1Sa 18 | NASB2020 | STEP | Now it came about , when he had finished speaking to Saul , that Jonathan committed himself to 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 ^{▼▼Lit the soul of Jonathan was joined to the soul of} ^bJonathan committed himself to David, and ^cJonathan loved him as himself. 2 And Saul took him that day and ^ddid not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then ^eJonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 ^fJonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his military gear, including his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5 And David went into battle wherever Saul sent him, and always ^{▼▼Or acted wisely}achieved success; so Saul put him in charge of 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 Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that ^hthe women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other ^{▼▼Possibly three-stringed lutes}musical instruments. 7 The women ^jsang as they ^{▼▼Or danced}played, and said,
“ ^lSaul has slain his thousands,
^mAnd David his ten thousands.”

8 Then Saul became very angry, for this lyric ^{▼▼Lit was evil in his eyes}displeased him; and he said, “They have given David credit for ten thousands, but to me they have given credit for only thousands! Now what more can he have but the ^okingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David with suspicion from that day on.

Saul Turns against David

10 Now it came about on the next day that ^pan evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and ^qhe raved in the midst of the house while David was playing the harp with his hand, ^{▼▼Lit day by day} ^sas usual; and ^{▼▼Lit the} ^ua spear was in Saul’s hand. 11 Then ^vSaul 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 ^ySaul was afraid of David, ^zbecause the Lord was with him but ^aahad left Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from ^{▼▼Lit with him}his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and ^ache went out and came in before the people. 14 David was ^{▼▼Or acting wisely}successful in all his ways, for ^aethe Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he was ^{▼▼Or acting very wisely}very successful, he was afraid of him. 16 But ^agall Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and ^{▼▼Lit come in}return ^{▼▼Or leading them}before them.

17 Then Saul said to David, “ ^ajHere is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight ^akthe Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but ^allet the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 But David said to Saul, “ ^amWho am I, and who is my family, 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 that Merab, Saul’s daughter, was to be given to David, that she was given instead to ^anAdriel ^aothe Meholathite as a wife.

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

20 Now ^apMichal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they informed Saul, the thing was pleasing ^{▼▼Lit in his sight}to him. 21 For Saul thought, “I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for him, and ^arthat the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “ ^asFor a second time you may become my son-in-law, today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, 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, ^ausince I am only a poor man and insignificant?” 24 Then Saul’s servants reported to him, saying, “ ^{▼▼Lit According to these words David}These are the words David spoke.” 25 Saul then said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any ^awdowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, ^axto take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But ^aySaul plotted to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, ^{▼▼Lit the thing was pleasing in the sight of}it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. So ^{▼▼Lit the days were not fulfilled, and} ^bbbefore the time had expired, 27 David set out and went, ^bche and his men, and fatally struck two hundred men among the Philistines. Then ^bdDavid brought their foreskins, and they presented all two hundred of them to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28 When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines ^bewent to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David ^bfwas more ^{▼▼Or wise}successful than all the servants of Saul. So his name was held in high esteem.