1 Samuel 18:13

FEARS HIM FOR HIS GOOD SUCCESS. (Sa1 18:13-16)

Therefore Saul removed him from him--sent him away from the court, where the principal persons, including his own son, were spellbound with admiration of the young and pious warrior.

made him captain over a thousand--gave him a military commission, which was intended to be an honorable exile. But this post of duty served only to draw out before the public the extraordinary and varied qualities of his character, and to give him a stronger hold of the people's affections.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

1Sa 18:13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

Ver. 13. Therefore Saul removed him from him.] As the great Turk doth always his eldest son, whom he sendeth away into some remote provinces, lest he should practise treason. And as unto the Aga, captain of the janizaries, nothing can portend a more certain destruction than to be of them beloved; for then is he of the great sultan straightway feared or mistrusted, and occasion sought for to take him out of the way; {a} so it befell good David.

And made him his captain over a thousand.] This seeming preferment was indeed a persecution; for hereby David, being valorous and venturous, was exposed to no small danger in fighting against the enemies. Uriah lost his life by such means.

{a} Turk. Hist.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Meaning, he was captain over the people.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 13. Made him his captain] This was under pretence of doing him honour, when it was in effect only to rid himself of the object of his envy.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

13. made him his captain over a thousand] What was summarily mentioned by anticipation in 1Sa_18:5 is here related with more detail in the order of time.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways,.... Both in the court and in the camp, in whatsoever service he was employed; or "prospered" (u), as the word also signifies; for, generally speaking, those that behave wisely succeed well; in this he was a type of Christ, Isa 52:13; the reason of it follows:

and the Lord was with him; from whom he had his wisdom and success; the Targum is,"the Word of the Lord was for his help.''

(u) "prospere admodum res gerebat", Vatablus; "secundabatur", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so the Targum and Jarchi.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

People, as their leader. Saul gave him an honourable, but dangerous office, to procure his destruction. This is frequently the manner in which men of superior talents have been treated, (Calmet) as Corbulo, Germanicus, and Agricola were by three Roman emperors. (Tacitus, Ann. ii., &c.)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

From him; from his presence and court; which he did, partly, because he feared lest David should watch and find an opportunity to kill him, as he had designed to kill David; partly, because he was a great eyesore, and his presence now made him more sad than ever his music had made him cheerful; and principally, that hereby he might expose him to the greatest hazards, and in some sort betray him into the hands of the Philistines.

He went out and came in; he led his soldiers forth to battle, and brought them back again with safety. Compare 2Sa 5:2. Or else the phrase of coming in and going out may be understood (as elsewhere) for conversing; or (as we use to say) going to and fro about business, as 1Sa 29:6.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

13. Made him his captain over a thousand — This is probably the same appointment as that referred to in 1Sa_18:5. David was not made the leading officer over all the host, for this position Abner held, (1Sa_17:55,) but he was made captain of a regiment.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Removed him from him - From his presence and court; which he did, because he feared lest David should find an opportunity to kill him, as he had designed to kill David; because his presence now made him more sad than ever his musick made him chearful: and principally, that hereby he might expose him to the greatest hazards.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

So Saul removed him from his presence

"So Saul removed David from his presence"

a commander of a thousand

Possible meanings are 1) the word "thousand" represents the exact amount of soldiers that he would lead. AT: "a commander of 1,000 soldiers" or 2) the word translated as "thousand" does not represent exact number, but is the name of a large military division. AT: "a commander of a large military division" See how you translated a similar phrase in 1 Samuel 17:18. (See: Numbers)

David went out and came in before the people

Here "the people" refers to the soldiers under David's command. The phrases "went out" and "came in" are idioms that refer to leading the people into battle and leading them home from battle. AT: "David led his soldiers into battle and led them home from battle" (See: Idiom and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

translationWords

Saul (OT)

appoint

commander

David

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.