8 When there was war again , David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter , so that they fled before e him. 9 Now there was an evil spirit from the Lord on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand , and David was playing the harp with his hand . 10 Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear , but he slipped away out of Saul's presence , so that he stuck the spear into the wall . And David fled and escaped that night .
11 Then Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, in order to put him to death in the morning . But Michal , David's wife , told him, saying , "If you do not save your life tonight , tomorrow you will be put to death ." 12 So Michal let David down through a window , and he went out and fled and escaped . 13 Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed , and put a quilt of goats' hair at its head , and covered it with clothes . 14 When Saul sent messengers to take David , she said , " He is sick ." 15 Then Saul sent messengers to see David , saying , "Bring him up to me on his bed , that I may put him to death ." 16 When the messengers entered , behold , the household idol was on the bed with the quilt of goats' hair at its head . 17 So Saul said to Michal , "Why have you deceived me like this and let my enemy go , so that he has escaped ?" And Michal said to Saul , "He said to me, 'Let me go ! Why should I put you to death ?' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 19:8-17
Commentary on 1 Samuel 19:1-10
(Read 1 Samuel 19:1-10)
How forcible are right words! Saul was, for a time, convinced of the unreasonableness of his enmity to David; but he continued his malice against David. So incurable is the hatred of the seed of the serpent against that of the woman; so deceitful and desperately wicked is the heart of man without the grace of God, Jeremiah 17:9.
Commentary on 1 Samuel 19:11-24
(Read 1 Samuel 19:11-24)
Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a distance was allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not influenced by the same spirit of piety which had dictated Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. He met with little rest or satisfaction in Saul's court, therefore went to seek it in Samuel's church. What little pleasure is to be had in this world, those have who live a life of communion with God; to that David returned in the time of trouble. So impatient was Saul after David's blood, so restless against him, that although baffled by one providence after another, he could not see that David was under the special protection of God. And when God will take this way to protect David, even Saul prophesies. Many have great gifts, yet no grace; they may prophesy in Christ's name, yet are disowned by him. Let us daily seek for renewing grace, which shall be in us as a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Let us cleave to truth and holiness with full purpose of heart. In every danger and trouble, let us seek protection, comfort, and direction in God's ordinances.