What does 1 Samuel 18 mean?
Chapter Commentary:
The moment Samuel anointed David as king, the Spirit of the Lord came upon David (1 Samuel 16:13). At the same time, that Spirit left Saul (1 Samuel 16:14). An evil spirit took over Saul's mind, and only David's lyre-playing could soothe him (1 Samuel 16:13–23). David went back and forth between playing for the king and watching his father's sheep (1 Samuel 17:15). On the day David defeated Goliath, the people's affections started turning. Now, the once-shepherd-boy is the hero of his people and the unintended enemy of his king (1 Samuel 16:23–18:9).
Following David's post-battle interview with Saul (1 Samuel 17:57–58), the king brings David to the royal court full-time. Saul's son Jonathan quickly forms a deep and lasting friendship with David. It needs to be said that there was no sexual component in Jonathan and David's relationship. Expressions of emotion were more accepted from men in the ancient world than in modern western nations. Brotherly "love" does not imply eroticism. Jonathan gifts David with his own royal robe and weapons. Saul sends David out on military missions, and David continues to have great success. He earns admiration and approval from both the officers and troops (1 Samuel 18:1–5).
Returning from a victorious battle, Saul and David are met by a crowd of women singing and dancing in celebration. The women compliment Saul by saying he has "slain his thousands." Yet they give much greater praise to David, saying that he has slain "his ten thousands." Saul is furious and terrified that David will end up taking the kingdom from him (1 Samuel 18:6–9).
The Lord sends a harmful spirit upon Saul, which drives him into a rage. Twice, Saul throws a spear at David, trying to pin him to the wall. Twice, David dodges the king's attempts to kill him. Saul knows the Lord has left him and is now with David. He sends David away to command his own military unit. Yet David's success and fame only grow along with the people's love for him (1 Samuel 18:10–16).
Saul keeps his fear and fury toward David mostly to himself. He doesn't want to turn the people directly against himself. Instead, Saul hopes the Philistines will eventually kill David for him. Saul even offers David his oldest daughter in marriage as part of a trap. David refuses out of a sense of humility at the thought of his family being connected to the king's family (1 Samuel 18:17–19).
When Saul learns that another of his daughters, Michal, is in love with David, he tries his ploy again, intending to use her as bait for David's death. Once more, David refuses. He considers himself unworthy, lacking enough reputation and having no money for the bride price. Saul suggests that instead of money, David could earn the right to marry Michal by bringing him a hundred Philistine foreskins. This parallels other tokens of death, such as collecting ears or scalps. Saul hopes David will die in the attempt to kill so many Philistines. But David accepts the challenge and kills twice as many. When David returns, he counts out the foreskins before the king and marries Michal (1 Samuel 18:20–27).
Saul realizes that every attempt he has made to kill David has only made David stronger and more successful. The king grows ever more terrified of David and sets himself as David's enemy for life. David, meanwhile, becomes the most successful military leader in all of Saul's army (1 Samuel 18:28–30).
The king continues his plot to destroy David. His daughter Michal and son Jonathan both protect David. In this way, they earn their father's anger, as well. Eventually, David flees, gathers his own army, and fights Israel's enemies as a refugee until Saul dies (1 Samuel 19 —31).
Verse Context:
First Samuel 18:1–5 records how David becomes a permanent member of the royal court. He had spent time there serving Saul (1 Samuel 17:15), but after he kills Goliath, the king brings him in permanently. Saul's son Jonathan, the heir-apparent, immediately forms a lifelong bond of friendship. Despite the bizarre views of some modern commentators, this bond is not sexual. It's a beautiful example of male friendship. Meanwhile, the people's adoration of David makes the king furious to the point of murder.
First Samuel 18:6–16 reveals the hastening story of King Saul's demise and David's rise. When the army returns from battle, David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17) is celebrated more than the king's win over the Philistine army. The harmful spirit returns to Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23). His jealousy of David turns to violence. Before long, Saul will use his own daughters as bait in traps to destroy his greatest warrior (1 Samuel 18:17–30).
First Samuel 18:17–30 reveals the depths of King Saul's hatred toward David. When David killed Goliath, Saul thought he had a champion (1 Samuel 17). The moment they return from battle, however, the people's affections transfer to David, and the king grows furious. Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail (1 Samuel 18:6–16), so he uses his daughters to lure David into a fatal battle with the Philistines. Again, Saul's plan fails, and the king realizes God's protection over David is too great. Soon, Saul will watch as even his children favor David (1 Samuel 19).
Chapter Summary:
Saul's son Jonathan becomes David's best friend. David succeeds in every military mission Saul sends him on. The people praise David as being even mightier than Saul. The king is furious and terrified that David will take his throne. After Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail, the king sends David to battle the Philistines using marriage to his daughter as bait. David not only survives, but he continues to prove himself to be a mightier warrior and leader than Saul. Saul knows the Lord is with David and not with him and cements himself as David's permanent enemy.
Chapter Context:
First Samuel 18 begins the story of how the changed work of the Holy Spirit on both Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:13–14) leads to the king's destruction and David's rise. David faithfully serves both Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23) and Saul's kingdom (1 Samuel 17—18). But David wins the hearts of Saul's people and his children. Saul can't handle the competition (1 Samuel 19—20). Finally, David flees the royal court and raises his own army. He spends years fighting Israel's enemies from afar, patiently waiting until Saul dies in battle and the shepherd boy can take his rightful crown (1 Samuel 21—31).
Book Summary:
First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.
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