1 Samuel 18

18 ¹When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul was tied to David's, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ²From that day Saul kept David with him, not letting him return to his father's house. ³Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. ⁴Jonathan took off his robe and gave it to David, along with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

⁵David succeeded everywhere Saul sent him, so Saul put him over the soldiers, pleasing all the people and Saul's servants too.

⁶As they returned, when David came back from killing the Philistine, women from every Israelite city came out to meet King Saul, singing, dancing, joyful, with tambourines and instruments. ⁷As they celebrated, the women sang to each other: "Saul has struck down his thousands, David his ten thousands."

⁸Saul burned with anger; this word was very unwelcome to him. He said, "They credit David ten thousands, me only thousands. What's left him but the kingdom?" ⁹And from that day on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. ¹⁰Next day a harmful spirit from our Father rushed on Saul; he raved inside his house while David played the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. ¹¹He hurled the spear, thinking, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David dodged him twice. ¹²Saul was afraid of David, because our Father was with him but had departed from Saul. ¹³So Saul sent David away from his presence, made him commander of 1,000, and David led the people out to battle and back. ¹⁴David had success in all his ways, for our Father was with him. ¹⁵When Saul saw how greatly David succeeded, he dreaded him. ¹⁶But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them out to battle and back.

David Wins Michal Against Saul's Schemes

¹⁷Saul told David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as wife—only be brave for me and fight our Father's battles." For Saul thought, "My hand won't be against him; let the Philistines' hand be against him."

¹⁸David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my family, my father's family in Israel, that I'd become the king's son-in-law?" ¹⁹But when Merab, Saul's daughter, was to be given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.

²⁰Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When Saul heard this, it pleased him. ²¹Saul thought, "I'll give her to him as a trap, letting the Philistines' hand strike him." So Saul told David, "Today you have a second chance to be my son-in-law."

²²Saul told his servants, "Tell David privately: 'The king likes you, and all his servants love you. Now become his son-in-law.'"

²³Saul's servants told David these words. David said, "Is becoming the king's son-in-law a small thing to you? I'm poor and unimportant."

²⁴And Saul's servants told him, "This is what David said."

²⁵Saul said, "Tell David: 'The king wants no bride-price, only one hundred Philistine foreskins—revenge on the king's enemies.'" He intended David to fall by Philistine hands. ^a a v25 Presenting enemy foreskins as proof of kills was a recognized trophy custom in ancient Canaan and surrounding cultures. ²⁶His servants told David this; he was delighted to become the king's son-in-law. Before the full time passed, ²⁷David and his men went out, killed 200 Philistines, and brought their foreskins to the king, counted in full to become his son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as wife. ²⁸When Saul saw and knew our Father was with David, and that Michal his daughter loved him, ²⁹Saul feared David even more, and became David's enemy for the rest of his life.

³⁰Philistine commanders kept coming out to battle, and each time David succeeded more than all Saul's officers, so his name became highly honored.