1 Samuel 19 18

1 Samuel 19:18 kjv

So 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.

1 Samuel 19:18 nkjv

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

1 Samuel 19:18 niv

When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.

1 Samuel 19:18 esv

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

1 Samuel 19:18 nlt

So David escaped and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth.

1 Samuel 19 verses

1 Samuel 19 18 Meaning

This verse describes David's urgent flight from King Saul's murderous intent, seeking refuge and counsel from the prophet Samuel in Ramah, specifically at Naioth. It highlights David's immediate recourse to spiritual authority in a time of severe personal danger, demonstrating his trust in God's anointed prophet. The verse marks a critical juncture where David moves from Saul's court to a prophetic community, signifying divine protection and a spiritual dimension to his escape from persecution.

1 Samuel 19 18 Context

This verse follows King Saul's increasingly unstable and violent behavior towards David, fueled by jealousy and an evil spirit from the Lord (1 Sam 18:10-11, 19:9-10). David had narrowly escaped two attempts on his life by Saul's spear. Following this, Saul sent agents to David's house to kill him (1 Sam 19:11). Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter, intervened by letting David escape through a window and using an idol (teraphim) as a decoy to buy him time (1 Sam 19:12-17). Immediately after this narrow escape from Saul's palace, David, driven by self-preservation and perhaps spiritual intuition, makes his way to Samuel. The location, Naioth in Ramah, is significant as a known center for prophets and prophetic training under Samuel's leadership, serving as a spiritual sanctuary outside Saul's direct control.

1 Samuel 19 18 Word analysis

• So: Indicating immediate consequence and narrative progression from David's recent escapes. It bridges David's peril with his proactive seeking of refuge.
• David: The chosen, anointed successor to Saul, now a hunted fugitive. His identity as "David" here emphasizes his vulnerable human state despite divine favor.
• fled (Hebrew: barach - בָּרַח): Conveys urgent, rapid movement to escape danger, often implying panic or necessity. It describes a swift departure from a place of immediate threat, highlighting the gravity of his situation.
• and escaped (Hebrew: nimlat - נִמְלַט): Signifies deliverance, rescue from peril, often implying a narrow or miraculous escape. This suggests divine intervention or favor enabling him to elude Saul's grasp, underscoring God's protection.
• and came: Simple declarative action, but crucial as it shows David's intentional destination.
• to Samuel: David's choice of refuge; not a military leader or a foreign land, but the spiritual authority who had previously anointed him king and mediated God's will. This reflects David's spiritual grounding.
• to Ramah (Hebrew: Ramah - רָמָה, "height" or "elevated place"): Samuel's hometown and a known center of spiritual life and prophetic activity. Its "height" might symbolize its moral or spiritual elevation from worldly power.
• and told him: Indicates David's trust and openness with Samuel. It suggests seeking counsel, validation, and comfort from the venerable prophet.
• all that Saul had done to him: A concise summary of Saul's escalating aggression, including the multiple attempts on David's life, his envy, and his disregard for God's law. This is David's justification for seeking prophetic intervention.
• And he and Samuel went: Highlights the unity and solidarity between the chosen king-to-be and the prophet of God. This action indicates mutual consent and a shared understanding of the need for safety.
• and dwelt (Hebrew: yashav - יָשַׁב): Implies settling down, residing, establishing a residence. It suggests a temporary but stable stay, contrasting with David's previous hurried movements.
• in Naioth (Hebrew: Nayot - נָיוֹת, likely "dwellings" or "habitations"): A specific location within Ramah, believed to be a residence or training center for prophetic students (sons of the prophets). It symbolizes a spiritual community under Samuel's leadership, a place where God's Spirit was active, providing sanctuary and prophetic atmosphere.
• in Ramah: Reiteration of the larger locale, anchoring Naioth within Samuel's known territory and sphere of influence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So David fled, and escaped": Emphasizes the immediate, life-threatening urgency of the situation. David's precarious status as a wanted man, preserved only by God's hand, sets the stage for the rest of the chapter. This phrase signifies a successful, though desperate, deliverance from lethal danger.
• "and came to Samuel to Ramah": Reveals David's instinctual and divinely guided decision to seek refuge in a spiritual haven rather than a political or military stronghold. His trust in Samuel as God's representative is paramount here. It signifies seeking divine counsel and protection through established spiritual authority.
• "and told him all that Saul had done to him": Underscores the critical need for counsel and the gravity of Saul's persecution. It suggests David sought not just physical safety, but also spiritual guidance on how to navigate this unprecedented betrayal and attack from the king. It establishes Saul's wickedness in the eyes of God's prophet.
• "And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth in Ramah": This joint action signifies the prophet's endorsement and protection of David. Naioth, as a center for prophets, provides not just a hiding place, but a spiritual sanctuary where David could be under divine protection, immersed in an atmosphere of God's Spirit, which will prove crucial in the events of the following verses. This marks David's transition into a community aligned with God's will, away from Saul's madness.

1 Samuel 19 18 Bonus section

The immediate recourse of David to Samuel showcases the preeminence of prophetic authority in Israel, even over the kingly office, when the king deviates from God's ways. Samuel, the anointer of both kings, stands as the unwavering link to God's covenant and will. The very existence of Naioth as a "dwelling" or "habitation" for prophets under Samuel suggests a structured prophetic community, potentially involved in studying, teaching, and worship, fostering a direct connection with the Spirit of the Lord. This contrasts starkly with Saul's chaotic and self-serving palace. This move marks David's spiritual alignment and God's preservation strategy for His anointed, prior to his full accession to the throne.

1 Samuel 19 18 Commentary

1 Samuel 19:18 acts as a pivot, transitioning David from a perilous fugitive seeking physical safety from Saul to a protégé finding spiritual refuge under Samuel. His decision to seek the prophet highlights David's understanding that his struggle with Saul was not merely political but spiritual. By reporting "all that Saul had done to him," David effectively brought Saul's ungodly actions before God's representative, thereby seeking a divine verdict or intervention. The strategic choice of Naioth in Ramah was more than just a hiding place; it was a prophetic hub, a spiritual counter-culture to Saul's increasingly tyrannical and spirit-bereft rule. It represented a place of divine order and presence, providing David sanctuary not only from Saul's spears but also spiritual strength for the trials ahead. The unity shown by Samuel and David "dwelling" together in Naioth speaks volumes about the legitimacy of David's cause and God's hand on him, distinguishing him sharply from the fallen king. This temporary dwelling places David firmly under the protective wing of divine counsel, setting the scene for God's direct intervention in Saul's subsequent pursuit.