1Sa 16:14, 18:10-11 | TSK | STEP | the Spirit. evil spirit.The evil spirit was either sent immediately from the Lord, or permitted to come; but whether this was a diabolic possession, or a mere mental malady, is not agreed: it seems to have partaken of both. That Saul had fallen into a deep melancholy, there is little doubt; and that an evil spirit might work more effectually on such a state of mind, there can be little question. His malady appears to have been of a mixed kind, natural and diabolical: there is too much of apparent nature in it to permit us to believe it was all spiritual; and there is too much of apparently supernatural influence, to suffer us to believe it was all natural. troubled. or, terrified.

1 Samuel 16:14

the Spirit.

11:6; 18:12; 28:15; Jud 16:29; Ps 51:11; Ho 9:12

evil spirit.The evil spirit was either sent immediately from the Lord, or permitted to come; but whether this was a diabolic possession, or a mere mental malady, is not agreed: it seems to have partaken of both. That Saul had fallen into a deep melancholy, there is little doubt; and that an evil spirit might work more effectually on such a state of mind, there can be little question. His malady appears to have been of a mixed kind, natural and diabolical: there is too much of apparent nature in it to permit us to believe it was all spiritual; and there is too much of apparently supernatural influence, to suffer us to believe it was all natural.

18:10; 19:9,10; Jud 9:23; 1Ki 22:22; Ac 19:15,16

troubled. or, terrified.

1 Samuel 18:10-11

the evil spirit.

16:14,15; 19:9; 26:19

and he prophesied.{Wyyithnabbai,} rather, "and he pretended to prophesy; for the verb is in {Hithpaël,} the signification of which conjugation is not only reflex action, but also affectation of the action: Jer 29:26, 27. The meaning seems to be, that Saul, influenced by the evil spirit, feigned to be prophesying, the better to conceal his murderous intentions, and to render David unsuspicious.

19:24; 1Ki 18:29; 22:12,20-23; Jer 28:2-4,11; Zec 13:2-5; Ac 16:16

2Th 2:11

played.

16:16,23

and there was.{Wehachanith beyad Shäool,} rather, "and the javelin was in the hand of Saul;" for the javelin or spear was the emblem of regal authority; and kings had it always in their hand, as may be seen represented on ancient monuments. In ancient times, says Justin, kings used a spear instead of a sceptre.

cast the javelin.

19:9,10; 20:33; Pr 27:4; Isa 54:17

And David.

Ps 37:32,33; Isa 54:17; Lu 4:30; Joh 8:59; 10:39