19:1 killing David Saul’s fifth attempt to kill David.

liked David very much Saul should have known that Jonathan’s love, admiration, and respect for David would make him the least likely candidate to murder David.

19:2 Jonathan informed David Jonathan remains loyal to his friend David but betrays his father’s trust. Saul alludes to this in 20:30.

19:3 in the field Their first of two clandestine meetings in a field (see 20:11–42).

19:4 he has not sinned against you Jonathan asserts that there was no need for retaliation; David had done nothing wrong.

for you has been very good David defeated Saul’s enemies on several occasions.

19:5 the Philistine Goliath.

19:6 As Yahweh lives Saul’s subsequent actions reveal his complete spiritual deterioration. After invoking God’s name in an oath—thereby making Him a witness—Saul breaks his oath.

19:7 before him as formerly Suggests that despite fulfilling his military function, David continued to play the lyre for Saul in his court as well (see v. 9).

19:9 the evil spirit from Yahweh See 16:14 and note.

with his spear A subtle indication that Saul is suffering mentally. Though he is in the safest place in his territory, he is armed (see 18:10 and note). The similarity of this event to 18:10–11 indicates that Saul has not changed.

19:10 but he eluded Saul Saul’s sixth attempt to kill David (see 16:21 and note).

19:11 Michal his wife told Like Jonathan, Michal betrays her father’s confidence for the sake of saving David, whom she loves (see v. 2 and note).

tomorrow Michal’s knowledge of the timing of Saul’s attack indicates she may have been aware of the plot.

19:13 household god Saul may have considered Michal a snare to David because of her idolatry (see 18:21 and note). Apparently, these idols could be life-sized or nearly so, since the guards mistook it for David.

19:15 I can kill him Saul’s eighth attempt to kill David (see 16:21 and note).

19:17 why should I kill you? Michal lies to her father to cover up her deceit.

19:18 he and Samuel went By portraying them together, the narrative implies that God and His prophet are loyal to David.

Naioth The name of this place means “tents”; perhaps it was a camp or compound where the prophets lived.

19:20 Saul sent messengers Saul attempts to kill David for the ninth time.

they also prophesied God confounds David’s enemies and causes them to prophesy.

19:21 he sent other messengers Saul’s 10th attempt to kill David.

Again Saul sent messengers a third time Saul’s 11th effort to kill David.

19:22 he also went Saul takes matters into his own hands. This marks his 12th attempt to kill David (see 16:21 and note).

19:24 stripped off his clothes Saul removes his regal robes when encountering God, confirming the judgment of 15:23, 28. This involuntary prophesying seems designed to humiliate Saul and show that, despite the trappings of power, he is helpless before God.

before Samuel In the Hebrew text, this scene stands in tension with 15:35, which notes that Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death (or for the rest of his life). This suggests that 15:35 is out of chronological sequence; the comment at 15:35 is likely intended to note Samuel’s disdain for Saul following the events of ch. 15.

among the prophets The second time this proverb is referenced (see 10:11 and note).