1 Samuel 18

1When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.Cross-references: Gen 44:30 · Deut 13:6 · Judg 20:11 · 1Sam 14:1 · 1Sam 14:45 · 1Sam 18:3 · +7 more

2Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.Cross-references: 1Sam 16:21 · 1Sam 17:15

3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.Cross-references: 1Sam 20:8 · 1Sam 20:42 · 1Sam 23:18 · 2Sam 9:1 · 2Sam 21:7

4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.Cross-references: Gen 41:42 · Esth 6:8 · Isa 61:10 · Luke 15:22 · 2Cor 5:21 · Phil 2:7

5David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.Cross-references: Gen 39:2 · Gen 39:23 · 1Sam 13:2 · 1Sam 14:52 · 1Sam 18:14 · 1Sam 18:30 · +5 more

6As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.Cross-references: Ex 15:20 · Judg 11:34 · Ps 68:25 · Jer 31:11

7The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”Cross-references: Ex 15:21 · 1Sam 21:11 · 1Sam 29:5 · Ps 24:7

8Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”Cross-references: Num 11:1 · Num 22:34 · 1Sam 13:14 · 1Sam 15:28 · 1Sam 16:13 · 1Sam 20:31 · +6 more

9Saul watched David from that day and forward.Cross-references: Gen 4:5 · Gen 31:2 · Matt 20:15 · Mark 7:22 · Eph 4:27 · James 5:9

10On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;Cross-references: 1Sam 16:14 · 1Sam 16:23 · 1Sam 19:9 · 1Sam 19:23 · 1Sam 26:19 · 1Ki 18:29 · +7 more

11and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.Cross-references: 1Sam 19:9 · 1Sam 20:33 · Ps 37:32 · Prov 27:4 · Isa 54:17 · Luke 4:30 · +2 more

12Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.Cross-references: 1Sam 16:4 · 1Sam 16:13 · 1Sam 16:18 · 1Sam 18:15 · 1Sam 18:20 · 1Sam 18:29 · +11 more

13Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.Cross-references: Num 27:16 · 1Sam 8:12 · 1Sam 18:16 · 1Sam 18:25 · 1Sam 22:7 · 2Sam 5:2 · +1 more

14David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.Cross-references: Gen 39:2 · Gen 39:23 · Josh 6:27 · 1Sam 10:7 · 1Sam 16:18 · Matt 1:23 · +2 more

15When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.Cross-references: Ps 112:5 · Dan 6:4 · Col 4:5 · James 1:5 · James 3:17

16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.Cross-references: Num 27:17 · 1Sam 18:5 · 2Sam 5:2 · 1Ki 3:7 · Luke 19:48 · Luke 20:19

17Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”Cross-references: Num 21:14 · Num 32:20 · Num 32:27 · Num 32:29 · Deut 17:7 · 1Sam 17:25 · +8 more

18David said to 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?”Cross-references: Ex 3:11 · Ruth 2:10 · 1Sam 9:21 · 1Sam 18:23 · 2Sam 7:18 · Prov 15:33 · +2 more

19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.Cross-references: Judg 7:22 · Judg 14:20 · 2Sam 21:8

20Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.Cross-references: 1Sam 18:28

21Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”Cross-references: Ex 10:7 · 1Sam 18:17 · 1Sam 18:26 · 1Sam 19:11 · Ps 7:14 · Ps 38:12 · +4 more

22Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’”Cross-references: 2Sam 13:28 · Ps 36:1 · Ps 55:21 · Prov 29:12

23Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”Cross-references: 1Sam 9:21 · Ps 119:141 · Prov 14:20 · Prov 19:6 · Eccl 9:15 · 1John 3:1

24The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”

25Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.Cross-references: Gen 17:11 · Gen 29:18 · Gen 34:12 · Ex 22:16 · Josh 5:3 · 1Sam 14:24 · +4 more

26When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,Cross-references: 1Sam 18:21

27David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.Cross-references: Judg 14:19 · 1Sam 18:13 · 2Sam 3:14

28Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.Cross-references: Gen 30:27 · Gen 37:8 · Gen 39:3 · 1Sam 24:20 · 1Sam 26:25 · Rev 3:9

29Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.Cross-references: Gen 4:4 · 1Sam 18:12 · 1Sam 18:15 · Ps 37:12 · Eccl 4:4 · John 11:53 · +2 more

30Then the princes of the Philistines went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.Cross-references: 1Sam 2:30 · 1Sam 18:5 · 1Sam 26:21 · 2Sam 11:1 · 2Ki 1:13 · Ps 116:15 · +6 more