1 Samuel 18:24 Commentary and Bible Study

The servants, acting as go-betweens between Saul and David, take back his reply as he expected. Saul has not been idle, but has been planning carefully what to do next. He anticipates David’s modesty, and he knows he is from a poor family and cannot afford a large dowry, so instead, he can go and kill a hundred Philistines. He was given the task in lieu of a dowry of killing and shaming a hundred Philistines. This appears to be something entirely in line with Israel’s military aims, and incidentally makes Saul appear zealous for the cause. But he is plotting, and he reckons that David is highly likely to be killed in the attempt. He thinks in terms of probabilities, not in terms of the Lord’s promise. Never mind that this young man has been remarkably enabled and protected by God up till now. He hopes this will not continue; he hopes his cunning will prevail. In fact, David slew two hundred of Israel’s enemies. The Philistines were no doubt engaging in oppressive raiding parties in which they came into the land, and burn down homes, and plundered and pillaged. So there was all the cause in the world to go after them, and to put an end to some of them, and David was so successful at it. The evidence is brought to Saul and on this public occasion he cannot avoid going through with his word. He has failed again; everything he tries to do goes wrong, however likely it seems to succeed.