Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
1 Kings (1 Samuel) Chapter 18
Overview
Sa1 18:1, Jonathan loves David; Sa1 18:5, Saul envies his praise; Sa1 18:10, seeks to kill him in his fury; Sa1 18:12, fears him for his good success; Sa1 18:17, offers him his daughters for a snare; Sa1 18:23, David persuaded to be the king's son-in-law, gives two hundred foreskins of the Philistines for Michal's dowry; Sa1 18:28, Saul's hatred and David's glory increase.
the soul of Jonathan: The modesty, piety, and courage of David were so congenial to the character of the amiable Jonathan, that they attracted his most cordial esteem and affection; so that the most intimate friendship subsisted between them from that time, and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. Their friendship could not be affected by the common vicissitudes of life; and it exemplifies by fact what the ancients have written on the subject.
Την φιλιαν ισοτητα ειναι, και μιαν ψυχην τον φιλον ετερον αυτον. "Friendship is an entire sameness, and one soul. a friend is another self." Sa1 14:1-14, Sa1 14:45; Gen 44:30; Jdg 20:11; Ch1 12:17; Psa 86:11; Col 2:2
loved him: Sa1 18:3, Sa1 19:2, Sa1 20:17; Deu 13:6; Sa2 1:26; Pro 18:24
took him: Sa1 16:21-23, Sa1 17:15
made a covenant: Sa1 20:8-17, Sa1 20:42, Sa1 23:18; Sa2 9:1-3, Sa2 21:7
stripped himself: Presents of clothes or rich robes, as tokens of respect or friendship, are frequent in the East. Gen 41:42; Est 6:8, Est 6:9; Isa 61:10; Luk 15:22; Co2 5:21; Phi 2:7, Phi 2:8
behaved: or, prospered, Sa1 18:14, Sa1 18:15, Sa1 18:30; Gen 39:2, Gen 39:3, Gen 39:23; Psa 1:3; Act 7:10
wisely: Mat 10:16; Eph 5:17; Col 4:5
the men of war: Sa1 13:2, Sa1 14:52
Philistine: or, Philistines
the women: Exo 15:20; Jdg 11:34; Psa 68:25; Jer 31:11-13
instruments of music: Heb. three stringed instruments, The original shalishim, is rendered by the Vulgate sistris. The sistrum was an ancient Egyptian instrument made of brass, with three, and sometimes more brass rods across; which, being loose in their holes, made a jingling noise when shaken.
answered: Exo 15:21; Psa 24:7, Psa 24:8
the saying: Est 3:5; Pro 13:10, Pro 27:4; Ecc 4:4; Jam 4:5
displeased him: Heb. was evil in his eyes, Num 11:1, Num 22:34 *marg.
and what: Sa1 13:14, Sa1 15:28, Sa1 16:13, Sa1 20:31; Kg1 2:22
eyed David: Gen 4:5, Gen 4:6, Gen 31:2; Mat 20:15; Mar 7:22; Eph 4:27; Jam 5:9
the evil spirit: Sa1 16:14, Sa1 16:15, Sa1 19:9, Sa1 26:19
and he prophesied: Wyyithnabbai, rather, "and he pretended to prophesy; for the verb is in Hithpael, the signification of which conjugation is not only reflex action, but also affectation of the action: Jer 29:26, Jer 29:27. The meaning seems to be, that Saul, influenced by the evil spirit, feigned to be prophesying, the better to conceal his murderous intentions, and to render David unsuspicious. Sa1 19:24; Kg1 18:29, Kg1 22:12, Kg1 22:20-23; Jer 28:2-4, Jer 28:11; Zac 13:2-5; Act 16:16; Th2 2:11
and there was: Wehachanith beyad Shaool, rather, "and the javelin was in the hand of Saul;" for the javelin or spear was the emblem of regal authority; and kings had it always in their hand, as may be seen represented on ancient monuments. In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a sceptre.
cast the javelin: Sa1 19:9, Sa1 19:10, Sa1 20:33; Pro 27:4; Isa 54:17
And David: Psa 37:32, Psa 37:33; Isa 54:17; Luk 4:30; Joh 8:59, Joh 10:39
afraid: Sa1 18:15, Sa1 18:20, Sa1 18:29, Sa1 16:4; Psa 48:3-6, Psa 53:5; Mar 6:20; Luk 8:37; Act 24:25
the Lord: Sa1 16:13, Sa1 16:18, Sa1 22:13; Act 7:9
departed: Sa1 16:14, Sa1 28:15; Psa 51:11; Hos 9:12; Mat 25:41
removed: Sa1 18:17, Sa1 18:25, Sa1 8:12, Sa1 22:7
he went out: Sa1 18:16; Num 27:16, Num 27:17; Sa2 5:2; Psa 121:8; Saul was sensible that the Lord was departed from him; while he perceived, with evident sorrow of heart, that the Lord had given David peculiar wisdom, and that he was with him to prosper all his undertakings. This increased the disquietude of his malevolent mind, and his dread of David as a prevailing rival. he therefore removed him from his presence. This impolitic step, however, served the more to ingratiate David with the people, by affording him the opportunity of leading them forth to victory over their enemies.
behaved: or, prospered, Sa1 18:5
the Lord: Sa1 10:7, Sa1 16:18; Gen 39:2, Gen 39:3, Gen 39:23; Jos 6:27; Mat 1:23, Mat 28:20; Act 18:10
wisely: Psa 112:5; Dan 6:4, Dan 6:5; Col 4:5; Jam 1:5, Jam 3:17
all Israel: Sa1 18:5; Luk 19:48, Luk 20:19
he went: Num 27:17; Sa2 5:2; Kg1 3:7
her will I give: Sa1 17:25; Psa 12:2, Psa 55:21
valiant: Heb. a son of valour
the Lord's: Sa1 17:47, Sa1 25:28; Num 32:20, Num 32:27, Num 32:29
Let not mine: Sa1 18:21, Sa1 18:25; Deu 17:7; Sa2 11:15, Sa2 12:9
Who am I: Sa1 18:23, Sa1 9:21; Exo 3:11; Rut 2:10; Sa2 7:18; Pro 15:33, Pro 18:12; Jer 1:6
Meholathite: Jdg 7:22
loved David: Sa1 18:28, Gen 29:18, Gen 29:20, Gen 34:3; Judg. 16, 4, 15; 2Sam. 13, 1; 1Kings 11, 1, 2; Hos 3:1-5, 2
pleased him: Heb. was right in his eyes
a snare: Exo 10:7; Psa 7:14-16, Psa 38:12; Pro 26:24-26, Pro 29:5; Jer 5:26, Jer 9:8
the hand: Sa1 18:17, Sa1 19:11, Sa1 19:12
this day: Sa1 18:26
commanded: Psa 36:1-3, Psa 55:21
servants: Sa2 13:28, Sa2 13:29; Pro 29:12
a light: Jo1 3:1
a poor man: Sa1 9:21; Pro 14:20, Pro 19:6, Pro 19:7; Ecc 9:15, Ecc 9:16
and lightly: Psa 119:141
On this manner: Heb. According to these words, Sa1 18:24
dowry: Gen 29:18, Gen 34:12; Exo 22:16, Exo 22:17
but an hundred: That is, Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines, and thou shalt produce their foreskins as a proof, not only that thou hast killed one hundred men, but that these are of the uncircumcised Philistines.
foreskins: Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36; Gen 17:11-14; Jos 5:3
to be avenged: Sa1 14:24
thought: Sa1 18:17; Sa2 17:8-11
the days: Sa1 18:21
expired: Heb. fulfilled
his men: Sa1 18:13
two hundred men: The Septuagint has only εκατον ανδπας, one hundred men; and as Saul covenanted for a hundred, as David himself says (Sa2 3:14), that he espoused Michal for a hundred, it is very probable that this is the true reading.
Sa1 24:20, Sa1 26:25; Gen 30:27, Gen 37:8-11, Gen 39:3; Rev 3:9
yet the: Sa1 18:12, Sa1 18:15; Psa 37:12-14; Ecc 4:4; Jam 2:19
Saul became: Gen 4:4-8; Joh 11:53; Jo1 3:12-15
the princes: Of this war we know no more than that David, whose military skill was greater, was more successful in it, than all the other officers of Saul.
went forth: Sa2 11:1
behaved himself: Sa1 18:5; Psa 119:99; Dan 1:20; Luk 21:15; Eph 5:15
set by: Heb. precious, Sa1 2:30, Sa1 26:21; Kg2 1:13; Psa 116:15; Pe1 2:4, Pe1 2:7