....... him Saul ........ David <07586 01732> [Saul became.]
leaders <08269> [the princes.]
Of this war we know no more than that David, whose military skill was greater, was more successful in it, than all the other officers of Saul.
Then ........ march out ........ so <03318> [went forth.]
did .... achieved <07919> [behaved himself.]
esteem <03365> [set by. Heb. precious.]
Saul .............. Saul's <07586> [And Saul.]
Saul's enmity now burst forth, in the avowed purpose of putting David to death; and nothing less than the especial interposition of Providence could have saved David's life, when every officer about the king's person, and every soldier, had positive orders to dispatch him.
<02654> [delighted.]
Jonathan <03083> [Jonathan.]
When I find ... what <07200 04100> [what I see.]
spoke .... behalf .................................. beneficial <01696 02896> [spake good.]
sin .... servant ....... sinned <02398 05650> [sin against.]
actions <04639> [because his works.]
risked <05315 07760> [put his life.]
struck <05221> [slew.]
<06213> [wrought.]
sin ... innocent <05355 02398> [sin against innocent.]
reason <02600> [without a cause.]
took an oath <07650> [sware.]
[he shalt not.]
formerly <0865> [in times past. Heb. yesterday, third day.]
David <01732> [David.]
[him. Heb. his face]
tried <01245> [sought.]
nail <06362> [he slipped.]
escaped <04422> [and escaped.]
sent messengers <04397 07971> [sent messengers.]
guard ..... kill ....................... dead <08104 04191> [to watch him.]
Michal <04324> [Michal.]
lowered David <03381 01732> [let David.]
household idol <08655> [an image. Heb. teraphim.]
quilt <03523> [a pillow.]
Rather, "the net-work of goat's hair at its (the Teraphim's) pillow;" for the {kevir,} (whence the Chaldee and Syriac {kavreetho,} a honey-comb, from its net-like form), seems to have been a kind of mosquito-net, which, says Dr. Shaw, is "a close curtain of gauze, used all over the East, by people of fashion, to keep out the flies." That they had such anciently cannot be doubted. Thus when Judith had beheaded Holofernes in his bed, (ch. 13:9, 15) "she pulled down the canopy (or the mosquito net, [ ,] from [ ,] a gnat, or mosquito, whence our word canopy) wherein he did lie in his drunkenness, from the pillars."
said <0559> [she said.]
Bring ... up <05927> [Bring him.]
The eastern beds consist merely of two thick cotton quilts, one of which, folded double, serves as a mattress, the other as a covering. Such seems to have been the bed of David, which could easily have been carried, with himself in it, to the presence of Saul.
messengers <04397> [And when.]
It is highly probable that David, when supposed to be sick, was thought to be hid in the harem or chamber of Michal. "The harems," says De La Motraye, "are sanctuaries, as sacred and inviolable, for persons pursed by justice for any crime, debt, etc., as the Roman Catholic churches in Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc." Thus we find, that to effect his purpose, Saul sent messengers to Michal, but they treated her harem with too much respect to enter it at first; but being authorised by Saul, they entered even into her chamber; and during the delay occasioned by respect for the privacy of Michal, David escaped.
deceived <07411> [Why hast.]
enemy <0341> [mine enemy.]
Michal .................. Michal <04324> [And Michal.]
said ..................... replied ..... said <0559> [He said.]
kill <04191> [why should.]
