1 Samuel 18:22

1Sa 18:22 And Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.

Ver. 22. Commune with David secretly,] i.e., Tanquam ex vobis, ne intelligat consilium ex me profectum esse, {a} speak it as from yourselves, and not as set on by me.

Behold, the king hath delight in thee.] Thus they must sprinkle him with court holy water, as they say; Fair words make fools fain. But David had learned the rule, Mεμνησο απιστειν.

{a} Junias.

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.

1Sa 18:22-23. Commune with David secretly — It seems David was not forward to embrace Saul’s offer, having been before so grossly abused. Therefore Saul ordered his courtiers, in private discourse, to take occasion to persuade him to it. Seeing that I am a poor man — Having no estate, and of small credit; and therefore unable to endow her according to her quality.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18:22 really likes you: The same Hebrew word describes Jonathan’s love for David (18:3; 19:1-2, “strong affection”). Here, it was completely untrue.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(22) Behold, the king hath delight in thee.—Lange quaintly sees in this fluent discourse of the courtiers “something of the flattering, conciliatory tone usual in such circles.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22. Commune] i.e. “converse.” The word is derived from Lat. communicare, through the old Fr. communier. It would seem that David mistrusted Saul and returned no answer, so Saul set his courtiers to work to persuade him.

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 Saul's servants spake these words in the ears of David,.... Those before related, which Saul commanded them to speak, which they delivered exactly according to their orders, with an audible voice, clearly, plainly, and distinctly, so that David might hear and understand them:

and David said, seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law; a small a trifling matter, an easy thing to come into, every thing requisite to it:

seeing that I am a poor man; and not able to give a dowry suitable to the daughter of a king; it being usual in those times for a man to give a dowry to, and not receive a portion with a wife; and which also was the custom of the Germans, as Tacitus (x) relates; and this was to be according to the rank and quality of the person married, and which in this case David was not equal to:

and lightly esteemed? not by the people of Israel and Judah, who loved him, as he was loved even by the servants of Saul, at least in profession; but by Saul himself, who had slighted him in giving his elder daughter to another man, when he had promised her to him, which was discouraging to David, and resented by him.

(x) De Moribus German. c. 18.

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

Commune with David, whom having so lately and grossly deceived, he found backward to embrace his motion, and therefore sets others on work to persuade him.

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

22. Commune with David secretly — This intrigue of Saul by means of his servants indicates that David had paid little or no attention to the words of the king himself. He had maintained a most prudent reticence.

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

Vers. 22, 23. Commune, etc. This is a more full and exact account of what was said summarily in ver. 21. We cannot suppose that Saul first spoke to David himself, and then told his servants to coax him, as this would also require us to suppose that when offered her by Saul, David refused Michal in marriage. But we may well believe that he was displeased at having been deceived, and that the renewed proposal of marriage with one of the king"s daughters had to be made carefully, as he might naturally think that there was danger of his being cajoled a second time. David replies, in fact, very discreetly, saying that to be the king"s son-in-law was indeed a great honour, but that he was too poor to provide a sufficient dowry. Strictly the promises given in 1Sa_17:25 bound Saul to give her without dowry; but it appears quite plainly from David"s words that he had lost Merab because not able to purchase her as Adriel had done. For the custom of giving large sums to the bride"s father see Gen_34:12; Exo_22:16, Exo_22:17.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

all his servants love you

"all of his servants admire you"

Now then

"For these reasons you should"

translationWords

command

servant

king

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