1 Samuel 18:1-24 ▼

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.

17 And Saul said to David, “Behold, my older daughter Merab, I will give her to you as a wife. Only be for me a valiant man and fight the battles of YHWH.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I? And what is my life—the family of my father in Israel—that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

19 And it came to pass at the time to give Merab daughter of Saul to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

20 And Michal daughter of Saul loved David, and they told Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes.

21 And Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may be to him a snare, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” And Saul said to David a second time, “You shall be son-in-law to me today.”

22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secrecy and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you, and now become son-in-law of the king.’”

23 And the servants of Saul spoke in the ears of David these words. And David said, “Does it seem light in your? eyes to be a son-in-law of the king? And I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

24 And the servants of Saul declared to him, saying, “In these words David spoke.”