1 Samuel 18:11
ESV
And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.
NIV
and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I’ll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
NASB
Then Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, 'I will pin David to the wall.' But David escaped from his presence, twice.
CSB
and he threw it, thinking, "I’ll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.
NLT
and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
KJV
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.
NKJV
And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.
What does 1 Samuel 18:11 mean?
Saul is in a rage, clearly not fully in control of himself. An evil spirit has come on him. This is most likely a demon sent by God to afflict the king for his rebellion (1 Samuel 15). The demon causes Saul to prophesy in some sense. It also seems to increase his jealousy of David to the point where murder seems like the best solution.Ironically, David is currently playing music to soothe the king's mind. Before David was known as a mighty warrior, he served in Saul's court, playing the lyre whenever the demon tormented Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23). Even though David has killed Goliath and saved his people, and even though he still seeks to bring peace to his king, Saul only sees the rival Samuel had warned him about (1 Samuel 13:13–14).
Saul happens to have his royal spear in his hand and, in the same moment he thinks of pinning David to the wall, he throws the spear. David dodges the spear twice. We don't know if Saul threw two spears on this day or if the second incident is the one described in the following chapter (1 Samuel 19:9–10). But David's evasion highlights God's protection, which makes him an even greater threat (1 Samuel 18:12).
