Read the Bible

Jonathan and David

¹ Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that ^(C1)the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and ^(C2)Jonathan loved him as himself.² Saul took him that day and ^(C1)did not let him return to his father's house.³ Then ^(C1)Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.^4 (C1)Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.⁵ So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and ^(F1)prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

⁶ It happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that ^(C1)the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with ^(F1)musical instruments.⁷ The women ^(C1)sang as they ^(F1)played, and said,

"^(C2)Saul has slain his thousands,
^(C3)And David his ten thousands."

Saul Turns against David

¹⁰ Now it came about on the next day that ^(C1)an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and ^(C2)he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, ^(F1)(C3)as usual; and ^(F2)(C4)a spear was in Saul's hand.^11 (C1)Saul hurled the spear for he thought, "I will ^(F1)pin David to the wall." But David ^(F2)escaped from his presence twice.

¹² Now ^(C1)Saul was afraid of David, ^(C2)for the LORD was with him but ^(C3)had departed from Saul.¹³ Therefore Saul removed him from ^(F1)his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and ^(C1)he went out and came in before the people.¹⁴ David was ^(F1)prospering in all his ways for ^(C1)the LORD was with him.¹⁵ When Saul saw that he was ^(F1)prospering greatly, he dreaded him.¹⁶ But ^(C1)all Israel and Judah loved David, and he went out and came in before them.

¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, "^(C1)Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight ^(C2)the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but ^(C3)let the hand of the Philistines be against him."¹⁸ But David said to Saul, "^(C1)Who am I, and what is my life or my father's family in Israel, that I should be the king's son-in-law?"¹⁹ So it came about at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to ^(C1)Adriel ^(C2)the Meholathite for a wife.

David Marries Saul's Daughter

²⁰ Now ^(C1)Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable ^(F1)to him.²¹ Saul thought, "I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and ^(C1)that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David, "^(C2)For a second time you may be my son-in-law today."²² Then Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David secretly, saying, 'Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore, become the king's son-in-law.'"²³ So Saul's servants spoke these words ^(F1)to David. But David said, "Is it trivial in your sight to become the king's son-in-law, ^(C1)since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?"²⁴ The servants of Saul reported to him ^(F1)according to these words which David spoke.²⁵ Saul then said, "Thus you shall say to David, 'The king does not desire any ^(C1)dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, ^(C2)to take vengeance on the king's enemies.'" Now ^(C3)Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.²⁶ When his servants told David these words, ^(F1)it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. ^(F2)(C1)Before the days had expired²⁷ David rose up and went, ^(C1)he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then ^(C2)David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife.²⁸ When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him,²⁹ then Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David's enemy continually.

³⁰ Then the commanders of the Philistines ^(C1)went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David ^(C2)behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.