Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and made him captain of a thousand — Saul's *va'yasireihu me'lipanav va'yasmehu sar alef*, removed him and made him captain of a thousand, represents an apparent promotion that is actually exile. David is elevated in title but separated from the king's immediate presence, placed at a distance where assassination becomes less feasible. The *sar alef*, captain of a thousand, is a significant military position, yet it removes David from the court. Saul's strategy is to distance the threat, to try to manage his fear through physical separation.

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