1 Samuel 19

This chapter falls in the middle of 1 Samuel and deals with the conflict between Saul and David. In 1 Samuel 18, Saul, jealous of David, hurled a javelin at him and gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. In this chapter Saul openly declares his intention to kill David, and David's life as a fugitive begins.

Outline

• Verses 1–7 Saul tells his son Jonathan and his servants to kill David. Jonathan warns David to hide and pleads with his father. Saul swears that he will not put David to death, and David returns to Saul's presence.
• Verses 8–10 War breaks out again, and David inflicts a great defeat on the Philistines. Afterward an evil spirit comes upon Saul, and while David is playing the harp, Saul hurls a javelin at him. David escapes and flees that night.
• Verses 11–17 Saul sends messengers to David's house. Michal lets David down through a window so that he can escape. She then lays an image in the bed, puts a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and claims that David is sick. When the deception is discovered, Michal tells Saul that David threatened her.
• Verses 18–24 David goes to Samuel at Ramah, and the two stay at Naioth. Saul sends messengers three times, and each group prophesies; when Saul himself goes, he too prophesies. Saul strips off his clothes and lies down all that day and all that night, and the text reports that this gave rise to the proverb "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Key Verses

• 1 Samuel 19:6 "As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain." — Saul soon breaks this oath, revealing his instability.
• 1 Samuel 19:12 "So Michal let David down through a window." — Members of Saul's own household protect David.
• 1 Samuel 19:24 "Is Saul also among the prophets?" — God intervenes to thwart Saul's plans.

Characters and Places

• Saul: The first king of Israel, who seeks to kill David.
• David: The warrior who defeated the Philistines, and Saul's son-in-law.
• Jonathan: Saul's son, who cherishes David and pleads with his father on his behalf.
• Michal: Saul's daughter and David's wife.
• Samuel: The prophet who leads the company of prophets.
• Philistines: A coastal people who fought against Israel.
• Ramah: Samuel's hometown.
• Naioth: A place within Ramah, thought to be where the company of prophets lived.
• Sechu: A place with a great well, on the way to Ramah.

Points for Reflection

• "The evil spirit from the LORD" in verse 9 connects with 1 Samuel 16:13–14. Some interpreters read it as a judgment permitted under God's sovereignty, while others see it as an expression of the deep torment Saul experienced.
• The image in verse 13 is generally understood to be a household idol, called teraphim in Hebrew. The text does not explain why it was in David's house.
• The prophesying in verses 20–24 is often understood as a form of group ecstatic experience. Saul's prophesying is frequently read not as a sign of blessing but as the means by which his plans are frustrated. Some interpreters understand "naked" to mean that he had removed only his outer garments.
• An account of the origin of the same proverb also appears in 1 Samuel 10.
• The superscription of Psalm 59 identifies the situation in verse 11 of this chapter as its background.
• The New Testament does not directly quote this chapter.
• The narrative continues with the parting of Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel 20.