As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. As the troops were returning homeThis phrase sets the scene for a victorious return, a common practice in ancient times where soldiers would be welcomed back with celebration after a successful battle. The Hebrew root for "returning" (שׁוּב, shuv) often implies a restoration or a turning back, symbolizing not just a physical return but a spiritual or emotional renewal. This return signifies a moment of national pride and unity, as the troops are not just coming back from any battle, but from a significant victory over the Philistines, a perennial enemy of Israel. after David had killed the Philistine
This refers to David's triumph over Goliath, a pivotal moment in Israel's history. The Hebrew word for "killed" (נָכָה, nakah) implies a decisive strike, underscoring the miraculous nature of David's victory. David, a young shepherd, defeating a giant warrior, symbolizes God's power working through the unlikely and the humble. This victory is not just a military success but a spiritual triumph, demonstrating God's favor upon David and foreshadowing his future as king. the women came out from all the cities of Israel
In ancient Israel, women often played a significant role in public celebrations. Their coming out "from all the cities" indicates a nationwide recognition of the victory. The Hebrew word for "came out" (יָצָא, yatsa) suggests a purposeful action, highlighting the communal joy and the importance of this event. This gathering of women from various cities signifies unity and shared national identity, as they collectively honor the victory. singing and dancing
These expressions of joy are deeply rooted in Hebrew culture and worship. The Hebrew words for "singing" (שִׁיר, shir) and "dancing" (מָחוֹל, machol) are often associated with celebration and praise. This joyful response is not just a cultural expression but a spiritual one, reflecting the community's gratitude and acknowledgment of God's deliverance. Singing and dancing are acts of worship, celebrating God's intervention and the peace that follows victory. to meet King Saul
The women come out specifically to meet King Saul, acknowledging his role as the leader of Israel. The Hebrew word for "meet" (קָרָא, qara) implies an encounter or a coming together, suggesting respect and honor for Saul's kingship. However, this moment also foreshadows the tension between Saul and David, as the celebration inadvertently highlights David's rising popularity and God's favor upon him. with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments
Tambourines and other musical instruments were common in ancient Israelite celebrations, often used in worship and victory parades. The Hebrew word for "tambourines" (תֹּף, tof) and "musical instruments" (שָׁלִשִׁים, shalishim) indicate a festive atmosphere. The mention of "joy" (שִׂמְחָה, simchah) emphasizes the exuberant and heartfelt nature of the celebration. This scene is a vivid portrayal of communal worship and thanksgiving, where music and joy are intertwined in expressing gratitude to God for His deliverance and blessings. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidA young shepherd who became a hero in Israel after defeating Goliath, the Philistine giant. His victory marked the beginning of his rise to prominence in Israel. 2. King SaulThe first king of Israel, who initially welcomed David but later became jealous of his popularity and success. 3. The PhilistineRefers to Goliath, the giant warrior whom David defeated, leading to a significant victory for Israel. 4. The Women of IsraelThey came out to celebrate the victory with singing and dancing, a common cultural expression of joy and triumph in ancient Israel. 5. Cities of IsraelThe various towns and cities from which the women came to celebrate the victory, indicating the widespread impact of David's triumph. Teaching Points The Power of Praise and CelebrationCelebrating victories and expressing gratitude through song and dance is a biblical tradition that acknowledges God's hand in our successes. The Role of Women in Biblical CelebrationsWomen played a significant role in expressing communal joy and thanksgiving, highlighting their importance in the spiritual and cultural life of Israel. The Seeds of JealousyThe celebration of David's victory inadvertently sowed seeds of jealousy in Saul's heart, reminding us to guard against envy when others are celebrated. Community and Unity in VictoryThe collective celebration by the women from all cities of Israel underscores the importance of unity and community in times of triumph. The Impact of Leadership and HeroismDavid's victory and the subsequent celebration demonstrate how godly leadership and acts of faith can inspire and unite a nation. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the celebration in 1 Samuel 18:6 reflect the cultural practices of ancient Israel, and what can we learn from this about expressing gratitude today? 2. In what ways can we guard our hearts against jealousy when others are celebrated, as seen in Saul's reaction in the following verses? 3. How does the role of women in this passage challenge or affirm our understanding of their contributions to spiritual and communal life? 4. What are some modern-day "victories" in our lives that we can celebrate as a community, and how can we ensure that God is glorified in these celebrations? 5. How does David's leadership and faith in God inspire us to face our own "giants," and what practical steps can we take to emulate his example? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 17Provides the background of David's victory over Goliath, setting the stage for the events in 1 Samuel 18:6. 1 Samuel 18:7-9Describes the song of the women and Saul's subsequent jealousy, which is a turning point in Saul and David's relationship. Exodus 15:20-21Miriam and the women of Israel celebrate the defeat of the Egyptians with song and dance, similar to the celebration in 1 Samuel 18:6. Judges 11:34Jephthah's daughter comes out with tambourines and dancing to meet her father, illustrating a cultural tradition of celebrating victories. People Adriel, David, Jonathan, Merab, Michal, SaulPlaces JerusalemTopics Cities, Dancers, Dances, Dancing, David, David's, Destruction, Home, Instruments, Joy, Joyful, Killed, Killing, Lutes, Meet, Meeting, Melody, Music, Musical, Pass, Philistine, Returned, Returning, Saul, Sing, Singing, Slaughter, Slaying, Smiting, Songs, Tabrets, Tambourines, Tambours, Three-stringed, Timbrels, Towns, Triangles, WomenDictionary of Bible Themes 1 Samuel 18:6 5387 leisure, pastimes
5740 virgin
8287 joy, experience 1 Samuel 18:6-7 5287 dance
5420 music
5421 musical instruments
5861 favour, human
7963 song 1 Samuel 18:6-8 8733 envy 1 Samuel 18:6-9 7236 Israel, united kingdom
8773 jealousy
8830 suspicion 1 Samuel 18:6-12 5890 insecurity 1 Samuel 18:6-15 5965 temperament Library A Soul's Tragedy
'And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war; and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 6. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. 7. And the women answered one another as they played, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureWar! War! War!
At the present crisis, the minds of men are exceedingly agitated with direful prospects of a terrible struggle. We know not whereunto this matter may grow. The signs of the times are dark and direful. We fear that the vials of God's wrath are about to be poured out, and that the earth will be deluged with blood. As long as there remains a hope, let us pray for peace, nay, even in the time of war let us still beseech the throne of God, crying, that he would "send us peace in our days." The war will …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 And V the Kingdom Undivided and the Kingdom Divided
THE HISTORICAL BOOKS: I and II Samuel. I and II Kings. I and II Chronicles. NOTE.--As these three pairs of books are so closely related in their historical contents, it is deemed best to study them together, though they overlap the two divisions of IV and V. I. CHARTS Chart A. General Contents +--+ " I AND II SAMUEL " +-------------+-----+------+ "Samuel "Saul "David " +-------------+-----+------+----------+ " " " " I AND II KINGS "NOTE.--Biblical …
Frank Nelson Palmer—A Bird's-Eye View of the Bible The Exile.
David's first years at the court of Saul in Gibeah do not appear to have produced any psalms which still survive. "The sweetest songs are those Which tell of saddest thought." It was natural, then, that a period full of novelty and of prosperous activity, very unlike the quiet days at Bethlehem, should rather accumulate materials for future use than be fruitful in actual production. The old life shut to behind him for ever, like some enchanted door in a hill-side, and an unexplored land lay beckoning …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David Salvation Published from the Mountains
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid: say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! I t would be improper to propose an alteration, though a slight one, in the reading of a text, without bearing my testimony to the great value of our English version, which I believe, in point of simplicity, strength, and fidelity, is not likely to be excelled by a new translation …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 How the Poor and the Rich Should be Admonished.
(Admonition 3.) Differently to be admonished are the poor and the rich: for to the former we ought to offer the solace of comfort against tribulation, but in the latter to induce fear as against elation. For to the poor one it is said by the Lord through the prophet, Fear not, for thou shalt not be confounded (Isai. liv. 4). And not long after, soothing her, He says, O thou poor little one, tossed with tempest (Ibid. 11). And again He comforts her, saying, I have chosen thee in the furnace of …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Publication of the Gospel
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it [or of the preachers] P erhaps no one Psalm has given greater exercise to the skill and patience of commentators and critics, than the sixty-eighth. I suppose the difficulties do not properly belong to the Psalm, but arise from our ignorance of various circumstances to which the Psalmist alludes; which probably were, at that time, generally known and understood. The first verse is the same with the stated form of benediction …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Ramah. Ramathaim Zophim. Gibeah.
There was a certain Ramah, in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25, and that within sight of Jerusalem, as it seems, Judges 19:13; where it is named with Gibeah:--and elsewhere, Hosea 5:8; which towns were not much distant. See 1 Samuel 22:6; "Saul sat in Gibeah, under a grove in Ramah." Here the Gemarists trifle: "Whence is it (say they) that Ramah is placed near Gibea? To hint to you, that the speech of Samuel of Ramah was the cause, why Saul remained two years and a half in Gibeah." They blindly …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 1 Samuel 18:6 NIV1 Samuel 18:6 NLT1 Samuel 18:6 ESV1 Samuel 18:6 NASB1 Samuel 18:6 KJV
1 Samuel 18:6 Commentaries
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