1 Samuel 18

Versión Biblia Libre (VBL) · Español

1 Después de que David terminó de hablar con Saúl, Jonatán se hizo gran amigo de David. Amaba a David como a sí mismo. 2 Desde entonces, Jonatán hizo que David trabajara para él y no lo dejó volver a su casa. 3 Jonatán hizo un acuerdo solemne con David porque lo amaba como a sí mismo. 4 Jonatán se quitó la túnica que llevaba puesta y se la dio a David, junto con su túnica, su espada, su arco y su cinturón. 5 David tenían éxito al hacer todo lo que Saúl le pedía, así que Saúl lo nombró oficial del ejército. Esto complació a todos, incluso a los demás oficiales de Saúl. 6 Cuando los soldados regresaron a casa después de que David había matado al filisteo, las mujeres de todos los pueblos de Israel salieron cantando y bailando al encuentro del rey Saúl, celebrando alegremente con panderetas e instrumentos musicales. 7 Mientras bailaban, las mujeres cantaban: “Saúl ha matado a sus miles, y David a sus decenas de miles”. 8 Lo que cantaban enojó mucho a Saúl, pues no le pareció bien. Se dijo a sí mismo: “A David le han dado el crédito de haber matado a decenas de miles, pero a mí sólo a miles. Lo único que falta es darle el reino”. 9 Desde entonces Saúl miró a David con recelo. 10 Al día siguiente, un espíritu maligno de Dios se apoderó de Saúl con fuerza, y despotricó dentro de la casa mientras David tocaba el arpa como lo hacía habitualmente. Resulta que Saúl tenía una lanza en la mano, 11 y se la lanzó a David, mientras pensaba: “Clavaré a David en la pared”. Pero David logró escapar de él dos veces. 12 Saúl tenía miedo de David, porque el Señor estaba con él, pero se había rendido ante Saúl. 13 Así que Saúl despidió a David y lo nombró comandante de mil soldados, dirigiéndolos de ida y vuelta como parte del ejército. 14 David siguió teniendo mucho éxito en todo lo que hacía, porque el Señor estaba con él. 15 Cuando Saúl vio el éxito de David, le tuvo aún más miedo. 16 Pero todos en Israel y en Judá amaban a David, por su liderazgo en el ejército. 17 Un día Saúl le dijo a David: “Aquí está mi hija mayor, Merab. Te la daré en matrimonio, pero sólo si me demuestras que eres un guerrero valiente y luchas en las batallas del Señor”. Porque Saúl pensaba: “No hace falta que sea yo quien lo mate; que lo hagan los filisteos”. 18 “Pero, ¿quién soy yo, y qué categoría tiene mi familia en Israel, para que me convierta en yerno del rey?” respondió David. 19 Sin embargo, cuando llegó el momento de entregar a Merab, la hija de Saúl, a David, ésta fue dada en matrimonio a Adriel de Meholá en su lugar. 20 Mientras tanto, la hija de Saúl, Mical, se había enamorado de David, y cuando se lo dijeron a Saúl, se alegró de ello. 21 “Se la daré a David”, pensó Saúl. “Ella puede ser la carnada para que los filisteos lo atrapen”. Entonces Saúl le dijo a David: “Esta es la segunda vez que puedes ser mi yerno”. 22 Saúl les dio estas instrucciones a sus siervos: “Hablen con David en privado y díganle: ‘Mira, el rey está muy contento contigo y todos te queremos. ¿Por qué no te conviertes en el yerno del rey?’” 23 Los sirvientes de Saúl hablaron en privado con David, pero él respondió: “¿Creen que no es nada hacerse yerno del rey? Soy un hombre pobre y no soy importante”. 24 Cuando los sirvientes de Saúl le explicaron lo que David había dicho, 25 Saúl les dijo: “Díganle a David que la única dote que el rey quiere para la novia son cien prepucios de filisteos muertos, como forma de vengarse de sus enemigos”. El plan de Saúl era hacer que los filisteos mataran a David. 26 Cuando los sirvientes le informaron a David de lo que el rey había dicho, éste se alegró de ser el yerno del rey. Mientras había tiempo, 27 David partió con sus hombres y mató a doscientos filisteos, y trajo sus prepucios. Los contaron todos ante el rey para que David se convirtiera en yerno del rey. Entonces Saúl le dio a su hija Mical en matrimonio. 28 Saúl se dio cuenta de que el Señor estaba con David y de que su hija Mical estaba enamorada de David, 29 por lo que se volvió aún más temeroso de David, y fue enemigo de éste por el resto de su vida. 30 Cada vez que los comandantes filisteos atacaban, David tenía más éxito en la batalla que todos los oficiales de Saúl, por lo que su fama se extendió rápidamente.

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1 Samuel 18:1-3

Introduction

Jonathan and David commence a lasting friendship; and David acts prudently with respect to Saul, 1Sam 18:1-5. Saul becomes jealous of David, on account of the esteem in which he is held in Israel; and, in his fury endeavors to destroy him, 1Sam 18:6-12. David is made captain over a thousand; and the people love and respect him, 1Sam 18:13-16. Saul, in order to ensnare him, offers him his daughter in marriage, 1Sam 18:17-24; and requires a hundred foreskins of the Philistines for dowry; hoping that, in endeavoring to procure them, David might fall by the hands of the Philistines, 1Sam 18:25. David agrees to the conditions, fulfils them, and has Michal to wife, 1Sam 18:26-30.

Verse 1

When he had made an end of speaking - These first five verses are omitted by the Septuagint. See the notes on the preceding chapter, 1 Samuel 17 (note).

Jonathan loved him as his own soul - The most intimate friendship subsisted between them; and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. No love was lost between them; each was worthy of the other. They had a friendship which could not be affected with changes or chances, and which exemplified all that the ancients have said on the subject; Την φιλιαν ισοτητα ειναι, και μιαν ψυχην, τον φιλον ἑτερον αυτον; "Friendship produces an entire sameness; it is one soul in two bodies: a friend is another self."

1 Samuel 18:4

Verse 4

Jonathan stripped himself - Presents of clothes or rich robes, in token of respect and friendship, are frequent in the East. And how frequently arms and clothing were presented by warriors to each other in token of friendship, may be seen in Homer and other ancient writers.

1 Samuel 18:5

Verse 5

Set him over the men of war - Made him generalissimo; or what we would call field marshal.

1 Samuel 18:6

Verse 6

When David was returned - This verse connects well with the 54th verse of the preceding chapter; and carries on the narration without any break or interruption. See the notes on 1Sam 17:54.

The women came out - It was the principal business of certain women to celebrate victories, sing at funerals, etc.

With instruments of music - The original word (שלשים shalishim) signifies instruments with three strings; and is, I think, properly translated by the Vulgate, cum sistris, "with sistrums." This instrument is well known as being used among the ancient Egyptians: it was made of brass, and had three, sometimes more, brass rods across; which, being loose in their holes, made a jingling noise when the instrument was shaken.

1 Samuel 18:7-9

Verse 7

Saul hath slain his thousands - As it cannot literally be true that Saul had slain thousands, and David ten thousands; it would be well to translate the passage thus: Saul hath smitten or fought against thousands; David against tens of thousands. "Though Saul has been victorious in all his battles; yet he has not had such great odds against him as David has had; Saul, indeed, has been opposed by thousands; David, by ten thousands." We may here remark that the Philistines had drawn out their whole forces at this time: and when Goliath was slain, they were totally discomfited by the Israelites, led on chiefly by David.

1 Samuel 18:10

Verse 10

The evil spirit from God - See on 1Sam 16:14 (note), etc.

He prophesied in the midst of the house - He was beside himself; made prayers, supplications, and incoherent imprecations: "God preserve my life," "Destroy my enemies," or such like prayers, might frequently escape from him in his agitated state. The Arabic intimates that he was actually possessed by an evil spirit, and that through it he uttered a sort of demoniacal predictions.

But let us examine the original more closely: it is said that Saul prophesied in the midst of his house, that is, he prayed in his family, while David was playing on the harp; and then suddenly threw his javelin, intending to have killed David. Let it be observed that the word ויתנבא vaiyithnabbe is the third person singular of the future hithpael; the sign of which is not only to do an action on or for one's self, but also to feign or pretend to do it. The meaning seems to be, Saul pretended to be praying in his family, the better to conceal his murderous intentions, and render David unsuspicious; who was, probably, at this time performing the musical part of the family worship. This view of the subject makes the whole case natural and plain.

1 Samuel 18:11-12

Verse 11

Saul cast the javelin - The javelin or spear was the emblem of regal authority; kings always had it at hand, and in ancient monuments they are always represented with it.

In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a diadem: Per ea tempora reges hastas pro diademate habebant, Hist. lib. xliii. And as spears were the emblems of supreme power, hence they were reputed as attributes of the Divinity, and were worshipped as representatives of the gods. Ab origne verum, pro Diis immortalibus veteres Hastas coluerent, ob cujus religionis memoriam, adhuc deorum simulachris Hastae adduntur. - Ibid.

1 Samuel 18:13-14

Verse 13

Made him his captain - This was under pretense of doing him honor, when it was in effect only to rid himself of the object of his envy.

1 Samuel 18:15-16

Verse 15

He was afraid of him - He saw that, by his prudent conduct, he was every day gaining increasing influence.

1 Samuel 18:17-20

Verse 17

Fight the Lord's battles - Mr. Calmet properly remarks that the wars of the Hebrews, while conducted by the express orders of God, were truly the wars of the Lord; but when the spirit of worldly ambition and domination became mingled with them, they were no longer the wars of the Lord, but wars of lust and profanity.

1 Samuel 18:21-24

Verse 21

That she may be a snare to him - Saul had already determined the condition on which he would give his daughter to David; viz., that he should slay one hundred Philistines: this he supposed he would undertake for the love of Michal, and that he must necessarily perish in the attempt; and thus Michal would become a snare to him.

1 Samuel 18:25-26

Verse 25

But a hundred foreskins - That is, Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines, and thou shalt produce their foreskins, as a proof, not only that thou hast killed one hundred men, but that these are of the uncircumcised. A custom similar to this still prevails among the Abyssinians, according to Bruce. See his Travels.

1 Samuel 18:27-29

Verse 27

Slew - two hundred men - The Septuagint has only one hundred men. Saul covenanted with David for a hundred; and David himself says, 2Sam 3:14, that he espoused Michal for a hundred: hence it is likely that one hundred is the true reading.

1 Samuel 18:30

Verse 30

Then the princes of the Philistines went forth - Probably to avenge themselves on David and the Israelites: but of this war we know no more than that David was more skillful and successful in it than any of the other officers of Saul. His military skill was greater, and his success was proportionate to his skill and courage; hence it is said, he behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul.

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