1 Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that AGen 44:30the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and BDeut 13:6; 1 Sam 20:17; 2 Sam 1:26Jonathan loved him as himself. 2 Saul took him that day and A1 Sam 17:15did not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then A1 Sam 20:8-17Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 AGen 41:42; 1 Sam 17:38; Esth 6:8Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and 1Or acted wiselyprospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that AEx 15:20, 21; Judg 11:34; Ps 68:25; 149:3the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with 1I.e. triangles; or three-stringed instrumentsmusical instruments. 7 The women AEx 15:21; 1 Sam 21:11; 29:5sang as they 1Or dancedplayed, and said,

10 Now it came about on the next day that A1 Sam 16:14an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and B1 Sam 19:23, 24he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, 1Lit day by dayC1 Sam 16:23as usual; and 2Lit theD1 Sam 19:9a spear was in Saul’s hand. 11 A1 Sam 19:10; 20:33Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will 1Lit strike David and the wallpin David to the wall.” But David 2Lit turned aboutescaped from his presence twice.

12 Now A1 Sam 18:15, 29Saul was afraid of David, B1 Sam 16:13, 18for the Loʀᴅ was with him but C1 Sam 16:14; 28:15had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from 1Lit with himhis presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and ANum 27:17; 1 Sam 18:16; 2 Sam 5:2he went out and came in before the people. 14 David was 1Or acting wiselyprospering in all his ways for AGen 39:2, 3, 23; Josh 6:27; 1 Sam 16:18the Loʀᴅ was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he was 1Or acting very wiselyprospering greatly, he dreaded him. 16 But A1 Sam 18:5all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

17 Then Saul said to David, “A1 Sam 17:25Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight BNum 21:14; 1 Sam 17:36, 47; 25:28the Loʀᴅ’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but C1 Sam 18:21, 25let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 But David said to Saul, “A1 Sam 9:21; 18:23; 2 Sam 7:18Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19 So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to A2 Sam 21:8Adriel BJudg 7:22; 1 Kin 19:16the Meholathite for a wife.

20 Now A1 Sam 18:28Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable 1Lit in his sightto him. 21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and A1 Sam 18:17that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “B1 Sam 18:26For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words 1Lit in the ears ofto David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, AGen 29:20; 34:12since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24 The servants of Saul reported to him 1Lit by saying accordingaccording to these words which David spoke. 25 Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any AGen 34:12; Ex 22:17dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, B1 Sam 14:24to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’ ” Now C1 Sam 18:17Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, 1Lit it was agreeable in the sight ofit pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. 2Lit And the days had not expiredA1 Sam 18:21Before the days had expired 27 David rose up and went, A1 Sam 18:17he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then B2 Sam 3:14David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. 28 When Saul saw and knew that the Loʀᴅ was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines A2 Sam 11:1went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David B1 Sam 18:5behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.