1 AND it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and 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 stripped 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 the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul 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 the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
11 And Saul cast 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 afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said unto Saul, Who 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 Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20 And Michal 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 a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this 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, Seemeth 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 dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.
27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David 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 the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.
29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

1And it came to passe when hee made an ende of speaking vnto Saul, that the soule of Ionathan was knit with the soule of Dauid, and Ionathan loued him as his owne soule.

2And Saul tooke him that day, and would let him go no more home to his fathers house.

3Then Ionathan and Dauid made a couenant, because he loued him as his owne soule.

4And Ionathan stript himselfe of the robe that was vpon him, and gaue it to Dauid, and his garments, euen to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5 And Dauid went out, whither soeuer Saul sent him, and behaued himselfe wisely: and Saul set him ouer the men of warre, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Sauls seruants.

6And it came to passe as they came when Dauid was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meete king Saul, with tabrets, with ioy, and with instruments of musicke.

7And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slaine his thousands, and Dauid his ten thousands.

8And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him, and he sayd, They haue ascribed vnto Dauid tenne thousands, and to me they haue ascribed but thousands: and what can he haue more, but the kingdome?

9And Saul eyed Dauid from that day, and forward.

10 And it came to passe on the morrow, that the euill spirit from God came vpon Saul, and he prophecied in the midst of the house: and Dauid played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a iauelin in Sauls hand.

11And Saul cast the iauelin; for hee said, I will smite Dauid euen to the wall with it: and Dauid auoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of Dauid, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13Therefore Saul remooued him from him, and made him his captaine ouer a thousand, and hee went out and came in before the people.

14And Dauid behaued himselfe wisely in all his wayes; & the Lord was with him.

15Wherefore when Saul saw that hee behaued himselfe very wisely, hee was afraid of him.

16But all Israel and Iudah loued Dauid, because hee went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to Dauid, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I giue thee to wife: onely be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lords battels: for Saul said, Let not mine hand be vpon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be vpon him.

18And Dauid said vnto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my fathers family in Israel, that I should be sonne in law to the king?

19But it came to passe at the time when Merab Sauls daughter should haue beene giuen to Dauid, that shee was giuen vnto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

20And Michal Sauls daughter loued Dauid: and they tolde Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21And Saul said, I will giue him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to Dauid, Thou shalt this day be my sonne in law, in the one of the twaine.

22 And Saul commanded his seruants, saying, Commune with Dauid secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his seruants loue thee: now therefore be the kings sonne in law.

23And Sauls seruants spake those wordes in the eares of Dauid: And Dauid said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a kings sonne in law, seeing that I am a poore man, and lightly esteemed?

24And the seruants of Saul tolde him, saying; On this manner spake Dauid.

25And Saul said, Thus shall yee say to Dauid, The King desireth not any dowrie, but an hundred foreskinnes of the Philistines, to be auenged of the kings enemies. But Saul thought to make Dauid fal by the hand of the Philistines.

26And when his seruants told Dauid these wordes, it pleased Dauid well to be the kings sonne in lawe: and the dayes were not expired.

27Wherefore Dauid arose, hee and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and Dauid brought their foreskinnes, and they gaue them in full tale to the king, that hee might be the kings sonne in law: and Saul gaue him Michal his daughter to wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with Dauid, and that Michal Sauls daughter loued him.

29And Saul was yet the more afraid of Dauid; and Saul became Dauids enemie continually.

30Then the Princes of the Philistines went foorth: and it came to passe after they went foorth, that Dauid behaued himselfe more wisely then all the seruants of Saul, so that his name was much set by.

I == Gen 44:30 ; Deut 13:6 ; 1st Sam 19:2 ; 20:17 ; 2nd Sam 1:26

II == 1st sam 17:15

 

 

 

 

 

V == 1st Sam 18:14-15 , 30

 

 

 

VI == Ex 15:20 ; Judg 11:34

 

 

 

 

VII == Ex 15:21 ; 1st Sam 21:11 ; 29:5

VIII == 1st Sam 15:29 ; Eccl 4:4

 

 

 

 

X == 1st Sam 16:14 ; 19:9 , 24 ; 1st Kings 18:29 ; Acts 16:16

 

XI == 1st Sam 19:10 ; 20:33 ; Prov 27:4

 

XII == 1st Sam 16:13-14 , 18 ; 18:15 , 29 ; 28:15

XIII == Num 27:17 ; 1st Sam 18:16 ; 2nd Sam 5:2

XIV == Gen 29:2 -3 , 23 ; Josh 6:27 ; 1st Sam 18:5

XVI == 1st Sam 18:5

XVII == Num 32:20 , 27 , 29 ; 1st Sam 17:25 ; 18:21 , 25 ; 25:28 ; 2nd Sam 12:9

 

 

XVIII == 1st Sam 9:21 ; 18:23 ; 2nd Sam 7:18

XIX == Judg 7:22 ; 2nd Sam 21:8

 

XX == 1st Sam 18:28

 

XXI == Ex 10:7 ; 1st Sam 18:17 , 26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXV == Gen 34:12 ; Ex 22:17 ; 1st Sam 14:24 ; 18:17

 

 

XXVI == 1st Sam 18:21

 

XXVII == 1st Sam 18:13 ; 2nd Sam 3:14

 

 

 

XXX == 1st Sam 18:5 ; 2nd Sam 11:1

 

 

 

 

 

1 (By the time David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan had become as fond of David as if his life depended on him; he loved him as he loved himself.

2 Saul laid claim to David that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house.

3 And Jonathan entered into a bond with David, because he loved him as himself.

4 Jonathan divested himself of the mantle he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military dress, and his sword, his bow and his belt.

5 David then carried out successfully every mission on which Saul sent him. So Saul put him in charge of his soldiers, and this was agreeable to the whole army, even to Saul's own officers.)

6 At the approach of Saul and David (on David's return after slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.

7 The women played and sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

8 Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought: "They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me. All that remains for him is the kingship."

9 (And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

10 (The next day an evil spirit from God came over Saul, and he raged in his house. David was in attendance, playing the harp as at other times, while Saul was holding his spear.

11 Saul poised the spear, thinking to nail David to the wall, but twice David escaped him.)

12 Saul then began to fear David, (because the LORD was with him, but had departed from Saul himself.)

13 Accordingly, Saul removed him from his presence by appointing him a field officer. So David led the people on their military expeditions,

14 and prospered in all his enterprises, for the LORD was with him.

15 Seeing how successful he was, Saul conceived a fear of David:

16 on the other hand, all Israel and Judah loved him, since he led them on their expeditions.

17 (Saul said to David, "There is my older daughter, Merob, whom I will give you in marriage if you become my champion and fight the battles of the LORD." Saul had in mind, "I shall not touch him; let the Philistines strike him."

18 But David answered Saul: "Who am I? And who are my kin or my father's clan in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?"

19 However, when it was time for Saul's daughter Merob to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel the Meholathite instead.)

20 Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David, and it was reported to Saul, who was pleased at this,

21 for he thought, "I will offer her to him to become a snare for him, so that the Philistines may strike him." (Thus for the second time Saul said to David, "You shall become my son-in-law today.")

22 Saul then ordered his servants to speak to David privately and to say: "The king is fond of you, and all his officers love you. You should become the king's son-in-law."

23 But when Saul's servants mentioned this to David, he said: "Do you think it easy to become the king's son-in-law? I am poor and insignificant."

24 When his servants reported to him the nature of David's answer,

25 Saul commanded them to say this to David: "The king desires no other price for the bride than the foreskins of one hundred Philistines, that he may thus take vengeance on his enemies." Saul intended in this way to bring about David's death through the Philistines.

26 When the servants reported this offer to David, he was pleased with the prospect of becoming the king's son-in-law. (Before the year was up,)

27 David made preparations and sallied forth with his men and slew two hundred Philistines. He brought back their foreskins and counted them out before the king, that he might thus become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

28 Saul thus came to recognize that the LORD was with David; besides, his own daughter Michal loved David.

29 Therefore Saul feared David all the more (and was his enemy ever after).

30 (The Philistine chiefs continued to make forays, but each time they took the field, David was more successful against them than any other of Saul's officers, and as a result acquired great fame.)

v 1-4. Saul had allowed David to quit playing for him and go back to the flocks, but no more after he killed Goliath.  Hebrew style does not allow us to assume the action of Jonathan was on that very day. The charge of some liberals that David and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship is rubbish, this was a mutual love as brethren, 1 Pet. 3:8. Jonathan recognized the bravery of David with his own, and gave sacrificial love, probably also honor to the one he suspected would replace his father.

v 5-9. David served so well he was given command over part of the army, Abner was general and Jonathan had some command. His exploits led ladies to unwisely vocally compare David and Saul. By this, Saul probably and jealously concludes that David will be God’s choice for king.

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 10,11. Though David served with utmost faithfulness, Saul tried twice to pin him to the wall with his javelin, or light spear.

 

v 12-16. That the Lord was obviously with David caused Saul to fear. In making him captain over 1000, he intended to increase his risk of death and reduce his public exposure, but further exploits only made David more popular with the people.

 

 

 

 

 

v 17-21. In urging David to valiance and offering his oldest daughter in marriage, Saul expected him to be killed in battle. David felt unworthy to accept the offer, and Saul  gave Merab to Adriel. When Saul learned that his daughter Michal loved David, he extended the same offer concerning her, still hoping David would be killed in battle.

 

 

 

 

v 22-27. Saul’s servants were to scheme and urge David to accept, but he still felt unworthy. When they told David that Saul didn’t want dowry, just 100 foreskins of the Philistines, David quickly responded by killing Philistines to get them.
It should be noted that while the Septuagint states 100 foreskins, the Syriac and Arabic state 200, and Josephus claims five times that what Saul required of David was 600 heads of the Philistines. This can be born out some by the words of the Philistines in 1 Sam. 29:4 that David would reconcile himself with the heads of the Philistines. It seems best, without additional proofs, to stick with the statement that Saul requested  100 foreskins, v 25, but David actually brought 200, v 27. 

 

v 28-30. It was apparent to Saul that the Lord was with David and Michal loved this hero of the people, so he gave her in marriage, thinking that in obtaining dowry, David would be killed by the Philistines. Saul feared and hated David even more after his success. David’s subsequent faithfulness and victories brought him even more esteem. Events brought a later change in Michal’s attitude, 2 Samuel, 6:16 that resulted in David sleeping with her no more. But it must be remembered that in 1 Sam. 25:44 Saul gave her to another man while David was in exile. Then in 2 Sam. 3:13-16, David claimed her back, at much grief to her second husband. Saul’s actions brought far reaching sorrow into David’s home.