1st Samuel Chapter 16 verse 15 Holy Bible

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(15) An evil spirit from God.--The form in which the evil spirit manifested itself in Saul was apparently an incurable melancholy, which at times blazed forth in fits of uncontrollable jealous anger. When Saul's attendants, his officers, and those about his person, perceived the mental malady under which their king was evidently suffering, they counselled that he should try whether the evil influence which troubled him could not be charmed away by music.There is no doubt but that King Saul's nervous, excitable temperament was peculiarly subject to such influences. We have some striking instances of this power exercised by sacred music over the king in the incidents related in 1Samuel 10:10; 1Samuel 19:23-24, where the songs and chaunts of the pupils of the prophetic schools had so powerful an influence over Saul. The solemn declaration of God through his prophet Samuel, that the kingdom was taken away from him and his house, weighed upon his naturally nervous and excitable mind. He became gloomy, and suspicious of his dearest friends, and, as we know, at times sought to take their lives; at times would command terrible massacres, such as that of the priests at Nob (1Samuel 22:17-19). As the sad life advanced, we see the nobler traits in his character growing fainter, and the evil becoming more and more obvious. It was a species of insanity, fatal alike to the poor victim of the malady and to the prosperity of the kingdom over which he ruled. History gives us not a few similar instances of monarchs given up to the "evil spirit from God," and who, in consequence, became a prey to insanity in one form or other.Parallel Commentaries ...HebrewSaul'sשָׁא֖וּל (šā·’ūl)Noun - proper - masculine singularStrong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelitesservantsעַבְדֵֽי־ (‘aḇ·ḏê-)Noun - masculine plural constructStrong's 5650: Slave, servantsaidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralStrong's 559: To utter, sayto him,אֵלָ֑יו (’ê·lāw)Preposition | third person masculine singularStrong's 413: Near, with, among, to“Surelyהִנֵּה־ (hin·nêh-)InterjectionStrong's 2009: Lo! behold!a spiritרֽוּחַ־ (rū·aḥ-)Noun - common singular constructStrong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spiritof distressרָעָ֖ה (rā·‘āh)Adjective - feminine singularStrong's 7451: Bad, evilfrom Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)Noun - masculine pluralStrong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlativeis tormenting you.מְבַעִתֶּֽךָ׃ (mə·ḇa·‘it·te·ḵā)Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularStrong's 1204: To fall upon, startle, terrifyJump to PreviousAttendants Evil Sadness Saul Saul's Servants Spirit Terrifying Troubles Troubleth Troubling