1 Samuel 18

King James Version

Full text for 1 Samuel Chapter 18

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.

2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4And 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.

5And 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.

7And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8And 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?

9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10And 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.

11And 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.

13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD [was] with him.

15Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17And 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.

18And 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?

19But 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.

20And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21And 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.

22And 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.

23And 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?

24And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

25And 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.

26And 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.

27Wherefore 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.

28And Saul saw and knew that the LORD [was] with David, and [that] Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

29And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.

30Then 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jonathan forms a deep covenant with David, loving him as himself. David's military success and public acclaim, however, provoke intense jealousy in King Saul, who attempts to kill David and later schemes to have him fall in battle against the Philistines. Despite Saul's enmity and treacherous marriage offers, David continues to prosper and is given Michal, Saul's daughter, as his wife.

Medium Summary

Following David's victory over Goliath, Jonathan forms a profound covenant of friendship with him, demonstrating his love by giving him his princely garments and weapons. David's subsequent military successes and wise conduct earn him widespread popularity, but also ignite King Saul's intense jealousy. Saul becomes enraged by the women's songs exalting David's "ten thousands" over his "thousands," leading him to suspect David desires the kingdom. Driven by an evil spirit from God, Saul twice attempts to kill David with a javelin. Fearing David because the LORD was with him, Saul removes David from his immediate presence and attempts to use his daughters, Merab and Michal, as snares, hoping the Philistines would kill David. David, behaving wisely and with the LORD's favour, fulfills the demanding dowry of 200 Philistine foreskins for Michal, solidifying Saul's continuous enmity.

Long Summary

The chapter begins by establishing a profound bond between Jonathan, King Saul's son, and David immediately after David's victory over Goliath. Jonathan's soul was knit with David's, leading them to make a covenant, sealed by Jonathan stripping himself of his princely robe, garments, sword, bow, and girdle, and giving them to David. David was then appointed by Saul over his men of war, and he behaved himself wisely in all his assignments, gaining acceptance from all the people and even Saul's servants. However, upon their return from the Philistine slaughter, the women of Israel celebrated David's achievements more than Saul's, singing, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." This public acclamation deeply angered Saul, who became intensely jealous and began to eye David suspiciously, perceiving him as a threat to his kingdom. The very next day, an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, prompting him to cast a javelin at David twice while David played music, attempting to pin him to the wall. David narrowly avoided these attempts. Saul's fear of David intensified because he recognized that the LORD was with David and had departed from himself. Consequently, Saul removed David from his personal attendance, appointing him captain over a thousand, yet David continued to behave wisely, and the LORD remained with him, further increasing Saul's apprehension. Saul then attempted to ensnare David through marriage, first offering his elder daughter Merab, secretly hoping David would be killed by the Philistines in battle. When David humbly expressed his unworthiness, Merab was given to another. Subsequently, Saul learned that his younger daughter, Michal, loved David, which pleased him as another opportunity for a trap. Saul demanded a dowry of one hundred Philistine foreskins, again intending for David to perish. David, with his men, successfully slew two hundred Philistines, bringing their foreskins to the king, thereby fulfilling the condition. Saul then gave Michal to David as his wife. Saul's realization that the LORD was indeed with David and that Michal loved him only deepened his fear, solidifying his continuous enmity towards David. David, however, continued to behave more wisely than all Saul's servants, further enhancing his reputation.

Core Concepts

  • Jonathan's CovenantJonathan, Saul's son, formed a deep, loving covenant with David, symbolizing their bond by giving David his own princely garments and weapons. This act signifies a profound personal commitment and transfer of honor.
  • Saul's JealousyKing Saul became intensely jealous of David's popularity and military success, particularly after the women of Israel celebrated David's "ten thousands" over Saul's "thousands." This jealousy fueled his fear and animosity towards David.
  • Divine Presence and AbsenceThe chapter highlights that the LORD was with David, granting him wisdom and success, while an evil spirit from God came upon Saul, indicating the LORD's departure from him. This divine favour or lack thereof directly influenced the characters' actions and fates.
  • Saul's TreacherySaul repeatedly attempted to harm David, first by casting a javelin at him, and then by offering his daughters in marriage with the hidden agenda of having David killed by the Philistines. His actions reveal a deep-seated malice and manipulative intent.
  • David's Wisdom and HumilityDavid consistently behaved wisely in all his ways and assignments, earning him favour with the people. Despite his successes, he maintained a humble demeanor, expressing unworthiness to be the king's son-in-law.
  • Michal's Love and MarriageMichal, Saul's younger daughter, loved David, and Saul used this affection as another opportunity to ensnare David by demanding a dangerous dowry. David fulfilled the condition, and Michal became his wife, though this did not diminish Saul's enmity.
  • Philistine Conflict as a SnareSaul repeatedly used the ongoing conflict with the Philistines as a means to orchestrate David's death, first by offering Merab and then by demanding a specific, dangerous dowry for Michal. This demonstrates Saul's willingness to sacrifice David to his enemies.