1 Samuel 19:1-13 ▼

1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials to kill David, but Saul's son Jonathan was very fond of David.

2 So Jonathan told David, |My father Saul is trying to kill you. In the morning be careful and stay hidden in a secret place.

3 I'll go out and stand by my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to my father about you. If I find out what he intends to do, I'll tell you.|

4 Jonathan spoke to his father Saul favorably about David. |The king shouldn't wrong his servant David because he has not wronged you and because what he has done has been very beneficial for you.

5 He risked his life and struck down the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a spectacular deliverance for all Israel. You saw that and rejoiced, so why would you do wrong and shed innocent blood by killing David without cause?|

6 Saul listened to Jonathan, and swore by the life of the LORD that David would not be killed.

7 Jonathan summoned David and told him all this. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and David served him as before.

8 The war continued and David went out to fight against the Philistines. He thoroughly defeated them, and they fled before David.

9 The evil spirit from the LORD attacked Saul while he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand and David was playing the lyre.

10 Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he jumped away from Saul and the spear stuck in the wall. That night David escaped and fled.

11 Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him so they could kill him in the morning. David's wife, Michal, told him, |If you don't escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you'll be put to death.|

12 So Michal let David down through the window, and he escaped and fled.

13 Then Michal took the household idol and laid it on the bed with a cover of goat hair placed at its head. Then she covered it with clothes.