1 Samuel 18

When he had finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan’s soul was bound to David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his garments, his sword, his bow, and his belt. David went out wherever Saul sent him and was successful. Saul placed him over the men of war, and this was good in the eyes of all the people and also of Saul’s servants. As they returned, when David came back from striking down the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joy, and musical instruments. The women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have given David tens of thousands, but to me they have given thousands. What more can he have but the kingship?” Saul eyed David with suspicion from that day onward. The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. David was playing with his hand, as he did day after day, while Saul had a spear in his hand. Saul hurled the spear, saying, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David turned aside from him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him and had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him commander of a thousand. He went out and came in before the people. David had success in all his ways, and the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in dread of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul said, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what are my life and my father’s family in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” But when the time came to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and this was right in his eyes. Saul said, “I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Saul said to David a second time, “Today you may become my son-in-law.” Saul commanded his servants, “Speak privately to David and say, ‘The king delights in you, and all his servants love you. Now become the king’s son-in-law.’” Saul’s servants spoke these words in David’s ears. David said, “Is it a small thing in your eyes to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.” Saul’s servants told him, “This is what David said.” Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no bride price except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Saul intended to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. His servants told David these words, and it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. The days had not yet expired. David rose and went with his men and struck down two hundred Philistine men. David brought their foreskins, and they delivered them in full to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him. Saul became still more afraid of David, and Saul was David’s enemy continually. The commanders of the Philistines went out, and whenever they went out, David had more success than all Saul’s servants. His name was highly esteemed.

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