1 Samuel 18:24 kjv
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
1 Samuel 18:24 nkjv
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, "In this manner David spoke."
1 Samuel 18:24 niv
When Saul's servants told him what David had said,
1 Samuel 18:24 esv
And the servants of Saul told him, "Thus and so did David speak."
1 Samuel 18:24 nlt
When Saul's men reported this back to the king,
1 Samuel 18 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 18:9 | Saul eyed David from that day forward. | Saul's growing jealousy toward David. |
| 1 Sam 18:11 | ...Saul cast the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." | Saul's repeated direct attempts on David's life. |
| 1 Sam 18:21 | Saul said, "I will give her to him, that she may be a snare..." | Saul's explicit evil intent to trap David. |
| 1 Sam 17:37 | David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion... will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." | David's prior trust in God for deliverance. |
| Gen 50:20 | As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good... | God's sovereignty turning human evil for His purpose. |
| Psa 7:14-16 | Behold, the one who is pregnant with evil and conceives mischief and gives birth to lies. He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head... | The schemer falling into his own trap. |
| Psa 9:15-16 | The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; by the work of his own hands the wicked are snared. | Divine judgment on wicked plotters. |
| Psa 34:7 | The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. | God's protective presence for the righteous. |
| Psa 35:7-8 | For without cause they hid their net for me... Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it--to his destruction! | Wicked traps recoiling on their makers. |
| Psa 37:12-13 | The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. | God's awareness and contempt for evil schemes. |
| Psa 57:6 | They have spread a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down. They have dug a pit before me; into it they have fallen themselves. | Another instance of plotters caught in their own devices. |
| Psa 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will restrain. | God limits and uses human wickedness for His glory. |
| Pro 16:7 | When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. | God influencing circumstances to favor the upright. |
| Pro 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. | Divine purposes prevail over human plans. |
| Pro 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. | The consequence for plotting evil. |
| Pro 27:4 | Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? | A reflection on the destructive nature of jealousy. |
| Isa 46:10 | ...declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ | God's predetermined will and execution. |
| Jer 1:19 | They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you. | God promises protection from adversaries. |
| Dan 6:24 | And the king commanded, and they brought those men who had maliciously accused Daniel... and they and their children and their wives fell into the den of lions. | Enemies suffering the very fate they planned for others. |
| Est 7:10 | So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated. | Haman's plot leading to his own downfall. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. | God works all things for good for His elect. |
1 Samuel 18 verses
1 Samuel 18 24 Meaning
This verse serves as a crucial point in King Saul's increasingly malicious attempts to eliminate David. It reports Saul's servants conveying to him information or a pretense regarding the Philistines. This information is intended to pave the way for Saul's subsequent demand for a bride-price for Michal that he believes will result in David's death, framing it as a seemingly legitimate challenge based on Philistine customs or expectations of valor. It reveals the unfolding of Saul's wicked plot to ensnare David through marriage.
1 Samuel 18 24 Context
The immediate context of 1 Samuel 18:24 finds David having already achieved national acclaim by defeating Goliath, eliciting immense jealousy from King Saul. This envy escalates into several assassination attempts by Saul. Despite this, David continues to prosper, strengthening his public image and the love of the people. Saul, recognizing David's popularity and fearing his rise, resolves to get rid of him by more indirect means. He initially promises his older daughter, Merab, to David but then gives her to another. When he learns his younger daughter, Michal, loves David, Saul seizes another opportunity. He cunningly devises a scheme: rather than requiring a traditional bride-price (Hebrew: mohar), which involved money, goods, or service (e.g., Jacob serving for Rachel), Saul demands a hundred Philistine foreskins as dowry for Michal. This was an unprecedented and perilous demand, designed to lead David into a fatal confrontation with Israel's sworn enemies. The present verse occurs as part of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering and communication among Saul's court, prior to David's actual undertaking of this bizarre and deadly bridal task. The specific cultural context underscores the abnormality of Saul's demand, exposing it as a thinly veiled trap.
1 Samuel 18 24 Word analysis
- And (וַ - va): A simple conjunction connecting this event to the preceding narrative flow, signifying continuation.
- the servants (עַבְדֵי - ʿavdey): These are Saul's personal retinue, those bound by duty to carry out his commands, regardless of their morality. They acted as intermediaries for his increasingly dark intentions.
- of Saul: Clarifies their allegiance and emphasizes the king's direct involvement in orchestrating the plot against David.
- spake (וַיְדַבְּרוּ - vaydabberu): The verb form is Piel, suggesting a precise, distinct, or direct form of speaking, not just a casual mention. They were formally conveying a message.
- in his ears (בְּאָזְנָיו - bʾoznav): This indicates a private, close communication, often for confidential or sensitive matters. It suggests a whispered counsel or an official report meant only for the king's hearing, highlighting the secretive nature of Saul's plans.
- saying: Introduces the content of their report or advice to Saul.
- The Philistines (הַפְּלִשְׁתִּים - ha-Pəlištîm): Israel's chief enemies, a constant thorn in their side, whom Saul ironically attempts to use as instruments of his private vendetta against David.
- said on this manner: This phrase (כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה - ka-ddāvār hazzeh) is interpretive. In this context, it is best understood as the servants assuring Saul of how the Philistines might (or would likely) respond to such a challenge, effectively giving credence or justification to Saul's bizarre and dangerous bride-price demand. It suggests they are informing Saul how the matter should be framed to David to appear plausible, based on Philistine tendencies, thus supporting Saul's nefarious design rather than reporting a direct message from the Philistines to them at this point.
Words-group analysis
- the servants of Saul spake in his ears: This phrase depicts the intimate, yet chilling, environment of Saul's court. His own trusted servants become instruments in his malevolent plots against God's chosen. Their private audience underlines the secretive and manipulative nature of Saul's machinations, ensuring his scheme unfolds behind closed doors rather than openly.
- The Philistines said on this manner: This statement functions as a clever pretext or rationalization within Saul's court. By framing the future demand for foreskins as something aligned with what "the Philistines said" (i.e., would demand or expect for such a valiant feat), it attempts to cloak Saul's malicious intent in a veneer of a customary, albeit extreme, bride-price. This phrase suggests an internal court discussion or validation process for the subsequent demand, indicating the length Saul and his court would go to in order to ensure his wicked scheme seemed feasible.
1 Samuel 18 24 Bonus section
- The Deceit of Saul's Court: This verse exemplifies how corrupt leadership can involve and taint those serving within the administration. Saul’s servants, privy to his malevolent designs, participate by enabling his deceptive narrative, even if it is to frame a plausible means to eliminate David.
- Divine Irony: The very enemies (Philistines) whom Saul as king should have been focused on defeating for Israel’s sake, become his chosen instruments against God’s anointed. This perversion of his kingly duty vividly underscores his spiritual decline.
- The Uniqueness of the "Bride-Price": The demand for a hundred Philistine foreskins was not a standard mohar. It was grotesque, barbaric, and specifically crafted to place David in a position where he was almost certain to be killed. The fact that "the Philistines said on this manner" frames this preposterous demand as somehow justifiable or fitting, emphasizing the depth of Saul's depravity and his desire to hide his true intentions.
1 Samuel 18 24 Commentary
1 Samuel 18:24 encapsulates the sinister unfolding of King Saul's jealousy, manifesting in a deceptive and murderous scheme against David. The verse illustrates Saul's escalating desperation as he manipulates cultural practices like the bride-price, twisting it into a perilous, indeed, humanly impossible, task. His reliance on his servants to communicate these deceptive pretexts underscores his manipulative leadership. Despite Saul's meticulous plotting, this episode highlights the overarching theme of God's sovereign protection over David. What Saul intended for destruction, God ultimately used for David's greater glory and increased renown among the people, cementing his position as God's anointed leader and undermining Saul's remaining authority.