1 Samuel 18
1 When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul was bound to David's, and Jonathan loved him as himself.
2 That day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house.
3 Jonathan and David made a covenant, because Jonathan loved him as himself.
4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his clothes, even his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5 David went wherever Saul sent him, and he succeeded. So Saul put him in command of the men of war, and this pleased all the people and Saul's servants as well.
6 When they were returning, after David had killed the Philistine, women came out from all the towns of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul, with tambourines, joyful songs, and three-stringed instruments.
7 The women celebrated and sang to one another: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
8 Saul was furious, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with tens of thousands, but me with thousands. The only thing left for him is the kingdom!”
9 From that day on, Saul watched David with suspicion.
10 The next day, an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul, and he was prophesying inside the house while David played with his hand as he did every day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
11 Saul hurled the spear, thinking, “I'll pin David to the wall.” But David dodged him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him and had departed from Saul.
13 So Saul removed David from his presence and made him commander of a thousand, and David went out and came in at the head of the people.
14 David succeeded in everything he undertook, and the LORD was with him.
15 When Saul saw how greatly David succeeded, he was terrified of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in at their head.
17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter, Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Just be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let my hand not be against him; let the Philistines' hand be against him.”
18 David replied to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?”
19 But when the time came to give Merab, Saul's daughter, to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel the Meholathite.
20 Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and the matter pleased him.
21 Saul thought, “I'll give her to him, so that she may become a snare to him and the Philistines' hand may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Today you will become my son-in-law through one of the two.”
22 Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now become the king's son-in-law.’”
23 Saul's servants spoke these words in David's hearing, and David replied, “Do you think it is a small thing to become the king's son-in-law? I am a poor and insignificant man.”
24 Saul's servants reported to him, “This is what David said.”
25 Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king wants no bride-price except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on the king's enemies.’” Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 His servants told David these words, and David was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. The appointed days had not yet run their course.
27 David set out with his men and struck down two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and delivered them all to the king, so he could become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife.
28 Saul saw and understood that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him.
29 Saul became even more afraid of David, and he was David's enemy for the rest of his days.
30 The Philistine commanders went out to battle, and whenever they did, David succeeded more than all Saul's servants, and his name became greatly esteemed.
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