New American Standard Bible 1995
1 Samuel 18
Jonathan and David
1Now it cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about when he had finishedכְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ke.kha.lo.ToH3615speakingלְדַבֵּ֣רle.da.BerH1696to Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586, thatthe soulוְנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ve.Ne.feshH5315of Jonathanיְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ןye.Ho.na.TanH3083was knitנִקְשְׁרָ֖הnik.she.RahH7194to the soulבְּנֶ֣פֶשׁbe.Ne.feshH5315of Davidדָּוִ֑דda.VidH1732, andJonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֖ןye.ho.na.TanH3083lovedוַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֥הוּvai.ye.'e.ha.vovH157him as himselfכְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ke.naf.ShoH5315.
4Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֗ןye.ho.na.TanH3083strippedוַיִּתְפַּשֵּׁ֣טvai.yit.pa.ShetH6584himself of the robeהַמְּעִיל֙ha.me.'IlH4598that was on him and gaveוַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּvai.yi.te.Ne.huH5414it to Davidלְדָוִ֑דle.da.VidH1732,with his armorוּמַדָּ֕יוu.ma.DavH4055,includingH5704his swordחַרְבּ֥וֹchar.BoH2719and his bowקַשְׁתּ֖וֹkash.ToH7198and his beltחֲגֹרֽוֹ׃cha.go.RoH2290.
5So Davidדָוִ֜דda.VidH1732wentוַיֵּצֵ֨אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out whereverבְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨רbe.Khol 'a.SherH3605H834Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586sentיִשְׁלָחֶ֤נּוּyish.la.Che.nuH7971him, andprosperedיַשְׂכִּ֔ילyas.KilH7919;and Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586setוַיְשִׂמֵ֣הוּvay.si.Me.huH7760him overעַ֖ל'alH5921the menH376of warהַמִּלְחָמָ֑הha.mil.cha.MahH4421.And it was pleasingוַיִּיטַב֙vai.yi.TavH3190in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of allכָל־khol-H3605the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971and alsoוְגַ֕םve.GamH1571in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֖יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Saul’sשָׁאֽוּל׃ פsha.'UlH7586servantsעַבְדֵ֥י'av.DeiH5650.
6It happenedוַיְהִ֣יvay.HiH1961as they were comingבְּבוֹאָ֗םbe.vo.'AmH935,when Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732returnedבְּשׁ֤וּבbe.ShuvH7725from killingמֵהַכּ֣וֹתme.ha.KotH5221the Philistineהַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יha.pe.lish.TiH6430, thatthe womenהַנָּשִׁ֜יםha.na.ShimH802cameוַתֵּצֶ֨אנָהva.te.Tze.nahH3318out of allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605the citiesעָרֵ֤י'a.ReiH5892of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478,singingלָשִׁ֣ירla.shorH7891and dancingוְהַמְּחֹל֔וֹתve.ha.me.cho.LotH4246,to meetלִקְרַ֖אתlik.RatH7122Kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586,with tambourinesבְּתֻפִּ֥יםbe.tu.PimH8596,with joyבְּשִׂמְחָ֖הbe.sim.ChahH8057and withmusicalH7991instrumentsH7991.
7The womenהַנָּשִׁ֥יםha.na.ShimH802sangH6031as theyplayedהַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹתham.sa.cha.KotH7832,and saidוַתֹּאמַ֑רְןָva.to.Mar.naH559, “Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586has slainהִכָּ֤הhi.KahH5221his thousandsבַּאֲלָפָ֔יוba.'el.fovH505,And Davidוְדָוִ֖דve.da.VidH1732his tenH7233thousandsבְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃be.ri.vo.TavH7233.”
8Then Saulלְשָׁא֜וּלle.sha.'UlH7586becameH2734veryמְאֹ֗דme.'OdH3966angryH2734,for thisהַזֶּ֔הha.ZehH2088sayingהַדָּבָ֣רha.da.VarH1697displeasedוַיֵּ֤רַע בְּעֵינָיו֙vai.Ye.ra' be.'ei.NavH7489H5869him; and he saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “They have ascribedנָתְנ֤וּna.te.NuH5414to Davidלְדָוִד֙le.da.VidH1732tenרְבָב֔וֹתre.va.VotH7233thousandsH7233,but to me they have ascribedנָתְנ֖וּna.te.NuH5414thousandsהָאֲלָפִ֑יםha.'a.la.FimH505. Nowwhat moreוְע֥וֹדve.'odH5750can he have but the kingdomהַמְּלוּכָֽה׃ha.me.lu.KhahH4410?”
Saul Turns against David
10Now it cameוַיְהִ֣יvay.HiH1961about on the nextמִֽמָּחֳרָ֗תmi.mo.cho.RatH4283dayH4283thatan evilרָעָ֤ה׀ra.'AhH7451spiritרוּחַ֩ru.aChH7307from Godאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀'E.lo.HimH430cameH6743mightilyH6743upon Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586, andhe ravedוַיִּתְנַבֵּ֣אvai.yit.na.Be'H5012in the midstבְתוֹךְ־ve.tokh-H8432of the houseהַבַּ֔יִתha.Ba.yitH1004,while Davidוְדָוִ֛דve.da.VidH1732was playingמְנַגֵּ֥ןme.na.GenH5059the harpwith his handבְּיָד֖וֹbe.ya.DoH3027,as usualH3117; anda spearוְהַחֲנִ֖יתve.ha.cha.NitH2595wasin Saul’sשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7586handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027.
11Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586hurledוַיָּ֤טֶלvai.Ya.telH2904the spearהַחֲנִ֔יתha.cha.NitH2595for he thoughtוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I willpinאַכֶּ֥ה'a.KehH5221Davidבְדָוִ֖דve.da.VidH1732to the wallוּבַקִּ֑ירu.va.KirH7023.”But Davidדָּוִ֛דda.VidH1732escapedוַיִּסֹּ֥בvai.yi.SoH5437from his presenceמִפָּנָ֖יוmi.pa.NavH6440twiceפַּעֲמָֽיִם׃pa.'a.Ma.yimH6471.
13Therefore Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586removedוַיְסִרֵ֤הוּvay.si.Re.huH5493him fromhis presenceמֵֽעִמּ֔וֹme.'i.MoH5973and appointedוַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּvay.si.Me.huH7760him as his commanderשַׂר־sar-H8269of a thousandאָ֑לֶף'A.lefH505; andhe wentוַיֵּצֵ֥אvai.ye.Tze'H3318out and cameוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935in beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440the peopleהָעָֽם׃ פha.'AmH5971.
17Then Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732, “Hereהִנֵּה֩hi.NehH2009is my olderהַגְּדוֹלָ֤הha.ge.do.LahH1419daughterבִתִּ֨יvi.TiH1323Merabמֵרַב֙me.RavH4764;I will giveאֶתֶּן־'e.ten-H5414her to you as a wifeלְאִשָּׁ֔הle.'i.ShahH802,onlyאַ֚ךְ'akhH389be a valiantחַ֔יִלCha.yilH2428manלְבֶן־le.ven-H1121for me and fightוְהִלָּחֵ֖םve.hi.la.ChemH3898the Lord’sיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068battlesמִלְחֲמ֣וֹתmil.cha.MotH4421.”For Saulוְשָׁא֣וּלve.sha.'UlH7586thoughtאָמַ֗ר'a.MarH559, “My handיָדִי֙ya.DiH3027shall not be against him, butlet the handיַד־yad-H3027of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ סpe.lish.TimH6430be against him.”
18But Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Saulשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlH7586, “Whoמִ֤יmiH4310am I, and whatוּמִ֣יu.MiH4310is my lifeחַיַּ֔יchai.YaiH2416ormy father’sאָבִ֖י'a.ViH1familyמִשְׁפַּ֥חַתmish.Pa.chatH4940in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,that I should be the king’sלַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃la.Me.lekhH4428son-in-lawחָתָ֖ןcha.TanH2860?”
19So it cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about at the timeבְּעֵ֥תbe.'EtH6256when Merabמֵרַ֥בme.RavH4764,Saul’sשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586daughterבַּת־bat-H1323,should have been givenתֵּ֛תtetH5414to Davidלְדָוִ֑דle.da.VidH1732,that she was givenנִתְּנָ֛הni.te.NahH5414toAdrielלְעַדְרִיאֵ֥לle.'ad.ri.'ElH5741the Meholathiteהַמְּחֹלָתִ֖יha.me.cho.la.TiH4259for a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃le.'i.ShahH802.
David Marries Saul’s Daughter
21Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586thoughtוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “I will giveאֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה'et.te.Ne.nahH5414her to him that she may becomeH1961a snareלְמוֹקֵ֔שׁle.mo.KeshH4170to him, andthat the handיַד־yad-H3027of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430may be against him.” Therefore Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732, “For a secondH8147timeH8147you may be my son-in-lawתִּתְחַתֵּ֥ןtit.cha.TenH2859todayהַיּֽוֹם׃hai.YomH3117.”
22Then Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586commandedוַיְצַ֨וvay.TzavH6680his servantsעֲבָדָ֗יו'a.va.DavH5650, “Speakדַּבְּר֨וּda.be.RuH1696to Davidדָּוִ֤דda.VidH1732secretlyבַּלָּט֙ba.LatH3909,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, ‘Beholdהִנֵּ֨הhi.NehH2009,the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428delightsחָפֵ֤ץcha.FetzH2654in you, and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605his servantsעֲבָדָ֖יו'a.va.DavH5650loveאֲהֵב֑וּךָ'a.he.Vu.khaH157you; nowוְעַתָּ֖הve.'a.TahH6258therefore, becomeH2859the king’sבַּמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ba.Me.lekhH4428son-in-lawH2859.’”
23So Saul’sשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586servantsעַבְדֵ֤י'av.DeiH5650spokeוַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּvay.da.be.RuH1696theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהha.'E.lehH428wordsהַדְּבָרִ֖יםha.de.va.RimH1697to Davidדָוִ֔דda.VidH1732.But Davidדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Is it trivialהַֽנְקַלָּ֤הhan.ka.LahH7043in your sightבְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ve.'ei.nei.KhemH5869to becomeH2859the king’sבַּמֶּ֔לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428son-in-lawH2859,since I amH7326a poorרָ֥שׁrashH7326manאִֽישׁ־'ish-H376and lightlyוְנִקְלֶֽה׃ve.nik.LehH7034esteemedH7034?”
25Saulשָׁא֜וּלsha.'UlH7586then saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Thusכֹּֽה־koh-H3541you shall sayתֹאמְר֣וּto.me.RuH559to Davidלְדָוִ֗דle.da.VidH1732, ‘The kingלַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙la.Me.lekhH4428does not desireחֵ֤פֶץChe.fetzH2656anydowryבְּמֹ֔הַרbe.Mo.harH4119exceptכִּ֗יKiH3588a hundredבְּמֵאָה֙be.me.'AhH3967foreskinsעָרְל֣וֹתa.re.LotH6190of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430,to takeH5358vengeanceH5358on the king’sהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428enemiesH340.’” NowSaulוְשָׁא֣וּלve.sha.'UlH7586plannedחָשַׁ֔בcha.ShavH2803to make Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732fallלְהַפִּ֥ילle.ha.PilH5307by the handבְּיַד־be.yad-H3027of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃pe.lish.TimH6430.
26When his servantsעֲבָדָ֤יו'a.va.DavH5650toldוַיַּגִּ֨דוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046Davidלְדָוִד֙le.da.VidH1732theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428wordsH1697,it pleasedוַיִּשַׁ֤ר בְּעֵינֵ֣יvai.yi.Shar be.'ei.NeiH3474H5869Davidדָוִ֔דda.VidH1732to becomeH2859the king’sבַּמֶּ֑לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428son-in-lawH2859.Before the daysהַיָּמִֽים׃hai.ya.MimH3117had expiredמָלְא֖וּmal.'UH4390
27Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732roseוַיָּ֨קָםvai.Ya.komH6965up and wentוַיֵּ֣לֶךְ׀vai.Ye.lekhH1980,he and his menאִישׁ֒'ishH376,and struckH5221downוַיַּ֣ךְvai.YakhH5221two hundredמָאתַ֣יִםma.Ta.yimH3967menH376among the Philistinesבַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֮ba.pe.lish.TimH6430. ThenDavidדָוִד֙da.VidH1732broughtוַיָּבֵ֤אvai.ya.Ve'H935their foreskinsעָרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם'a.re.Lo.tei.HemH6190,and they gaveH4390them in fullוַיְמַלְא֣וּםvay.mal.'UmH4390number to the kingלַמֶּ֔לֶךְla.Me.lekhH4428,that he might becomeH2859the king’sבַּמֶּ֑לֶךְba.Me.lekhH4428son-in-lawH2859.So Saulשָׁא֛וּלsha.'UlH7586gaveוַיִּתֶּן־vai.yi.ten-H5414him Michalמִיכַ֥לmi.KhalH4324his daughterבִּתּ֖וֹbi.ToH1323for a wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃ סle.'i.ShahH802.
30Then the commandersשָׂרֵ֣יsa.ReiH8269of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֑יםfe.lish.TimH6430wentוַיֵּצְא֖וּvai.ye.tze.'UH3318out to battle,and it happenedוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961as oftenמִדֵּ֣יmi.DeiH1767as they wentצֵאתָ֗םtze.TamH3318out, that Davidדָּוִד֙da.VidH1732behavedH7919himself moreH4480wiselyH7919thanH4480allמִכֹּל֙mi.KolH3605the servantsעַבְדֵ֣י'av.DeiH5650of Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586.So his nameשְׁמ֖וֹshe.MoH8034was highlyמְאֹֽד׃ סme.'OdH3966esteemedוַיִּיקַ֥רvai.yi.KarH3365.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New American Standard Bible 1995 — © 1960–1995 The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Commentaries