SEV Biblia, Chapter 18:17
Y dijo Saúl a David: He aquí yo te daré a Merab mi hija mayor por mujer; solamente que me seas hombre valiente, y hagas las guerras del SEÑOR. Mas Saúl decía en sí : No será mi mano contra él, mas la mano de los filisteos será contra él.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 18:17
Verse 17. Fight the Lord's battles.] Mr. Calmet properly remarks that the wars of the Hebrews, while conducted by the express orders of God, were truly the wars of the Lord; but when the spirit of worldly ambition and domination became mingled with them, they were no longer the wars of the Lord, but wars of lust and profanity.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. And Saul said to David , etc.] Not in friendship and good will to him, but designing to lay a snare for him: behold, my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife ; most interpreters understand it, that he was obliged to this by promise, on account of David’s slaying Goliath, ( 1 Samuel 17:25); but Abarbinel is of another mind, and he rightly observes, that the words referred to are not the words of Saul, but of the men of Israel, who might suppose what the king would do; or if they heard anything like it spoken by Saul, it was only in a hyperbolical way, signifying he did not care what he gave, and what he parted with, to the man that killed the Philistine, but was not strictly bound to this particular thereby; nor did David ever claim such promise, nor did Saul think himself bound to do it, but proposes it as an instance of his great kindness and favour, as he pretended, and therefore expected great returns for it, as follows: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles : he knew he was a valiant man, and ready enough to fight; but he expected that in consideration of such a favour, and such high honour as this, that he would exert himself in an extraordinary manner, and engage in hazardous attempts, and show himself worthy to be the son of a king, in the defence of him and of his country, and for the glory of the God of Israel; all this he suggests, when his view was, that he should expose his life to such danger, that it might be hoped it would be taken away: for Saul said ; not openly and verbally, but in his heart; he thought within himself, let not mine hand be upon him ; he had attempted to lay hands on him, or to kill him with his own hands, but now he thought better, and consulted his credit among the people: but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him ; he hoped by these means that he would fall by their hands at the head of his troop, while he was displaying his valour, and hazarding his life for the good of his king and country; what Saul contrived proved his own case, he died in battle with the Philistines, ( 1 Samuel 31:4).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-30 - For a long time David was kept in continual apprehension of falling by the hand of Saul, yet he persevered in meek and respectful behaviou towards his persecutor. How uncommon is such prudence and discretion especially under insults and provocations! Let us inquire if we imitat this part of the exemplary character before us. Are we behaving wisel in all our ways? Is there no sinful omission, no rashness of spirit nothing wrong in our conduct? Opposition and perverseness in others will not excuse wrong tempers in us, but should increase our care, an attention to the duties of our station. Consider Him that endure contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds, Heb 12:3. If David magnified the honour of being son-in-la to king Saul, how should we magnify the honour of being sons to the King of kings __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 שׁאול 7586 אל 413 דוד 1732 הנה 2009 בתי 1323 הגדולה 1419 מרב 4764 אתה 853 אתן 5414 לך לאשׁה 802 אך 389 היה 1961 לי לבן 1121 חיל 2428 והלחם 3898 מלחמות 4421 יהוה 3068 ושׁאול 7586 אמר 559 אל 408 תהי 1961 ידי 3027 בו ותהי 1961 בו יד 3027 פלשׁתים׃ 6430
