The Book of SamuelSample

The Escalation of Saul’s Hostility: 1 Samuel 19:18-23:13

After focusing on Saul’s attempts to have others kill David, our author turned to the escalation that occurred through Saul’s direct hostility against David in 19:18-23:28. These chapters trace God’s blessings on David and curses on Saul while Saul pursued David in a variety of places. 

First, Saul came against David and Samuel in Ramah in 19:18-24. After escaping Saul’s assassins in Gibeah, David fled to Samuel’s hometown in Ramah where Samuel lived with a company of prophets under his direction. David told Samuel what had happened, and they both sought refuge nearby in Naioth. 

As before, Saul sent messengers to kill David, but the Spirit of God dramatically blessed David with protection. Three times Saul sent messengers, but each time the Spirit so overwhelmed them that they could not fulfill their mission. So, out of frustration, Saul went to Naioth in Ramah himself. But the Holy Spirit cursed Saul by bringing shame upon him. Overwhelmed by God’s Spirit, Saul stripped off his clothes and prophesied rather than killing David. 

Second, we see Saul’s direct hostility against David and Jonathan in Gibeah in 20:1-42. David left Samuel in Ramah and returned to Gibeah where he humbly protested his innocence to Jonathan. And God blessed David with Jonathan’s support once again. Together, they devised a way to determine if Saul was still intent on killing David. When Saul cruelly berated Jonathan for his loyalty to David, Jonathan knew that his father still wanted David dead. So, Jonathan sent David away with the blessing of his enduring support saying in verse 42, “The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.” 

Third, several episodes focus on Saul’s aggression against David and the priests at the Tabernacle in 21:1-23:13. This segment begins with David travelling from Gibeah to Nob, where the Tabernacle and its priests were located. Through various twists and turns, David also travelled briefly to Gath of the Philistines, to the cave of Adullam, and to Mizpeh of Moab. In the end, he remained for a while with God’s high priest in the town of Keilah in Judah. 

When David arrived at the Tabernacle in Nob, he asked the high priest Ahimelech for bread for his men and himself. Ahimelech explained that there was no bread except the holy bread set before the Lord in the Tabernacle. David’s response to Ahimelech explained God’s blessing on David at this time. As David put it in verse 5, “The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” Ahimelech gave David the holy bread left over for that day. And what’s more, when David asked for a weapon, Ahimelech gave him Goliath’s sword, an apt symbol of God’s approval of David.