1 Samuel 18:28

KJV

And Saul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with David, and [that] Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Saul {H7586} saw {H7200} and knew {H3045} that the LORD {H3068} was with David {H1732}, and that Michal {H4324} Saul's {H7586} daughter {H1323} loved {H157} him.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sha'ul saw and understood that ADONAI was with David and that Mikhal Sha'ul's daughter loved him.

Berean Standard Bible

When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

American Standard Version

And Saul saw and knew that Jehovah was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 18:28 marks a critical turning point in the escalating conflict between King Saul and David, revealing Saul's grudging yet undeniable recognition of two profound truths: the unwavering presence and favor of the LORD with David, and the genuine affection Michal, his own daughter, held for David. This forced acknowledgment intensified Saul's deep-seated fear and paranoia, cementing David's position as a divinely appointed rival and further fueling Saul's desperate attempts to thwart God's sovereign plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed at the climax of a series of events designed by Saul to eliminate David. Following David's triumphant victory over Goliath in [1 Samuel 17](/1_samuel/17 "1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath"), David's popularity soared, and he quickly became a beloved figure among the people and the army. Saul, consumed by jealousy and an evil spirit (as seen in [1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - The Spirit Departs from Saul")), began to view David as a direct threat to his throne. He initially attempted to kill David with a spear ([1 Samuel 18:10-11](/1_samuel/18-10 "1 Samuel 18:10-11 - Saul's Attempt on David's Life")), then tried to use the Philistines as an instrument of David's death by offering his elder daughter Merab, and later his younger daughter Michal, as wives, demanding an impossible dowry of one hundred Philistine foreskins ([1 Samuel 18:25](/1_samuel/18-25 "1 Samuel 18:25 - Saul's Devious Dowry Plot")). David, however, not only survived but doubled the dowry, bringing two hundred foreskins ([1 Samuel 18:27](/1_samuel/18-27 "1 Samuel 18:27 - David's Success in the Dowry")). Verse 28 encapsulates Saul's grim realization that his cunning schemes had spectacularly backfired, only serving to confirm God's favor on David and cement David's place within his own royal household.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The establishment of the monarchy in Israel was relatively new, and the concept of a divinely chosen king was paramount. Saul's kingship had been marred by disobedience, leading to the LORD's rejection of his dynasty ([1 Samuel 15:23](/1_samuel/15-23 "1 Samuel 15:23 - Saul's Rejection as King")). David, in contrast, had been secretly anointed by Samuel ([1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing")), signifying God's new choice. Marriages, especially within royal families, were often strategic political alliances. A dowry (mohar) was a customary payment from the groom to the bride's family, signifying the groom's worth and commitment. Saul's demand for Philistine foreskins was highly unusual and clearly a death trap, exploiting the ongoing conflict with the Philistines, Israel's primary enemy. The cultural understanding of "the LORD being with someone" signified divine blessing, success, and protection, a visible sign of God's approval and empowerment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in 1 Samuel. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Opposition**. Despite Saul's desperate and increasingly malicious attempts to thwart God's plan for David, God's favor on David remains undeniable and even grows stronger, demonstrating the futility of resisting the divine will. Secondly, the verse highlights the **Contrast Between Saul's Spiritual Decline and David's Spiritual Ascent**. Saul, having lost the Spirit of the LORD, is consumed by an evil spirit and paranoia, while David consistently exhibits wisdom and success because "the LORD was with him," a stark spiritual dichotomy. Thirdly, it develops the theme of **Jealousy and Its Destructive Power**. Saul's envy morphs into an obsessive hatred that blinds him to reason and drives him to increasingly irrational and violent acts. Finally, the mention of Michal's love introduces the theme of **Loyalty and Affection within a Dysfunctional Royal Household**, setting the stage for Michal's future actions, including her aid to David in his escape from Saul ([1 Samuel 19:12](/1_samuel/19-12 "1 Samuel 19:12 - Michal Helps David Escape")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Knew (Hebrew, _yada'_):** The Hebrew verb יָדַע (_yada'_) signifies more than mere intellectual apprehension; it denotes an experiential, intimate, and often forced recognition of truth. Saul didn't just hear reports; he "saw" (another key verb, רָאָה _ra'ah_) the undeniable evidence of David's consistent success, wisdom, and divine protection. This was a deep, unsettling knowledge that penetrated his denial, forcing him to confront a reality he desperately wished to avoid—that God's favor had definitively shifted from him to David. This "knowing" was a bitter pill, confirming his deepest fears and intensifying his animosity.
* **Loved (Hebrew, _'ahav'_):** The Hebrew verb אָהַב (_'ahav_) describes genuine affection and emotional attachment. This was not a strategic or political alliance on Michal's part, but a sincere, personal love for David. This detail is crucial because it indicates that Saul's own daughter, whom he had intended as a snare, had become an ally to David through genuine affection. Her love for David complicated Saul's plans immensely, as it meant David had support even within the royal family, further isolating Saul in his paranoia.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Saul saw and knew":** This opening phrase emphasizes the undeniable nature of Saul's realization. "Saw" refers to his observation of David's consistent success and wisdom in all his undertakings, especially the recent triumph in securing the dowry. "Knew" signifies the internal processing of this observation into a firm, albeit unwelcome, conviction. Saul could no longer ignore or explain away David's extraordinary fortune; the evidence was overwhelming.
* **"that the LORD [was] with David":** This is the core of Saul's devastating realization. For Saul, who had experienced the departure of the Spirit of the LORD and was tormented by an evil spirit ([1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - The Spirit Departs from Saul")), seeing the LORD's manifest presence with David was a crushing blow. It confirmed that David was indeed God's chosen one, destined for greatness, and implicitly, that Saul's own reign was doomed. This divine endorsement of David was the ultimate threat to Saul's insecure kingship.
* **"and [that] Michal Saul's daughter loved him":** This second realization added a personal and familial dimension to Saul's distress. His calculated scheme to use Michal as bait to get David killed had backfired. Not only did David survive, but he had won the genuine affection of Saul's own daughter. This meant Michal was not a neutral party or a pawn in Saul's game; her loyalty lay with David, a fact that would later prove pivotal when she helped David escape Saul's murderous intent ([1 Samuel 19:12](/1_samuel/19-12 "1 Samuel 19:12 - Michal Helps David Escape")). This love underscored David's widespread appeal and the growing isolation of Saul.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Saul's elaborate schemes to eliminate David consistently backfire, serving only to elevate David's status and confirm God's favor upon him. Saul's attempt to use Michal as a snare ironically results in her genuine affection for David, further entrenching David within the royal family. There is also significant **Foreshadowing**, as Saul's intensified fear and hatred, born from this realization, clearly set the stage for his relentless and increasingly desperate pursuit of David throughout the subsequent chapters. The verse also presents a powerful **Contrast** between Saul's spiritual state—marked by paranoia and the absence of God's Spirit—and David's—characterized by divine presence and success. This contrast highlights the spiritual battle underlying the political struggle.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly illustrates the sovereignty of God over human machinations. Despite Saul's deep-seated jealousy, cunning plots, and murderous intent, God's plan for David's ascendancy could not be thwarted. Saul's forced "knowing" that the LORD was with David underscores the undeniable nature of divine favor, which manifests not just spiritually but tangibly in success and protection. It serves as a powerful reminder that God's purposes will prevail, often through means unexpected by human actors, and that resisting His will is ultimately futile. The narrative highlights the stark difference between a king chosen by human preference (Saul) and one chosen and empowered by God (David), emphasizing that true authority and blessing flow from divine presence.

* [Psalm 1:3](/psalms/1-3 "Psalm 1:3 - The Blessed Man Prospers")
* [Romans 8:31](/romans/8-31 "Romans 8:31 - God Is For Us")
* [Proverbs 27:4](/proverbs/27-4 "Proverbs 27:4 - The Destructive Power of Envy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 18:28 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It confronts us with the reality that God's sovereign will cannot be ultimately frustrated by human opposition, no matter how powerful or cunning. Saul's story is a sobering warning against the corrosive power of envy and insecurity. When we allow bitterness and fear to take root in our hearts, they can blind us to truth, consume our lives, and lead us down destructive paths, alienating us from God and others. Conversely, David's consistent success, rooted in God's presence, reminds us that true prosperity and peace come from walking in alignment with God's will. We are called to recognize and rejoice in God's hand at work, both in our own lives and in the lives of others, even when it challenges our preconceived notions or personal desires. This verse encourages us to trust in God's unfailing plan, to guard our hearts against envy, and to respond with humility and faith when confronted with divine truth, rather than with hostility and resistance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be resisting a truth that God is clearly revealing, perhaps because it challenges your comfort or control?**
* **How does Saul's envy serve as a warning for your own heart? What steps can you take to guard against bitterness or jealousy when others are blessed?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence and favor in your own life, even amidst challenges and opposition?**

### FAQ
**Why was it so significant that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David?**

Answer: Michal's genuine love for David was significant for several reasons. First, it completely undermined King Saul's calculated scheme. Saul had offered Michal to David as a wife, demanding a perilous dowry of Philistine foreskins, with the explicit hope that David would be killed in the process ([1 Samuel 18:25](/1_samuel/18-25 "1 Samuel 18:25 - Saul's Plot for David's Death")). Instead, David not only survived but won the heart of Saul's own daughter. Second, it demonstrated David's widespread appeal and divine favor, even within the royal household. Michal's affection meant David had an ally on the inside, which would later prove crucial when she helped him escape Saul's murderous attempts ([1 Samuel 19:12](/1_samuel/19-12 "1 Samuel 19:12 - Michal Helps David Escape")). Her love highlighted the growing isolation of Saul, whose own family members were drawn to the man he hated.

**How did Saul "know" that the LORD was with David? What evidence did he have?**

Answer: Saul's "knowing" was a forced recognition based on undeniable, consistent evidence. David's success was not sporadic; he was "successful in all his undertakings" ([1 Samuel 18:14](/1_samuel/18-14 "1 Samuel 18:14 - David's Success")), exhibiting wisdom and prowess in every situation, from his victory over Goliath ([1 Samuel 17](/1_samuel/17 "1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath")) to his military campaigns and his handling of the dowry for Michal. This consistent, extraordinary success, coupled with David's wise conduct, was the visible manifestation of God's presence and blessing upon him. For Saul, who had experienced the Spirit of the LORD departing from him and being tormented by an evil spirit ([1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - The Spirit Departs from Saul")), David's flourishing was a stark, painful contrast to his own declining fortunes. He observed David's triumphs firsthand and could no longer deny the divine hand at work, even though it confirmed his deepest fears about his own kingdom.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Samuel 18:28, though set in the Old Testament, powerfully foreshadows aspects of Christ's life and the nature of His kingdom. David, as God's anointed king, experienced undeniable divine favor and success despite the relentless opposition of a reigning authority figure (Saul) who sought to destroy him. Similarly, Jesus, the true King and Son of David, was perfectly aligned with the Father's will, and "the LORD was with Him" in an ultimate sense. His ministry was marked by undeniable signs of God's presence—miracles, authoritative teaching, and perfect wisdom—which were evident to all, even His enemies ([John 10:38](/john/10-38 "John 10:38 - Jesus' Works Testify")). Yet, like Saul, the religious and political authorities of Jesus' day, consumed by jealousy and fear for their own power, refused to acknowledge God's hand upon Him, plotting His death despite His blamelessness ([Matthew 2:16](/matthew/2-16 "Matthew 2:16 - Herod's Plot Against Jesus")). Furthermore, Michal's genuine love for David, an affection that transcended political schemes, points to the love of those who truly recognize and embrace Christ. Despite the world's rejection, those who are drawn by the Father's grace genuinely love Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Ultimately, just as God's plan for David's kingship prevailed despite Saul's futile opposition, God's sovereign plan for Christ's kingdom triumphed through the cross and resurrection, establishing an eternal reign that no human scheme could ever thwart ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 30:27

And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, [tarry: for] I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.

Genesis 37:8

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Genesis 37:11

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

1 Samuel 26:25

Then Saul said to David, Blessed [be] thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great [things], and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Genesis 39:3

And his master saw that the LORD [was] with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

1 Samuel 24:20

And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

Revelation 3:9

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.