The First Book of Samuel

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 18 -

After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

Saul Envies David

So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.(a)

And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

The next day a spirit of distress

(b)

sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

David Marries Michal

Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

So when it was time

(c)

to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

And the servants told Saul what David had said.

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Footnotes

(a)18:6 Possibly three-stringed instruments or cymbals or lutes or lyres

(b)18:10 Or a harmful spirit

When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.

Saul Envies David

David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.

The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”

Saul watched David from that day and forward.

On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;

and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.

Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and had departed from Saul.

Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.

But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.

David Marries Michal

Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”

David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.

Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”

Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’”

Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”

The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”

Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,

David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.

Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.

Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.

Then the princes of the Philistines went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.