1 Samuel 18:8-30

8Then Saul became very angry, for this saying 1displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now 2what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

10Now it came about on the next day that 3an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and 4he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, 56as usual; and 78a spear was in Saul’s hand. 119Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will 10pin David to the wall.” But David 11escaped from his presence twice.

12Now 12Saul was afraid of David, 13for the Lord was with him but 14had departed from Saul. 13Therefore Saul removed him from 15his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and 16he went out and came in before the people. 14David was 17prospering in all his ways for 18the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that he was 19prospering greatly, he dreaded him. 16But 20all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

17Then Saul said to David, “21Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight 22the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but 23let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18But David said to Saul, “24Who 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 25Adriel 26the Meholathite for a wife.

20Now 27Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable 28to him. 21Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and 29that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “30For 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 31to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, 32since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24The servants of Saul reported to him 33according to these words which David spoke. 25Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any 34dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, 35to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now 36Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26When his servants told David these words, 37it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. 3839Before the days had expired 27David rose up and went, 40he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then 41David 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 42went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David 43behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.