Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Samuel 18:11

"and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice." — 1 Samuel 18:11 (ASV)

And Saul cast the javelin. — The Alexandrian manuscript of the Septuagint and the Chaldee Version translate the Hebrew here “lifted the javelin.” The probable meaning of the verb in this place is “brandished,” or “aimed.” It is hardly credible that if he actually threw it, David would have trusted himself a second time in the king’s chamber.