1 Samuel 18:7

1Sa 18:7 And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

Ver. 7. Saul hath slain his thousands, &c., ] q.d., Saul is to be commended, but David ten times more. This praise of the women given to David flew far and near, {1Sa 21:11; 1Sa 29:5} and was the rise of all his following troubles: likeas in the gospel, he whom our Saviour cured, - and in addition charged him to say nothing, - when he divulged the miracle, though of a good intent, caused a persecution by the spiteful Pharisees.

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.

18:7 thousands . . . ten thousands: This dramatic increase in number between two lines of Hebrew poetry was a way of intensifying the statement (cp. Deut 32:30; Ps 91:7). Because of his great military victories, David was beginning to eclipse Saul (1 Sam 18:16, 30; 21:11).

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

Hebrew, answered, playing.

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

Verse 7. Saul hath slain his thousands] As it cannot literally be true that Saul had slain thousands, and David ten thousands; it would be well to translate the passage thus: Saul hath smitten or fought against thousands; David against tens of thousands. "Though Saul has been victorious in all his battles; yet he has not had such great odds against him as David has had; Saul, indeed, has been opposed by thousands; David, by ten thousands." We may here remark that the Philistines had drawn out their whole forces at this time: and when Goliath was slain, they were totally discomfited by the Israelites, led on chiefly by David.

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

(7) Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.—These words, which sing of the early glory of David in battle, are quoted again in 1Sa_29:5. They were, no doubt, the favourite refrain of an old national or folk-song.

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

7. answered one another] The women who “played”—i.e. danced and gesticulated—sang in antiphonal chorus (Exo_15:21) the refrain of a popular song, which evidently became widely current, as it was well known even among the Philistines (1Sa_21:11, 1Sa_29:5).

David his ten thousands] For the Philistine champion was a host in himself. Comp. the people’s words to David: “thou art worth ten thousand of us” (2Sa_18:3).

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 the women answered one another as they played,.... They sung vocally to their instruments, and that by turns, one rehearsing one line or verse in the song, and then the other another:

and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands; which, if to be referred to the battle in the preceding chapter, as it commonly is, must be understood thus, that though Saul, in pursuit of the Philistines, slew many thousands of them, and David but one, even Goliath; yet the slaying of him was the occasion of slaying ten thousands, and therefore it is ascribed to him: but it seems rather that in some after battles David had been more prosperous and victorious than Saul, and therefore superior commendations are given him by the author of the song the women sung; which, however just it might be to give them, was not wise, since it served to irritate their king, as follows.

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

As they played - Or danced with vocal and instrumental music (see Jdg 16:25 note).

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Sung. The chorus of their song is given. (Calmet) --- "The women sung, Saul slew his thousands; and the virgins answered, And David," &c. (Josephus) --- The death of Goliath was equivalent to the slaughter of thousands, as he had filled the whole army of Israel with dismay. (Haydock)

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).

Answered one another; singing by parts alternately.

David his ten thousands; so they said, because David killed Goliath, which was the principal cause of all the following slaughter of the Philistines.

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

7. Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands — A neat poetic parallelism. The enthusiastic throng intimate, in an exultant hour, that David’s triumph is of more importance than all Saul’s victories.

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

The women answered. Ie. they sang alternately. It was this alternate singing which led to the psalms being composed in parallel sentences, and not in metre; and we from the temple service have inherited our method of chanting antiphonally. As they played. The word is ambiguous, and to an English reader would suggest the idea of the women playing upon the musical instruments. It usually refers to merriment, and so Zec_8:5 it is used of the children playing in the streets, but especially it refers to dancing. Thus in 2Sa_2:14 it is used of a war dance ending in a real conflict; and again (2Sa_6:5, 2Sa_6:21; 1Ch_13:8 1Ch_15:29) of David dancing to instruments of music, before the ark. Michal probably would not have despised David for playing an instrument of music during a religious ceremony; it was the posturing of the dance which seemed to her beneath the dignity of a king. So these women danced in alternate choruses to the beating of their tambourines and triangles. In Jud_1:16:25, where, however, it is in a different conjugation, the verb is translated "to make sport." Really Samson was compelled to dance Israel"s national war dance before the Philistines.

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