1 Samuel 18:1-13 ▼

1 When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became a close friend to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

2 Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father's house.

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

4 Jonathan took off the robe that he had on and gave it to David, along with his coat, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

5 David went out and was successful everywhere Saul sent him, and Saul put him in charge of the troops. This pleased the entire army, as well as Saul's officials.

6 When David returned from defeating the Philistine, as they were entering the city, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul, singing and dancing as they joyously played tambourines and lyres.

7 As the women sang and played, they said, |Saul has struck down his thousands but David his ten thousands.|

8 Saul was very angry and he did not like what the women sang. He told himself, |They have attributed tens of thousands to David, but to me they have attributed thousands. What else can he have but the kingdom?|

9 From then on Saul kept his eye on David.

10 The next day, while David was playing the lyre as he had before, the evil spirit from the LORD attacked Saul, and he began to rave inside the house with a spear in his hand.

11 Saul hurled it, thinking, |I'll pin David to the wall.| But David escaped from him twice.

12 Now Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him and had departed from Saul.

13 Saul removed David from his presence and made him an officer over a division of soldiers. So David led the troops in battle.