Jonathan Befriends David

1  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass), כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ (when he had finished) לְדַבֵּ֣ר (speaking) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וְנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ (that the soul) יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן (of Jonathan) נִקְשְׁרָ֖ה (was knit) בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ (to the soul) דָּוִ֑ד (of David), וַיֶּאֱהָבוֹ (and loved him) יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן (Jonathan) כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (as his own soul). 2  וַיִּקָּחֵ֥הוּ (And took him) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) בַּיּ֣וֹם (the day) הַה֑וּא (that), וְלֹ֣א (and not anymore) נְתָנ֔וֹ (would he let him) לָשׁ֖וּב (return) בֵּ֥ית (to house) אָבִֽיו׃ (of his father).

3  וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת (And cut) יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן (Jonathan) וְדָוִ֖ד (and David) בְּרִ֑ית (a covenant), בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ (in his love) אֹת֖וֹ (for him) כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (as his own soul). 4  וַיִּתְפַּשֵּׁ֣ט (And took off) יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן (Jonathan) אֶֽת־ (-) הַמְּעִיל֙ (the robe) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) עָלָ֔יו (on him) וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּ (and gave it) לְדָוִ֑ד (to David), וּמַדָּ֕יו (and his tunic), וְעַד־ (and even) חַרְבּ֥וֹ (his sword) וְעַד־ (and) קַשְׁתּ֖וֹ (his bow) וְעַד־ (and) חֲגֹרֽוֹ׃ (his belt).

Saul Envies David

5  וַיֵּצֵ֨א (And went out) דָוִ֜ד (David) בְּכֹל֩ (in all) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (that) יִשְׁלָחֶ֤נּוּ (sent him) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul); יַשְׂכִּ֔יל (he acted wisely). וַיְשִׂמֵ֣הוּ (And set him) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) עַ֖ל (over) אַנְשֵׁ֣י (the men) הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה (of war), וַיִּיטַב֙ (and it was good) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) כָל־ (of all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) וְגַ֕ם (and also) בְּעֵינֵ֖י (in the eyes) עַבְדֵ֥י (of the servants) שָׁאֽוּל׃פ (of Saul).

6  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) בְּבוֹאָ֗ם (in their coming in), בְּשׁ֤וּב (was returning) דָּוִד֙ (David) מֵהַכּ֣וֹת (from the strking down of) אֶת־ (-) הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י (the Philistine), וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָה (that had come out) הַנָּשִׁ֜ים (the women) מִכָּל־ (of all) עָרֵ֤י (the cities) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), לָשׁוּר (singing) וְהַמְּחֹל֔וֹת (and dancing), לִקְרַ֖את (to meet) שָׁא֣וּל (Saul) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (the king) בְּתֻפִּ֥ים (with tambourines), בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה (with joy), וּבְשָׁלִשִֽׁים׃ (and with triples). 7  וַֽתַּעֲנֶ֛ינָה (And answered) הַנָּשִׁ֥ים (the women) הַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹת (as they danced), וַתֹּאמַ֑רְןָ (and said),

הִכָּ֤ה (Has struck) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) בְּאַלְפּוֹ (his thousands),

וְדָוִ֖ד (and David) בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃ (his myriads).

8  וַיִּ֨חַר (And was hot) לְשָׁא֜וּל (Saul) מְאֹ֗ד (very), וַיֵּ֤רַע (and was evil) בְּעֵינָיו֙ (in his eyes) הַדָּבָ֣ר (the thing) הַזֶּ֔ה (this), וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (and he said), נָתְנ֤וּ (They have ascribed) לְדָוִד֙ (to David) רְבָב֔וֹת (myriads), וְלִ֥י (and to me) נָתְנ֖וּ (they have ascribed) הָאֲלָפִ֑ים (the thousands). וְע֥וֹד (And more) ל֖וֹ (to him) אַ֥ךְ (is only) הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃ (the kingdom)? 9  וַיְהִ֥י (And) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) עָוֹן (eyed) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֑ד (David) מֵהַיּ֥וֹם (from the day) הַה֖וּא (that) וָהָֽלְאָה׃ס (and forward).

10  וַיְהִ֣י (And it came to pass) מִֽמָּחֳרָ֗ת (on the next day), וַתִּצְלַ֣ח (that came) רוּחַ֩ (a spirit) אֱלֹהִ֨ים׀ (from God) רָעָ֤ה׀ (of distress) אֶל־ (upon) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul), וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֣א (and he prophesied) בְתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) הַבַּ֔יִת (of the house), וְדָוִ֛ד (and David) מְנַגֵּ֥ן (played) בְּיָד֖וֹ (by his hand), כְּי֣וֹם׀ (day) בְּי֑וֹם (by day), וְהַחֲנִ֖ית (and a spear) בְּיַד־ (was in the hand) שָׁאֽוּל׃ (of Saul). 11  וַיָּ֤טֶל (And cast) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶֽת־ (-) הַחֲנִ֔ית (the spear); וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (and for he said), אַכֶּ֥ה (I will pin) בְדָוִ֖ד (David) וּבַקִּ֑יר (and to the wall). וַיִּסֹּ֥ב (And escaped) דָּוִ֛ד (David) מִפָּנָ֖יו (from his face) פַּעֲמָֽיִם׃ (twice).

12  וַיִּרָ֥א (And was afraid) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) מִלִּפְנֵ֣י (of) דָוִ֑ד (David) כִּֽי־ (because) הָיָ֤ה (was) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עִמּ֔וֹ (with him), וּמֵעִ֥ם (and from) שָׁא֖וּל (Saul) סָֽר׃ (He had departed). 13  וַיְסִרֵ֤הוּ (And turned aside) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) מֵֽעִמּ֔וֹ (from him) וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ (and made) ל֖וֹ (him) שַׂר־ (captain) אָ֑לֶף (of a thousand), וַיֵּצֵ֥א (and he went out) וַיָּבֹ֖א (and came in) לִפְנֵ֥י (before the face of) הָעָֽם׃פ (the people). 14  וַיְהִ֥י (And) דָוִ֛ד (David) לְכָל־ (in all) דְּרָכָ֖ו (his ways) מַשְׂכִּ֑יל (acted wisely), וַֽיהוָ֖ה (and YHWH was) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him).

15  וַיַּ֣רְא (And saw) שָׁא֔וּל (Saul) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) ה֖וּא (he) מַשְׂכִּ֣יל (acted wisely) מְאֹ֑ד (very), וַיָּ֖גָר (and he was afraid) מִפָּנָֽיו׃ (of him). 16  וְכָל־ (And all) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (Israel) וִיהוּדָ֔ה (and Judah) אֹהֵ֖ב (loved) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֑ד (David), כִּֽי־ (because) ה֛וּא (he) יוֹצֵ֥א (went out) וָבָ֖א (and came in) לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃פ (before their faces).

David Marries Michal

17  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֗ד (David), הִנֵּה֩ (Behold), בִתִּ֨י (my daughter) הַגְּדוֹלָ֤ה (older) מֵרַב֙ (Merab), אֹתָהּ֙ (her) אֶתֶּן־ (I will give) לְךָ֣ (to you) לְאִשָּׁ֔ה (as a wife). אַ֚ךְ (Only) הֱיֵה־ (be) לִּ֣י (for me) לְבֶן־ (man) חַ֔יִל (valiant) וְהִלָּחֵ֖ם (and fight) מִלְחֲמ֣וֹת (the battles). יְהוָ֑ה (Of YHWH) וְשָׁא֣וּל (and for Saul) אָמַ֗ר (thought), אַל־ (Not) תְּהִ֤י (let be) יָדִי֙ (my hand) בּ֔וֹ (against him) וּתְהִי־ (and let be) ב֖וֹ (against him) יַד־ (the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ס (of the Philistines).

18  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֜ד (David) אֶל־ (to) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul), מִ֤י (Who) אָֽנֹכִי֙ (am I)? וּמִ֣י (And what is) חַיַּ֔י (my life)— מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת (the family) אָבִ֖י (of my father) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (in Israel)— כִּֽי־ (that) אֶהְיֶ֥ה (I should be) חָתָ֖ן (son-in-law) לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (to the king)? 19  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) בְּעֵ֥ת (at the time) תֵּ֛ת (to give) אֶת־ (-) מֵרַ֥ב (Merab) בַּת־ (daughter) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul) לְדָוִ֑ד (to David), וְהִ֧יא (that she) נִתְּנָ֛ה (was given) לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל (to Adriel) הַמְּחֹלָתִ֖י (the Meholathite) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (as a wife).

20  וַתֶּאֱהַ֛ב (And loved) מִיכַ֥ל (Michal) בַּת־ (daughter) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֑ד (David), וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ (and they told) לְשָׁא֔וּל (Saul), וַיִּשַׁ֥ר (and was right) הַדָּבָ֖ר (and the thing) בְּעֵינָֽיו׃ (in his eyes). 21  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה (I will give her) לּוֹ֙ (to him), וּתְהִי־ (that she may be) ל֣וֹ (to him) לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ (a snare), וּתְהִי־ (and may be) ב֖וֹ (against him) יַד־ (and the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (of the Philistines). וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֔ד (David) בִּשְׁתַּ֛יִם (a second time), תִּתְחַתֵּ֥ן (You shall be son-in-law) בִּ֖י (to me) הַיּֽוֹם׃ (today).

22  וַיְצַ֨ו (And commanded) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul) אֶת־ (-) עֲבָדָ֗ו (his servants), דַּבְּר֨וּ (Speak) אֶל־ (to) דָּוִ֤ד (David) בַּלָּט֙ (in secrecy) לֵאמֹ֔ר (and say), הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), חָפֵ֤ץ (has delight) בְּךָ֙ (in you) הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (the king) וְכָל־ (and all), עֲבָדָ֖יו (his servants) אֲהֵב֑וּךָ (love you), וְעַתָּ֖ה (and now) הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן (become son-in-law) בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (of the king).

23  וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּ (And spoke) עַבְדֵ֤י (the servants) שָׁאוּל֙ (of Saul) בְּאָזְנֵ֣י (in the ears) דָוִ֔ד (of David) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (words) הָאֵ֑לֶּה (these). וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And said) דָּוִ֗ד (David), הַֽנְקַלָּ֤ה (Does seem it light) בְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ (in your⁺ eyes) הִתְחַתֵּ֣ן (to be a son-in-law) בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְ (of king). וְאָנֹכִ֖י (And I am) אִֽישׁ־ (a man) רָ֥שׁ (poor) וְנִקְלֶֽה׃ (and lightly esteemed)?

24  וַיַּגִּ֜דוּ (And declared) עַבְדֵ֥י (the servants) שָׁא֛וּל (of Saul) ל֖וֹ (to him), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), כַּדְּבָרִ֥ים (In words) הָאֵ֖לֶּה (these) דִּבֶּ֥ר (spoke) דָּוִֽד׃פ (David).

25  וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (And said) שָׁא֜וּל (Saul), כֹּֽה־ (Thus) תֹאמְר֣וּ (you⁺ shall say) לְדָוִ֗ד (to David), אֵֽין־ (Not) חֵ֤פֶץ (does desire) לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) בְּמֹ֔הַר (any dowry), כִּ֗י (but) בְּמֵאָה֙ (a hundred) עָרְל֣וֹת (foreskins) פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים (of the Philistines) לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם (to take vengeance) בְּאֹיְבֵ֣י (on the enemies) הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king). וְשָׁא֣וּל (And Saul) חָשַׁ֔ב (planned) לְהַפִּ֥יל (to make fall) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֖ד (David) בְּיַד־ (by the hand) פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (of the Philistines).

26  וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ (And told) עֲבָדָ֤יו (his servants) לְדָוִד֙ (to David) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the words) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these), וַיִּשַׁ֤ר (and was right) הַדָּבָר֙ (the thing) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) דָוִ֔ד (of David) לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן (to become son-in-law) בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king). וְלֹ֥א (And not) מָלְא֖וּ (were full) הַיָּמִֽים׃ (the days). 27  וַיָּ֨קָם (And arose) דָּוִ֜ד (David) וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ׀ (and went), ה֣וּא (he) וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו (and his men), וַיַּ֣ךְ (and he struck) בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֮ (among the Philistines) מָאתַ֣יִם (two hundred) אִישׁ֒ (men). וַיָּבֵ֤א (And brought) דָוִד֙ (David) אֶת־ (-) עָרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם (their foreskins), וַיְמַלְא֣וּם (and they gave them in full count) לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (to the king), לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן (to make himself son-in-law) בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ (of the king). וַיִּתֶּן־ (And gave) ל֥וֹ (to him) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) אֶת־ (-) מִיכַ֥ל (Michal) בִּתּ֖וֹ (his daughter) לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ס (as a wife).

28  וַיַּ֤רְא (And saw) שָׁאוּל֙ (Saul) וַיֵּ֔דַע (and knew) כִּ֥י (that) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH was) עִם־ (with) דָּוִ֑ד (David), וּמִיכַ֥ל (and that Michal) בַּת־ (daughter) שָׁא֖וּל (of Saul) אֲהֵבַֽתְהוּ׃ (loved him). 29  וַיֹּ֣אסֶף (And added) שָׁא֗וּל (Saul) לֵרֹ֛א (to be afraid) מִפְּנֵ֥י (from the face) דָוִ֖ד (of David); ע֑וֹד (still) וַיְהִ֥י (and was) שָׁא֛וּל (Saul) אֹיֵ֥ב (enemy) אֶת־ (-) דָּוִ֖ד (of David) כָּל־ (all) הַיָּמִֽים׃ס (the days).

30  וַיֵּצְא֖וּ (And went out) שָׂרֵ֣י (the princes) פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (of the Philistines). וַיְהִ֣י׀ (And it came to pass), מִדֵּ֣י (whenever) צֵאתָ֗ם (they went out), שָׂכַ֤ל (that acted more wisely) דָּוִד֙ (David) מִכֹּל֙ (than all) עַבְדֵ֣י (the servants) שָׁא֔וּל (of Saul), וַיִּיקַ֥ר (and became esteemed) שְׁמ֖וֹ (His name) מְאֹֽד׃ס (highly).