Jonathan Befriends David
1 After David had finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan and David’s lives were knit together, soul to soul, and Jonathan loved David as himself. 2 Saul took David that day and would not let him return to his father’s house any more. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his clothing, including his sword, his bow, and his sash.
Saul Envies David
5 David went out wherever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely, and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music. 7 The women sang to one another as they played and said,
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?” 9 Saul watched David from that day forward. 10 And it came to pass that the next day, an evil spirit sent from God came mightily on Saul, and he was raving in the middle of the house. David had his hand at the lyre, playing as every other day. Saul had his spear in his hand, 11 and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice. 12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him and had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence and made him his captain over a thousand, and he led the army out and brought them back.
14 David behaved himself wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he led them to war and back.
David Marries Michal
17 Saul said to David, “My elder daughter Merab, I will give to you as wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.” 18 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
20 Saul’s daughter, Michal, loved David, and they told Saul, and this pleased him. 21 Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, “You shall today be my son-in-law a second time.” 22 Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly and say, ‘The king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’ ”
23 Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”
24 The servants of Saul told him, “David spoke like this.”
25 Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except 100 foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul thought he would make David fall at the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline, 27 David arose and went, he and his men, and killed 200 of the Philistine men. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife. 28 Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him. 29 Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the Philistines’ military leaders went out to battle, and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.