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1 Samuel
Chapter Nineteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 19
This
chapter relates the dangers David was exposed unto through Saul's enmity at
him
and his deliverance from them
as by the notice Jonathan gave him of his
father's designs against him
and by his kind interposition on his behalf
1 Samuel 19:1; by
David's slipping out of Saul's presence
when he was about to cast a javelin at
him
1 Samuel 19:8; by
Michal's letting him down through a window
when Saul sent messengers to kill
him
and by deceiving them with an image laid in his bed in the room of him
1 Samuel 19:11
and
again by Samuel's protection of him at Naioth
whither David fled
and where
Saul sent messengers after him
and at length came himself; and instead of
laying hands on David
both he and the messengers were set a prophesying
1 Samuel 19:18.
1 Samuel 19:1 Now Saul spoke
to Jonathan his son and to all his servants
that they should kill David; but
Jonathan
Saul’s son
delighted greatly in David.
YLT
1And Saul speaketh unto
Jonathan his son
and unto all his servants
to put David to death
And Saul spake to Jonathan his son
.... Who was heir to his
crown; and though he knew he loved David
and was in strict friendship with
him
yet he might hope
that as his succession to the kingdom was in danger
as
he thought
and that David was his rival in it
his mind would be alienated
from him; and that he would listen rather to a father than a friend
and would see
where his true interest lay
and abandon David
yea
seek his ruin
which Saul
was intent upon
and to all his servants; who yet pretended to
love David
and as he himself said they did
and some of them might; with these
he might rather hope to succeed
as they were attached to him
and might be
secretly enemies of David
and therefore to these
as well as to his son
he
spake
and gave his orders:
that they should kill David; as if he was a traitor
and an usurper of his throne
and one that had a design upon that
and upon his
life; finding he could do nothing by the schemes
and snares
and stratagems
he used in a private manner
he grew outrageous and furious
and openly
declared his views
and laid his injunctions on his son and servants to take away
David's life
as a very dangerous person to his crown and government.
1 Samuel 19:2 2 So
Jonathan told David
saying
“My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore
please be on your guard until morning
and stay in a secret place and
hide.
YLT
2and Jonathan son of Saul
delighted exceedingly in David
and Jonathan declareth to David
saying
`Saul
my father is seeking to put thee to death
and
now
take heed
I pray thee
in
the morning
and thou hast abode in a secret place
and been hidden
But Jonathan
Saul's son
delighted much in David
.... In his
company and conversation; he loved him with a love of complacency
and was
constant and steadfast in it
and which was a kind providence to David; for by
this means he came to the knowledge of Saul's designs upon him
and could the
better guard against him:
and Jonathan told David
saying
Saul my father seeketh to kill
thee; to inform him of which was acting the part of a sincere and
faithful friend:
now therefore
I pray thee
take heed of thyself until the morning: it seems it
was now evening when he informed him of it; and as he knew not what emissaries
Saul might have out that night in quest of him
he advises him to take care of
himself
and not expose himself to any danger
and to keep a strict guard about
him; and in the morning he would try to conciliate his father to him
when he
might hope
having slept upon it
that he would be in a better temper
and more
disposed to hear what might be said to him:
and abide in a secret place
and hide thyself; he seems to
suggest as if it was not safe for him to be in his own house
and in his own
bedchamber that night
but that it was advisable to retire to some private
place
where it might not be known or suspected that he was there. By what
follows he means some field
and a private place in it.
1 Samuel 19:3 3 And
I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are
and
I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe
I will tell you.”
YLT
3and I -- I go out
and have
stood by the side of my father in the field where thou [art]
and I speak of
thee unto my father
and have seen what [is coming]
and have declared to
thee.'
And I will go out
.... In the morning
at the same time his
father used to take his morning walk:
and stand beside my father in the field where thou art; on that side
of him next to David
that he might not see him
and yet be so near
that David
might hear what passed between them:
and I will commune with my father of thee; speak in
favour of him
and endeavour to dissuade him from attempting to take away his
life
which was of so much importance and usefulness in the commonwealth of
Israel:
and what I see that I will tell thee; what David
could not well hear he would inform him of
and what he could perceive in the
countenance of Saul
as well as conclude from his words
that he would make
known to David
that so he might know better what he had to do
and provide for
his safety.
1 Samuel 19:4 4 Thus Jonathan spoke well
of David to Saul his father
and said to him
“Let not the king sin against his
servant
against David
because he has not sinned against you
and because his
works have been very good toward you.
YLT
4And Jonathan speaketh good
of David unto Saul his father
and saith unto him
`Let not the king sin
against his servant
against David
because he hath not sinned against thee
and because his works for thee [are] very good;
And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father
.... Observed
to him what a good man be was
and what good things he had done
what wisdom
and prudence he had shown in the management of all his affairs
what valour and
courage in all his expeditions
what faithfulness and integrity to his king and
country in every instance:
and said unto him
let not the king sin against his servant
against David; by taking away his life; which would have been a great sin
indeed
a sin against the law of God
which forbids murder
and which would
have been attended with sad aggravations of cruelty and ingratitude:
because he hath not sinned against thee; had not
disobeyed any of his orders
but faithfully served him in everything
and much
less ever thought to take away his life
or seize his crown
as he might
imagine:
and because his works have been to thee-ward very good; by slaying
the Philistines
when he and his army were in the utmost terror; by driving
away the evil spirit from him
through playing on his harp before him; as well
as by commanding his troops
and leading them against the Philistines
and
obtaining victory over them.
1 Samuel 19:5 5 For he took his life in
his hands and killed the Philistine
and the Lord brought about
a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then
will you sin against innocent blood
to kill David without a cause?”
YLT
5yea
he putteth his life in
his hand
and smiteth the Philistine
and Jehovah worketh a great salvation for
all Israel; thou hast seen
and dost rejoice
and why dost thou sin against
innocent blood
to put David to death for nought?'
For he did put his life in his hand
.... Exposed himself to
the utmost danger
when no one in all the camp of Israel would do the like:
and slew the Philistine; Goliath of Gath
who
defied the armies of Israel; against him he went unarmed
only with his sling and
stones
and fought him
and slew him:
and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel; by his hand
so that they were delivered from their enemies
who fled before them
and they
pursued them
and got a complete victory over them:
thou sawest it
and didst rejoice; he was an
eyewitness of David's going forth against the Philistine
and slaying him
and
of all the happy effects of it
which then greatly affected him
and he could
not forbear expressing great joy on that occasion:
wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood
to slay David
without a cause? and so entail the guilt of it on himself and family.
1 Samuel 19:6 6 So Saul heeded the voice
of Jonathan
and Saul swore
“As the Lord lives
he
shall not be killed.”
YLT
6And Saul hearkeneth to the
voice of Jonathan
and Saul sweareth
`Jehovah liveth -- he doth not die.'
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan
.... Not only
heard him out what he had to say
but was affected with it
and wrought upon by
it
and was convicted for the present that he was wrong in seeking the life of
David
and therefore would desist from it; the Lord working upon his mind by
what Jonathan said
and inclined him to listen to it
and act accordingly:
and Saul sware
as the Lord liveth
he shall not be slain; this oath he
added to what he said to Jonathan
for the confirmation of it; and which was
taken either with a real intention to keep it
though that intention did not
long continue; or with a view to deceive Jonathan
that he might acquaint David
with it
and so prevent his flight and escape
and that he might the more
easily fall into his hands; but the former seems rather to be the case.
1 Samuel 19:7 7 Then Jonathan called
David
and Jonathan told him all these things. So Jonathan brought David to
Saul
and he was in his presence as in times past.
YLT
7And Jonathan calleth for
David
and Jonathan declareth to him all these words
and Jonathan bringeth in
David unto Saul
and he is before him as heretofore.
And Jonathan called David
.... Out of his lurking
place in the field
after Saul was returned home:
and Jonathan showed him all these things: which had
passed between him and his father
and particularly the oath he had made that
he should not be slain:
and Jonathan brought David to Saul: introduced him at court
again
and into the presence chamber of Saul; who
in appearance
received him
courteously
and a reconciliation was seemingly made:
and he was in his presence as in times past; when he was
first received at court
and in great esteem both with Saul and his courtiers.
1 Samuel 19:8 8 And there was war again;
and David went out and fought with the Philistines
and struck them with a
mighty blow
and they fled from him.
YLT
8And there addeth to be war
and David goeth out and fighteth against the Philistines
and smiteth among
them -- a great smiting
and they flee from his face.
And there was war again
.... Between Israel and
the Philistines; it does not appear that either of them sent out their whole
force
only some parties or detachments
between which there were skirmishes:
and David went out and fought with the Philistines; he went out
with his thousand men
over which he was made captain
1 Samuel 18:13; for
he had not the command of the whole army; that belonged to Abner:
and slew them with a great slaughter
and they fled from him; he killed
many of them in his engagements with them
and the rest fled
and he returned
victorious; which stirred up the envy and increased the jealousy of Saul
to
observe which this is related.
1 Samuel 19:9 9 Now the distressing spirit
from the Lord
came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was
playing music with his hand.
YLT
9And a spirit of sadness
[from] Jehovah is unto Saul
and he is sitting in his house
and his javelin in
his hand
and David is playing with the hand
And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul
.... His
melancholy and frantic disorder returned upon those victories of David
and he
grew envious
jealous
spiteful
and malicious:
as he sat in his house with his javelin his hand; which either
describes the posture he was in when the evil spirit came upon him; or the
effects of it
he became dull and melancholy
did not care to go abroad
but
kept at home
and was suspicious of everybody; and therefore kept a javelin in
his hand to defend himself; or it may be rather to dispatch David with it
when
an opportunity should offer
which quickly did:
and David played with his hand; on some
instrument of music
particularly the harp
to drive away the evil spirit
the
melancholy disorder
from Saul; which showed his humility
that though he was
an officer in the army
had a considerable post in it
yet deigned to act the
part of a musician to Saul
and his great kindness and affection for him his
sovereign
willing to serve him what he could to promote his health and
comfort
and the trust and confidence he put in his promise and oath
or rather
in the providence of God for his protection in the way of his duty
though he
knew how spiteful and injurious Saul had been to him.
1 Samuel 19:10 10 Then Saul sought to pin
David to the wall with the spear
but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and
he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.
YLT
10and Saul seeketh to smite
with the javelin through David
and through the wall
and he freeth himself
from the presence of Saul
and he smiteth the javelin through the wall; and
David hath fled and escapeth during that night.
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with his javelin
.... To strike
it through him
and fasten him to the wall with it
as he had attempted before
1 Samuel 18:11
but he slipped away out of Saul's presence: he perceived
his design
and being of great agility of body
moved out of his place before
him very nimbly:
and he smote the javelin into the wall; he threw it
with suck force that it entered into the wall
and stuck there; so great was
his resolution to destroy David
and such the rage and passion that he was in
and such his strength of body
and which
in person; in his circumstances
is
strangely exerted at times:
and David fled
and escaped that night; it being
towards night
or in the evening
very probably
when this affair happened;
upon which he departed from Saul's court
and went to his own house
and so
escaped the danger he was exposed to for the present.
1 Samuel 19:11 11 Saul also sent messengers
to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal
David’s wife
told him
saying
“If you do not save your life tonight
tomorrow
you will be killed.”
YLT
11And Saul sendeth messengers
unto the house of David to watch him
and to put him to death in the morning;
and Michal his wife declareth to David
saying
`If thou art not delivering thy
life to-night -- tomorrow thou art put to death.'
And Saul sent messengers unto David's house
.... Supposing
that he was gone thither; where this was is not said
very likely in Gibeah
where Saul lived:
to watch him; that he might not get out from thence in
the night:
and to slay him in the morning; the reason why he did
not order them to break into the house
and slay him at once
but wait till
morning
seems to be
lest should he be alarmed by their breaking in
he might
take the advantage of the night
and easily escape
or another person through
mistake might be slain for him; and therefore
that they might be sure of him
they were to watch till it was broad daylight
when they could not well miss
him. JosephusF4Antiqu. l. 6. c. 11. sect. 4. says
the orders to
watch him until morning were
that he might be taken and brought to a court of
judicature
and be condemned and put to death
which was usually held in a
morning; but Saul's orders to the messengers were to put him to death
themselves
and he had no notion of dealing with him according to a formal process
of judgment:
and Michal
David's wife
told him
saying
if thou save not thy
life tonight
tomorrow thou shalt be slain; meaning
if he did not
take the benefit and advantage of the night to make his escape
he would not be
able to do it in the morning; the house being so beset
as she perceived
by
persons whom she might suspect were sent by Saul to destroy him
knowing the
ill will her father bore to him
or a messenger at the same time might be
dispatched to her
either from her brother Jonathan
or from one of her friends
at court
acquainting her with the design against David
and the danger he was
in. Upon this occasion David penned the fifty ninth psalm
see Psalm 59:1.
1 Samuel 19:12 12 So Michal let David down
through a window. And he went and fled and escaped.
YLT
12And Michal causeth David to
go down through the window
and he goeth on
and fleeth
and escapeth;
So Michal let David down through a window
.... In like
manner as Rahab let down the spies from her house in Jericho
when the king's
messengers were in quest of them
Joshua 2:15; and as
the disciples let down the Apostle Paul at Damascus
to preserve him from the
designs of the Jews upon him:
and he went
and fled
and escaped; he departed from his
house
and ran with all the haste he could
and escaped the messengers that had
beset the house
and were waiting for him.
1 Samuel 19:13 13 And Michal took an image
and laid it in the bed
put a cover of goats’ hair for his head
and covered it with clothes.
YLT
13and Michal taketh the
teraphim
and layeth on the bed
and the mattress of goats' [hair] she hath put
[for] his pillows
and covereth with a garment.
And Michal took an image
.... Or
"teraphim"
as the word is; which
if the same with those that Rachel
stole from her father
they seem to be of the same sort with the penates or
household gods of the Heathens
which were privately kept by Michal; for
had
David known of them
he would not have suffered them to have been in his house.
Aben Ezra supposes they were images made in the form of men under such a
constellation
a sort of talismans
to receive the heavenly influences
and
which being consulted
foretold things to come; and R. Isaiah is of opinion
that Michal chose and placed these in the bed
that her father might conclude
when he should hear of them
that David had found them; and by thus means know
that his intention was to kill him
and therefore fled; but to consult such
images was very far from David
and without it he knew Saul's intention.
Abarbinel makes mention of several sorts of teraphim
some for idolatry
some
to draw down the heavenly influences
some to know the time of the day
a sort
of dials; some were made after the form of a man known
and like him in his
form and features; and women
he says
used to have the forms or statues of
their husbands
that they might have them continually before them
because of
the great love they had to them; and of this sort he supposes were the teraphim
of Michal
and which is approved of by Abendana; and that this image had the
likeness of an human face is very probable
or it could not have so well
answered her purpose:
and laid it in the bed; where David used to lie
that it might seem to be he himself:
and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster; she took the
finest of the goats' hair
which she had in the house
women being used to spin
in those days
even great personages
and put it into a pillow
and made a
bolster of it
and put it under the head or block of the image
which would
sink it
being soft
and so look like a sick man
whose face could not easily
be discerned; though some think this goats' hair was put about the head of the
image
to make it look the more like an human head; goats' hair being very much
like human hairF5Vid. Stockium
p. 509.
and of different colours
and such a colour might be chosen as was most like David's
see Song of Solomon 4:1;
the Targum interprets it
a bottle of goats skins
that is
a leathern bottle
or bag made of goats skins
such as they used to put wine into; hence the
conceit in the MidrashF6Apud Kimchium & Abarbinel. in loc.
that a bottle of wine was put instead of David: but the pillow or bolster had
the form of a leathern bag or bottle; the Septuagint version is very odd
"and
put the liver of goats at his head;'and so Josephus saysF7Ut supra.
(Antiqu. l. 6. c. 11. sect. 4.) ; and it is observedF8Vid. Hudson.
not. in ib.
that the liver of a goat will move a long time after it is taken
out
and so make a show of the palpitation of the heart: but then this was put
not within the bed
but at the head of the image:
and covered it with a cloth; to keep her sick husband
warm
as she would have it understood.
1 Samuel 19:14 14 So when Saul sent
messengers to take David
she said
“He is sick.”
YLT
14And Saul sendeth messengers
to take David
and she saith
`He [is] sick.'
And when Saul sent messengers to take David
.... Either
the same who in the morning inquired for David
or those staying longer than
Saul expected
and fearing they were negligent or corrupted
he sent others: to
whom
she said
he is sick; and in bed
and cannot
be spoke with; this lie she told through her affection to David
and to
preserve his life; and this stratagem she devised to gain time
that while she
was amusing the messengers with this tale of hers
before they could discover
the truth of the matter David would be out of their reach; whereas
had she
denied his being at home
or signified that he had made his escape
they would
have immediately pursued after him
and he would have been in danger of being
taken by them.
1 Samuel 19:15 15 Then Saul sent the
messengers back to see David
saying
“Bring him up to me in the bed
that I may kill him.”
YLT
15And Saul sendeth the
messengers to see David
saying
`Bring him up in the bed unto me
' -- to put
him to death.
And Saul sent the messengers again to see David
.... Not to
visit him
or to see how he was
or inquire of his health
in a kind manner
but to see his person
whether he was sick or not
and whether he was there or
not; for Saul might suspect some deceit was used
because the messengers took
the report of Michal
and saw not David
nor attempted to see him; but now they
have strict orders to see him
and not take Michal's word as before
1 Samuel 19:14;
wherefore the supplement again may be left out:
saying
bring him up to me in the bed; if so bad
that he was not able to rise
or not fit to be taken out of his bed
his orders
were
that he should be brought to him in it; resolved he was to have him
sick
or well:
that I may slay him: not content that he
should die a natural death
or willing to wait for it
he is in haste
being
full of wrath and malice
to slay him himself.
1 Samuel 19:16 16 And when the messengers
had come in
there was the image in the bed
with a cover of goats’ hair
for his head.
YLT
16And the messengers come in
and lo
the teraphim [are] on the bed
and the mattress of goats' [hair]
[for]
his pillows.
And when the messengers were come in
.... To
David's house
and into the room where he was supposed to lie:
behold
there was an image in the bed to their great
surprise; they expected to see David
but instead of him the teraphim
as
in 1 Samuel 19:13; if
they had been in the room before
and thought they had seen David in the bed
they might be the more surprised to find that it was only an image they saw:
with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster; See Gill on 1 Samuel 19:13.
1 Samuel 19:17 17 Then Saul said to Michal
“Why have you deceived me like this
and sent my enemy away
so that he has
escaped?” And Michal answered Saul
“He said to me
‘Let me go! Why should I
kill you?’”
YLT
17And Saul saith unto Michal
`Why thus hast thou deceived me -- that thou dost send away mine enemy
and he
is escaped?' and Michal saith unto Saul
`He said unto me
Send me away: why do
I put thee to death?'
And Saul said unto Michal
.... After the messengers
returned and reported what they had seen
when Saul either came to her at her
house
or sent for her to his palace:
why hast thou deceived me so; for deceiving his
messengers was deceiving him
by pretending David was sick and in bed
when she
had placed an image there
and had let him down through a window
and he was gone:
and sent away mine enemy
that he is escaped? as if she was
more obliged to gratify the wicked passion of a father
than to provide for the
safety of her husband:
and Michal answered Saul
he said unto me
let me go
why should I
kill thee? though she was concerned for the preservation of her husband
yet not for his honour and credit
nor for her own veracity; she attempted not
to vindicate her husband from the charge of being an enemy to Saul
as she
might; but suggested that he was so desperate a man
that if she had offered to
have detained him
he would have murdered her
and threatened
if she did
he
would do when both were false; that he should say to her let me go
when it was
she that advised him to go
and that if she refused he would kill her; which
lies were framed by her to excuse herself
at the expense of her husband's
reputation.
1 Samuel 19:18 18 So David fled and escaped
and went to Samuel at Ramah
and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he
and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth.
YLT
18And David hath fled
and is
escaped
and cometh in unto Samuel to Ramath
and declareth to him all that
Saul hath done to him
and he goeth
he and Samuel
and they dwell in Naioth.
So David fled and escaped
.... Fled from his own
house
and escaped falling into the hands of the messengers of Saul
and so of
Saul himself:
and came to Samuel to Ramah; the place where Samuel
dwelt: to him David chose to come
by whom he had been anointed king
that his
faith might be strengthened by him with respect to the kingdom
which might be
weakened by what had happened to him; and that he might have some advice and
direction from him what he should do
and what course he should take in his
present circumstances
and that he might receive some comfort from him under
his present troubles:
and told him all that Saul had done to him; how he had
spoken to his servants to kill him
had cast a javelin at him himself
and had
sent messengers to his house to slay him:
and he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth; which was in
or near to Ramah
as appears by 1 Samuel 19:19;
which perhaps was a more retired place
and so chosen for the sake of
conversation between them
or reckoned a more safe place. Here being a school
or college of the prophets
might be a kind of an asylum
and where it might be
thought Saul would not attempt to lay hands on David
should he know where he
was; for if the Philistines gave no disturbance to the hill of God
and the
prophets in it
1 Samuel 10:5; it
might be reasonably concluded Saul would not; so the Targum paraphrases it
"he and Samuel went and dwelt in the house of doctrine"
or in the
school
the school of the prophets. R. Abimi the Nothite
or Naiothite
mentioned in the TalmudF9T. Bab. Sabbat
c. 1. fol. 17. 2. Avodah
Zarah
c. 2. fol. 36. 1.
is supposedF11Aruch in voce נוות
fol. 98. 4. Juchasin
fol. 74. 2. to be of this
place; it is saidF12Adrichom
Theatrum T. S. fol. 28. 2. to be six
miles from Jerusalem to the north.
1 Samuel 19:19 19 Now it was told Saul
saying
“Take note
David is at Naioth in Ramah!”
YLT
19And it is declared to Saul
saying
`Lo
David [is] in Naioth in Ramah.'
And it was told Saul
.... By some officious
persons who saw David at Ramah
and observed that he and Samuel went together
to Naioth:
saying
behold
David is at Naioth
in Ramah; or near it; according
to R. Isaiah
Ramah was the name of a hill
or mountain
so called from its
height
and Naioth the name of a place on it; it signifies pastures and
pleasant places
as meadows and pastures are; and here in the fields near Ramah
was the house of doctrine
as the Targum calls it
or the school of the
prophets
being pleasant and retired
and fit for study.
1 Samuel 19:20 20 Then Saul sent messengers
to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying
and Samuel
standing as leader over them
the Spirit of God came upon the messengers
of Saul
and they also prophesied.
YLT
20And Saul sendeth messengers
to take David
and they see the assembly of the prophets prophesying
and
Samuel standing
set over them
and the Spirit of God is on Saul's messengers
and they prophesy -- they also.
And Saul sent messengers to take David
....
Notwithstanding the sacred place he was in
so bent was he upon his
destruction:
and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying; or praising
as the Targum; singing hymns and songs of praise to God
under the inspiration
and influence of the Spirit of God
who endited these songs for them
and
excited them to sing them; these prophets belonged to the school or college of
prophets at Naioth
whom the messengers saw when they came thither
and found
them thus employed; or "when he saw"F13וירא
"et vidit"
Montanus
Vatablus
Tigurine version; "et vidit
quisque vel unusquisque illorum"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator.
for the word is singular
that is
the chief of the messengers
or
everyone of them
so Kimchi:
and Samuel standing as appointed over them; he was
president of the college
and he stood to instruct and teach them in the
knowledge of divine things: so the Targum
"standing
teaching over them or
by them
'and to direct and assist them in singing their songs of praise:
the Spirit of the Lord was upon the messengers of Saul
and they
also prophesied: or praised
as the Targum; sung hymns and songs of praise as the
prophets did
and were so taken up with these religious exercises
that they
forgot
or were inattentive to the business they were sent to do. Ben Gersom
thinks they foretold things to come
and so Abarbinel; and particularly that
they prophesied that David should rule over all Israel
and that God would not
suffer Saul to slay him; and so were indifferent to
and negligent of doing the
errand they were sent on
yea
purposely avoided it.
1 Samuel 19:21 21 And when Saul was told
he
sent other messengers
and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers
again the third time
and they prophesied also.
YLT
21And they declare [it] to
Saul
and he sendeth other messengers
and they prophesy -- they also; and Saul
addeth and sendeth messengers a third time
and they prophesy -- they also.
And when it was told Saul
.... That the messengers
he had sent
instead of seizing on David
were prophesying of him
or however
were attending to services of a different nature than what they were sent upon:
he sent other messengers
and they prophesied likewise; when they
came to the same place:
and Saul sent messengers again a third time
and they prophesied
also; joined the rest in singing praises
or foretelling future
events.
1 Samuel 19:22 22 Then he also went to
Ramah
and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked
and
said
“Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said
“Indeed they
are at Naioth in Ramah.”
YLT
22And he goeth -- he also --
to Ramath
and cometh in unto the great well which [is] in Sechu
and asketh
and saith
`Where [are] Samuel and David?' and [one] saith
`Lo
in Naioth in
Ramah.'
Then went he also to Ramah
.... That is
Saul; his
messengers not returning to him
when he sent one after another to take David
at length he set out himself from Gibeah to Ramah:
and came to a great well that is in Sechu; which was
either the name of a man
the owner of the well
or a place near to which the
well was
and is commonly thought to be the same with Shochoh
1 Samuel 17:1; at
such places there was generally a concourse of people at certain times
to
fetch water for the inhabitants of the place
and for the watering of flocks
and herds
and so a proper place to stop at
and ask the following questions:
and he asked and said
where are Samuel and David? for his
messengers not returning to him
he could not be sure where they now were
though he had heard they were at Naioth:
and one said
behold
they be at Naioth in Ramah; at the house
of doctrine
or school in Ramah
as the Targum; thus one at the well replied
in answer to his question
who had seen them go there
or knew they were there.
1 Samuel 19:23 23 So he went there to Naioth
in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also
and he went on and
prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
YLT
23And he goeth thither --
unto Naioth in Ramah
and the Spirit of God is upon him -- him also; and he
goeth
going on
and he prophesyeth till his coming in to Naioth in Ramah
And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah
.... He went
on from the well towards the place:
and the Spirit of God was upon him also; as well as
upon his messengers; even the spirit of prophecy
as the Targum:
and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah: in this he
differed from his messengers; they did not prophesy till they came to that
place
but Saul began to prophesy before he came thither
as he was in his way
from the well to it.
1 Samuel 19:24 24 And he also stripped off
his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner
and lay down naked all
that day and all that night. Therefore they say
“Is Saul also among the
prophets?”[a]
YLT
24and he strippeth off -- he
also -- his garments
and prophesieth -- he also -- before Samuel
and falleth
down naked all that day and all the night; therefore they say
`Is Saul also
among the prophets?'
And he stripped off his clothes also
.... Not all
his clothes
but his upper garments
as men in such circumstances used to do
as the prophets sometimes did
and as it seems his messengers had done;
according to Jarchi
R. Isaiah
and othersF14Vid. Hieron. Trad. Heb.
in lib. Reg. fol. 76. G.
he stripped himself of his royal robes
and put on
the habit of the scholars
the disciples
and sons of the prophets:
and prophesied before Samuel in like manner
as the
messengers had done
singing such like songs
or foretelling such like things
as they did; he and they speaking not of themselves
but as they were moved by
the Holy Spirit of prophecy; for such gifts have sometimes been bestowed on men
that were destitute of the grace of God
as Balaam
Caiaphas
and others:
and lay down: or "fell down"F15ויפל "et cecidit"
V. L. Pagninus
Montanus
"et corruit"
Vatablus.
as persons in an ecstasy or trance: and lay
naked all that day
and all that night; not entirely
naked
both without his upper garment or royal robes
or else his armour; so an
unarmed man is said to be naked
though otherwise he has his clothes on: thus
Gelon having conquered the Carthaginians
and made himself master of all
Sicily
went into the forum "naked" (i.e. unarmed)
and declared he
would restore the government to the citizens
wherefore a naked statue for him
was erected in the temple of JunoF16Aelian. Var. Hist. l. 6. c. 11.
; so Quinctius Cincinnatus was found ploughing nakedF17Aurel.
Victor. de Vir. Illustr. c. 20.
who cannot be supposed to be without any
clothes on him. Jarchi
from Menachem
reports
that he had heard from an
Arabian
that the word the Targum makes use of for "naked"
signifies
in the Arabic language
one that is furious or mad
as persons in an
ecstasy
or under a prophetic spirit
sometimes seemed to be; now Saul was kept
and held in such circumstances a whole day and night
that David might have an
opportunity of making his escape
and getting at such a distance from him that
he could not overtake him:
wherefore they say
is Saul also among the prophets? this became a
common saying
a proverbial expression
at least was now revived and observed
with admiration; that Saul
who had behaved himself in so ill a manner
as an
enemy to so good a man
should be found among the prophets of the Lord
and
prophesying as they did.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)