# 1 Samuel 19 š: David Flees from Saul
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Saul Repeatedly Attempts to Take Davidās Life
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saulās son Jonathan liked David very much.
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā So Jonathan told David, āMy father Saul is tryingĀ to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. FindĀ a hiding place and stay in seclusion.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak to my father about you. When I find out what the problem is,Ā I will let you know.ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā So Jonathan spoke on Davidās behalfĀ to his father Saul. He said to him, āThe king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficialĀ for you.
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā He risked his lifeĀ when he struck down the Philistine, and theĀ LordĀ gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?ā
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā Saul accepted Jonathanās adviceĀ and took an oath, āAs surely as theĀ LordĀ lives, he will not be put to death.āĀ
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā Now once again there was war. So David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them thoroughly,Ā and they ran away from him.Ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā Then an evil spirit from theĀ LordĀ came uponĀ Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.Ā
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saulās presence, and the spear drove into the wall. David escaped quicklyĀ that night.
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā Saul sent messengers to Davidās house to guard it and to kill him in the morning. Then Davidās wife Michal told him, āIf you do not save yourselfĀ tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!āĀ
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā So Michal lowered David through the window, and he ran away and escaped.
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā Then Michal took a household idolĀ and put it on the bed. She put a quiltĀ made of goatsā hair over its headĀ and then covered the idol with a garment.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā When Saul sent messengers to arrest David, she said, āHeās sick.ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, āBring him up to me on his bed so I can kill him.āĀ
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā When the messengers came, they found only the idol on the bed and the quilt made of goatsā hair at its head.
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā Saul said to Michal, āWhy have you deceived me this way by sending my enemy away? Now he has escaped!ā Michal replied to Saul, āHe said to me, āHelp me get away or else I will kill you!āā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā Now David had run away and escaped. He went to Samuel in Ramah and told him everything that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth.Ā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā It was reported to Saul saying, āDavid is at Naioth in Ramah.āĀ
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saulās messengers, and they also prophesied.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied.Ā
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā Finally Saulhimself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the large cistern that is in Secu, he asked, āWhere are Samuel and David?ā They said, āAt Naioth in Ramah.ā
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.Ā
[[#Verse 24.]]Ā He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay thereĀ naked all that day and night. (For that reason it is asked, āIs Saul also among the prophets?ā)
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Saul swore by the Lord that David would not be killed (19:6), but he soon broke that oath.
2. Saul threw his spear at David again, and it stuck in the wall (19:10).
3. The heading of Psalm 59 connects that psalm to when Saul sent men to watch David's house to kill him.
4. Michal let David down through a window (19:12), like Rahab with the spies (Joshua 2:15) and the believers with Paul (Acts 9:25).
5. Michal put a household idol (teraphim) in David's bed with goat hair at its head (19:13).
6. Rachel also hid her father's household idols (Genesis 31:19, 34), another daughter deceiving her father.
7. Naioth (19:18) may mean "dwellings" and was likely where Samuel's group of prophets lived in Ramah.
8. Saul sent three groups of messengers, and each began prophesying when they arrived (19:20-21).
9. Saul removed his clothes and lay before Samuel all day and night (19:24), a humbling scene for the king.
10. The proverb "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (19:24) appears again, first used in 10:11-12.
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Anointed One hunted by a jealous king yet protected by God until His hour. Saul tried to kill David (19:10-11), and Herod tried to kill the child Jesus, but God kept Him safe (Matthew 2:13-16).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. Jonathan spoke up for David at the risk of angering his father (19:4-5). When have you needed to speak up for someone?
2. Michal helped David escape through a window (19:12). How did God use different people to protect David?
3. Saul's messengers, and even Saul, were overcome by God's Spirit (19:20-24). What does this show about God's power over those who oppose Him?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verses 4-5: Jonathan speaks well of David and reminds Saul of the victory the Lord gave.
- š verse 12: Michal lets David down through a window, and he escapes.
- š verse 18: David flees to Samuel at Ramah.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[1 Samuel 10#Verse 10.|1 Samuel 10:10-12]] - The first time Saul prophesied.
- š [[Joshua 02#Verse 15.|Joshua 2:15]] - Rahab lets the spies down through a window.
- š [[Acts 09#Verse 23.|Acts 9:23-25]] - Paul escapes through a window in a basket.
- š [[Psalm 59#Verse 01.|Psalm 59:1-2]] - Rescue me from my enemies.
- š [[Matthew 02#Verse 13.|Matthew 2:13-16]] - God protects the child Jesus from Herod.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[1 Samuel 19 - SOAP|Overwhelmed by Godās Presence]]
## š Internal Notes