1 Samuel 18
1 After David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became great friends with David. He loved David as he loved himself.
When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to 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.
Saul took David into his service that day; he did not let him return 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 of friendship because Jonathan loved 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.
Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David with his armor, as well as his sword, bow, and belt.
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.
David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he succeeded. Saul set him over the men of war. This was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
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.
As they came home from defeating the Philistines, the women came from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.
7 As they danced the women sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
The women sang one to another as they played. They sang: “Saul has killed 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!”
Saul was very angry, and this song displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but they have ascribed only thousands to me. What more can he have but the monarchy?”
9 From that time on Saul viewed David with suspicion.
Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.
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,
The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he raved within the house. So David played his instrument, as he did each day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
11 and he threw it at David, saying to himself, “I'll pin David to the wall.” But David managed to escape him twice.
Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from Saul's presence twice in this way.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David, but he had given up on Saul.
Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, but was no longer with Saul.
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.
So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him a commander of a thousand. In this way David went out and came in before the people.
14 David was very successful in everything he did, because the Lord was with him.
David was prospering in all his ways, for Yahweh was with him.
15 When Saul saw how successful David was, he was even more afraid of him.
When Saul saw that he prospered, he stood in awe 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, for 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!”
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be courageous for me and fight Yahweh's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on 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.
David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, or my father's clan in Israel, that I should be 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 at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20 Meanwhile Saul's daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and when Saul was told, he was happy about it.
But Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and this pleased him.
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.”
Then Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she can be a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You will be 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?’”
Saul commanded his servants, “Speak with David in private, and say, 'See, the king takes pleasure in you, and all his servants love you. Now then, 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.”
So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. Then David said, “Is it a small matter to you to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?”
24 When Saul's servants explained to him what David had said,
The servants of Saul reported to him the words which David spoke.
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.
Then Saul said, “Say this to David, 'The king does not desire any price for the bride except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged from the king's enemies.'” Now Saul thought to make David 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,
When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to be the king's son-in-law.
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.
Before those days had expired, David went with his men and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, so that he might be the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife.
28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal was in love with David,
When Saul saw, and he knew that Yahweh was with David, and that 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.
Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was continually David's enemy.
30 Whenever the Philistine commanders attacked, David was more successful in battle than all of Saul's officers, so that his reputation grew rapidly.
Then the princes of the Philistines came out for battle, and as often as they came out, David succeeded more than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly regarded.
