1 Samuel 19 explained: Saul Hunts David, Others Protect Him

Jonathan pleads for David (vv. 1-7)

Saul openly orders David killed, but his son Jonathan, David's close friend, reminds him that David risked his life against Goliath and has only helped him. Saul swears by the LORD to spare David, and for a while things go back to normal.

The spear again (vv. 8-10)

After David wins another battle, Saul's jealousy returns and he throws a spear at David while David plays music for him. The text says the troubling spirit came "from the LORD," a hard phrase that shows the writer saw God behind even Saul's torment, and its exact meaning is debated.

Michal's escape plan (vv. 11-17)

Michal, David's wife and Saul's daughter, lowers him out a window and dresses a household idol with clothes and goat hair to look like David sick in bed. Caught by her father, she protects herself by claiming David threatened to kill her.

Saul overpowered at Naioth (vv. 18-24)

David flees to the prophet Samuel at Naioth in Ramah, and each group Saul sends, then Saul himself, is seized by God's Spirit and starts prophesying instead of arresting him. Saul lies stripped all night, whether fully naked or just without his royal robes is unclear, and the scene gives another origin for the saying "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Key verse: 1 Samuel 19:10

Something to think about

Jonathan and Michal each sided with David against their own father; when have you seen loyalty to what seemed right pull against loyalty to family, and how did it play out?