1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
Chapter 18
They merrily sang this song: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David, his tens of thousands.”
Saul was very displeased with this song and said: “They have given tens of thousands to David, but to me only thousands! By now, he has everything but the kingdom!”
From then on, Saul became very distrustful of David.
Chapter 19
Saul told his son Jonathan and his servants of his intention to kill David. But Jonathan, who liked David very much,
said to David: “My father Saul wants to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning and hide yourself in a secret place.
I will go out and keep my father company in the countryside where you are, and I will speak to him about you. If I find out something, I will let you know.”
Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying: “Let not the king sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, what he has done has benefited you.
He risked his life in killing the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for Israel. You yourself saw this and greatly rejoiced. Why then sin against innocent blood and kill David without cause?”
Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea and swore: “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.”
So Jonathan called David and told him all these things. He then brought him to Saul, and David returned to Saul’s service as before.
Commentaries
Saul’s Envy.
This chapter presents various news items and episodes connected by two contrasting and escalating themes: David’s success and Saul’s growing fear. The opposition creates a dialectical movement because it is precisely Saul’s fear that fuels David’s success, and vice versa. David’s success spreads quickly and widely: the king’s son becomes fond of him, the king’s daughter falls in love with him, the troops admire him, the ministers respect him, and Judah and Israel cherish him; he wins battles, survives an assassination attempt, and ultimately, the Lord is with him. Meanwhile, Saul, after David’s victory over Goliath, becomes increasingly annoyed, then afraid, and eventually tries to kill David, turning against him. The monarchical principle was new in Israel, and the dynastic principle had not yet taken hold; if Saul was accepted because of his military victories, there was now someone else who surpassed him, possibly leading the people to choose a different king.
Saul and Jonathan.
Jonathan pleads with his father on David’s behalf. His approach is verbal, naturally supported by his deep affection for both Saul and David: he needs to save David from death and his father from wrongdoing. His brief speech acts as a strong defense: David is innocent; it would be unjust to harm him. David is a benefactor; it would be unfair not to reward him. David has been an instrument of the Lord; it would be dangerous to attack him. Here, Jonathan introduces the central theme of the following chapters: the conflict between David and Saul concerning the innocence and guilt of both. Verses 8-10 parallel 18:10ff, a tradition that recounts Saul’s attempt to kill David.