This chapter relates the dangers David was exposed unto through Saul’s enmity at him, and his deliverance from them, as by the notice Jonathan gave him of his father’s designs against him, and by his kind interposition on his behalf, 1 Sam.

And Saul spake to Jonathan his son Who was heir to his crown; and though he knew he loved David, and was in strict friendship with him, yet he might hope, that as his succession to the kingdom was in danger, as he thought, and that David was his rival in it, his mind would be alienated from him;…

But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David In his company and conversation; he loved him with a love of complacency, and was constant and steadfast in it, and which was a kind providence to David; for by this means he came to the knowledge of Saul’s designs upon him, and could the better…

And I will go out In the morning, at the same time his father used to take his morning walk: and stand beside my father in the field where thou art; on that side of him next to David, that he might not see him, and yet be so near, that David might hear what passed between them: and I will commune…

And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father Observed to him what a good man be was, and what good things he had done, what wisdom and prudence he had shown in the management of all his affairs, what valour and courage in all his expeditions, what faithfulness and integrity to his king and…

For he did put his life in his hand Exposed himself to the utmost danger, when no one in all the camp of Israel would do the like: and slew the Philistine; Goliath of Gath, who defied the armies of Israel; against him he went unarmed, only with his sling and stones, and fought him, and slew him:…

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan Not only heard him out what he had to say, but was affected with it, and wrought upon by it, and was convicted for the present that he was wrong in seeking the life of David, and therefore would desist from it; the Lord working upon his mind by what…

And Jonathan called David Out of his lurking place in the field, after Saul was returned home: and Jonathan showed him all these things: which had passed between him and his father, and particularly the oath he had made that he should not be slain: and Jonathan brought David to Saul: introduced him…

And there was war again Between Israel and the Philistines; it does not appear that either of them sent out their whole force, only some parties or detachments, between which there were skirmishes: and David went out and fought with the Philistines; he went out with his thousand men, over which he…

And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul His melancholy and frantic disorder returned upon those victories of David, and he grew envious, jealous, spiteful, and malicious: as he sat in his house with his javelin his hand; which either describes the posture he was in when the evil spirit came…

And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with his javelin To strike it through him, and fasten him to the wall with it, as he had attempted before, ; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence: he perceived his design, and being of great agility of body, moved out of his place before him…

And Saul sent messengers unto David’s house Supposing that he was gone thither; where this was is not said, very likely in Gibeah, where Saul lived: to watch him; that he might not get out from thence in the night: and to slay him in the morning; the reason why he did not order them to break into…

So Michal let David down through a window In like manner as Rahab let down the spies from her house in Jericho, when the king’s messengers were in quest of them, ; and as the disciples let down the Apostle Paul at Damascus, to preserve him from the designs of the Jews upon him: and he went, and…

And Michal took an image Or “teraphim”, as the word is; which, if the same with those that Rachel stole from her father, they seem to be of the same sort with the penates or household gods of the Heathens, which were privately kept by Michal; for, had David known of them, he would not have suffered…

And when Saul sent messengers to take David Either the same who in the morning inquired for David, or those staying longer than Saul expected, and fearing they were negligent or corrupted, he sent others: to whom she said, he is sick; and in bed, and cannot be spoke with; this lie she told through…

And Saul sent the messengers again to see David Not to visit him, or to see how he was, or inquire of his health, in a kind manner, but to see his person, whether he was sick or not, and whether he was there or not; for Saul might suspect some deceit was used, because the messengers took the report…

And when the messengers were come in To David’s house, and into the room where he was supposed to lie: behold, there was an image in the bed to their great surprise; they expected to see David, but instead of him the teraphim, as in ; if they had been in the room before, and thought they had seen…

And Saul said unto Michal After the messengers returned and reported what they had seen, when Saul either came to her at her house, or sent for her to his palace: why hast thou deceived me so; for deceiving his messengers was deceiving him, by pretending David was sick and in bed, when she had…

So David fled and escaped Fled from his own house, and escaped falling into the hands of the messengers of Saul, and so of Saul himself: and came to Samuel to Ramah; the place where Samuel dwelt: to him David chose to come, by whom he had been anointed king, that his faith might be strengthened by…

And it was told Saul By some officious persons who saw David at Ramah, and observed that he and Samuel went together to Naioth: saying, behold, David is at Naioth, in Ramah; or near it; according to R.

And Saul sent messengers to take David Notwithstanding the sacred place he was in, so bent was he upon his destruction: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying; or praising, as the Targum; singing hymns and songs of praise to God, under the inspiration and influence of the Spirit…

And when it was told Saul That the messengers he had sent, instead of seizing on David, were prophesying of him, or however were attending to services of a different nature than what they were sent upon: he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise; when they came to the same place: and…

Then went he also to Ramah That is, Saul; his messengers not returning to him, when he sent one after another to take David, at length he set out himself from Gibeah to Ramah: and came to a great well that is in Sechu; which was either the name of a man, the owner of the well, or a place near to…

And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah He went on from the well towards the place: and the Spirit of God was upon him also; as well as upon his messengers; even the spirit of prophecy, as the Targum: and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah: in this he differed from his…

And he stripped off his clothes also Not all his clothes, but his upper garments, as men in such circumstances used to do, as the prophets sometimes did, and as it seems his messengers had done; according to Jarchi, R.