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Jonathan Befriends David

Verse1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

Verse2And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

Verse3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

Verse4And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

Saul Envies David

Verse5So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

Verse6As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

Verse7And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

Verse8And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

Verse9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

Verse10The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

Verse11and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

Verse12So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

Verse13Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

Verse14and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

Verse15When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.

Verse16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

David Marries Michal

Verse17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

Verse18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

Verse19So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

Verse20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

Verse21“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

Verse22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

Verse23But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

Verse24And the servants told Saul what David had said.

Verse25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

Verse26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

Verse27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

Verse28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

Verse29he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

Verse30Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.