11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
11 and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice.
11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.
11 Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall." David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.
11 And Saul cast the spear, for he said, "I will pin David to the wall!" But David escaped his presence twice.
11 and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 18:11
Commentary on 1 Samuel 18:6-11
(Read 1 Samuel 18:6-11)
David's troubles not only immediately follow his triumphs, but arise from them; such is the vanity of that which seems greatest in this world. It is a sign that the Spirit of God is departed from men, if, like Saul, they are peevish, envious, suspicious, and ill-natured. Compare David, with his harp in his hand, aiming to serve Saul, and Saul, with his javelin in his hand, aiming to slay David; and observe the sweetness and usefulness of God's persecuted people, and the barbarity of their persecutors. But David's safety must be ascribed to God's providence.