XVIII. And it came to pass, when he made an end of speaking unto Saul, that athe soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, band Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day, cand would let him go no more home to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stript himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and * behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the * Philistine, that dthe women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with dtabrets, with joy, and with * instruments of musick. 7 And the women eanswered one another as they played, and said,

fSaul hath slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying * displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but gthe kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that hthe evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and ihe prophesied in the midst of the house: and David kplayed with his hand, as at other times: land there was a javelin in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul mcast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice. 12 And Saul was nafraid of David, because othe Lord was with him, and was pdeparted from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and qhe went out and came in before the people. 14 And David * behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and rthe Lord was with him. 15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But sall Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter tMerab, uher will I give thee to wife: only be thou * valiant for me, and fight wthe Lord’s battles. For Saul said, xLet not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him. 18 And David said unto Saul, yWho am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king? 19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto zAdriel the aMeholathite to wife. 20 And bMichal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing * pleased him. 21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be ca snare to him, and that dthe hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt ethis day be my son in law in the one of the twain. 22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law. 23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, fSeemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed? 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, * On this manner spake David. 25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any gdowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, hto be avenged of the king’s enemies. But iSaul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it jpleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and kthe days were not * expired. 27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and lhis men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and mDavid brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife. 28 And Saul saw and knew that nthe Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. 29 And Saul was yet the more mafraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy ocontinually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines pwent forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David qbehaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much * set by.