Saul and David by Gustave Doré, 1 Samuel 18:1-16, Bible.Gallery
Saul and David created and it was drawn with engraving style.
Artwork Description
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.