1Sa 18 | NASB1995 | STEP | Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul , that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David , and Jonathan loved him as himself .

1 Samuel 18

Jonathan and David

1 Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that ^athe soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and ^bJonathan loved him as himself. 2 Saul took him that day and ^cdid not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then ^dJonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 ^eJonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and ^{▼▼ Or acted wisely}prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that ^gthe women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with ^{▼▼ I.e. triangles; or three-stringed instruments}musical instruments. 7 The women ⁱsang as they ^{▼▼ Or danced}played, and said, ^k“Saul has slain his thousands,
^lAnd David his ten thousands.”

8 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying ^{▼▼ Lit was evil in his eyes}displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now ⁿwhat more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

Saul Turns against David

10 Now it came about on the next day that ^oan evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and ^phe raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, ^{▼▼ Lit day by day
,} ^ras usual; and ^{▼▼ Lit the
,} ^ta spear was in Saul’s hand. 11 ^uSaul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will ^{▼▼ Lit strike David and the wall}pin David to the wall.” But David ^{▼▼ Lit turned about}escaped from his presence twice.

12 Now ^xSaul was afraid of David, ^yfor the Lord was with him but ^zhad departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from ^{▼▼ Lit with him}his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and ^abhe went out and came in before the people. 14 David was ^{▼▼ Or acting wisely}prospering in all his ways for ^adthe Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he was ^{▼▼ Or acting very wisely}prospering greatly, he dreaded him. 16 But ^afall Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

17 Then Saul said to David, ^ag“Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight ^ahthe Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but ^ailet the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 But David said to Saul, ^aj“Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19 So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to ^akAdriel ^althe Meholathite for a wife.

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

20 Now ^amMichal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable ^{▼▼ Lit in his sight}to him. 21 Saul thought, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and ^aothat the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, ^ap“For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words ^{▼▼ Lit in the ears of}to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, ^arsince I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24 The servants of Saul reported to him ^{▼▼ Lit by saying according}according to these words which David spoke. 25 Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any ^atdowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, ^auto take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now ^avSaul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, ^{▼▼ Lit it was agreeable in the sight of}it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. ^{▼▼ Lit And the days had not expired
,} ^ayBefore the days had expired 27 David rose up and went, ^azhe and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then ^baDavid brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. 28 When Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines ^bbwent out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David ^bcbehaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.