Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathanp became one in spirit with David, and he lovedq him as himself.r 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenants with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robet he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.u

5 Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successfulv that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.w This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

6 When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing,x with joyful songs and with timbrelsy and lyres. 7 As they danced, they sang:z

“Saul has slain his thousands,

and David his tensa of thousands.”

8 Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?b” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a closec eye on David.

10 The next day an evila spiritd from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,e as he usuallyf did. Saul had a spearg in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself,h “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eludedi him twice.j

12 Saul was afraidk of David, because the Lordl was withm David but had departed fromn Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David ledo the troops in their campaigns.p 14 In everything he did he had great success,q because the Lord was withr him. 15 When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.s