1 Samuel 18 in the early church

[LXX: 1 Kingdoms; Vulgate: 1 Kings]

47 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 Samuel 18, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 11 · 14 · 17 · 18 · 20 · 25 · 27 · 28

1 Samuel 18:1

After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:1Address of Thanksgiving 6 · Gregory Thaumaturgusquotation, high confidenceca. 238–245
1 Sam 18:1–3On the Witch of Endor 15 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, medium confidenceca. 324–337

1 Samuel 18:6

As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:6–11On Pascha 59 · text not on this site · Melito of Sardisallusion, medium confidenceca. 160-180
1 Sam 18:6–11On Pascha 69 · text not on this site · Melito of Sardisallusion, medium confidenceca. 160-180
1 Sam 18:6–9Homilies on Psalms 36-38 1.1 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)
1 Sam 18:6–11Apostolic Constitutions 7.5.5 · Anonymousallusion, high confidenceca. 380
1 Sam 18:6Exposition of Psalm 118 18.25.2 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 18:6–11Commonitorium 1.451–480 · Orientius of Auchallusion, high confidenceca. 420-450

1 Samuel 18:7

And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:7On Jealousy and Envy 5 · Cyprian of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 256
1 Sam 18:7On the Witch of Endor 23 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, high confidenceca. 324–337
1 Sam 18:7Oration 40.17 · Gregory of Nazianzusallusion, high confidenceca. 362–383
1 Sam 18:7Homilies 11.1 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 363-378
1 Sam 18:7Letter 46.2 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
1 Sam 18:7On the Christian Faith 5.0 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 378–380
1 Sam 18:7Second Apology of David 16 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 384-397
1 Sam 18:7Apology of the Prophet David 12 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 384-390
1 Sam 18:7Exposition of Psalm 118 14.22.1 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 18:7Exposition of Psalm 118 17.25.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 18:7Exposition of Psalm 118 18.24.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 18:7Exposition of Psalm 118 18.25.3 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 18:7Homilies on Matthew 42.2 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 18:7On the Blessings of the Patriarchs 56 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-392
1 Sam 18:7Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.9.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397
1 Sam 18:7Explanation of Twelve Psalms 43.18.2 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-397

1 Samuel 18:8

And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:81 Clement 4.13 · Clement of Romeallusion, medium confidenceca. 95–97 (range ca. 70–100)
1 Sam 18:8–11Against Novatian 14 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidenceafter 251 (disputed)
1 Sam 18:8On Jealousy and Envy 5 · Cyprian of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 256
1 Sam 18:8–12Demonstration 9.8 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
1 Sam 18:8Exposition of Psalm 118 17.25.4 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 18:8Exposition of Psalm 118 18.25.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
1 Sam 18:8Sermon 77.3 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, medium confidenceca. 391-430
1 Sam 18:8–11Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 52 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence5th century (disputed)
1 Sam 18:8–9Part 2, chapter 25 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

1 Samuel 18:10

The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:10–11Demonstration 9.9 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
1 Sam 18:10Demonstration 14.13 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
1 Sam 18:10–12On Apostate Kings 2 · Lucifer of Cagliariallusion, low confidenceca. 356–361

1 Samuel 18:11

and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:11Homilies 11.1 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 363-378
1 Sam 18:11Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.9.2 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-397

1 Samuel 18:14

and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:14–16On Saint Athanasius 1.13 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361

1 Samuel 18:17

Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:17Homilies on Joshua 8.7 · Origenquotation, medium confidenceca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410)

1 Samuel 18:18

And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:18Long recension, Philadelphians 5 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidencelater 4th century (probable)

1 Samuel 18:20

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:20Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:12-16 · Ephrem the Syrianallusion, medium confidence4th century (if Ephrem's, before 373)

1 Samuel 18:25

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:25Homilies on Matthew 42.2 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
1 Sam 18:25–27Against Jovinianus 1.5 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393
1 Sam 18:25–27Against Jovinianus 1.24 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393

1 Samuel 18:27

David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:27On the Witch of Endor 23 · Eustathius of Antiochallusion, medium confidenceca. 324–337

1 Samuel 18:28

When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
1 Sam 18:28–29On Saint Athanasius 1.13 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361