1 Samuel 18

18 ¹ When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul was tied to David's, loving him as his own soul. ² From that day Saul kept David with him, not letting him return to his father's house. ³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. ⁴ Jonathan took off his robe and gave it to David, along with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

⁵ David succeeded everywhere Saul sent him, so Saul put him over the soldiers, pleasing all the people and Saul's servants too.

⁶ As they returned, when David came back from killing the Philistine, women from every Israelite city came out to meet King Saul, singing, dancing, joyful, with tambourines and instruments. ⁷ As they celebrated, the women sang to each other: "Saul has struck down his thousands, David his ten thousands."

⁸ Saul burned with anger; this word was very unwelcome to him. He said, "They credit David ten thousands, me only thousands. What's left him but the kingdom?" ⁹ And from that day on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. ¹⁰ Next day a harmful spirit from our Father rushed on Saul; he raved inside his house while David played the lyre as usual, spear in Saul's hand. ¹¹ He hurled the spear, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David dodged him twice. ¹² Saul was afraid of David, because our Father was with him but had departed from Saul. ¹³ So Saul sent David away, made him commander of a thousand, and he led the troops out and back. ¹⁴ David had success in all his ways, for our Father was with him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how greatly David succeeded, he dreaded him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them out to battle and back.

David Wins Michal Against Saul's Schemes

¹⁷ Saul told David, "I'll give you my older daughter Merab as wife—only be brave for me and fight our Father's battles." For Saul thought, "My hand won't be against him, but the Philistines'."

¹⁸ David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my family, my father's family in Israel, that I'd become the king's son-in-law?" ¹⁹ But when Merab, Saul's daughter, was to be given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.

²⁰ Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When Saul heard this, it pleased him. ²¹ Saul thought, "I'll give her to him as a trap, letting the Philistines' hand strike him." So Saul told David, "Today you have a second chance to be my son-in-law."

²² Saul told his servants, "Tell David privately: 'The king likes you, and all his servants love you. Now become his son-in-law.'"

²³ Saul's servants told David these words. David said, "Is becoming the king's son-in-law a small thing to you? I'm poor and unimportant."

²⁴ And Saul's servants told him, "This is what David said."

²⁵ Saul said, "Tell David: 'The king wants no bride-price, only a hundred Philistine foreskins — revenge on the king's enemies.'" He intended David to fall by Philistine hands. ^a a v25 Presenting enemy foreskins as proof of kills was a recognised trophy custom in ancient Canaan and surrounding cultures. ²⁶ His servants told David this; he was delighted to become the king's son-in-law. Before the full time passed, ²⁷ David and his men went out, killed two hundred Philistines, and brought their foreskins to the king, counted in full to become his son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as wife. ²⁸ When Saul saw and knew our Father was with David, and that Michal his daughter loved him, ²⁹ Saul feared David even more, and remained David's enemy for the rest of his life.

³⁰ Philistine commanders kept coming out, and each time David succeeded more than all Saul's officers, so his name became highly honored.