The spirit, posing as a voice from heaven, taunted Saul by telling him that his crown would go to his rival. Satan inspired Saul’s associates to stir up the king’s animosity against David, and then turned his gall to wormwood by announcing, as accomplished, the very thing Saul had fought so long to prevent. He had heard of David’s being with the Philistines (PP 675), and now probably envisioned the enemies of the Lord as conquering him and giving the kingdom to David.