1 Samuel 19

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19:1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.
19:2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 19:3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
19:4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: 19:5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 19:6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
19:7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things.
And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.
19:8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.
19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.
19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.
19:11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.
19:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.
19:13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.
19:14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.
19:15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
19:16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.
19:17 And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? 19:18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
19:19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
19:21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
19:22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
19:23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
19:24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

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Everything King James Bible:1 Samuel

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: 1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 19

Overview:
Jonathan reconciles his Father to David, Saul again tries to
slay him. (1-10) David flees to Samuel. (11-24)

1-10 How forcible are right words! Saul was, for a time,
convinced of the unreasonableness of his Enmity to David; but he
continued his malice against David. So incurable is the Hatred
of the seed of the Serpent against that of the Woman; So
deceitful and desperately wicked is the Heart of Man without the
Grace of God, Jer 17:9.

11-24 Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a
distance was allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea
of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not
influenced By the same Spirit of Piety which had dictated
Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God
his Refuge. Samuel, as a Prophet, was best able to advise him
what to do in this Day of distress. He met with little Rest or
satisfaction in Saul's Court, therefore went to seek it in
Samuel's Church. What little pleasure is to be had in this
world, those have who live a Life of Communion with God; to that
David returned in the time of trouble. So impatient was Saul
after David's Blood, So restless against him, that although
baffled By one Providence after another, he could not see that
David was under the special protection of God. And when God will
take this way to protect David, even Saul prophesies. Many have
great Gifts, yet No Grace; they may prophesy in Christ's name,
yet are disowned By him. Let us daily seek for renewing Grace,
which shall be in us as a Well of water springing up into
Everlasting Life. Let us cleave to Truth and Holiness with full
purpose of Heart. In every danger and trouble, let us seek
protection, comfort, and direction in God's ordinances.