David has beaten the Philistines and is returning to the court of King Saul. The superstitious king considers David a threat to his already weakened position. We see him trying to think of a way to get rid of the young hero. At the same, he is moved by David's harp playing - Saul dries his eyes with his cloak.
The people would probably rise against him if he were to kill David. The javelin in his hand is useless. So he promotes David to "captain over a thousand", hoping he will die in battle.
In Rembrandt's painting, the old suffering king is clearly touched by David's playing. David is completely absorbed in his music.
It is a much more melancholic and touching interpretation than his earlier rendition of the same episode, which Rembrandt created in 1630.
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