Holy Spirit's Departure from Saul in 1 Samuel
The departure of the Spirit of the Lord from Saul, as recorded in 1 Samuel 16:14, marks a significant turning point in the biblical narrative, signaling Saul's decline and the rise of David [1]. This event is immediately followed by an "evil spirit from the Lord" troubling Saul [1].
The text of 1 Samuel 16:14 states, "Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him" [1]. The Webster translation similarly reads, "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him" [2]. This departure is understood by various commentators as a consequence of Saul's disobedience and rejection of God [3, 5]. Matthew Henry notes that God "withdrew from him those assistances of the good Spirit with which he was directed, animated, and encouraged in his government and wars," leading to a loss of his "good qualities" [3]. This withdrawal is seen as a "righteous judgment" for Saul's actions [3].
The nature of the "Spirit of the Lord" that departed from Saul is interpreted in several ways. John Gill suggests it encompassed a spirit of prophecy, wisdom in governance, and fortitude [4]. The Targum Jonathan refers to it as the "mighty spirit from before the LORD" [6]. Its departure left Saul vulnerable [3].
Following the departure of the Spirit, an "evil spirit from the Lord" began to trouble Saul [1, 2]. This "evil spirit" is a subject of diverse interpretations. Some scholars, like Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, suggest it manifested as Saul's "gloomy reflections," leading to jealousy, irritability, vindictiveness, and "fits of morbid melancholy" due to his awareness of his failures
Sources
- 1 Samuel “Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him. -- 1 Samuel 16:14”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 16:14 (Webster) — But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”
- 1 Samuel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 16:14: We have here Saul falling and David rising. I. Here is Saul made a terror to himself (Sa1 16:14): The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. He having forsaken God and his duty, God, in a way of righteous judgment, withdrew from him those assistances of the good Spirit with which he was directed, animated, and encouraged in his government and wars. He lost all his good qualities. This was the effect of his rejecting God, and an evidence of his being rejected by him. Now God took his mercy from Saul (as it is expressed, Sa2 7:15); for, when the Spirit of the Lord”
- 1 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Samuel 16:14: But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul,.... As a spirit of prophecy as at first, as a spirit of wisdom and prudence in civil government, and as a spirit of fortitude and courage, as the Targum: and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him; the reverse of the former, which by the permission of God, and as a punishment to him for his sins, came upon him; he seemed to be a demoniac, as Josephus represents (i) him, as if possessed with the devil; by whom he was almost suffocated and strangled, as well as was distracted in his counsels, and became weak and foo”
- 1 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Samuel 16:14: 16:14–31:13 Saul’s kingship continued its downward spiral after God’s Spirit departed from him. His reign ended in shame and defeat (ch 31). 16:14 Spirit . . . left Saul: In contrast with David’s receiving the Spirit (see “The Spirit’s Presence” Theme Note). • The Lord sent a tormenting spirit as a consequence of Saul’s disobedience (see also 18:10; 19:9; cp. Judg 9:23; Rom 1:28-29).”
- Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on I Samuel 16:14: And the mighty spirit from before the LORD who had been with Saul, departed from him; and an evil spirit from before the LORD tormented him.”