1 Samuel 18 10

1 Samuel 18:10 kjv

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

1 Samuel 18:10 nkjv

And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul's hand.

1 Samuel 18:10 niv

The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand

1 Samuel 18:10 esv

The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.

1 Samuel 18:10 nlt

The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand,

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 10 Meaning

On the day following the previous events, King Saul was overwhelmed by a malevolent spirit permitted or sent by God. Under its influence, he acted erratically and appeared to be in a frenzied prophetic state within his house. Simultaneously, David was performing his usual task of playing the lyre, while Saul held a javelin, revealing his volatile and murderous intent towards David. The verse captures the tragic descent of Saul, gripped by jealousy and spiritual distress, as David innocently served him.

1 Samuel 18 10 Context

First Samuel chapter 18 details King Saul's growing animosity and murderous intent towards David. Following David's victory over Goliath, the Israelite women sang praises elevating David above Saul, proclaiming, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Sam 18:7). This inflamed Saul's jealousy, leading him to eye David suspiciously from that day forward (1 Sam 18:9). Saul, who had previously been tormented by an "evil spirit from God" which David would soothe with music (1 Sam 16:14-23), now found that this affliction intensified. This specific incident in verse 10 depicts a peak in Saul's mental and spiritual instability, manifesting in erratic "prophesying" and an attempt to kill David. It underscores Saul's ongoing rejection by God, fueled by his pride, disobedience, and deep-seated insecurity, setting the stage for his repeated attempts on David's life.

1 Samuel 18 10 Word analysis

• And it came to pass on the morrow: Indicates immediate temporal proximity, highlighting that Saul's distress and murderous intent were a direct continuation of his simmering anger and jealousy from the previous day. This rapid escalation shows the acute nature of his spiritual and mental torment.
• that the evil spirit from God:
  • evil spirit: ruach ra'ah (Hebrew: רוּחַ רָעָה). Ruach can mean spirit, wind, or breath. Ra'ah means bad, evil, disastrous, malignant, or calamitous. This is not referring to a morally evil being sent by God to do evil for evil's sake. Instead, it refers to a spirit whose effect is bad/calamitous for Saul, tormenting him and influencing him towards destructive behavior. It suggests a malignant force, allowed or dispatched by divine permission, to afflict Saul as a judgment or consequence.
  • from God: me'et Elohim (Hebrew: מֵאֵת אֱלֹהִים). This phrase signifies divine initiative, permission, or instrumentality. It does not imply that God creates or is the author of moral evil, but rather that He maintains ultimate sovereignty even over spiritual forces of adversity. God permitted this spirit to trouble Saul as a consequence of Saul's rebellion and rejection by God (1 Sam 15:23, 16:14). This concept counters pagan notions of capricious deities and asserts the one God's sovereign control over all realms, even affliction.
• came upon Saul: This verb often implies an overwhelming or possessive influence, akin to how the Spirit of the Lord "came upon" individuals for empowerment (e.g., Samson, 1 Sam 10:6). Here, it signifies the comprehensive control and torment the evil spirit exerted over Saul, suggesting more than mere internal struggle.
• and he prophesied: vayitnabe (Hebrew: וַיִּתְנַבֵּא), from the root naba (prophet). This form (hitpa'el) can mean "to act like a prophet" or "to behave ecstatically." In this context, given the source (an evil spirit) and outcome (attempted murder), it does not denote divinely inspired, coherent prophecy, but rather a wild, uncontrolled, perhaps babbling or frenzied state of ecstasy, resembling a mad fit. It is distinct from true prophetic utterances where God's clear message is delivered. Saul had similar frenzied prophetic experiences when the Holy Spirit was on him (1 Sam 10:10-11) and later when he pursued David (1 Sam 19:20-24), but this instance is clearly negative, born of distress.
• in the midst of the house: Signifies a public or open setting within Saul's dwelling, emphasizing that his instability and loss of regal decorum were on public display, not confined to private chambers. It further highlights the depth of his unraveling.
• and David played with his hand, as at other times:
  • David played with his hand: menaegen beyado (Hebrew: מְנַגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ). Describes David's ongoing role as a musician (playing the lyre or harp) and highlights his steadfast, peaceful demeanor in contrast to Saul's agitation. His presence was intended to soothe, showing his continued loyalty despite the danger.
  • as at other times: Underscores that this was a routine activity for David, presenting a stark contrast to Saul's aberrant behavior. David was simply fulfilling his duty, unaware of the immediate murderous intent.
• and there was a javelin in Saul's hand: va'ehi hachanit beyad Sha'ul (Hebrew: וַתְּהִי הַחֲנִית בְּיַד שָׁאוּל). The javelin was a personal weapon, often associated with a king's authority and used as a scepter. Its presence in Saul's hand signals immediate danger and reveals the transformation of an instrument of royal power into a weapon of malice, poised for a murderous act against his own faithful servant. It physically manifests his deep internal malevolence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied": This phrase directly links the nature of Saul's "prophecy" (frenzied behavior) to its malevolent source. It’s not Spirit-filled inspiration, but an affliction and sign of judgment. It signifies God allowing judgment, demonstrating divine sovereignty even over the realm of spirits and human affliction.
• "David played with his hand... and there was a javelin in Saul's hand": This powerfully contrasts David's innocent, soothing action with Saul's violent, murderous intent. It symbolizes the spiritual conflict at play: harmony versus discord, faithful service versus murderous envy.

1 Samuel 18 10 Bonus section

• Saul's repeated "prophetic" fits: Saul's vayitnabe moments are notable. He first experiences a prophetic trance in 1 Samuel 10:10-12 upon receiving the Spirit, a sign of God's initial anointing. Here, in chapter 18, it's tied to an "evil spirit" and leads to violence. Later, in chapter 19, when pursuing David, he and his messengers prophesy and strip off their clothes, a sign of further humiliation and God's sovereign control even over his enemies. This evolution shows a spectrum of "prophesying," from empowerment to mental affliction to public shame.
• The Javelin as a Symbol: The javelin (chanit) was a characteristic weapon of Saul and a symbol of his royal authority (1 Sam 18:11, 19:9, 20:33, 22:6, 26:7, 12, 2 Sam 1:6). His gripping of the javelin signifies his clinginess to royal power even as his grip on sanity and divine favor loosens. His immediate use of it against David highlights how corrupted his rule had become.
• The nature of "evil spirit" vs. "Holy Spirit": The Hebrew phrase does not imply God creating evil but rather permitting an adversarial spirit. It showcases God's justice in withdrawing His life-giving Spirit from Saul and allowing a distressing influence to come, underscoring that blessings and curses flow from His hand based on human faithfulness or rebellion. This teaches about divine discipline and sovereignty over all creation, visible and invisible.

1 Samuel 18 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:10 portrays a critical juncture in Saul's tragic decline. The "evil spirit from God" highlights God's sovereignty, allowing or sending such an affliction as judgment upon Saul for his rebellion and disobedience (1 Sam 15). This isn't divine evil, but divine judgment manifested through a distressing spiritual influence. Saul's "prophesying" here is not an inspired utterance, but a frenzied, uncontrolled madness indicative of his severe spiritual and psychological torment. It serves as a stark contrast to true Spirit-led prophecy, even as it shares some ecstatic outward characteristics. The presence of David, dutifully playing his instrument, further emphasizes the growing rift between the two men. David's peaceable service directly contrasts with Saul's escalating paranoia and violent intent, culminating in the javelin, an emblem of kingship turned into a tool of attempted murder. This verse vividly illustrates the destructive power of unchecked jealousy and how divine abandonment can lead a once-anointed leader to madness and violence.