The Way
Thousands and Tens of Thousands
One line of a song changed the king's eyes
Story
On the way home from fighting the Philistines, women came out of every town in Israel with tambourines, dancing and singing: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” The more they sang it, the harder the king's face became. Saul was furious. “They credit David with tens of thousands, and me with only thousands,” he said. “What more can he get but the kingdom?” From that day on Saul kept a suspicious eye on David.
The next day an evil spirit rushed upon Saul. The king raved inside the house, and David played the lyre as on any other day. Saul gripped the spear in his hand and said to himself, “I will pin David to the wall.” The spear flew, and twice David dodged it. Saul knew the Lord was with David and had left him, and he was afraid of David.
Saul made David a commander of a thousand and sent him out to battle. He promised him his daughter, while hoping David would fall at the hands of the Philistines. Saul's daughter Michal loved David. The bride price the king asked for was a hundred Philistine foreskins. Before the time was up, David went out and struck down two hundred. Michal became David's wife, and Saul remained David's enemy for the rest of his life.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?
Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.
They credit David with tens of thousands and me with only thousands. What more is left for him to get but the kingdom?
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Sam 18:6–30
Background
The bride price was a gift the groom paid to the bride's family; it appears also in Genesis 34 and Exodus 22. Instead of money, Saul demanded proof of a hundred dead Philistines, hoping David would fall in battle.
Pause and Reflect
When I see someone else succeed, what is the first feeling that rises in my heart?