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1 Samuel 18:7

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 18:7 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.
1 Samuel 18:7 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul`s servants.
6And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.
8And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. And Saul had his spear in his hand;
← 1 Samuel 18:61 Samuel 18:8 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the women answered [one another] as they played, etc.] They sung vocally to their instruments, and that by turns, one rehearsing one line or verse in the song, and then the other another: and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands; which, if to be referred to the battle in the preceding chapter, as it commonly is, must be understood thus, that though Saul, in pursuit of the Philistines, slew many thousands of them, and David but one, even Goliath; yet the slaying of him was the occasion of slaying ten thousands, and therefore it is ascribed to him: but it seems rather that in some after battles David had been more prosperous and victorious than Saul, and…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“As they played - Or danced with vocal and instrumental music (see Judges 16:25 note). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“18:7 thousands . . . ten thousands: This dramatic increase in number between two lines of Hebrew poetry was a way of intensifying the statement (cp. Deut 32:30; Ps 91:7). Because of his great military victories, David was beginning to eclipse Saul (1 Sam 18:16, 30; 21:11).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“answered: Exo 15:21; Psa 24:7, Psa 24:8 Saul: Sa1 21:11, Sa1 29:5 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 18:8”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification