1 Samuel 18

1 Samuel 18:1

After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 18:1 · BSB

the soul of Jonathan The modesty , piety , and courage of David were so congenial to the character of the amiable Jonathan , that they attracted his most cordial esteem and affection; so that the most intimate friendship subsisted between them from that time , and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. Their friendship could not be affected by the common vicissitudes of life; and it exemplifies by fact what the ancients have written on the subject.

1 Samuel 18:2

And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

1 Samuel 18:2 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:3

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 18:3 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:4

And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

1 Samuel 18:4 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:5

So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

1 Samuel 18:5 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:6

As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

1 Samuel 18:6 · BSB

Philistine or , Philistines

instruments of music Heb. three stringed instruments , The original shalishim , is rendered by the Vulgate sistris. The sistrum. The sistrum was an ancient Egyptian instrument made of brass , with three , and sometimes more brass rods across; which , being loose in their holes , made a jingling noise when shaken.

1 Samuel 18:7

And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

1 Samuel 18:7 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:8

And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

1 Samuel 18:8 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:9

And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

1 Samuel 18:9 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:10

The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

1 Samuel 18:10 · BSB

and there was Wehachanith beyad Shaool , rather , "and the javelin was in the hand of Saul;" for the javelin or spear was the emblem of regal authority; and kings had it always in their hand , as may be seen represented on ancient monuments. In ancient times , says Justin , kings used a spear instead of a sceptre.

1 Samuel 18:11

and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

1 Samuel 18:11 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:12

So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:13

Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

1 Samuel 18:13 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:14

and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

1 Samuel 18:14 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:15

When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.

1 Samuel 18:15 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:16

But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

1 Samuel 18:16 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:17

Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

1 Samuel 18:17 · BSB

valiant Heb. a son of valour

1 Samuel 18:18

And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

1 Samuel 18:18 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:19

So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

1 Samuel 18:19 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:20

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

1 Samuel 18:20 · BSB

pleased him Heb. was right in his eyes

1 Samuel 18:21

“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

1 Samuel 18:21 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:22

Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

1 Samuel 18:22 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:23

But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

1 Samuel 18:23 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:24

And the servants told Saul what David had said.

1 Samuel 18:24 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:25

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

1 Samuel 18:25 · BSB

but an hundred That is , Thou shalt slay one hundred Philistines , and thou shalt produce their foreskins as a proof , not only that thou hast killed one hundred men , but that these are of the uncircumcised Philistines.

1 Samuel 18:26

When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

1 Samuel 18:26 · BSB

expired Heb. fulfilled

1 Samuel 18:27

David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

1 Samuel 18:27 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:28

When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

1 Samuel 18:28 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:29

he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

1 Samuel 18:29 · BSB

1 Samuel 18:30

Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.

1 Samuel 18:30 · BSB

the princes Of this war we know no more than that David , whose military skill was greater , was more successful in it , than all the other officers of Saul.