Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 18
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Samuel 18
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Samuel 18
"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." — 1 Samuel 18:1 (ASV)
Was knit with the soul of David - The same powerful phrase is used to describe Jacob’s love for Benjamin. Jonathan’s truly heroic character is shown in this generous love for David and admiration for his great deed.
"And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with instruments of music." — 1 Samuel 18:6 (ASV)
The Philistine - Rather as in the margin. The allusion is not to Goliath, but to one of the expeditions referred to in 1 Samuel 18:5.
Singing and dancing - Women used to dance to the sound of the timbrel, and to sing as they danced and played.
Instruments of music - The word means an instrument like the triangle, or one with three cords.
"And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." — 1 Samuel 18:7 (ASV)
As they played—or danced with vocal and instrumental music (see the note on Judges 16:25).
"And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?" — 1 Samuel 18:8 (ASV)
What can he have ... Rather, “There is only the kingdom left for him.” For the same sentiment, compare 1 Kings 2:22. As Camden says, “A kingdom tolerates no companion, and majesty more heavily takes injuries to heart.”
"And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. And Saul had his spear in his hand;" — 1 Samuel 18:10 (ASV)
He prophesied - This, as the effect of the evil spirit coming upon him, is unique to Saul but is supported by what we read in 1 Kings 22:22. (Acts 19:15; 1 John 4:1–3). It is impossible to give the sense of “raving” to the word “prophesied,” as though a merely natural state of frenzy were intended. The “prophesying” here was as directly the effect of the coming of the evil spirit upon Saul as the “prophesying” in 1 Samuel 10:10 was the effect of the Spirit of God coming upon him. At the same time, it is quite true that “madness” and “prophesyings” were considered to be closely related (2 Kings 9:11).
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