1 Samuel 18:8-30

8Then Saul became very angry—this saying was evil in his eyes—and he commented, “They’ve ascribed to David ten thousands and to me they’ve ascribed thousands. Now what more does he lack but the kingdom?”

9So Saul eyed David from that day on.

10It came about the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, so that he was raving within the palace. While David was playing music with his hand, as he did day by day, Saul had his spear in his hand,

11and Saul hurled the spear, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall!” But David eluded him—twice.

12Now Saul became afraid of David, because Adonai was with him but had departed from Saul.

13Therefore Saul removed him from his entourage by appointing him as a captain of a thousand. So David went out and came in before the troops.

14David had success in all his undertakings, since Adonai was with him.

15When Saul saw that he had great success, he dreaded him.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab—I give her to you as a wife. Only continue to be my son of valor and fight Adonai’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand needn’t be against him—let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18But David replied to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”

19But when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David in marriage, she was given as wife to Adriel the Meholathite instead.

20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul, the matter pleased him.

21Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she may become a snare to him—and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David, “You can still become my son-in-law, even today, with the second one.”

22Then Saul commanded his courtiers, “Speak with David privately and say, ‘Behold, the king delights in you and all his courtiers love you. So now, become the king’s son-in-law!’”

23So Saul’s courtiers whispered these words in David’s ears. But David said, “Is it a light thing to you becoming the king’s son-in-law, considering that I am a poor man and of little account?”

24Saul’s courtiers reported back to him what David had said.

25Then Saul said, “Thus you will say to David, ‘The king desires no bridal dowry except 100 foreskins of the Philistines—to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” So Saul schemed to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26When his courtiers told David these words, the word seemed right in David’s eyes to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the days were fulfilled,

27David had risen, gone with his men and killed 200 Philistine men. Then David brought their foreskins and gave them in full number to the king—to become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.

28When Saul saw and realized that Adonai was with David and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,

29Saul grew even more afraid of David. Thus Saul became David’s enemy for all days.

30When the chiefs of the Philistines marched out, as often as they came out, David proved more successful than all of Saul’s officers. So his name became highly esteemed.