1 Samuel 18:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David 's enemy continually.

NIV: Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

NASB: then Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

CSB: and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.

NLT: Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.

KJV: And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

NKJV: and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.

The difference between Saul and David becomes ever starker as their stories continue. David lives boldly because of his deep faith and confidence in the Lord. Saul acts out one scheme after another because of his deep fear of losing what he has. David volunteers to fight the giant because of his indignation at Goliath's mockery of God, relying on a conviction that the Lord would prevail (1 Samuel 17:36–37). Saul refuses to fight the giant, measuring his chances of success only on human terms and without putting any hope in the power of God to give the victory.

When God first chose Saul to be king, Saul was so intimidated that he hid in luggage (1 Samuel 10:22). With God's help, Saul became a mighty military leader who protected God's people from their enemies. But Saul took arrogant advantage of his empowerment, rather than following the One who enabled his success. Saul disobeyed God and tried to force God's help. So, God promised to take the throne away (1 Samuel 13:8–15). Saul started making foolish decisions and lost control of his army (1 Samuel 14:24–35). He feared his soldiers more than his God and lost even the guidance of Samuel (1 Samuel 15).

Now the king realizes that the Lord has rejected him as king and has already selected a replacement (1 Samuel 15:26–28). Saul can only see David as a threat instead of a powerful ally in the battle against the Philistines. His plots against the young man have all come to nothing (1 Samuel 18:28). Saul is left only with fear and a lifelong commitment to destroying Israel's greatest warrior. Saul was David's enemy, but he was also his own enemy.

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).

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.