1 Samuel 18:5–11

⁵David was successful in all the missions on which Saul sent him, and so Saul made him an officer in his army. This pleased all of Saul’s officers and men.

Saul Becomes Jealous of David

⁶As David was returning after killing Goliath and as the soldiers were coming back home, women from every town in Israel came out to meet King Saul. They were singing joyful songs, dancing, and playing tambourines and lyres. ^7*In their celebration the women sang, “Saul has killed thousands, but David tens of thousands.” ⁸Saul did not like this, and he became very angry. He said, “For David they claim tens of thousands, but only thousands for me. They will be making him king next!” ⁹And so he was jealous and suspicious of David from that day on.

¹⁰The next day an evil spirit from God suddenly took control of Saul, and he raved in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did every day, and Saul was holding a spear. ¹¹“I’ll pin him to the wall,” Saul said to himself, and he threw the spear at him twice; but David dodged each time.