1 Samuel 18:13
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
Original Language Analysis
שָׁאוּל֙
Therefore Saul
H7586
שָׁאוּל֙
Therefore Saul
Strong's:
H7586
Word #:
2 of 11
shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites
מֵֽעִמּ֔וֹ
H5973
מֵֽעִמּ֔וֹ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
3 of 11
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ
him from him and made
H7760
וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ
him from him and made
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
4 of 11
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
אָ֑לֶף
over a thousand
H505
אָ֑לֶף
over a thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
7 of 11
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וַיֵּצֵ֥א
and he went out
H3318
וַיֵּצֵ֥א
and he went out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
8 of 11
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
וַיָּבֹ֖א
and came in
H935
וַיָּבֹ֖א
and came in
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
9 of 11
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Historical Context
Military units of thousands were standard ancient Near Eastern organization. Such commands carried significant responsibility and public exposure. Leaders who 'went out and came in' led from the front, sharing dangers with their troops and earning loyalty through presence.
Questions for Reflection
- How has God transformed what others intended as setback into advancement for His purposes?
- What does Saul's failed strategy teach about the futility of opposing God's chosen instruments?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
Saul's removal of David from close proximity ironically accelerated David's rise. The Hebrew 'removed him from him' (wayesirehu me'itto) suggests Saul put distance between them, yet the 'captain over a thousand' position gave David military command and public visibility. The phrase 'went out and came in before the people' indicates leading troops in battle - exactly the role that built popular support. What Saul intended as demotion became promotion; what he designed as danger became opportunity. God sovereignly transforms the schemes of the wicked into stepping stones for His purposes.