1 Samuel 18
1 After David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became great friends with David. He loved David as he loved himself.
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit on the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 From that time on Jonathan had David work for him and would not let him go back home.
And Saul took him on that day, and would not permit him to go home to his father's house.
3 Jonathan made a solemn agreement with David because he loved him as he loved himself.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because of his loving him as his own soul.
4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, together with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he had upon him, and gave it to David, and likewise his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 David was successful in doing everything Saul asked him to do, so Saul made him an officer in the army. This pleased everyone, including Saul's other officers.
And David went out; whithersoever Saul used to send him, he was successful; and Saul set him over the men of war; and he was accepted in the eyes of all the people, and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.
6 When the soldiers returned home after David had killed the Philistine, the women of all the towns of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul, happily celebrating with tambourines and musical instruments.
And it came to pass as they came home, when David returned from smiting the Philistines, that the women came forth out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with triangles.
7 As they danced the women sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
And the women that played answered one another, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 What they were singing made Saul very angry as he didn't think it was right. He said to himself, “They've given David credit for killing tens of thousands, but only thousands to me. All that's left is to give him the kingdom!”
And Saul was very wroth, and this saying was displeasing in his eyes; and he said, They have given unto David ten thousands, and to me they have given the thousands: and all that he lacketh now yet is only the kingdom.
9 From that time on Saul viewed David with suspicion.
And Saul looked jealous on David from that day and forward.
10 The following day an evil spirit from God came on Saul with power, and he was ranting inside the house while David played the harp as he regularly did. Saul happened to be holding a spear,
And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came suddenly over Saul, and he spoke foolish things in the midst of the house: while David was playing with his hand, as on previous days; and the spear was in the hand of Saul.
11 and he threw it at David, saying to himself, “I'll pin David to the wall.” But David managed to escape him twice.
And Saul cast the spear; and he thought, I will strike David through even on the wall. And David turned aside out of his presence twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David, but he had given up on Saul.
And Saul was afraid of David; because the Lord was with him, and from Saul he was departed.
13 So Saul sent David away and made him a commander of a thousand soldiers, leading them out and back as part of the army.
Therefore Saul removed him from himself, and made him his captain over a thousand: and he went out and came in before the people.
14 David was very successful in everything he did, because the Lord was with him.
And David was successful on all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
15 When Saul saw how successful David was, he was even more afraid of him.
And when Saul saw that he was very successful, he was in dread of him.
16 But everyone in Israel and Judah loved David, because of his leadership in the army.
But all Israel and Judah loved David; because he went out and came in before them.
17 One day Saul told David, “Here's my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage, but only if you prove to me you're a brave warrior and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul was thinking, “I don't need to be the one to kill him—let the Philistines do it!”
And Saul said to David, Behold, here is my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give to thee for wife: only be thou unto me a man of valor, and fight the Lord's battles. And Saul thought, Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.
18 “But who am I, and what status does my family have in Israel, for me to become the son-in-law of the king?” David replied.
And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, [or] my father's family in Israel, that I should be a son-in-law to the king?
19 However, when the time came to give Merab, Saul's daughter, to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah instead.
But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto 'Adriel the Mecholathite for wife.
20 Meanwhile Saul's daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and when Saul was told, he was happy about it.
And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told it to Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes.
21 “I'll give her to David,” Saul thought. “She can be the bait so the Philistines can trap him.” So Saul said to David, “This is the second time you can become my son-in-law.”
And Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may become unto him a snare, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Through the second shalt thou this day become my son-in-law.
22 Saul gave these instructions to his servants, “Talk with David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is very happy with you, and all of us love you. Why not become the king's son-in-law?’”
And Saul commanded his servants, Speak to David secretly, saying, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee; and now thou must become the king's son-in-law.
23 Saul's servants spoke privately to David, but he replied, “Do you think it's nothing to become the king's son-in-law? I'm a poor man, and I'm not important.”
And the servants of Saul spoke in the ears of David these words. And David said, Doth it seem so light in your eyes to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and of light esteem?
24 When Saul's servants explained to him what David had said,
And the servants of Saul told him, saying, Words such as these David hath spoken.
25 Saul told them, “Tell David, ‘The only dowry the king wants for the bride is one hundred foreskins of dead Philistine as a way of taking revenge on his enemies.’” Saul's plan was to have David be killed by the Philistines.
And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged on the king's enemies. But Saul thought to cause David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 When the servants reported what the king had said back to David, he was happy to become the king's son-in-law. While there was still time,
And when his servants told David these words, the thing was pleasing in the eyes of David to become the king's son-in-law: and the days were not complete,
27 David set off with his men and killed two hundred Philistines, and brought back their foreskins. They counted them all out before the king so that David could become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
When David arose and went, he and his men, and smote of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they counted them out in full to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter for wife.
28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal was in love with David,
And Saul saw and understood that the Lord was with David: and Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him.
29 and so he became even more afraid of David, and was David's enemy for the rest of his life.
And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David's enemy all the time.
30 Whenever the Philistine commanders attacked, David was more successful in battle than all of Saul's officers, so that his reputation grew rapidly.
And the princes of the Philistines went forth; and it came to pass, whenever they went forth, that David was more successful than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was highly prized.
