1 And it came to pass, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and not anymore would he let him return to the house of his father.

3 And cut Jonathan and David a covenant, in his love for him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his tunic, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

5 And David went out everywhere Saul sent him; he acted wisely, and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.

6 And it came to pass in their coming in, that David was returning from the striking down of the Philistine, and the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet Saul the king with tambourines, with joy, and with triples.

7 And the women answered as they danced, and said, “Saul has struck his thousands, and David his myriads.”

8 And Saul was very hot, and this thing was evil in his eyes, and he said, “They have ascribed to David myriads, and to me they have ascribed the thousands. And more to him is only the kingdom.”

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the next day, that a spirit of distress from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house, and David played by his hand, day by day, and a spear was in the hand of Saul.

11 And Saul cast the spear; for he said, “I will pin David to the wall.” And David escaped from his face twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David because YHWH was with him, and He had departed from Saul.

13 And Saul turned aside from him and made him captain of a thousand, and he went out and came in before the face of the people.

14 And David in all his ways acted wisely, and YHWH was with him.

15 And Saul saw that he acted very wisely, and he was afraid of him.

16 And all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before their faces.

1 Samuel 18:1-16, Berean Literal Bible. Public domain.
1 Samuel 17
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