John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him , etc.] Partly because they called him plain Saul, and not King Saul; did not give him his royal title, which might serve to strengthen his suspicion, after suggested; and chiefly because they attributed a greater number of slain to David than to him, as follows: and he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they ascribed [but] thousands ; and so had given more honour to an inferior officer than to the commander-in-chief, more to a subject than to a sovereign: and [what can] he have more but the kingdom ? there is nothing left out of their song, and nothing remains to be given him but that; some think that Saul knew, by the prudent behaviour of David, and the favour he was in with God and men, and by these commendations of the women, that the kingdom would be his; and that the words of Samuel were true, and would be confirmed, that the kingdom would be rent from him, and given to his neighbour better than he. This clause, with ( 1 Samuel 18:9-11), is left out of the Greek version, according to the Vatican copy.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-11 - David's troubles not only immediately follow his triumphs, but aris from them; such is the vanity of that which seems greatest in thi 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, an Saul, with his javelin in his hand, aiming to slay David; and observ 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.
Original Hebrew ויחר2734 לשׁאול7586 מאד3966 וירע7489 בעיניו5869 הדבר1697 הזה2088 ויאמר559 נתנו5414 לדוד1732 רבבות7233 ולי נתנו5414 האלפים505 ועוד5750 לו אך389 המלוכה׃4410
