I Samuel 19

שמואל א׳ פרק י״ט

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 19 of 31 | Day: 64 of 742

Date: April 16, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 19 marks a decisive turning point in the David-Saul narrative: the conflict that has been simmering beneath the surface since David’s anointing now erupts into open, lethal pursuit. The chapter opens with Saul speaking openly to Jonathan and all his servants about killing David (וידבר שאול אל יונתן בנו ואל כל עבדיו להמית את דוד), a dramatic escalation from the covert assassination attempts of chapter 18. This public declaration forces the other characters — Jonathan, Michal, and Samuel — to choose sides, and each in turn becomes an instrument of David’s deliverance. The chapter’s literary architecture is built on a pattern of escalation and frustration: Saul’s murderous intent grows more desperate with each scene, yet every attempt is thwarted by human loyalty and divine intervention.

The opening episode belongs to Jonathan, who intercedes with his father on David’s behalf. His argument is a masterpiece of political rhetoric: David has not sinned against you, his deeds have benefited you greatly, he risked his life to slay the Philistine, and God wrought a great victory through him — why then would you shed innocent blood? Radak notes that Jonathan’s appeal is carefully framed in terms of Saul’s own self-interest, not merely friendship. The strategy works, and Saul swears “as the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death” (חי ה׳ אם יומת). But this reconciliation is tragically short-lived. When David again distinguishes himself in battle against the Philistines, the evil spirit returns, and Saul once more hurls his spear. Rashi observes that the cycle of jealousy-remorse-jealousy reveals the depth of Saul’s spiritual illness: rational argument can restrain him temporarily, but cannot cure the torment that consumes him whenever David’s glory is renewed.

The second rescue belongs to Michal, Saul’s own daughter, who warns David to flee that very night and lowers him through a window — an act that deliberately echoes Rahab’s rescue of the Israelite spies in Joshua 2. Michal’s use of the teraphim (תרפים) as a decoy, placing it in the bed with a pillow of goat’s hair at its head, is one of the more enigmatic details in the narrative. Metzudat David explains that the teraphim were household figurines of roughly human proportions, and Michal employed them pragmatically to buy David time. When confronted by her father, Michal claims David threatened to kill her if she did not help him escape — a lie that distances her from blame but also, as Radak suggests, reveals the impossible position of those caught between loyalty to a king and loyalty to the anointed of God. The scene underscores how Saul’s obsession is tearing apart his own household: his son advocates for David, his daughter smuggles David away, and his servants are drawn into an increasingly futile manhunt.

The chapter’s climax at Naioth in Ramah is among the most extraordinary episodes in all of Samuel. David flees to Samuel — significantly, the prophet who anointed him — and the two take refuge at Naioth, apparently a prophetic community near Ramah. When Saul sends messengers to seize David, the spirit of God descends upon them and they prophesy involuntarily. He sends a second group, then a third — each time the same result. Finally Saul goes himself, and even before he arrives, the spirit of God comes upon him on the road from Secu. He strips off his garments and lies prophesying before Samuel all that day and night, giving rise to the proverb “Is Saul also among the prophets?” (הגם שאול בנביאים). Radak notes that this is the second occurrence of this proverb (the first appears in chapter 10 at Saul’s anointing), but its meaning has inverted: where it once expressed wonder at Saul’s elevation, it now expresses astonishment at his degradation. The threefold sending of messengers followed by Saul’s own humiliation creates a literary crescendo that demonstrates the futility of opposing God’s chosen one. The prophetic ecstasy functions here not as a spiritual gift but as a divine restraint — God himself intervenes to protect David when all human protectors have been exhausted.

Taken as a whole, chapter 19 presents a theology of providential protection operating through layered human and divine agency. Jonathan’s eloquence, Michal’s cunning, and Samuel’s prophetic community each provide temporary shelter, but it is ultimately the spirit of God that renders Saul powerless. The chapter also marks the end of David’s life at court; from this point forward he becomes a fugitive. Yet the narrative makes clear that David’s flight is not defeat but a passage through danger under divine guardianship, preparing him for the kingship that Saul can neither claim nor destroy.

פרק י״ט · Chapter 19

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר שָׁא֗וּל אֶל־יוֹנָתָ֤ן בְּנוֹ֙ וְאֶל־כׇּל־עֲבָדָ֔יו לְהָמִ֖ית אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד וִיהֽוֹנָתָן֙ בֶּן־שָׁא֔וּל חָפֵ֥ץ בְּדָוִ֖ד מְאֹֽד׃

English:

Saul urged his son Jonathan and all his courtiers to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan was very fond of David,

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיַּגֵּ֤ד יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ לְדָוִ֣ד לֵאמֹ֔ר מְבַקֵּ֛שׁ שָׁא֥וּל אָבִ֖י לַהֲמִיתֶ֑ךָ וְעַתָּה֙ הִשָּׁמֶר־נָ֣א בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ בַסֵּ֖תֶר וְנַחְבֵּֽאתָ׃

English:

and Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is bent on killing you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; get to a secret place and remain in hiding.

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַאֲנִ֨י אֵצֵ֜א וְעָמַדְתִּ֣י לְיַד־אָבִ֗י בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה שָׁ֔ם וַאֲנִ֕י אֲדַבֵּ֥ר בְּךָ֖ אֶל־אָבִ֑י וְרָאִ֥יתִי מָ֖ה וְהִגַּ֥דְתִּי לָֽךְ׃ {ס}        

English:

I will go out and stand next to my father in the field where you will be, and I will speak to my father about you. If I learn anything, I will tell you.”

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן בְּדָוִד֙ ט֔וֹב אֶל־שָׁא֖וּל אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לָ֠יו אַל־יֶחֱטָ֨א הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ בְּעַבְדּ֣וֹ בְדָוִ֗ד כִּ֣י ל֤וֹא חָטָא֙ לָ֔ךְ וְכִ֥י מַעֲשָׂ֖יו טוֹב־לְךָ֥ מְאֹֽד׃

English:

So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him, “Let not Your Majesty wrong his servant David, for he has not wronged you; indeed, all his actions have been very much to your advantage.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֩שֶׂם֩ אֶת־נַפְשׁ֨וֹ בְכַפּ֜וֹ וַיַּ֣ךְ אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗י וַיַּ֨עַשׂ יְהֹוָ֜ה תְּשׁוּעָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ לְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רָאִ֖יתָ וַתִּשְׂמָ֑ח וְלָ֤מָּה תֶֽחֱטָא֙ בְּדָ֣ם נָקִ֔י לְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד חִנָּֽם׃

English:

He took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and GOD wrought a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then should you incur the guilt of shedding an innocent’s blood, killing David without cause?”

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע שָׁא֖וּל בְּק֣וֹל יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע שָׁא֔וּל חַי־יְהֹוָ֖ה אִם־יוּמָֽת׃

English:

Saul heeded Jonathan’s plea, and Saul swore, “As GOD lives, he shall not be put to death!”

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ֤א יְהוֹנָתָן֙ לְדָוִ֔ד וַיַּגֶּד־לוֹ֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיָּבֵ֨א יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן אֶת־דָּוִד֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַיְהִ֥י לְפָנָ֖יו כְּאֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃ {ס}        

English:

Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all this. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as before.

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַתּ֥וֹסֶף הַמִּלְחָמָ֖ה לִֽהְי֑וֹת וַיֵּצֵ֨א דָוִ֜ד וַיִּלָּ֣חֶם בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗ים וַיַּ֤ךְ בָּהֶם֙ מַכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַיָּנֻ֖סוּ מִפָּנָֽיו׃

English:

Fighting broke out again. David went out and fought the Philistines. He inflicted a great defeat upon them and they fled before him.

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַתְּהִי֩ ר֨וּחַ יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ רָעָה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וְהוּא֙ בְּבֵית֣וֹ יֹשֵׁ֔ב וַחֲנִית֖וֹ בְּיָד֑וֹ וְדָוִ֖ד מְנַגֵּ֥ן בְּיָֽד׃

English:

Then an evil spirit of GOD came upon Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing [the lyre].

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיְבַקֵּ֨שׁ שָׁא֜וּל לְהַכּ֤וֹת בַּֽחֲנִית֙ בְּדָוִ֣ד וּבַקִּ֔יר וַיִּפְטַר֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל וַיַּ֥ךְ אֶֽת־הַחֲנִ֖ית בַּקִּ֑יר וְדָוִ֛ד נָ֥ס וַיִּמָּלֵ֖ט בַּלַּ֥יְלָה הֽוּא׃ {פ}

English:

Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he drove the spear into the wall. David fled and got away.That night

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ שָׁא֨וּל מַלְאָכִ֜ים אֶל־בֵּ֤ית דָּוִד֙ לְשׇׁמְר֔וֹ וְלַהֲמִית֖וֹ בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לְדָוִ֗ד מִיכַ֤ל אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִם־אֵ֨ינְךָ֜ מְמַלֵּ֤ט אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֙ הַלַּ֔יְלָה מָחָ֖ר אַתָּ֥ה מוּמָֽת׃

English:

Saul sent messengers to David’s home to keep watch on him and to kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal told him, “Unless you run for your life tonight, you will be killed tomorrow.”

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַתֹּ֧רֶד מִיכַ֛ל אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֑וֹן וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַיִּבְרַ֖ח וַיִּמָּלֵֽט׃

English:

Michal let David down from the window and he escaped and fled.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַתִּקַּ֨ח מִיכַ֜ל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתָּ֙שֶׂם֙ אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֔ה וְאֵת֙ כְּבִ֣יר הָעִזִּ֔ים שָׂ֖מָה מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו וַתְּכַ֖ס בַּבָּֽגֶד׃ {ס}        

English:

Michal then took the oracle idol,aoracle idol A figurine, apparently with a human form, used as a medium in divination. laid it on the bed, and covered it with a cloth; and at its head she put a net of goat’s hair.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח שָׁא֛וּל מַלְאָכִ֖ים לָקַ֣חַת אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד וַתֹּ֖אמֶר חֹלֶ֥ה הֽ��ּא׃ {ס}        

English:

Saul sent messengers to seize David; but she said, “He is sick.”

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הַעֲל֨וּ אֹת֧וֹ בַמִּטָּ֛ה אֵלַ֖י לַהֲמִתֽוֹ׃

English:

Saul, however, sent back the messengers to see David for themselves. “Bring him up to me in the bed,” he ordered, “that he may be put to death.”

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֑ה וּכְבִ֥יר הָעִזִּ֖ים מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ {ס}        

English:

When the messengers came, they found the oracle idol in the bed, with the net of goat’s hair at its head.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־מִיכַ֗ל לָ֤מָּה כָּ֙כָה֙ רִמִּיתִ֔נִי וַתְּשַׁלְּחִ֥י אֶת־אֹיְבִ֖י וַיִּמָּלֵ֑ט וַתֹּ֤אמֶר מִיכַל֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל הוּא־אָמַ֥ר אֵלַ֛י שַׁלְּחִ֖נִי לָמָ֥ה אֲמִיתֵֽךְ׃

English:

Saul said to Michal, “Why did you play that trick on me and let my enemy get away safely?” “Because,” Michal answered Saul, “he said to me: ‘Help me get away or I’ll kill you.’”

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וְדָוִ֨ד בָּרַ֜ח וַיִּמָּלֵ֗ט וַיָּבֹ֤א אֶל־שְׁמוּאֵל֙ הָרָמָ֔תָה וַיַּ֨גֶּד־ל֔וֹ אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָֽשָׂה־ל֖וֹ שָׁא֑וּל וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ הוּא֙ וּשְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיֵּשְׁב֖וּ (בנוית) [בְּנָיֽוֹת]׃

English:

David made good his escape, and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth.

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיֻּגַּ֥ד לְשָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה דָוִ֔ד (בנוית) [בְּנָי֖וֹת] בָּרָמָֽה׃

English:

Saul was told that David was at Naioth in Ramah,

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח שָׁא֣וּל מַלְאָכִים֮ לָקַ֣חַת אֶת־דָּוִד֒ וַיַּ֗רְא אֶֽת־לַהֲקַ֤ת הַנְּבִיאִים֙ נִבְּאִ֔ים וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל עֹמֵ֥ד נִצָּ֖ב עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַתְּהִ֞י עַֽל־מַלְאֲכֵ֤י שָׁאוּל֙ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ גַּם־הֵֽמָּה׃

English:

and Saul sent messengers to seize David. TheybThey Heb. “He.” saw a band of prophets speaking in ecstasy,cspeaking in ecstasy Cf. note at 10.5. with Samuel standing by as their leader;das their leader Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and the spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers and they too began to speak in ecstasy.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ לְשָׁא֗וּל וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ מַלְאָכִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ גַּם־הֵ֑מָּה {ס}        וַיֹּ֣סֶף שָׁא֗וּל וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ מַלְאָכִ֣ים שְׁלִשִׁ֔ים וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ גַּם־הֵֽמָּה׃

English:

When Saul was told about this, he sent other messengers; but they too spoke in ecstasy. Saul sent a third group of messengers; and they also spoke in ecstasy.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ גַּם־ה֜וּא הָרָמָ֗תָה וַיָּבֹא֙ עַד־בּ֤וֹר הַגָּדוֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשֶּׂ֔כוּ וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל וַיֹּ֔אמֶר אֵיפֹ֥ה שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל וְדָוִ֑ד וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֖ה (בנוית) [בְּנָי֥וֹת] בָּרָמָֽה׃

English:

So he himself went to Ramah. When he came to the great cistern at Secu,ethe great cistern at Secu Septuagint reads “the cistern of the threshing floor on the bare height.” he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” and was told that they were at Naioth in Ramah.

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ שָׁ֔ם אֶל־[נָי֖וֹת] (נוית) בָּרָמָ֑ה וַתְּהִי֩ עָלָ֨יו גַּם־ה֜וּא ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ הָלוֹךְ֙ וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֔א עַד־בֹּא֖וֹ (בנוית) [בְּנָי֥וֹת] בָּרָמָֽה׃

English:

He was on his way there, to Naioth in Ramah, when the spirit of God came upon him too; and he walked on, speaking in ecstasy, until he reached Naioth in Ramah.

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַיִּפְשַׁ֨ט גַּם־ה֜וּא בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֤א גַם־הוּא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיִּפֹּ֣ל עָרֹ֔ם כׇּל־הַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וְכׇל־הַלָּ֑יְלָה עַל־כֵּן֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ הֲגַ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃ {פ}

English:

Then he too stripped off his clothes and he too spoke in ecstasy before Samuel; and he lay naked all that day and all night. That is why people say, “Is Saul too among the prophets?”

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