1 Samuel 18:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

NIV: But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.

NASB: But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and return before them.

CSB: But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops.

NLT: But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

KJV: But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

NKJV: But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

After David, the shepherd boy, defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50), Saul brought him back to his court in Gibeah. As the army parade marched down the streets, women sang in a way that honored David much more than it honored Saul. Saul became enraged, realizing David may be the man Samuel said would take the throne (1 Samuel 15:23–28).

When Saul's attempts to directly kill David fail (1 Samuel 18:10–11), Saul tries to use the Philistines to destroy his rival. The plan backfires. David wins every battle, and every victory parade gives the people the chance to admire and love him even more.

When David survives the minor skirmishes, Saul uses his daughters as bait. He promises David his daughter's hand if David can kill one hundred Philistines. Saul hopes the Philistines will kill David, but even this plan fails; David brings back proof he's killed two hundred (1 Samuel 18:17–30).

It's notable that the people of both Israel and Judah loved David. David was from the tribe of Judah, so it makes sense they would be rooting for him, but the entire nation loved David. It's also worth noting that Israel in the north and Judah in the south were already thought of as distinct populations long before they were divided by civil war.

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).

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.

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).

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.