1 Samuel — Chapter 19

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1And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

2But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

4And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

5For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

6And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

8And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.

9And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

10And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11Saul also sent messengers unto David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David’s wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

12So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

15And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

16And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster.

17And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

18So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24And he stript off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

1And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David. But Jonathan, Saul`s son, delighted much in David.

2And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to slay thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

3and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and if I see aught, I will tell thee.

4And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

5for he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and Jehovah wrought a great victory for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

6And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As Jehovah liveth, he shall not be put to death.

7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as beforetime.

8And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him.

9And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.

10And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul`s presence, and he smote the spear into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11And Saul sent messengers unto David`s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David`s wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou wilt be slain.

12So Michal let David down through the window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats` [hair] at the head thereof, and covered it with the clothes.

14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.

15And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

16And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats` [hair] at the head thereof.

17And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me thus, and let mine enemy go, so that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

18Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.

22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.

23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24And he also stripped off his clothes, and he also prophesied before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

1Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much.

2So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find a hiding place and stay in seclusion.

3I 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, I will let you know.”

4So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you.

5He risked his life when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord 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?”

6Saul accepted Jonathan’s advice and took an oath, “As surely as the Lord lives, he will not be put to death.”

7Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.

8Now once again there was war. So David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them thoroughly, and they ran away from him.

9Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.

10Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saul’s presence, and the spear drove into the wall. David escaped quickly that night.

11Saul sent messengers to David’s house to guard it and to kill him in the morning. Then David’s wife Michal told him, “If you do not save yourself tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”

12So Michal lowered David through the window, and he ran away and escaped.

13Then Michal took a household idol and put it on the bed. She put a quilt made of goats’ hair over its head and then covered the idol with a garment.

14When Saul sent messengers to arrest David, she said, “He’s sick.”

15Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me on his bed so I can kill him.”

16When the messengers came, they found only the idol on the bed and the quilt made of goats’ hair at its head.

17Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me this way by sending my enemy away? Now he has escaped!” Michal replied to Saul, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away or else I will kill you!’”

18Now 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.

19It was reported to Saul saying, “David is at Naioth in Ramah.”

20So 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 Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied.

21When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied.

22Finally Saul himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the large cistern that is in Secu, he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” They said, “At Naioth in Ramah.”

23So 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.

24He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay there naked all that day and night. (For that reason it is asked, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”)

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, and 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing 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 thus, and let my enemy go, so that he is escaped?” Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”

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, and 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?”

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

Saul openly seeks to kill David; Michal helps David escape through a window, and David flees to Samuel at Ramah. The Spirit of God falls on Saul's messengers and on Saul himself, preventing the pursuit.

Authorship & Background

Author: Unknown, traditionally attributed to Samuel (for the early chapters), Nathan, and Gad (1 Chronicles 29:29). Originally one book with 2 Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. Written approximately 1050-950 BC. The book covers the transition from the judges to the monarchy — from the birth of Samuel through the death of Saul (approximately 1105-1010 BC). Key themes: God's sovereignty in raising and removing leaders, the danger of rejecting God's rule, the contrast between Saul (man's choice) and David (God's choice), and the principle that 'man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart' (16:7).
Historical Context: Chapter 19 escalates Saul's persecution from private rage to public policy. Saul now openly commands Jonathan and his servants to kill David (v.1). The chapter records multiple escape attempts — each one demonstrating God's providential protection of His anointed. Jonathan intercedes and temporarily reconciles David and Saul (vv.1-7), but the evil spirit returns and Saul again hurls his spear (vv.9-10). Michal helps David escape through a window (vv.11-17), using a household idol (teraphim) as a decoy — a detail that reveals the spiritual compromise even in David's household. David flees to Samuel at Ramah (v.18), and the chapter climaxes with one of the most extraordinary scenes in Scripture: Saul pursues David to Naioth, but God's Spirit overpowers him. Three sets of messengers are seized by the Spirit and prophesy instead of arresting David. Finally Saul himself comes and is overcome — stripping off his clothes and lying naked before Samuel all day and night (v.24). The proverb "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (first asked in 10:11-12) is repeated here with entirely different meaning: in chapter 10 it expressed wonder at Saul's inclusion among the prophets; here it expresses astonishment at God's power to restrain even a murderous king. God protects David not by military might but by His sovereign Spirit — no one can touch God's anointed when God says "no."
Jonathan's Intercession (vv.1-7): Saul openly commands David's death (v.1). Jonathan warns David and intercedes with Saul, making three arguments: (1) David has not sinned against Saul (v.4); (2) David's deeds have been good for Saul — he killed Goliath and "the LORD wrought a great salvation" (v.5); (3) killing David would be shedding "innocent blood... without a cause" (v.5). Saul relents and swears "As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain" (v.6). This oath proves worthless — Saul will break it within verses. Jonathan brings David back to court, and things return to normal temporarily (v.7).
The Spear Again (vv.8-10): After another military victory by David (v.8), the evil spirit returns. Saul sits with his spear while David plays the harp — the same scene as 18:10-11. Again Saul hurls the spear; again David evades. This time David does not return. He "fled, and escaped that night" (v.10). The pattern is clear: Saul's oaths mean nothing. His repentance is temporary. David must flee permanently.
Michal's Rescue (vv.11-17): Saul sends men to watch David's house and kill him in the morning (v.11). Michal warns David and lets him down through a window (v.12) — reminiscent of Rahab helping the spies (Joshua 2:15). She places a "teraphim" (household idol/image) in the bed with goats' hair at the head, covered with cloth (v.13). When Saul's messengers come, she claims David is sick (v.14). Saul demands they bring David in his bed (v.15) — revealing his murderous intent even against a sick man. The deception is discovered (v.16). Saul confronts Michal: "Why hast thou deceived me?" (v.17). She lies, claiming David threatened her. The presence of teraphim in David's house is troubling — it suggests incomplete devotion to Yahweh alone, a spiritual compromise that the text records without comment.
David Flees to Samuel (vv.18-24): David goes to Samuel at Ramah — returning to the prophet who anointed him. They dwell at Naioth (probably a prophetic community/school near Ramah). Saul sends three groups of messengers to arrest David, but each group is overcome by the Spirit of God and prophesies instead of arresting (vv.20-21). Finally Saul goes himself (v.22). The Spirit comes upon him too — he prophesies along the way and arrives at Naioth where he strips off his clothes and lies naked before Samuel all day and night (v.24). This is not worship but divine restraint — God incapacitates Saul to protect David. The proverb "Is Saul also among the prophets?" takes on ironic new meaning: the king who should be leading Israel is lying helpless on the ground, overpowered by the God he has rejected.

Map & Geography

  • Gibeah: Saul's court — where he hurls the javelin and sends men to David's house
  • Ramah (Naioth): Where Samuel lives and where David flees — the prophets' community is here
  • David flees from Gibeah to Ramah — a short distance north through the central highlands

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that Saul's oath in v.6 shows how unstable he had become — swearing by God one moment and hurling spears the next. He also observes that the Spirit's overpowering of Saul at Naioth was not a sign of spiritual renewal but of divine restraint — God incapacitating a dangerous man to protect His servant.
  • Charles Spurgeon: "When Saul sent his messengers to take David, the Spirit of God came upon them and they prophesied. What a defense is this! God needs no walls of stone to protect His people. He can make the very instruments of persecution into instruments of praise. The soldiers sent to arrest became prophets sent to worship. So it is still: God can turn the hearts of our enemies, or He can turn their hands to other work. Trust in Him, and no weapon formed against thee shall prosper."

Reflection

  • 1. God has many ways to protect His people (vv.12, 20, 24). In this single chapter, God uses Jonathan's intercession, Michal's quick thinking, and His own Spirit's direct intervention. God is not limited to one method of deliverance. When one door closes, He opens another. Trust His creativity in protecting you.
  • 2. Human oaths without heart change are worthless (v.6 vs. v.10). Saul swears "As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain" — then hurls a spear at David within days. Words without transformed character mean nothing. Do not trust promises from unchanged people; trust the character behind the words.
  • 3. Running is sometimes the godly response (vv.10, 12, 18). David does not stay and fight Saul. He runs. There is no shame in fleeing danger when God has not called you to confront it. Jesus told His disciples to flee persecution (Matthew 10:23). Wisdom knows when to stand and when to run.
  • 4. God can incapacitate any enemy (vv.20-24). Three groups of soldiers and a king — all rendered helpless by God's Spirit. No human power can override God's protection. If God has determined to preserve you, no enemy — however powerful — can touch you until God's purpose is complete.
  • 5. Spiritual compromise coexists with genuine faith (v.13). David's household contained teraphim — idols. Even in the home of God's anointed, spiritual compromise existed. This does not excuse idolatry but reminds us that sanctification is progressive. God works with imperfect people while calling them toward greater faithfulness.