1 Samuel 16:18

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16 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will ^aplay it with his hand when the¹ distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.”

17 So Saul said to his servants,¹ “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

18 Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and ^athe Lord is with him.”

19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

20 And Jesse ^atook a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul.

21 So David came to Saul and ^astood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.

22 Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

<< 1 Samuel 16:17

1 Samuel 16:19 >>

1 Samuel 16:18

I have seen a son of Jesse - Dr. Warburton supposes the story is anticipated from I Samuel 16:14-23, and that the true chronology of this part of David' s life is the following: -

1.David is anointed by Samuel;

2.Carries provisions to his brethren in the army;

3.Fights with and kills Goliath;

4.Is received into the king' s court,

5.Contracts a friendship with Jonathan;

6.Incurs Saul' s jealousy;

7.Retires to his father' s house;

8.Is after some time sent for by Saul to sooth his melancholy with his harp;

9.Again excites Saul' s jealousy, who endeavors to smite him with his javelin.

This anticipation between the 14th and 23d verse comes in, in the order of time, between I Samuel 16:9 and I Samuel 16:10, I Samuel 18:9, I Samuel 18:10, where the breach is apparent.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing 1 Samuel 16:18:**

1 Samuel 16:18
1 Samuel 17:58

<< 1 Samuel 16:17

1 Samuel 16:19 >>

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