1 Sam. 18 Jonathan loveth David; they covenant together, 1 Sam. 18:1–4. Saul envieth David’s praise; in his fury seeketh to kill him, 1 Sam. 18:5–11; is afraid of him; and removeth him: he is loved by the people, 1 Sam. 18:12–16.

Partly for his excellent virtues and endowments, which shone forth both in his speeches and actions; partly, for the great and good service which he had done to God and to his people; and partly, for the similitude of their age and qualities.

By which it appears, that beforetime David had not his constant residence at court, but did return to his father’s house, and thence again to the court, as occasion required.

A covenant, i.e. an agreement of sincere and perpetual friendship between them.

Partly as a pledge of his great respect and affection to him; and partly to vindicate David from that contempt which might cleave to him for his former pastoral habit and condition, and to put him into a habit suitable to his present greatness and glory.

David went out, upon military expeditions, of which that word is oft used. Set him over the men of war; gave him some considerable command in his army, though not the supreme.

When David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine; either, first, From some eminent victory obtained by him against the Philistines, though not particularly related, wherein also Saul might be present and concerned.

Answered one another; singing by parts alternately. David his ten thousands; so they said, because David killed Goliath, which was the principal cause of all the following slaughter of the Philistines.

What greater honour can they give him but that of the kingdom? Or thus, And moreover. this will not rest here, they will certainly give him the kingdom; they will translate the crown from me to him. Or thus, And moreover, the kingdom certainly belongs to him, i.e.

i.e. Narrowly observed all his counsels and actions, that he might understand whether he had any design upon the kingdom or no, and that he might find some colourable pretence of putting him to death.

Saul’s envy, and jealousy, and discontent revived his melancholic distemper, which the devil, according to his wont, struck in with. He prophesied, or, he feigned himself to be a prophet, for so the Hebrew verbs in Hithpahel oft signify, i.e.

Once at this time, and another time upon a like occasion, 1 Sam. 19:10.

Saul was afraid of David, lest as he had gotten the favour of God and of all the people, he should also take away his kingdom.

From him; from his presence and court; which he did, partly, because he feared lest David should watch and find an opportunity to kill him, as he had designed to kill David; partly, because he was a great eyesore, and his presence now made him more sad than ever his music had made him cheerful; and…

So that he had great prudence in his conduct, and prosperous success following his designs; which are two principal qualifications of a general and of a prince. Thus God turned all Saul’s devices upon himself, and to David’s advantage.

Her will I give thee to wife: this was no more than Saul was obliged to do by his former promise, 1 Sam. 17:25, which here he renews and pretends to perform, though he intended nothing less, as the sequel shows; whereby he makes himself guilty of ingratitude, injustice, and breach of trust, and…

My life, i.e. my manner of living. How obscure is that condition in which I was born, and have been bred! Or rather thus, How little is my life worth, that by the exposing of that to some hazard (which Saul required of him).

When Merab should have been given to David; when the marriage was even ready to be solemnized. Adriel the Meholathite, the son of Barzillei, as he is called, 2 Sam. 21:8.

Not for any respect he had to David, but for his own malicious and wicked ends, that he might make use of her love to David, to insnare and ruin him, which he thought might be done many ways, whereof one is here expressed.

This day, i.e. suddenly, within a time which probably Saul prefixed. In the one of the twain: whereas I have only two daughters, and thou wast disappointed of thy expectation in the one by an unexpected accident, thou shalt certainly have the other, which is the same thing. Heb. in the twain.

Commune with David, whom having so lately and grossly deceived, he found backward to embrace his motion, and therefore sets others on work to persuade him.

And therefore neither have estate nor credit to give (according to the manner, Gen. 34:12, Ex. 22:16–17) a dowry suitable to her quality.

An hundred foreskins: these he desires rather than their heads; partly, for the greater convenience of bringing them, and presenting them before him; partly, to cover his malice against David with a pretence of zeal for God, and for his people, and for the covenant of circumcision; and partly, that…

It pleased David; as for other reasons, so especially because this opened the door to the kingdom which God had promised him. The days, i.e. the time allowed by Saul to David for the execution of this exploit.

He doubled the number required; partly to oblige Saul the more to the performance of his promise; and partly to show his great respect and affection to Saul’s daughter.

Because he both lost his design against David’s life, and had now paved a way for him to the throne.

Went forth, to wit, to war against the Israelites, being provoked both by their former losses, and especially by that act of David’s, related above, 1 Sam. 18:27.