1 Samuel 18:6
ESV
As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.
NIV
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres.
NASB
Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other musical instruments.
CSB
As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments.
NLT
When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.
KJV
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.
NKJV
Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
What does 1 Samuel 18:6 mean?
The Israelite army is coming home from battle in the Valley of Elah. Presumably, they're returning to Saul's headquarters in Gibeah. Until this moment, David was a regular musician in Saul's court. Now, he's a national hero. Things had seemed grim for Israel. Goliath had not only defied Israel's armies and the Lord; he had also shamed them into inaction for over a month. Many of the women were likely terrified of losing husbands and fathers and sons to death or slavery (1 Samuel 17:9). David has saved them all (1 Samuel 17).Instead, a young man from Bethlehem has killed the giant and sent the Philistines running. He has done so in the name of the Lord. The resulting joy as the armies parade past must be uncontainable, and much of it is focused on David. That's difficult for Saul to stomach. The king thought he had gained a warrior and a general. He realizes he's created a rival when the women sing, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7).
Celebration was part of Israelite culture during this time. It didn't only take the form of special meals and religious ceremonies. When the Israelites won a major battle, everyone would have expected a celebration to break out with the women singing and dancing, playing musical instruments and especially shaking tambourines.
