And the servants told Saul what David had said. And the servants of SaulThe phrase "servants of Saul" refers to the officials or attendants who served King Saul. In the Hebrew context, the word for "servants" is "עֲבָדִים" (avadim), which can also mean "slaves" or "workers." These individuals were part of Saul's court and played a crucial role in the administration of his kingdom. Historically, the role of royal servants was significant, as they were often the intermediaries between the king and the people. Their loyalty and actions could greatly influence the king's decisions, as seen in this passage. told him
The act of telling or reporting is significant in the biblical narrative. The Hebrew word used here is "וַיַּגִּדוּ" (vayaggidu), which means to declare or make known. This implies a formal communication, suggesting that the servants were conveying important information to Saul. In the context of ancient Israel, communication within the royal court was a structured process, and the accuracy of the message was crucial for the king's decision-making. saying
The word "saying" introduces direct speech, indicating that what follows is a verbatim account of David's words. In Hebrew, this is often represented by the word "לֵאמֹר" (le'mor), which serves as a quotation marker. This highlights the importance of the message being conveyed and sets the stage for the reader to pay close attention to the content of the speech. This is what David said
David, the future king of Israel, is central to this narrative. The phrase emphasizes the importance of David's words and actions. In the Hebrew text, the phrase is "כָּכָה אָמַר דָּוִד" (kakhah amar David), which translates to "thus said David." This construction underscores the authority and significance of David's statement. Historically, David's rise to prominence was marked by his wisdom and favor with God, which often put him at odds with Saul. The servants' report to Saul about David's words is a pivotal moment, reflecting the growing tension between Saul and David, and foreshadowing the eventual transfer of kingship. This passage invites readers to consider the providence of God in David's life and the unfolding of His divine plan for Israel. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidA young shepherd who was anointed by Samuel to be the future king of Israel. At this point in the account, David is gaining favor and recognition after defeating Goliath and serving in Saul's court. 2. SaulThe first king of Israel, who is becoming increasingly jealous and fearful of David's rising popularity and success. 3. Servants of SaulThese are the messengers or attendants who relay information between Saul and David. They play a role in the communication and unfolding events between the two main characters. 4. IsraelThe nation over which Saul is king and where these events are taking place. The political and spiritual climate of Israel is central to understanding the dynamics between Saul and David. 5. MichalSaul's daughter, who is in the context of this chapter, becomes a point of political maneuvering as Saul offers her to David in marriage. Teaching Points Communication and IntegrityThe role of Saul's servants in relaying messages highlights the importance of honest and clear communication. In our lives, we should strive to be truthful and transparent in our interactions. Jealousy and Its ConsequencesSaul's jealousy of David leads to destructive behavior. We must guard our hearts against jealousy, recognizing its potential to harm relationships and lead us away from God's will. God's SovereigntyDespite Saul's attempts to manipulate and control the situation, God's plan for David's future kingship remains intact. Trust in God's sovereignty and timing, even when circumstances seem challenging. Wisdom in RelationshipsDavid's interactions with Saul and his servants demonstrate the need for wisdom and discernment in dealing with complex relationships. Seek God's guidance in navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the role of Saul's servants in this passage illustrate the importance of communication in our own lives? 2. In what ways can jealousy manifest in our relationships, and how can we address it biblically? 3. How does understanding God's sovereignty in David's life encourage us to trust Him in our own circumstances? 4. What can we learn from David's response to Saul's manipulations about handling difficult relationships with grace and wisdom? 5. How do the events in 1 Samuel 18:24 connect to the broader account of David's journey to kingship, and what lessons can we draw from this for our personal spiritual journey? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 18:20-23These verses provide context for verse 24, detailing Saul's plan to use his daughter Michal as a snare for David, revealing Saul's manipulative intentions. 1 Samuel 16:13This verse describes David's anointing by Samuel, which sets the stage for his future as king and the tension with Saul. 1 Samuel 19:11-17This passage shows the continuation of Saul's attempts to harm David, highlighting the ongoing conflict and David's reliance on God for protection. People Adriel, David, Jonathan, Merab, Michal, SaulPlaces JerusalemTopics Account, David, Declare, Manner, Reported, Saul, Saying, Servants, Spake, Speak, Spoke, Spoken, ThusDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 18:17-25 8720 double-mindedness 1 Samuel 18:17-27 5695 girls 1 Samuel 18:17-29 5890 insecurity 1 Samuel 18:18-27 5738 sons 1 Samuel 18:20-27 5659 bride 1 Samuel 18:24-27 5325 gifts Library A Soul's Tragedy
'And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war; and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 6. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. 7. And the women answered one another as they played, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWar! War! War!
At the present crisis, the minds of men are exceedingly agitated with direful prospects of a terrible struggle. We know not whereunto this matter may grow. The signs of the times are dark and direful. We fear that the vials of God's wrath are about to be poured out, and that the earth will be deluged with blood. As long as there remains a hope, let us pray for peace, nay, even in the time of war let us still beseech the throne of God, crying, that he would "send us peace in our days." The war will …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS: I and II Samuel. I and II Kings. I and II Chronicles. NOTE.--As these three pairs of books are so closely related in their historical contents, it is deemed best to study them together, though they overlap the two divisions of IV and V. I. CHARTS Chart A. General Contents +--+ " I AND II SAMUEL " +-------------+-----+------+ "Samuel "Saul "David " +-------------+-----+------+----------+ " " " " I AND II KINGS "NOTE.--Biblical …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible The Exile.
David's first years at the court of Saul in Gibeah do not appear to have produced any psalms which still survive. "The sweetest songs are those Which tell of saddest thought." It was natural, then, that a period full of novelty and of prosperous activity, very unlike the quiet days at Bethlehem, should rather accumulate materials for future use than be fruitful in actual production. The old life shut to behind him for ever, like some enchanted door in a hill-side, and an unexplored land lay beckoning …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David Salvation Published from the Mountains
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! I t would be improper to propose an alteration, though a slight one, in the reading of a text, without bearing my testimony to the great value of our English version, which I believe, in point of simplicity, strength, and fidelity, is not likely to be excelled by a new translation …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 How the Poor and the Rich Should be Admonished.
(Admonition 3.) Differently to be admonished are the poor and the rich: for to the former we ought to offer the solace of comfort against tribulation, but in the latter to induce fear as against elation. For to the poor one it is said by the Lord through the prophet, Fear not, for thou shalt not be confounded (Isai. liv. 4). And not long after, soothing her, He says, O thou poor little one, tossed with tempest (Ibid. 11). And again He comforts her, saying, I have chosen thee in the furnace of …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Ramah. Ramathaim Zophim. Gibeah.
There was a certain Ramah, in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and that within sight of Jerusalem, as it seems, Judges 19:13; where it is named with Gibeah:--and elsewhere, Hosea 5:8; which towns were not much distant. See 1 Samuel 22:6; "Saul sat in Gibeah, under a grove in Ramah." Here the Gemarists trifle: "Whence is it (say they) that Ramah is placed near Gibea? To hint to you, that the speech of Samuel of Ramah was the cause, why Saul remained two years and a half in Gibeah." They blindly …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Samuel 18:24 NIV1 Samuel 18:24 NLT1 Samuel 18:24 ESV1 Samuel 18:24 NASB1 Samuel 18:24 KJV
1 Samuel 18:24 Commentaries
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