Jonathan’s Covenant with David
1When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan’s soul was bound to David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2From that day on, Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as himself. 4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. 5David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he was successful. So Saul set him over the men of war, and this pleased all the people, and Saul’s servants as well.
Saul Grows Jealous of David
6As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, with joy, and with stringed instruments. 7As they danced, the women sang out, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8Saul was furious. This saying displeased him greatly, and he said, “They have credited David with tens of thousands, and me with only thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?” 9And from that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved inside the house, while David played the lyre with his hand, as he did day after day, and Saul had his javelin in his hand. 11Saul hurled the javelin, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. 12Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with David but had departed from Saul. 13So Saul sent him away from his presence and made him commander of a thousand, and David led the troops out to battle and back. 14David succeeded in all his undertakings, for Yahweh was with him. 15When Saul saw how successful he was, he was even more afraid of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them out to battle and back.
David Becomes Saul’s Son-in-Law
17Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab — I will give her to you as a wife. Only be a valiant man for me and fight the battles of Yahweh.” For Saul thought, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19But when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given instead to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. 20Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, he was pleased. 21Saul thought, “I will give her to him — she will become a snare for him, so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You shall become my son-in-law today.” 22Saul commanded 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.’” 23So Saul’s servants spoke these words to David, and David said, “Does it seem a small thing to you to become the king’s son-in-law? I am only a poor man of no standing.” 24Saul’s servants reported to him, “This is what David said.” 25Saul said, “Tell David this: The king wants no dowry except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on the king’s enemies.” Saul intended this to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26When his servants told David this, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had run out, 27David set out with his men and struck down two hundred Philistines. He brought back their foreskins and presented the full number to the king, to become his son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28When Saul saw and understood that Yahweh was with David, and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29Saul grew still more afraid of David, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. 30Time and again the Philistine commanders would march out, and every time, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name became highly regarded.
