1 Samuel Chapter 19

Updated: September 14, 2025

Jonathan Warns David

1And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. 2But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: 3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. 4And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to theeward very good: 5For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? 6And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. 7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

Saul Seeks to Kill David

8And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 9And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

Michal Saves David

(Acts 9:23-25)

11Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. 12So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. 14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. 15And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. 16And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. 17And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

18So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Saul Tries to Kill David
(Psalm 59:1–17)

1 Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. 2 Jonathan told David, saying, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, and live in a secret place, and hide yourself. 3 I 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.” 4 Jonathan 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; 5 for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh 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?” 6 Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, “As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death.” 7 Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as before.

8 There was war again. David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and killed them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him. 9 An evil spirit from Yahweh was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand. 10 Saul sought to pin David even 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.

11 Saul 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.” 12 So Michal let David down through the window. He went, fled, and escaped. 13 Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes. 14 When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” 15 Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16 When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats’ hair at its head. 17 Saul said to Michal, “Why have you deceived me thus, and let my enemy go, so that he is escaped?” Michal answered Saul, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’”

18 Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and lived in Naioth. 19 It was told Saul, saying, “Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.” 20 Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then went he also 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.” 23 He went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God came on him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He also stripped off his clothes, and 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?”

Saul Tries to Kill David
(Psalm 59:1–17)

1 Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David.

But Jonathan delighted greatly in David, 2 so he warned David, saying, “My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning; find a secret place and hide there. 3 I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, so I can ask about you. And if I find out anything, I will tell you.”

4 Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you. 5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

6 Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore an oath: “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.”

7 So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these things. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul to serve him as he had before.

8 When war broke out again, David went out and fought the Philistines and struck them with such a mighty blow that they fled before him.

9 But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress a from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But the spear struck the wall and David eluded him, ran away, and escaped that night.

11 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” 12 So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.

13 Then Michal took a household idol b and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. 14 When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.”

15 But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.” 16 And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair on its head.

17 And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away and he has escaped!”

Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’ ”

18 So David ran away and escaped. And he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.

19 When Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah, 20 he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.

21 When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well.

So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy.

22 Finally, Saul himself left for Ramah and came to the large cistern at Secu, where he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”

“At Naioth in Ramah,” he was told.

23 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 Then Saul stripped off his robes and also prophesied before Samuel. And he collapsed and lay naked all that day and night. That is why it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Footnotes:

9 a Or a harmful spirit
13 b Or a household god ; Hebrew teraphim ; also in verse 16

Jonathan Warns David

1And Saul speaketh unto Jonathan his son, and unto all his servants, to put David to death, 2and Jonathan son of Saul delighted exceedingly in David, and Jonathan declareth to David, saying, 'Saul my father is seeking to put thee to death, and, now, take heed, I pray thee, in the morning, and thou hast abode in a secret place, and been hidden, 3and I -- I go out, and have stood by the side of my father in the field where thou art, and I speak of thee unto my father, and have seen what is coming, and have declared to thee.' 4And Jonathan speaketh good of David unto Saul his father, and saith unto him, 'Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works for thee are very good; 5yea, he putteth his life in his hand, and smiteth the Philistine, and Jehovah worketh a great salvation for all Israel; thou hast seen, and dost rejoice, and why dost thou sin against innocent blood, to put David to death for nought?' 6And Saul hearkeneth to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul sweareth, 'Jehovah liveth -- he doth not die.' 7And Jonathan calleth for David, and Jonathan declareth to him all these words, and Jonathan bringeth in David unto Saul, and he is before him as heretofore.

Saul Seeks to Kill David

8And there addeth to be war, and David goeth out and fighteth against the Philistines, and smiteth among them -- a great smiting, and they flee from his face. 9And a spirit of sadness from Jehovah is unto Saul, and he is sitting in his house, and his javelin in his hand, and David is playing with the hand, 10and Saul seeketh to smite with the javelin through David, and through the wall, and he freeth himself from the presence of Saul, and he smiteth the javelin through the wall; and David hath fled and escapeth during that night.

Michal Saves David

(Acts 9:23-25)

11And Saul sendeth messengers unto the house of David to watch him, and to put him to death in the morning; and Michal his wife declareth to David, saying, 'If thou art not delivering thy life to-night -- tomorrow thou art put to death.' 12And Michal causeth David to go down through the window, and he goeth on, and fleeth, and escapeth; 13and Michal taketh the teraphim, and layeth on the bed, and the mattress of goats' hair she hath put for his pillows, and covereth with a garment. 14And Saul sendeth messengers to take David, and she saith, 'He is sick.' 15And Saul sendeth the messengers to see David, saying, 'Bring him up in the bed unto me,' -- to put him to death. 16And the messengers come in, and lo, the teraphim are on the bed, and the mattress of goats' hair, for his pillows. 17And Saul saith unto Michal, 'Why thus hast thou deceived me -- that thou dost send away mine enemy, and he is escaped?' and Michal saith unto Saul, 'He said unto me, Send me away: why do I put thee to death?'

18And David hath fled, and is escaped, and cometh in unto Samuel to Ramath, and declareth to him all that Saul hath done to him, and he goeth, he and Samuel, and they dwell in Naioth. 19And it is declared to Saul, saying, 'Lo, David is in Naioth in Ramah.' 20And Saul sendeth messengers to take David, and they see the assembly of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing, set over them, and the Spirit of God is on Saul's messengers, and they prophesy -- they also. 21And they declare it to Saul, and he sendeth other messengers, and they prophesy -- they also; and Saul addeth and sendeth messengers a third time, and they prophesy -- they also. 22And he goeth -- he also -- to Ramath, and cometh in unto the great well which is in Sechu, and asketh, and saith, 'Where are Samuel and David?' and one saith, 'Lo, in Naioth in Ramah.' 23And he goeth thither -- unto Naioth in Ramah, and the Spirit of God is upon him -- him also; and he goeth, going on, and he prophesieth till his coming in to Naioth in Ramah, 24and he strippeth off -- he also -- his garments, and prophesieth -- he also -- before Samuel, and falleth down naked all that day and all the night; therefore they say, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'

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The F.O.G Commentary

When Your Boss Wants You Dead But Your Best Friend Has Your Back

What’s 1 Samuel 19 about?

This is the chapter where Saul’s jealousy finally boils over into attempted murder, but Jonathan’s loyalty to David creates one of the most moving friendship stories in all of Scripture. It’s palace intrigue, family drama, and divine intervention all rolled into one intense narrative.

The Full Context

1 Samuel 19 takes place during one of the most volatile periods in Israel’s early monarchy. Saul, once the humble farmer turned king, has been spiraling into paranoia and rage as David’s popularity has grown. The young shepherd who slayed Goliath and married into the royal family has become everything Saul fears losing – beloved by the people, successful in battle, and clearly blessed by God. This chapter occurs after David’s military victories have made “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” the hit song of the kingdom, driving Saul to murderous jealousy.

The situation has reached a breaking point where private resentment becomes public policy. Saul is no longer hiding his intention to eliminate David – he’s giving direct orders to his servants and even his own son Jonathan to kill the man who saved Israel. Yet this chapter reveals the complex web of loyalties within Saul’s own household, where love and duty pull in different directions. It’s also a masterpiece of literary tension, showing how God’s protection works through human relationships, prophetic intervention, and even the king’s own moments of spiritual vulnerability.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew vocabulary in this chapter is loaded with emotional intensity. When Saul “spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants about killing David” in verse 1, the word for “spoke” is daber, which can mean anything from casual conversation to formal decree. But given the context, this isn’t a suggestion – it’s a royal command.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “delighted much in David” uses the Hebrew chaphets me’od, where chaphets means to take pleasure or find delight in someone. It’s the same word used to describe God’s delight in His people. Jonathan’s love for David isn’t just friendship – it’s the kind of deep, covenantal affection that mirrors divine love.

Jonathan’s response reveals the depth of his character. When he says David “has not sinned against you” in verse 4, he uses chata, the standard Hebrew word for missing the mark or offending someone. Jonathan is essentially saying, “Dad, you’re aiming at the wrong target.”

The description of David hiding “in the field” uses sadeh, which doesn’t just mean an open space but often refers to uncultivated land – the wilderness where shepherds and outlaws live. David, the former shepherd, is returning to his roots, but now as a fugitive from the very throne he was anointed to inherit.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

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Ancient Israelites hearing this story would have immediately recognized the tragic irony. Here’s their king – the one they demanded to be “like all the nations” – acting exactly like the tyrannical foreign rulers they knew from experience. The audience would have remembered Samuel’s warnings about kings in 1 Samuel 8 and seen them coming true before their eyes.

Did You Know?

In ancient Near Eastern culture, a king’s word was absolute law. When Saul ordered David’s death, it wasn’t just a family squabble – it was a legal death sentence that put anyone who helped David in danger of treason charges. Jonathan’s intervention was literally an act of rebellion against royal authority.

The mention of Jonathan “delighting” in David would have resonated deeply with an audience familiar with covenant relationships. This wasn’t mere friendship but something approaching the sacred bond between hesed partners – people bound by loyalty that transcends even family ties. When Jonathan defends David to his father, he’s risking his own inheritance and possibly his life.

The scene where Saul hurls his spear at his own son would have been shocking to ancient listeners. In a honor-shame culture where fathers held absolute authority, this wasn’t just anger – it was a complete breakdown of family order. Saul has become so consumed with eliminating David that he’s willing to kill his own heir.

Wrestling with the Text

The most puzzling aspect of this chapter is Saul’s complete personality change after the Spirit of God comes upon him in verses 23-24. One moment he’s leading a kill squad to capture David; the next he’s stripping off his clothes and prophesying. What are we supposed to make of this?

Some scholars suggest this is divine intervention – God literally stopping Saul in his tracks. Others see it as evidence that the Spirit can come upon someone without changing their heart permanently. The Hebrew describes Saul as being “overcome” by the Spirit, using language that suggests something happening to him rather than through his cooperation.

Wait, That’s Strange…

Why does Saul strip off his clothes while prophesying? This detail has puzzled readers for centuries. In ancient times, removing royal garments while under prophetic influence symbolized the temporary setting aside of human authority in the presence of divine power. Saul, the king, becomes just another person before God.

There’s also the question of timing. Why does God intervene so dramatically here when He could have prevented all this conflict earlier? Perhaps the answer lies in the chapter’s structure – each escape David makes is more miraculous than the last, building toward this climactic moment where even Israel’s most powerful man is rendered helpless before divine purpose.

The phrase “Is Saul also among the prophets?” becomes a saying in Israel, but it carries tragic irony. The same Spirit that once empowered Saul for leadership now prevents him from his murderous mission, highlighting how far he’s fallen from his original calling.

How This Changes Everything

This chapter marks the point of no return in the relationship between Saul and David. What began as jealousy has become open warfare, and the kingdom is effectively split between those loyal to the current king and those who recognize God’s choice of David. Jonathan’s brave stand establishes him as a bridge figure – loyal to his father but obedient to God’s will.

“Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is tell someone you love that they’re wrong.”

The pattern of God’s protection throughout this chapter reveals something profound about divine providence. God doesn’t remove David from danger – He provides escape routes. Michal’s warning, Jonathan’s intercession, and the prophetic intervention all work together to fulfill God’s promise that David will be king. This isn’t magic; it’s the way God typically works through human hearts and circumstances.

For Jonathan, this chapter represents the full cost of righteousness. He chooses loyalty to God’s anointed over loyalty to his earthly father, knowing it means giving up his claim to the throne. His friendship with David becomes a beautiful picture of covenant love that puts God’s purposes above personal gain.

The chapter also shows us Saul’s tragic trajectory. The same man who once hid among the baggage when called to be king now can’t escape God’s presence when he tries to commit murder. His prophesying is simultaneously a display of God’s power and a picture of his own spiritual emptiness – he can be used by God but no longer walks with God.

Key Takeaway

True friendship sometimes requires us to risk everything to do what’s right, and God’s protection often comes through the courage of people who choose loyalty to His purposes over personal safety.

1 Samuel Chapter 19

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