1 Samuel 18:8-29

8Then Saul became very angry, for this lyric 1displeased him; and he said, “They have given David credit for ten thousands, but to me they have given credit for only thousands! Now what more can he have but the 2kingdom?” 9And Saul eyed David with suspicion from that day on.

10Now it came about on the next day that 3an evil spirit from God rushed 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. 11Then 9Saul 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, 13because the Lord was with him but 14had left Saul. 13So 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 17successful in all his ways, for 18the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that he was 19very successful, he was afraid of him. 16But 20all Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and 21return 22before them.

17Then Saul said to David, “23Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight 24the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but 25let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18But David said to Saul, “26Who am I, and who is my family, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19So it came about at the time that Merab, Saul’s daughter, was to be given to David, that she was given instead to 27Adriel 28the Meholathite as a wife.

20Now 29Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they informed Saul, the thing was pleasing 30to him. 21For Saul thought, “I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for him, and 31that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “32For a second time you may become my son-in-law, today.” 22Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23So Saul’s servants spoke these words 33to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, 34since I am only a poor man and insignificant?” 24Then Saul’s servants reported to him, saying, “35These are the words David spoke.” 25Saul then said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any 36dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, 37to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But 38Saul plotted to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26When his servants told David these words, 39it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. So 4041before the time had expired, 27David set out and went, 42he and his men, and fatally struck two hundred men among the Philistines. Then 43David brought their foreskins, and they presented all two hundred of them to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29then Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.