Who painted Saul and David?

Gustave Doré painted Saul and David.

What Bible passage does Saul and David depict?

Saul and David depicts the biblical scene from 1 Samuel 18:1-16.

Saul and David by Gustave Doré

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The depicted scene captures the initial spark of what would become Saul's consuming obsession as the king of Israel. He harbored envy toward David and was determined to eliminate him from his path. The genesis of this bitterness was quite straightforward. Following a triumphant campaign against the Philistines, the returning troops were welcomed back to the cities of Israel. At the city gates, they were greeted by groups of women who, with the accompaniment of tambourines and their own melodies, chanted rhythmic verses suited to the occasion. The refrain that punctuated each stanza was, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Most likely, this was a joyful expression with the kind of exaggeration that often accompanies strong emotions.

However, Saul's sensitive soul, already inclined toward suspicion due to Samuel's prophecy of his kingdom's loss, took offense at the perceived preference for David. He muttered, "They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me but thousands; and what can he have more but the kingdom?" This thought festered in his heart like bitter poison, and the next day, instead of finding solace in the music of David's harp, he hurled a javelin in the direction of the musician's head. David narrowly escaped by adroitly evading the weapon's deadly point.

Details

Artist: Gustave Doré
Medium: engraving
Passage: 1 Samuel 18:1-16

Found in: 1 Samuel, 1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18:1-16

1 When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.

5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.

7 The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

8 Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”

9 Saul watched David from that day and forward.

10 On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;

11 and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David even to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.

15 When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.

1 Samuel 18:1-16 · World English Bible

The artist

Gustave Doré

1832 - 1883

Strasbourg, France

Paul Gustave Louis Christophe Doré (6 January 1832 – 23 January 1883) was a French artist, printmaker, illustrator, comics artist, caricaturist, and sculptor who worked primarily with wood-engraving.