- Jonathan makes a covenant with David, giving him his robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt (vv. 1–4).
- Jonathan is Saul's heir. In stripping himself of the royal regalia, he is renouncing his own claim to the throne.
- This flows from love for David, for Jonathan sees what Israel does not yet see, which is that David is the true king.
- The women's victory song is the catalyst for Saul's unraveling, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (vv. 6–7).
- Saul's response reveals that what he has feared most is losing the kingdom, not a fear of the LORd (v. 8).
- Saul's kingdom-mindedness was always self-referential rather than God-referential.
- Saul hurls his spear at David twice while David plays the harp (vv. 10–11).
- The spirit of distress from God has not left (cf. 16:14) and Saul's sin has escalated to attempted murder.
- This phrase "the LORD was with David" occurs three times in this chapter (vv. 12, 14, 28).
- Saul schemes to have the Philistines kill David by offering his daughters as brides with military conditions attached (vv. 17, 21, 25).
- Saul can no longer raise his hand against David openly, so he engineers circumstances to accomplish it indirectly.
- David delivers two hundred foreskins, doubling the required amount (v. 27).
- Every device Saul sets against David results in David prospering further.
- God's hand on David means that even Saul's evil schemes serve David's advancement.
- Saul grows more afraid and becomes David's enemy permanently (vv. 28–29).
- The narrative arc of this chapter is a complete inversion of position.
- Saul begins as king with every advantage, as recognized king of Israel.
- By the end, he is afraid of a shepherd who has outperformed him in everything.
- Christ was a man born into a shameful position, but His faithfulness was used to greatly glorify the LORD who outperforms all other kings.