Bible Strands
1 Samuel 18:13
Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul acts toward David immediately after noting the Lord has departed from him and remains with David. He withdraws David from his court and assigns him command over a thousand soldiers.
The words — וַ/יְסִרֵ֤/הוּ (va/y.si.Re./hu) literally means "and he removed him," and וַ/יְשִׂמֵ֥/הוּ (va/y.si.Me./hu) means "and he appointed him." These paired verbs record Saul's physical distancing and David's official military promotion.
The thread — David's new command fulfills the pattern in Numbers 27:16 of appointing a leader over the people, while his reliable leadership matches the Lord's protective presence described in Psalms 121:8 and 2 Samuel 5:2.
Why it lands — The verse documents a calculated political move that establishes David's army command. It asks the reader to track how human strategy and divine blessing operate simultaneously in the transfer of authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 5:2 Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
- Psalms 121:8 The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
- Numbers 27:16 “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
- 1 Samuel 8:12 He will appoint some for himself as commanders of thousands and of fifties, and others to plow his ground, to reap his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
- 1 Samuel 18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.
- 1 Samuel 18:25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
- 1 Samuel 22:7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Is the son of Jesse giving all of you fields and vineyards and making you commanders of thousands or hundreds?