What is the significance of the song, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens of thousands” (1 Samuel 21:11)?

Response

The dynamic between King Saul (Israel’s inaugural king) and David (Saul’s successor) was filled with envy, apprehension, and suspicion. The king’s envy of David’s renowned valor as a soldier in his army drove Saul to attempt to assassinate David. Following several murder attempts by Saul, David escaped. While concealing himself in the rival territory of Gath, David hoped not to be identified. However, Achish’s servants, the king of Gath, recognized David and remarked, “Isn’t this David, the ruler of the land? Isn’t he the one they celebrate in their festivities: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” «And the servants of Achish said to him, Is this not David, the ruler of the land? Did they not sing to each other in dances, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands? », (1 Samuel 21:11).

The inhabitants of Gath likely viewed David as the king of Israel due to his remarkable victory over their Philistine army. Undoubtedly, this information would have intensified Saul’s envy of David. Simultaneously, it instilled fear in David’s heart. It was probable that the king of Gath would also seek to kill David, so he feigned madness. The deception succeeded, and Achish allowed David to depart unscathed (1 Samuel 21:12-15).

Previously, following David’s defeat of the giant Goliath, the women of Israel sang this verse: “As the troops returned home after David’s victory over the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’” (1 Samuel 18:6-7).

In ancient times, itIt was customary for wives, mothers, and daughters of Israel’s warriors to compose songs with lyrics that memorialized the men’s success in battle (Exodus 15:21; Judges 5:1-31). It’s highly improbable that Saul had literally killed thousands of Philistines or that David had killed tens of thousands. The language of the song was meant to be figurative, celebrating Israel’s overwhelming victory over their Philistine adversaries. Both Saul and David were praised in the chorus, but the women credited David with more kills and greater honor than their king, and this realization infuriated and greatly displeased King Saul.

It was also customary in days of old for kings and not soldiers to receive credit for victory in battle. But the lyrics, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens thousands,” elevated David, the soldier, above Saul, the king. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” Saul thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” Saul burned with jealous anger toward David for the rest of his life, eyeing him with suspicion and often outright hostility (1 Samuel 18:8-9).

The king’s intense reaction to the refrain, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens thousands,” may have been associated with an earlier prophecy by Samuel. The prophet had warned Saul that the kingdom of Israel would be torn from him and given to an anonymous neighbor—”to one better than you” (1 Samuel 15:28).

“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised,” declares the teacher in Proverbs 27:21 (NLT). The praise

The nature of humans is akin to a bubbling cauldron, revealing what resides in our hearts. Upon hearing the women sing, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his tens thousands,” David displayed an inner humility untouched by pride. In contrast, Saul allowed bitterness, envy, arrogance, and a craving for glory to surface from the depths of his heart upon hearing David being praised for what he believed he deserved.