But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
Saul feared David because he sensed that God had left him and was with David instead. Note this well: those truly great and to be reverenced have God with them. David's wise behavior only deepened Saul's fear, for wisdom commands respect where threats and hectoring earn only the contempt of the discerning. Saul foolishly removed him from court, thinking to weaken him, but gave David instead a chance to win the people's love.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Samuel 18:12-30
And Saul said to David,.... Not in friendship and good will to him, but designing to lay a snare for him: behold, my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; most interpreters understand it, that he was obliged to this by promise, on account of David's slaying Goliath, Sa1 17:25; but Abarbinel is of another mind, and he rightly observes, that the...
1Sa 18:6-16 Saul’s jealousy towards David. - Saul had no sooner attached the conqueror of Goliath to his court, than he began to be jealous of him. The occasion for his jealousy was the celebration of victory at the close of the war with the Philistines.
Commenting on 1 Samuel 18:6-16