3. (1 Sam 18:12-16) David is transferred from the palace to the army
Now Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded him. But all Israel and Judah love David, and he went out and came in before them.
Saul was afraid of David: A new feeling arose in Saul. To his jealously succeeded a sense of powerlessness as Saul realized that a higher power was with David, while Saul had lost his Divine protection. Not being able to, even in his sane hours, to endure the presence of one whom he knew would sooner or later take his place, Saul honorably dismisses David from his presence and installs David as commander of a thousand men.
Appointed him as commander: Saul's desire was not to bless David, but to set him up for harm. Although David had defeated Goliath and had some successful campaigns against the Philistines, David was still relatively young and inexperienced. In a jealous fit, Saul hoped this military appointment might lead to David's injury or death.
He went out and came in before the people: This is a Hebrew figure of speech meaning "David conducted successful military campaigns."
David was prospering in all his ways for the LORD was with him: Despite David's military inexperience, he prospered because God was with him. David could have easily protested his military appointment and claimed he did not have the experience worthy of such a high command. But David did not complain. Again, David puts his trust in God and allows God to lead his battles.
Moreover, David could have complained that he was a victim. Saul was trying to set up David for failure. But David never gave in to a victim mentality. He did not give in to the thinking that his fate was in Saul's hands. Instead, David trusted God with his fate.
He dreaded him: This is a stronger expression that than used in verse 12. A better rendering of the Hebrew would be "He stood in awe of him" denoting primarily the avoidance of the feared person.
But all Israel and Judah: The distinction mentioned of the two divisions of the chosen people seems to point to the fact that the compiler of the Books of Samuel lived after the final separation of the ten northern tribes from Judah and Benjamin. Although David was from the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, the future king was equally popular with the northern tribes.
C. Saul sets a trap for David, but he escapes and is blessed
1. (1 Sam 18:17-19) Saul intends to kill David
Then Saul said to David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him." But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life of my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?" So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
Here is my oldest daughter Merab: This was but a fulfillment of a much earlier promise given in 1 Samuel 17:25 in which King Saul promised his daughter in marriage to the hero who should slay the Philistine giant. For one reason or another, Saul had declined, or at least postponed, the carrying out of his pledge. Now, Saul seems to have a motive in giving his daughter in marriage--Saul expects David to fight his battles, treacherously hoping David may fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles: Saul works as a clever manipulator. He takes advantage of David's loyalty and patriotism ("only be a valiant me for me"). He also takes advantage of David's courage and heart for the LORD ("fight the LORD'S battle").
My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him: The marriage offer "seems" like a gesture of kindness and goodness on Saul's part. And David was supposed to believe that Saul had forgiven him. But true to Saul's distressing spirit which plagued him, Saul had evil motives. Saul still wanted David dead and out of his way. But, now instead of threatening David with spears, he used cunning manipulation to have David killed. From a fleshly standpoint, this was a pretty clever plan on Saul's part. It was smart in the flesh, but God would not honor Saul and his secret motives. Manipulation tries to maneuver people and events to accomplish a hidden agenda. It is smart in the flesh, but it will never be blessed by God.
Moreover, Saul was setting a trap for David by offering Merab in marriage because a dowry would be necessary for Merab. In that day, a dowry was required whenever a man married. The dowry was paid to the bride's father. The more important and prestigious the bride and her family, the higher the dowry price. Since David was from a humble family, there was no there was no way he could pay the dowry for the daughter of a king.
Who am I...that I should be the king's son-in-law: David more than likely was not aware of Saul's evil motives. David had a humble heart and knew he came as a shepherd boy from a lowly family. Although David was nationally famous and loved by all Israel, he did not see himself as highly important. When the hand of Merab is offered to David in marriage, David did not think, "Well, it's about time! I am glad Saul has finally taken notice of my importance in the land of Israel."
She was given to Adriel: When David hesitated to marry Merab, Saul tried another tactic. Saul gave his daughter to another man. Perhaps, Saul's motive was to drive David into a jealous rage. Perhaps, Adriel was from a wealthy family and was able to offer a large sum of money and gifts for Merab. Whatever the reason for Saul giving away Merab to another man, the ultimate motive was to renege on his promise and to take away one of David's promised rewards for killing Goliath. Unfortunately for Merab and Adriel, there five sons are killed when David avenges the Gibeonites (see 2 Samuel 21).
Meholathite: A town in the valley near Beth-shean, it was the birthplace of the prophet Elisha (1 Kings 19:16).
2. (1 Sam 18:20-25) David's agreement to marry Michal
Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him. Saul thought, "I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore, Saul said to David, "For a second time you may be my son-in-law today." Then Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David secretly, saying, 'Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king's son-in-law.'" So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. But David said, "Is it a trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?" The servants of Saul reported to him according to these words which David spoke. Saul then said, "Thus you shall say to David, 'The king does not desire any dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king's enemies.'" Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David: It should not surprise us that Michal was attracted to David. David was a mighty war hero and had gained much fame throughout Israel. But as is evident later in their marriage, Michal was not really attracted to David's heart for the LORD. It is the love of the younger of the two princesses for her father's enemy that gave Saul a fresh excuse to expose David's life to great peril. At the same, it would appear to David and everyone else that Saul was endeavoring to carry out an old promise.
She may become a snare to him: Saul may have meant this in two ways. First, Saul still wanted David to be snared by the dowry. But secondly, Saul knew Michal's heart and character. Saul knew that she could be a snare to David and his trust in the LORD, which, as it turns out, is true in some regard. (See 2 Samuel 6:16-23 for more details.) Moreover, it seems David learned some of Saul's tactics. When David loved Bethsheba, David ordered Uriah (Bathsheba's husband) to be placed in a very dangerous military position and then have David's troops withdraw, ultimately causing Uriah to be killed (2 Samuel 11). Upon Uriah's death, David was freely able to marry Bathsheba.
For a second time you may be my son-in-law today: The word translated "today" is a Hebrew idiom, which simply implies Saul wishes for David to be his son-in-law in a very short period of time.
Then Saul commanded his servants: It seems that David was not eager to embrace Saul's offer. Therefore, Saul privately orders his servants to persuade David to accept Saul's offer to become his son-in-law.
I am a poor man: David dwells upon this fact that he is unable to give the expected dowry for the princess.
The king does not desire any dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines: Now Saul builds on his clever plan. David will not marry Michal because he does not have enough money for her dowry. David is too humble to ask for different terms for payment of the dowry. So, Saul suggests his terms. Saul phrases the dowry in a very clever way. "The king does not desire any dowry" makes it sound as though Saul does not want anything from David. "Except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines" makes it sound as if Saul is not asking for much. In reality, Saul is asking for something far greater than a large dowry. Saul is asking David to put his life at risk in order to fulfill Saul's demands for marrying his daughter.
3. (1 Sam 18:26-27) David fulfills Saul's request for a dowry and marries Michal
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Before the days had expired David rose up and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.
It pleased David: Besides the great honor, David, not suspecting any malicious purpose on Saul's part, may have hoped that marrying Michal would put an end to the miserable state of things which existed between him and Saul.
Before the days had expired: The dowry was given within the fixed time frame set by Saul. Before it had expired, David set out with his men and made an incursion into the Philistine territory.
Two hundred foreskins: David provides Saul twice the number of Philistine foreskins as Saul had required. Perhaps David was trying to prove with this abundance of foreskins that he was worthy enough to marry Saul's daughter. Or perhaps, David knew Saul was a man of trickery and wanted no doubt to exist in Saul's mind that David was the right person for Michal.
4. (1 Sam 18:28-30) David's constantly growing popularity
When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and the Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David's enemy continually. Then the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.
When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David: The success of David's last expedition and the return of David with double the number of Philistine foreskins which Saul had required filled the unhappy king with dismay. Saul's daughter's love, too, for David contributed to Saul's continued hatred and fear of David. Moreover, as David grew closer and closer to God, the further David got from Saul.
The commanders of the Philistines went out to battle: Saul's cunning plan against David continues. After David ruthlessly defeated 200 Philistines and killed the Philistines honored champion, David find himself a marked man. The Philistines wanted retaliation against David.
David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul: Saul's plan completely backfires. David not only survives the battles with the Philistines, but he also becomes more popular with all of Israel and draws closer to God. As much as Saul is defeated in this round, he will continue to use more manipulation and violence against David in an attempt to save his kingdom from being taken away from his descendants.
No comments:
Post a Comment