1 Samuel 19

Saul's Attempts to Kill David

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

David Flees to Samuel at Ramah

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. 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?”

Previous 1 Samuel 18

Next 1 Samuel 20

Saul's jealousy toward David escalates into open attempts on his life, but David finds protection through loyal allies and divine intervention. Jonathan successfully intercedes for David temporarily, but Saul's murderous intent soon returns, forcing David to flee with help from his wife Michal. When David seeks refuge with Samuel at Ramah, God's Spirit repeatedly overcomes Saul's messengers and eventually Saul himself, demonstrating divine protection over the future king.

Context

This chapter marks the definitive break between Saul and David, transitioning from the previous chapter's growing tension to David's life as a fugitive that will dominate the following chapters.

Key Themes

Outline

1-7
Jonathan's Intercession for David Jonathan warns David of Saul's murderous plans and successfully advocates for his friend, temporarily restoring David to favor.
8-10
Saul's Renewed Attack After David's military success against the Philistines, an evil spirit again prompts Saul to attempt killing David with a spear.
11-17
Michal's Deception and David's Escape David's wife Michal helps him escape through a window and deceives Saul's messengers with a household idol in David's bed.
18-24
Divine Protection at Ramah David flees to Samuel at Ramah, where God's Spirit causes Saul's messengers and eventually Saul himself to prophesy instead of capturing David.

Saul's Attempts to Kill David

19:1–19:17

narrative narration urgent

Saul repeatedly attempts to kill David, but Jonathan intercedes and Michal helps David escape. Despite temporary reconciliation, Saul's jealousy and murderous intent persist, forcing David to flee for his life.

person_contrast

Jonathan's Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh has given" creates bitter irony as he protects the very gift—David—that his father Saul desperately seeks to destroy.

David Flees to Samuel at Ramah

19:18–19:24

narrative narration triumphant

David flees to Samuel at Ramah, and when Saul sends messengers to capture him, God's Spirit causes them to prophesy instead. Even Saul himself is overcome by the Spirit and prophesies, preventing David's capture.

person_contrast

David's flight to Samuel transforms him from warrior-king into passive recipient of prophetic protection, as God's Spirit weaponizes ecstatic prophecy against Saul's military pursuit.

Insight Character Study

Jonathan's Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh has given" creates bitter irony as he protects the very gift—David—that his father Saul desperately seeks to destroy.

Insight Character Study

David's flight to Samuel transforms him from warrior-king into passive recipient of prophetic protection, as God's Spirit weaponizes ecstatic prophecy against Saul's military pursuit.

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

1 Samuel 19:2 3 references

Lexicals 3

2 Samuel 1:4 Lexical

David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the…

4 shared words

Isaiah 45:19 Lexical

I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness. I didn’t say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vai…

1 Samuel 19

Saul's Attempts to Kill David

David Flees to Samuel at Ramah

Saul's Attempts to Kill David

David Flees to Samuel at Ramah

Insights

Cross-References

1 Samuel 19:2 3 references

1 Samuel 19:5 2 references

1 Samuel 19:7 5 references

1 Samuel 19:8 4 references

1 Samuel 19:9 2 references

1 Samuel 19:10 3 references

1 Samuel 19:11 4 references

1 Samuel 19:12 3 references

1 Samuel 19:18 3 references

1 Samuel 19:20 2 references

1 Samuel 19:24 5 references

Interlinear

Historical Context