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David and Saul (King)
How David and Saul (King) are linked in Scripture, with every passage where their stories cross.
How they are linked
David served Saul (King).
David entered Saul's service as his armourbearer and played the harp for him when the evil spirit troubled him.
he became his armourbearer
1 Samuel 16:21, King James Version
David took an harp, and played with his hand
1 Samuel 16:23, King James Version
Where they cross: 1 Samuel 16:21-23
David and Saul (King) were rivals.
Saul turned against David and hunted him in the wilderness. When David spared his life in the cave, Saul wept and said David was "more righteous than I".
Saul became David’s enemy continually
1 Samuel 18:29, King James Version
Thou art more righteous than I
1 Samuel 24:17, King James Version
Where they cross: 1 Samuel 24:8-17
Notes are commentary, checked against the cited verses in a separate review. Quoted words are Scripture.
Every passage, in order
1 Samuel 16:21-23
21And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 18:29
29And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
1 Samuel 24:8-17
8David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.
11Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.
12The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
13As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
14After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.
15The Lord therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.
16And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
17And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
King James Version