This chapter gives us one of the most well known stories of scripture—the battle between David and Goliath. I think the most confusing thing in this chapter is the fact that David has to identify himself to Saul in the end even though he had been appointed as his armor-bearer and had been playing music to soothe him when he was troubled by the evil spirit.
1Samuel 17:1 ¶ Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
1Samuel 17:2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
1Samuel 17:3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
As the chapter opens, the Philistine and Israeli armies are at war with one another. The Philistines are encamped at the foot a mountain in the territory of Judah between Shochoh (about 14 miles west of Bethlehem) and Azekah (about 3 miles northwest of Shochoh) in Ephesdammim. The Israelites are encamped to the east at the foot of a mountain across from them separated by the valley of Elah, an area that was south of Jerusalem.
1Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
1Samuel 17:5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
1Samuel 17:6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
1Samuel 17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
The Philistines had a great champion, Goliath of Gath, a giant of a man. He stood well over nine feet tall. He wore a brass helmet and a coat of mail (covered with jointed plates of metal) made of brass that weighed about 120 pounds. From his shins to his insteps, his legs were covered with armor made of brass; and he carried on his back a spear made of brass that had a spearhead made of iron and weighed 15 pounds. When he went to battle, his shield-bearer went ahead of him. Though we aren’t told so at this point, the narrative will reveal that he was also armed with a sword.
JFB tells us a bit more about the armor: “The Philistine helmet had the appearance of a row of feathers set in a tiara, or metal band, to which were attached scales of the same material, for the defense of the neck and the sides of the face [OSBORN]. a coat of mail — a kind of corslet, quilted with leather or plates of metal, reaching only to the chest, and supported by shoulder straps, leaving the shoulders and arms at full liberty.”
“corslet” = Webster: “Armor for the body, as, the body breastplate and backpiece taken together”
1Samuel 17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
1Samuel 17:9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
1Samuel 17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
1Samuel 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Goliath stood in defiance of the armies of Israel and challenged them to send a man to act as their champion and fight him to determine the outcome. His taunt was directed to Saul specifically. Remember, Saul stood head and shoulders over every other man in Israel. Goliath promised that if their champion killed him, the Philistines would become servants of the Israelites. If, however, he killed their champion, the Israelites would become servants of the Philistines.
“defy” = to pull off…to expose (as by stripping)…to carp at, i.e. defame
Goliath repeated his challenge and urged the armies of Israel to send forth a champion to fight him. His purpose was to expose and shame the troops of Israel who were unable to send out a worthy opponent.
When Saul and the troops of Israel heard the words of Goliath, they were discouraged and very afraid.
I liked Guzik’s application: “In any contest, it's always useful to demoralize your opponent and strike fear in their heart. First, it may keep you from ever going to battle with them because they are so afraid. Second, if it does come to battle they will fight with fear and apprehension and so with your words, you've done a lot to win the battle before it even begins. This is a significant strategy of the devil against believers.”
1Samuel 17:12 ¶ Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
1Samuel 17:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
1Samuel 17:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
As learned in the previous chapter, it is noted that David was the youngest of eight sons of Jesse the Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah. Point is made that Jesse was an old man at this time. His three oldest sons in order were Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah; and they served in the military under Saul.
1Samuel 17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
It is noted that David went back and forth as needed to serve Saul and tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.
1Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
1Samuel 17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;
1Samuel 17:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
Goliath came out to issue his challenge to the Israelites every morning and evening for forty days. One morning Jesse told David to take some food to his brothers—an ephah (about a bushel) of dry corn and ten loaves of bread. He also sent ten cheeses to the captain of their company. He told David to find out how his brothers were faring and to bring back something that testified to their safety.
1Samuel 17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
1Samuel 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
1Samuel 17:21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
Saul and his armies, including David’s brothers, were in the valley of Elah at war with the Philistines. David got up early the next morning and left the sheep in the care of another shepherd. He packed up the provisions from his father and took them to the Israelite camp in search of his brothers as his father had commanded. The troops were shouting their war cry and getting ready to go out to battle. Both sides were in formation against each another.
1Samuel 17:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
1Samuel 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
1Samuel 17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
David left all the supplies he was carrying with the supply officer and ran to find his brothers among the troops. As he was talking to them, Goliath came forward to present his challenge yet again. David heard what he said and saw the men of Israel running away from him in fear.
1Samuel 17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.
1Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
1Samuel 17:27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
The men of Israel talked among each other about Goliath’s challenge, and David listened. They mentioned that King Saul would make the man who killed Goliath very wealthy and give him his daughter as wife. Not only that, his family would be “free in Israel”—exempt from service and taxes (from the Hebrew for “free”).
David couldn’t believe what he had heard and asked for confirmation from the men that were near him. He questioned who this Philistine was that thought he could defy the armies of the living God. The answer from the men near him affirmed what he had heard.
1Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
1Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
1Samuel 17:30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
David’s oldest brother Eliab heard what David had said and became very angry. He asked David why he had come and who was watching the sheep. He accused him of pride and having a wicked heart for abandoning his duties to come and see the battle. David basically declared that he had done nothing wrong; he had only asked a question. He then proceeded to verify the information with yet another group of soldiers; and they again affirmed what he had overheard.
1Samuel 17:31 ¶ And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
1Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
1Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
Someone had heard what David said and informed Saul, so he sent for David. David boldly told the king that no man of Israel should be afraid of Goliath. He would personally go fight the Philistine. Saul argued that David wasn’t fit to fight such a giant; he was just a young man; Goliath, however, had been a man of war since his youth.
1Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
1Samuel 17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
1Samuel 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
1Samuel 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
David argued that while he was taking care of his father’s sheep, both a lion and a bear had attacked the sheep. David had rescued the lamb and delivered it from the mouth of the animal. He had caught the lion by its mane and killed it. He had single handedly killed both the lion and the bear, and could do the same to “this uncircumcised Philistine”—a term of great disrespect. David was confident because this man was ridiculing the armies of the living God; and in doing that, he was ridiculing God.
David was not saying that he expected to go against Goliath in his own strength; his confidence was in the fact that he would confront the enemy in God’s strength.
David assured Saul that just as surely as the LORD had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He would deliver him from the hand of Goliath. Cowardly Saul told David to go to it. He at least had the decency to ask God’s blessing upon him.
1Samuel 17:38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
1Samuel 17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
1Samuel 17:40 ¶ And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Saul insisted on giving David his armor, his helmet of brass and coat of mail, to wear. This again tells me that David had to be older. Saul was head and shoulders taller than all the men in Israel, yet he tried to get David to wear his armor.
When David put on his sword and tried to walk, he quickly determined that he couldn’t go out in something he was not used to wearing. It would hinder rather than help him, so he took it all off. David took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook to put in his shepherd’s bag. Then he set out to face the Philistine with sling in hand.
Adam Clarke provides some insight on the use of a sling: “It is composed of two strings and a leathern strap; the strap is in the middle, and is the place where the stone or bullet lies. The string on the right end of the strap is firmly fastened to the hand; that on the left is held between the thumb and middle joint of the forefinger. It is then whirled two or three times round the head; and when discharged, the finger and thumb let go their hold of the left end string. The velocity and force of the sling are in proportion to the distance of the strap, where the bullet lies, from the shoulder joint….it requires much practice to hit the mark; but when once this dexterity is acquired, the sling is nearly as fatal as the musket or bow….”
1Samuel 17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
1Samuel 17:42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
1Samuel 17:43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
1Samuel 17:44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
Goliath came out and approached David with his shield-bearer in front of him. He then started to ridicule David because he was just a young, good-looking boy. Goliath then accused David of insulting him by coming to face him armed only with a staff, so he cursed David in the name of his false gods. Goliath then threatened David and told him that he would feed his flesh to the vultures and the beasts of the field.
Goliath expected David to turn tail and run in fear, I am sure.
1Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
1Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.
David wasn’t fazed. He boldly told Goliath that though he came against David with sword, spear and shield, he came against Goliath in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, the God whom he had ridiculed. David boldly declared that the LORD would empower him to kill Goliath and cut off his head. It was Goliath’s body that would feed the vultures and wild beasts that day. Everyone who saw it would know that there is a God in Israel who doesn’t need to use sword and spear. This battle belonged to the LORD, and He would deliver Goliath into the hands of Israel.
David was doing what Saul should have done, acting in bold faith as Saul should have acted as God’s appointed king.
1Samuel 17:48 ¶ And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
1Samuel 17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
1Samuel 17:50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
1Samuel 17:51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
When Goliath began to advance toward him, David ran to meet him. He took one of the stones from his bag and fired it with his sling. The stone hit Goliath in the forehead, and he fell face down upon the earth. His stone had found the one vulnerable spot in Goliath’s armor. David had no sword, so he stood upon Goliath and took his sword and used it to cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they began a hasty retreat.
The God of Israel had proven to be mightier than Dagon and their other false gods.
1Samuel 17:52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
1Samuel 17:53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
The men of Israel responded with a loud war cry and pursued the enemy all the way to the gates of Ekron. Wounded Philistines lay on the ground all along the way to Gath and on to Ekron. The Israelites eventually returned to camp, stopping to spoil the tents of the Philistine camp as they did so.
1Samuel 17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
David took possession of Goliath’s armor as his spoils of victory and put them in his own tent (probably where he stayed when he was playing music for Saul), but took the head of Goliath to Jerusalem. I am assuming that is where Saul had positioned himself.
1Samuel 17:55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
1Samuel 17:56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
1Samuel 17:57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
1Samuel 17:58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
When Saul saw how David confronted Goliath and killed him, he asked Abner, the commander of his armies, who David’s father was. Abner did not know, so Saul told him to find out.
When David returned, Abner took him in to see Saul. David presented Saul the head of Goliath. According to JFB: “The heads of slain enemies are always regarded in the East as the most welcome tokens of victory.”
Saul asked David who his father was, and David told him.
As noted at the beginning of this chapter, this is the most confusing part of the chapter. In the previous chapter we are told that Saul sought Jesse’s permission for David to serve him. His servant had identified David’s father when telling him that he knew about David’s ability as a musician. Saul had even appointed David as his armor-bear (but maybe he had more than one). Maybe David hadn’t been in his company long enough for him to be well acquainted with him yet. Some commentators surmise that when David played for Saul, he was behind some sort of curtain where he couldn't be seen.
1Samuel 18:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1Samuel 18:2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
1Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
1Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
This chapter appears to continue the narrative from the previous chapter. David and Jonathan talked after his meeting with Saul. It seems that they were “best friends forever” from the first, and they made a covenant to confirm their relationship. We are told that Jonathan loved David “as his own soul.” That is another way of saying that he would give his life for him if necessary. Jonathan took off his princely robe and gave it to David; he also gave him his sword, bow and belt.
JFB informs us: “To receive any part of the dress which had been worn by a sovereign, or his eldest son and heir, is deemed, in the East, the highest honor which can be conferred on a subject.”
The NIV Commentary makes an even stronger statement: “When Jonathan took off his robe and gave it to David, he was in effect transferring his own status as heir apparent to him.”
David was not allowed to go back home to his father; he was to remain in full time service to Saul from that time on.
1Samuel 18:5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
David served in obedience to Saul going wherever he was commanded and behaving wisely. Saul placed him in charge of the men of war. I assume even over Commander Abner. David had the support of all the people and those who served Saul. I assume that included his brothers.
1Samuel 18:6 ¶ And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
1Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
1Samuel 18:8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
1Samuel 18:9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
As Saul and his troops returned home following the defeat of the Philistines, the women welcomed them with joyful singing and dancing to the music of their instruments. There was one problem, however; they only credited Saul with killing thousands while crediting David with killing ten thousands. They should have realized that they were dishonoring the king with such a song. This provoked Saul to jealousy and made him very angry. His reasoning—“What can he have more but the kingdom?” In other words, he was afraid the people would try to make David their king. This fear was probably exacerbated by his memory of Samuel’s declaration that God had chosen another man to be king in his place. No longer did Saul trust David.
Wiersbe: “How we respond to praise reveals what we’re made of and whether or not we’re ready to take on new responsibilities. If praise humbles us, then God can use us. If praise puffs us up, however, we’re not yet ready for a promotion.”
1Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
1Samuel 18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
On the next day the evil spirit “from God” once again troubled Saul. I believe that God allowed this because Saul had basically rejected Him as his king. Why an evil spirit would cause Saul to prophesy is a mystery to me. What did he prophesy? Adam Clarke offers the following insight: “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…and render David unsuspicious.”
David was called to play for him as usual. This time, however, Saul was holding a javelin; and he threw it at David, trying to kill him. This happened two different times.
1Samuel 18:12 ¶ And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
1Samuel 18:13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
1Samuel 18:14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
Saul knew that the LORD was with David. Because he also knew that the LORD had departed from him, I think he put two and two together; he now feared David. Saul’s solution was to send David out to war as captain over the troops. I am sure he was hoping that David would be killed in battle. However, David achieved great success (from the Hebrew for “wisely”) because the LORD was with him.
1Samuel 18:15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
1Samuel 18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
Because David led the troops with such good success, Saul feared him even more. All the people of Israel and Judah, however, loved David for leading their men in victory after victory.
So Saul may have succeeded in getting David out of his sight, but certainly not out of his mind.
1Samuel 18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
1Samuel 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
1Samuel 18:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
One day Saul told David that he was willing to give his elder daughter Merab to him as his wife if he continued to prove himself in “the LORD’s” battles. I think that statement was a bit hypocritical on Saul’s part. If he considered them to be “the LORD’s” battles, why wasn’t he leading them? Not only was it hypocritical, he was acting with evil intent. He was hoping that the Philistines would kill David.
Not only that, Saul’s daughter should already have been given to David as his wife as his reward for killing Goliath.
1 Samuel 17:25 “And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel.”
David demurred, noting that he was not worthy to be the king’s son-in-law.
When the time came that Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as his wife—revealing that Saul really didn’t want David as his son-in-law.
1Samuel 18:20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
1Samuel 18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
Michal, Saul’s younger daughter, loved David. When Saul found that out, he was very pleased and hoped to use her to his advantage against David. Saul lied to David and told him that he still wanted him as his son-in-law—by his second daughter was implied.
1Samuel 18:22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.
1Samuel 18:23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
1Samuel 18:24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
Saul directed his servants to help him in his deceit. He told them to tell David that the king really liked him and wanted him as his son-in-law. David again responded that to be the king’s son-in-law was an exalted position, one of which he was not worthy; he was but a poor man.
Saul’s servants then reported back to Saul what David had said.
1Samuel 18:25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
1Samuel 18:26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.
1Samuel 18:27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
foreskin = Webster: “The fold of skin which covers the glans of the penis.”
Saul then instructed his servants to go back and tell David that the only dowry he wanted was the foreskins of 100 Philistines to avenge him of his enemies. What Saul really wanted was for the Philistines to kill David.
JFB gave an explanation for Saul’s choice of dowry: “Saul’s willingness to accept a public service had an air of liberality, while his choice of so difficult and hazardous a service seemed only putting a proper value on gaining the hand of a king’s daughter. But he covered unprincipled malice against David under this proposal, which exhibited a zeal for God and the covenant of circumcision.”
The IVP Commentary adds the following insight: “The request for foreskins would have proven that the victims were Philistines, because many of the other neighbors of Israel would have practiced circumcision.”
I also liked Guzik’s observation: “Saul works as a clever manipulator. He takes advantage of David's loyalty and patriotism (only be valiant for me). He takes advantage of David's courage and heart for the Lord (fight the Lord's battles).”
When the servants told David what the king had said, he decided that he wanted to be the king’s son-in-law. It seems that Saul had set a deadline for this accomplishment, so he proceeded to lead his men out to battle. He (and his troops) killed 200 Philistines and collected their foreskins; then David presented them to the king.
Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David as his wife.
1Samuel 18:28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.
1Samuel 18:29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
1Samuel 18:30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Again it was affirmed to Saul that the LORD was with David; he also knew that Michal truly loved David. This made Saul yet more afraid of David, and he was now a confirmed enemy of David.
I got to thinking. Most of us fear the attack of the enemy because we look at Satan as so powerful in comparison to us. The truth is that Satan fears the man or woman of God that truly follows the LORD in faith and obedience. It will not deter him from continuing to try to get us to fall for the temptations he puts before us to sin or his attack on our flesh (if permitted). We can be assured, however, that God will give the victory to the person that is walking in faith and obedience to Him.
The NIV translation of verse 30 reads more clearly: “The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.”