Topical Bible: Saul: King of Israel: His Jealousy of David

◄ Saul: King of Israel: His Jealousy of David ►

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Saul, the first king of Israel, was anointed by the prophet Samuel as chosen by God to lead His people (1 Samuel 10:1). Saul's reign began with promise and divine favor, but his disobedience to God's commands led to his eventual downfall. A significant aspect of Saul's troubled kingship was his intense jealousy of David, the young shepherd who would later become his successor.

David's Rise and Saul's Initial Favor

David first entered Saul's service as a skilled harpist, brought to soothe the king's troubled spirit (1 Samuel 16:23). Saul initially found favor with David, making him his armor-bearer. However, David's victory over Goliath, the Philistine giant, marked a turning point in their relationship. The triumph brought David widespread acclaim, as the women of Israel sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7). This comparison ignited Saul's jealousy, as he perceived David as a threat to his throne.

Saul's Growing Envy and Attempts on David's Life

Saul's jealousy quickly turned to fear and hostility. The Bible records, "Saul was very angry, and this song displeased him. 'They have ascribed to David tens of thousands,' he said, 'but to me they have ascribed only thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?'" (1 Samuel 18:8). From that day forward, Saul kept a wary eye on David.

Saul's envy manifested in multiple attempts to kill David. He first tried to pin David to the wall with a spear while David played the harp (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Despite this, David continued to serve Saul faithfully, even as Saul's fear and jealousy deepened. Saul's attempts to eliminate David included sending him into dangerous battles, hoping he would fall by the hand of the Philistines (1 Samuel 18:17, 25).

Jonathan's Intervention and Saul's Continued Pursuit

Jonathan, Saul's son, and David formed a deep friendship, with Jonathan recognizing David's anointing and covenanting with him (1 Samuel 18:3-4). Jonathan intervened on David's behalf, speaking well of him to Saul and temporarily reconciling the two (1 Samuel 19:4-6). However, Saul's jealousy soon resurfaced, and he continued to pursue David relentlessly.

David fled from Saul, living as a fugitive. Despite Saul's pursuit, David consistently refused to harm Saul, respecting him as the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 24:6, 26:9). David's restraint highlighted the contrast between his character and Saul's growing paranoia and insecurity.

Saul's Spiritual Decline

Saul's jealousy of David was symptomatic of his broader spiritual decline. His disobedience to God's commands, such as sparing King Agag and the best of the Amalekite livestock (1 Samuel 15:9), led to God's rejection of his kingship. Samuel conveyed God's judgment, saying, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you" (1 Samuel 15:28).

Saul's jealousy and fear of David were compounded by his separation from God's guidance. The Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and he was tormented by an evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14). In his desperation, Saul even sought counsel from a medium, further illustrating his spiritual decline (1 Samuel 28:7).

Legacy of Jealousy

Saul's jealousy of David serves as a cautionary tale of the destructive power of envy and the consequences of turning away from God's will. His inability to accept God's plan and his relentless pursuit of David ultimately led to his tragic end on the battlefield against the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:4). Saul's life and reign are a testament to the importance of obedience to God and the dangers of allowing jealousy and fear to overshadow faith and trust in the Lord's providence.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
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Library

First and Second Samuel.
... The importance of respect for existing forms of government-see David's attitude
toward Saul. ... is given the story of the career of David while king of Israel. ...
/.../the way of salvation in the lutheran church/chapter viii first and second.htm

Faithful unto Death.
... Saul was afraid of David. He was afraid that God was preparing him to be king over
Israel, so he sent him into battle, hoping he would be killed, but ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxi faithful unto death.htm

The Reign of Saul.
... 1) There is given the story of the madness of Saul and the ... which David kills Goliath,
the giant that was defying Israel, and won great honor from the king. ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter x the reign of.htm

David the Outcast.
... For seven years King Saul hunted David from one end of the land of Israel to the ...
Saul heard of it and took three thousand men to hunt for him among the ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxii david the outcast.htm

A Soul's Tragedy
... Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets ... But all Israel and Judah
loved David, because he ... I. The first stage was Saul's jealousy of David's ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a souls tragedy.htm

The Reign of David.
... He not only defended Israel but subdued other nations. ... career and was caused after
becoming king to extend kindness to the house of Saul, his enemy.2 Sam ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter xi the reign of.htm

The Bright Dawn of a Reign
... he had won the regard of Achish, the Philistine king of Gath ... accompanied him with
his contingent, in the invasion of Israel, which crushed Saul's house at ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the bright dawn of a.htm

Samuel
... and he takes refuge with his country's enemy, the Philistine king of Gath ... At the
decisive battle between Israel and the Philistines on Gilboa, Saul perishes ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/samuel.htm

How David, when He had Recovered his Kingdom, was Reconciled to ...
... 3. Mephibosheth also, Saul's grandson, met David, clothed in a ... said he, "if you be
for the king, follow Joab ... Sheba through all the country of Israel, one told ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 11 how david when.htm

The First Kings.
... The king, contrasting the size and known prowess of ... strong confidence that the God
of Israel, who had ... people lavished on David excited Saul's jealousy, and he ...
/.../headley/half hours in bible lands volume 2/the first kings.htm