Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself.

1וַיְהִ֗י כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־ שָׁא֔וּל וְנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נִקְשְׁרָ֖ה בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ דָּוִ֑ד [ויאהבו] (וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֥הוּ) יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

2Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father's house.

2וַיִּקָּחֵ֥הוּ שָׁא֖וּל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וְלֹ֣א נְתָנ֔וֹ לָשׁ֖וּב בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיו׃

3Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.

3וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִ֑ית בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ אֹת֖וֹ כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

4Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

4וַיִּתְפַּשֵּׁ֣ט יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן אֶֽת־ הַמְּעִיל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֔יו וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּ לְדָוִ֑ד וּמַדָּ֕יו וְעַד־ חַרְבּ֥וֹ וְעַד־ קַשְׁתּ֖וֹ וְעַד־ חֲגֹרֽוֹ׃

5David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul's servants as well.

5וַיֵּצֵ֨א דָוִ֜ד בְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁלָחֶ֤נּוּ שָׁאוּל֙ יַשְׂכִּ֔יל וַיְשִׂמֵ֣הוּ שָׁא֔וּל עַ֖ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י כָל־ הָעָ֔ם וְגַ֕ם בְּעֵינֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֥י שָׁאֽוּל׃ פ

6As the troops were coming back, when David was returning from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing with tambourines, with shouts of joy, and with three-stringed instruments.

6וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֗ם בְּשׁ֤וּב דָּוִד֙ מֵהַכּ֣וֹת אֶת־ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָה הַנָּשִׁ֜ים מִכָּל־ עָרֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [לשור] (לָשִׁ֣יר) וְהַמְּחֹל֔וֹת לִקְרַ֖את שָׁא֣וּל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ בְּתֻפִּ֥ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְשָׁלִשִֽׁים׃

7As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands.

7וַֽתַּעֲנֶ֛ינָה הַנָּשִׁ֥ים הַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹת וַתֹּאמַ֑רְןָ הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ [באלפו] (בַּאֲלָפָ֔יו) וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃

8Saul was furious and resented this song. "They credited tens of thousands to David," he complained, "but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?"

8וַיִּ֨חַר לְשָׁא֜וּל מְאֹ֗ד וַיֵּ֤רַע בְּעֵינָיו֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָתְנ֤וּ לְדָוִד֙ רְבָב֔וֹת וְלִ֥י נָתְנ֖וּ הָאֲלָפִ֑ים וְע֥וֹד ל֖וֹ אַ֥ךְ הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃

9So Saul watched David jealously from that day forward.

9וַיְהִ֥י שָׁא֖וּל [עון] (עוֹיֵ֣ן) אֶת־ דָּוִ֑ד מֵהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָהָֽלְאָה׃ ס

10The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear,

10וַיְהִ֣י מִֽמָּחֳרָ֗ת וַתִּצְלַ֣ח רוּחַ֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ רָעָ֤ה ׀ אֶל־ שָׁאוּל֙ וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֣א בְתוֹךְ־ הַבַּ֔יִת וְדָוִ֛ד מְנַגֵּ֥ן בְּיָד֖וֹ כְּי֣וֹם ׀ בְּי֑וֹם וְהַחֲנִ֖ית בְּיַד־ שָׁאֽוּל׃

11and he threw it, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David got away from him twice.

11וַיָּ֤טֶל שָׁאוּל֙ אֶֽת־ הַחֲנִ֔ית וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַכֶּ֥ה בְדָוִ֖ד וּבַקִּ֑יר וַיִּסֹּ֥ב דָּוִ֛ד מִפָּנָ֖יו פַּעֲמָֽיִם׃

12Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

12וַיִּרָ֥א שָׁא֖וּל מִלִּפְנֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד כִּֽי־ הָיָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וּמֵעִ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל סָֽר׃

13Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops

13וַיְסִרֵ֤הוּ שָׁאוּל֙ מֵֽעִמּ֔וֹ וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ ל֖וֹ שַׂר־ אָ֑לֶף וַיֵּצֵ֥א וַיָּבֹ֖א לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃ פ

14and continued to be successful in all his activities because the LORD was with him.

14וַיְהִ֥י דָוִ֛ד לְכָל־ דָּרְכָ֖ו‪‬ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל וַֽיהוָ֖ה עִמּֽוֹ׃

15When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him.

15וַיַּ֣רְא שָׁא֔וּל אֲשֶׁר־ ה֖וּא מַשְׂכִּ֣יל מְאֹ֑ד וַיָּ֖גָר מִפָּנָֽיו׃

16But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops.

16וְכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וִיהוּדָ֔ה אֹהֵ֖ב אֶת־ דָּוִ֑ד כִּֽי־ ה֛וּא יוֹצֵ֥א וָבָ֖א לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ פ

17Saul told David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the LORD's battles." But Saul was thinking, "I don't need to raise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him."

17וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־ דָּוִ֗ד הִנֵּה֩ בִתִּ֨י הַגְּדוֹלָ֤ה מֵרַב֙ אֹתָהּ֙ אֶתֶּן־ לְךָ֣ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ךְ הֱיֵה־ לִּ֣י לְבֶן־ חַ֔יִל וְהִלָּחֵ֖ם מִלְחֲמ֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה וְשָׁא֣וּל אָמַ֗ר אַל־ תְּהִ֤י יָדִי֙ בּ֔וֹ וּתְהִי־ ב֖וֹ יַד־ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ ס

18Then David responded, "Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?"

18וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־ שָׁא֗וּל מִ֤י אָֽנֹכִי֙ וּמִ֣י חַיַּ֔י מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת אָבִ֖י בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּֽי־ אֶהְיֶ֥ה חָתָ֖ן לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

19When it was time to give Saul's daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

19וַיְהִ֗י בְּעֵ֥ת תֵּ֛ת אֶת־ מֵרַ֥ב בַּת־ שָׁא֖וּל לְדָוִ֑ד וְהִ֧יא נִתְּנָ֛ה לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל הַמְּחֹלָתִ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

20Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

20וַתֶּאֱהַ֛ב מִיכַ֥ל בַּת־ שָׁא֖וּל אֶת־ דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ לְשָׁא֔וּל וַיִּשַׁ֥ר הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

21"I'll give her to him," Saul thought. "She'll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him." So Saul said to David a second time, "You can now be my son-in-law."

21וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה לּוֹ֙ וּתְהִי־ ל֣וֹ לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ וּתְהִי־ ב֖וֹ יַד־ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־ דָּוִ֔ד בִּשְׁתַּ֛יִם תִּתְחַתֵּ֥ן בִּ֖י הַיּֽוֹם׃

22Saul then ordered his servants, "Speak to David in private and tell him, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king's son-in-law.'"

22וַיְצַ֨ו שָׁא֜וּל אֶת־ עֲבָדָ֗ו‪‬ דַּבְּר֨וּ אֶל־ דָּוִ֤ד בַּלָּט֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֨ה חָפֵ֤ץ בְּךָ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכָל־ עֲבָדָ֖יו אֲהֵב֑וּךָ וְעַתָּ֖ה הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

23Saul's servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, "Is it trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law? I am a poor commoner."

23וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּ עַבְדֵ֤י שָׁאוּל֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד הַֽנְקַלָּ֤ה בְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ הִתְחַתֵּ֣ן בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִֽישׁ־ רָ֥שׁ וְנִקְלֶֽה׃

24The servants reported back to Saul, "These are the words David spoke."

24וַיַּגִּ֜דוּ עַבְדֵ֥י שָׁא֛וּל ל֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה דִּבֶּ֥ר דָּוִֽד׃ פ

25Then Saul replied, "Say this to David: 'The king desires no other bride-price except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" Actually, Saul intended to cause David's death at the hands of the Philistines.

25וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל כֹּֽה־ תֹאמְר֣וּ לְדָוִ֗ד אֵֽין־ חֵ֤פֶץ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בְּמֹ֔הַר כִּ֗י בְּמֵאָה֙ עָרְל֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם בְּאֹיְבֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְשָׁא֣וּל חָשַׁ֔ב לְהַפִּ֥יל אֶת־ דָּוִ֖ד בְּיַד־ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

26וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ עֲבָדָ֤יו לְדָוִד֙ אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיִּשַׁ֤ר הַדָּבָר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֥א מָלְא֖וּ הַיָּמִֽים׃

27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife.

27וַיָּ֨קָם דָּוִ֜ד וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ ׀ ה֣וּא וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו וַיַּ֣ךְ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֮ מָאתַ֣יִם אִישׁ֒ וַיָּבֵ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶת־ עָרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וַיְמַלְא֣וּם לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּתֶּן־ ל֥וֹ שָׁא֛וּל אֶת־ מִיכַ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ ס

28Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him,

28וַיַּ֤רְא שָׁאוּל֙ וַיֵּ֔דַע כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה עִם־ דָּוִ֑ד וּמִיכַ֥ל בַּת־ שָׁא֖וּל אֲהֵבַֽתְהוּ׃

29and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David's enemy from then on.

29וַיֹּ֣אסֶף שָׁא֗וּל לֵרֹ֛א מִפְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד ע֑וֹד וַיְהִ֥י שָׁא֛וּל אֹיֵ֥ב אֶת־ דָּוִ֖ד כָּל־ הַיָּמִֽים׃ ס

30Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight, David was more successful than all of Saul's officers. So his name became well known.

30וַיֵּצְא֖וּ שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיְהִ֣י ׀ מִדֵּ֣י צֵאתָ֗ם שָׂכַ֤ל דָּוִד֙ מִכֹּל֙ עַבְדֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל וַיִּיקַ֥ר שְׁמ֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃ ס

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.