1 Samuel chapter 19
English Standard Version
1And 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. 2And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you." 4And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?" 6And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death." 7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
8And there was war again. And David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow, so that they fled before him. 9Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. 10And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.
11Saul sent messengers to David 's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David 's wife, told him, "If you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed." 12So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped. 13Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats ' hair at its head and covered it with the clothes. 14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." 15Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him." 16And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats ' hair at its head. 17Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, ‘Let me go. Why should I kill you?’"
18Now David fled and escaped, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naioth. 19And it was told Saul, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah." 20Then 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 upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. 22Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" And one said, "Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah." 23And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
New International Version
1Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David 2and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out."
4Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. 5He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"
9But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, 10Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.
11Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, "If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed." 12So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped. 13Then Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats’ hair at the head.
15Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, "Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him." 16But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats’ hair.
18When David had fled and made his escape, 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. 19Word came to Saul: "David is in Naioth at Ramah"; 20so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s men, and they also prophesied. 21Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied.
23So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. 24He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
New American Standard Bible
1Now Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to put David to death. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David. 2So Jonathan informed David, saying, 'My father Saul is seeking to put you to death. Now then, please be on your guard in the morning, and stay in a hiding place and conceal yourself. 3And as for me, I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are hiding, and I will speak with my father about you; and whatever I find out, I will tell you.' 4Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, 'May the king not sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you. 5For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?' 6Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed, 'As the Lord lives, David shall not be put to death.' 7Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
8When there was war again, David went out and fought the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter, so that they fled from him. 9Now there was an evil spirit from the Lord on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand. 10And Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saul’s presence, so that he stuck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.
11Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, informed him, saying, 'If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death!' 12So Michal let David down through a window, and he went and fled, and escaped. 13And Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed, and put a quilt of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with clothing. 14When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, 'He is sick.' 15Then Saul sent messengers to see David, saying, 'Bring him up to me on his bed, so that I may put him to death.' 16When the messengers entered, behold, the household idol was on the bed with the quilt of goats’ hair at its head. 17So Saul said to Michal, 'Why have you betrayed me like this and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?' And Michal said to Saul, 'He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I put you to death?’?'
18So David fled and escaped, and came to Samuel at Ramah; and he informed him of everything that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 19But it was reported to Saul, saying, 'Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.' 20Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied. 21When Saul was informed of this, he sent other messengers, but they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, yet they prophesied. 22Then he went to Ramah himself and came as far as the large well that is in Secu; and he asked, 'Where are Samuel and David?' And someone said, 'Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.' 23So he proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; but the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24He also stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all night. Therefore they say, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'
Christian Standard Bible
1Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much, 2so he told him: "My father Saul intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. 3I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I’ll tell you."
4Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him: "The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. 5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?"
6Saul listened to Jonathan’s advice and swore an oath: "As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed." 7So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before.
9Now an evil spirit sent from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the lyre, 10and Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear. As the spear struck the wall, David eluded Saul, ran away, and escaped that night. 11Saul sent agents to David’s house to watch for him and kill him in the morning. But his wife Michal warned David, "If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!" 12So she lowered David from the window, and he fled and escaped. 13Then Michal took the household idol and put it on the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment. 14When Saul sent agents to seize David, Michal said, "He’s sick."
15Saul sent the agents back to see David and said, "Bring him on his bed so I can kill him." 16When the agents arrived, to their surprise, the household idol was on the bed with some goat hair on its head.
19When it was reported to Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, 20he sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they also started prophesying. 21When they reported to Saul, he sent other agents, and they also began prophesying. So Saul tried again and sent a third group of agents, and even they began prophesying.
23So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him, and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah. 24Saul then removed his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel; he collapsed and lay naked all that day and all that night. That is why they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
New Living Translation
1Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David, 2told him what his father was planning. 'Tomorrow morning,' he warned him, 'you must find a hiding place out in the fields. 3I’ll ask my father to go out there with me, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll tell you everything I can find out.'
4The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. 'The king must not sin against his servant David,' Jonathan said. 'He’s never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could. 5Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!'
9But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, 10Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.
11Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, 'If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.' 12So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped. 13Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head.
15But Saul sent the troops back to get David. He ordered, 'Bring him to me in his bed so I can kill him!' 16But when they came to carry David out, they discovered that it was only an idol in the bed with a cushion of goat’s hair at its head.
18So David escaped and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth. 19When the report reached Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, 20he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s men, and they also began to prophesy. 21When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied! The same thing happened a third time.
23But on the way to Naioth in Ramah the Spirit of God came even upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy all the way to Naioth! 24He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, 'What? Is even Saul a prophet?'
King James Version
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 thee-ward 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.
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.
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.
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?
New King James Version
1Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted greatly in David. 2So Jonathan told David, saying, “My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide. 3And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell you.”
4Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not 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. 5For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?”
6So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, “ As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.” 7Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past.
9Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. 10Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.
11Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” 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, put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothes. 14So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.”
15Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” 16And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats’ hair for his head.
18So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 19Now it was told Saul, saying, “Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!” 20Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah.” 23So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “ Is Saul also among the prophets?”
What does 1 Samuel chapter 19 mean?
After David killed Goliath, Saul brought David home to Gibeah. As they marched in the victory parade, Saul realized this was a political mistake. The women praised David more than the king. Saul grew increasingly angry and fearful that David would take the kingdom from him. Saul eventually attempted to use his daughters in plots to kill his greatest warrior.Saul moves from wanting David dead to actively using his power as head of the state of Israel. He begins by finally making it official, ordering his son Jonathan and his servants to kill the young war hero. While this seems to have been a private command, it was still an attempt to legally execute David as an enemy (1 Samuel 19:1).
Jonathan, though, loves David. He immediately tells David about Saul's plan. Jonathan meets his father and makes the case for David, telling the king that to kill an innocent man without cause would be a sin. He reminds Saul that David risked his life to take on Goliath, and the Lord brought about Israel's salvation through David. Saul listens, swears that David will not be put to death, and welcomes David back into his service (1 Samuel 19:2–7).
Saul's pledge doesn't hold for long. Following a great victory by David over the Philistines, a harmful spirit returns to torment Saul. Saul tries to kill David with his spear while David is playing the lyre to soothe him. David runs for his life (1 Samuel 19:8–10).
Saul sends assassins to David's house. But David's wife, Michal, Saul's daughter, convinces David to escape. Michal lowers David from an upper-story window and creates a decoy in the bed from an idol and a goat-hair pillow. When the messengers come for David, she tells them he's sick (1 Samuel 19:11–14).
Saul demands that the messengers return to David's house and bring him on his bed, if necessary, so that he can kill him. At David's house, they discover Michal's deception—and that David is gone. The messengers bring her to the king, instead, where she tells Saul that David threatened to kill her if she didn't let him go (1 Samuel 19:15–17).
David runs the two or three miles from Gibeah to Ramah, where the prophet Samuel lives. He describes to Samuel everything Saul has done to him. Samuel takes David to Naioth to live with him among a company of prophets (1 Samuel 19:18).
Saul soon learns where David is and sends a group of servants to arrest him. When those messengers arrive, however, they are overcome by God's Spirit and start prophesying with Samuel and the other prophets. The messengers are unable or unwilling either to arrest David or leave. The same happens to the second and third groups Saul sends to apprehend David. Finally, Saul decides to go himself (1 Samuel 19:19–21).
As Saul approaches the place, he too is overcome by God's Spirit and begins to prophesy. Unable or unwilling to stop himself, he strips off his garments and lies down on the ground, where he continues to prophesy all day and all night long (1 Samuel 19:22–24).
David and Saul return to Gibeah separately, David and Jonathan hatch a plan to fully uncover King Saul's intentions. Soon, both men realize there's nothing David can do to convince Saul he's not a threat (1 Samuel 20). So, David leaves, gathers an army of misfits, and defends Israel on his own.
