Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
- KJV Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
- NKJV Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
- NASB So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
- NLT Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul removes David from his presence by making him a commander over a thousand, and David leads the people. The king's attempt to sideline David only widens his influence.
Overview
To distance the man he fears, Saul gives David a military command away from court. The plan backfires, for David's leadership among the people increases his standing. God turns Saul's scheming to David's advancement, demonstrating that human efforts cannot frustrate the rise of the one the Lord has chosen.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- 2 Sam 5:2Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
- Ps 121:8The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
- 1 Sam 18:25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
- 1 Sam 8:12He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, to make his weapons of war, and to equip his chariots.
- Num 27:16–17“May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
- 1 Sam 18:16–17But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.
- 1 Sam 22:7Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 18:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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