In the course of the foregoing chapter we left David in triumph; now in this chapter we have, I. The improvement of his triumphs; he soon became, 1. Saul's constant attendant, ver. 2. 2. Jonathan's covenant friend, ver. 1, 3, 4. 3. The darling of his country, ver. 5, 7, 16. II. The allays of his triumphs. This is the vanity that accompanies even a right work, that "for it a man is envied," Eccl. iv. 4. So David was by Saul. 1. He hated him, and sought to kill him himself, ver. 8-11. 2. He feared him, and contrived how he might have some mischief done him, ver. 12-17. He proposed to marry his daughter to him; but, [1.] cheated him of the eldest to provoke him (ver. 19), and, [2.] Gave him the younger, upon conditions which would endanger his life, ver. 20-25. But David performed his conditions bravely (ver. 26, 27), and grew to be more and more esteemed, ver. 28-30. Still David is rising, but (as all that aim at the crown of life must expect) he had a great deal of difficulty and opposition to grapple with.
Jonathan's Love to David. (b. c. 1060.)