1 Samuel 18

1

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in

spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

2

From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return

to his father's house.

3

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him

as himself. 

4

Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David,

along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

5

Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul

gave him a high eank in the army. This pleased all the people, and

Saul's officers as well.

6

When the men were returning home after David had killed the

Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to

meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and

with tambourines and lutes.

7

As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David

his tens of thousands."

8

Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David

with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands.

What more can he get but the kingdom?"

9

And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

10

The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He

was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he

usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand

11

and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David

eluded him twice.

12

Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had

left Saul.

13

So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a

thousand men, and David led the troops in their campaigns.

14

In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with

him.

15

When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him.

16

But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their

campaigns.

17

Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to

you in marriage: only serve me bravely and fight the battle of the LORD."

For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the

Philistines do that!"

18

But David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is mt family or my father's

clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?"

19

So when the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David,

she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

20

Now Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told

Saul about it, he was pleased.

21

"I will give her to him," he thought, "so that she may be a snare to him

and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him."

22

Then Saul ordered his attendants: "Speak to David privately and say,

'Look, the king is pleased with you, and his attendants all like you;

now become his son-in-law.' "

23

They repeated these words to David. But David said, "Do you think

it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I am only a poor

man and little known."

24

When Saul's servants told him what David had said,

25

Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride

than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.' "

Saul's plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

26

When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become

the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed.

27

David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He

brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so

that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his

daughter Michal in marriage.

28

When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter

Michal loved David,

29

Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest

of his days.

30 

The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as

they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers, and

his name became well known.