1 Samuel 18:1–16

Jonathan Cuts a Covenant with David

¹Now it happened when he had finished speaking to Saul, that ^athe soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and ^bJonathan loved him as his own soul.

²And Saul took him that day and ^adid not let him return to his father’s house.

³Then ^aJonathan cut a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul.

^4aAnd Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even his sword and his bow and his belt.

⁵So David went out wherever Saul sent him and ¹prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of Saul’s servants.

Saul Looks at David with Suspicion

⁶And it happened as they were coming, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, that ^athe women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with gladness, and with ¹musical instruments.

⁷And the women ^asang as they ¹were merry and said,

“^bSaul has struck his thousands,

^cAnd David his ten thousands.”

⁸Then Saul became very angry, for this saying was ¹displeasing in his eyes; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now ^awhat more can he have but the kingdom?”

⁹So Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

¹⁰Now it happened on the next day that ^aan evil spirit from God ¹came mightily upon Saul, and ^bhe raved in the midst of the house. Now David was playing the harp with his hand, ^2cas usual; and ^3da spear was in Saul’s hand.

^11aThen Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will ¹pin David to the wall.” But David ²escaped from his presence twice.

¹²And ^aSaul was afraid of David, ^bfor Yahweh was with him but ^chad turned away from Saul.

¹³Therefore Saul turned him away from ¹his presence and appointed him as his commander of one thousand; and ^ahe went out and came in before the people.

¹⁴And David was ¹prospering in all his ways, and ^aYahweh was with him.

¹⁵Then Saul saw that he was ¹prospering greatly, so he dreaded him.

¹⁶But ^aall Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.