1 Samuel 19
Saul's Attempts to Kill David
1Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David.
2Jonathan told David, saying, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, live in a secret place, and hide yourself.
3I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you; and if I see anything, I will tell you.”
4Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you;
5for he put his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”
6Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan; and Saul swore, “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”
7Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
8There was war again. David went out and fought with the Philistines, and killed them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him.
9An evil spirit from the LORD was on Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing music with his hand.
10Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence; and he stuck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night.
11Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you don’t save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.”
12So Michal let David down through the window. He went away, fled, and escaped.
13Michal took the teraphim and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head and covered it with clothes.
14When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
15Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”
16When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head.
17Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?” Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”
David Flees to Samuel at Ramah
18Now David fled and escaped, and came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and lived in Naioth.
19Saul was told, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.”
20Saul sent messengers to seize David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, God’s Spirit came on Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied.
21When Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.
22Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” One said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”
23He went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then God’s Spirit came on him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24He also stripped off his clothes. He also prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Saul's jealousy toward David escalates into open attempts on his life, but David finds protection through loyal allies and divine intervention. Jonathan successfully intercedes for David temporarily, but Saul's murderous intent soon returns, forcing David to flee with help from his wife Michal. When David seeks refuge with Samuel at Ramah, God's Spirit repeatedly overcomes Saul's messengers and eventually Saul himself, demonstrating divine protection over the future king.
Context
This chapter marks the definitive break between Saul and David, transitioning from the previous chapter's growing tension to David's life as a fugitive that will dominate the following chapters.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-7Jonathan's Intercession for DavidJonathan warns David of Saul's murderous plans and successfully advocates for his friend, temporarily restoring David to favor.
- 8-10Saul's Renewed AttackAfter David's military success against the Philistines, an evil spirit again prompts Saul to attempt killing David with a spear.
- 11-17Michal's Deception and David's EscapeDavid's wife Michal helps him escape through a window and deceives Saul's messengers with a household idol in David's bed.
- 18-24Divine Protection at RamahDavid flees to Samuel at Ramah, where God's Spirit causes Saul's messengers and eventually Saul himself to prophesy instead of capturing David.
Saul's Attempts to Kill David
19:1–19:17Saul repeatedly attempts to kill David, but Jonathan intercedes and Michal helps David escape. Despite temporary reconciliation, Saul's jealousy and murderous intent persist, forcing David to flee for his life.
person_contrast
Jonathan's Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh has given" creates bitter irony as he protects the very gift—David—that his father Saul desperately seeks to destroy.
David Flees to Samuel at Ramah
19:18–19:24David flees to Samuel at Ramah, and when Saul sends messengers to capture him, God's Spirit causes them to prophesy instead. Even Saul himself is overcome by the Spirit and prophesies, preventing David's capture.
person_contrast
David's flight to Samuel transforms him from warrior-king into passive recipient of prophetic protection, as God's Spirit weaponizes ecstatic prophecy against Saul's military pursuit.
1 Samuel 19:2
2 Samuel 1:4lexicalDavid said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the…
Isaiah 45:19lexicalI have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vai…
2 Samuel 1:5lexicalDavid said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
1 Samuel 19:5
Proverbs 1:11lexicalIf they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
2 Kings 21:16lexicalMoreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; in addition to h…
1 Samuel 19:7
1 Samuel 10:11lexicalWhen all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said to one another, “Wh…
1 Samuel 14:21lexicalNow the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they…
2 Samuel 5:2lexicalIn times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. The LORD said to you, ‘You will be shep…
1 Samuel 4:7lexicalThe Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp.” They said, “Woe to us! For there has not been…
2 Samuel 1:4lexicalDavid said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the…
1 Samuel 19:8
1 Samuel 4:10lexicalThe Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and each man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter; for th…
1 Samuel 23:5lexicalDavid and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their livestock, and killed them with…
1 Samuel 31:1lexicalNow the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain o…
1 Chronicles 10:1lexicalNow the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain o…
1 Samuel 19:9
1 Samuel 18:10lexicalOn the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David play…
1 Samuel 16:23lexicalWhen the spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed and was well,…
1 Samuel 19:10
1 Samuel 18:11lexicaland Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
1 Samuel 26:7lexicalSo David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with hi…
1 Samuel 27:1lexicalDavid said in his heart, “I will now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I shou…
1 Samuel 19:11
2 Samuel 3:14lexicalDavid sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I was given to marry for one h…
1 Samuel 18:20lexicalMichal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
1 Samuel 11:9lexicalThey said to the messengers who came, “Tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you will be…
2 Kings 19:35lexicalThat night, the LORD’s angel went out and struck one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians. When men…
1 Samuel 19:12
1 Chronicles 15:29lexicalAs the ark of the LORD’s covenant came to David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw ki…
2 Samuel 6:16lexicalAs the LORD’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window and saw King David l…
Joshua 2:15lexicalThen she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wal…
1 Samuel 19:18
1 Samuel 28:3lexicalNow Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. Saul had sent awa…
1 Samuel 15:34lexicalThen Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
1 Samuel 27:4lexicalSaul was told that David had fled to Gath, so he stopped looking for him.
1 Samuel 19:20
1 Samuel 15:12lexicalSamuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and Samuel was told, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up…
1 Samuel 11:7lexicalHe took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, then sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messen…
1 Samuel 19:24
Job 22:6lexicalFor you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
1 Samuel 28:20lexicalThen Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of Samuel’s words. There was no stre…
1 Chronicles 10:8lexicalOn the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
1 Samuel 31:8lexicalOn the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa…
1 Kings 22:10lexicalNow the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an…
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