1 Samuel 18

Jonathan and David

1Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that 1the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and 2Jonathan loved him as himself. 2Saul took him that day and 3did not let him return to his father’s house. 3Then 4Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 45Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. 5So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and 6prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that 7the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with 8musical instruments. 7The women 9sang as they 10played, and said, “11Saul has slain his thousands, 12And David his ten thousands.” 8Then Saul became very angry, for this saying 13displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now 14what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

Saul Turns against David

10Now it came about on the next day that 15an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and 16he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, 1718as usual; and 1920a spear was in Saul’s hand. 1121Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will 22pin David to the wall.” But David 23escaped from his presence twice.

12Now 24Saul was afraid of David, 25for the Lord was with him but 26had departed from Saul. 13Therefore Saul removed him from 27his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and 28he went out and came in before the people. 14David was 29prospering in all his ways for 30the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that he was 31prospering greatly, he dreaded him. 16But 32all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

17Then Saul said to David, “33Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight 34the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but 35let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18But David said to Saul, “36Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to 37Adriel 38the Meholathite for a wife.

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

20Now 39Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable 40to him. 21Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and 41that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “42For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.” 22Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23So Saul’s servants spoke these words 43to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, 44since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24The servants of Saul reported to him 45according to these words which David spoke. 25Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any 46dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, 47to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now 48Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26When his servants told David these words, 49it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. 5051Before the days had expired 27David rose up and went, 52he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then 53David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. 28When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30Then the commanders of the Philistines 54went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David 55behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.