See I Samuel xviii.

SAUL had become jealous of David because of the praises of the people. "And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him, and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands, and what can he have more, but the kingdom And Saul eyed David from that day, and forward. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house; and David played with his hand, as at other times; and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the javelin, for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it; and David avoided out of his presence twice." The beautiful figure of the minstrel lad, who, with harp in hand, is shrinking to the wall to avoid the fatal thrust of the king's javelin, the terror in his youthful countenance, and the passionate rage of the king, troubled "with the evil spirit from God," the fading background, and palatial architecture, all combine to form a simple but thoroughly dramatic scene.