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 knit with 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 him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.
3 Jonathan made a solemn agreement with David because he loved him as he loved himself.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he 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 stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.
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 behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight 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, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7 As they danced the women sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has 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!”
Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
9 From that time on Saul viewed David with suspicion.
Saul watched 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,
On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his 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.
and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
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 the LORD was with him, and had departed from 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.
Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, 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.
David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
15 When Saul saw how successful David was, he was even more afraid of him.
When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, 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!”
Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let 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 what is my life, or my father’s family 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 wife.
20 Meanwhile Saul's daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and when Saul was told, he was happy about it.
Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing 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.”
Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today 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, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be 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.”
Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”
24 When Saul's servants explained to him what David had said,
The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”
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.
Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would 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 well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,
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.
David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.
28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal was in love with David,
Saul saw and knew 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.
Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
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 went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
