57 As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

58 “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse(A) of Bethlehem.”

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan(B) became one in spirit with David, and he loved(C) him as himself.(D) From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant(E) with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe(F) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.(G)

Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful(H) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.(I) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

18 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.

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

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

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.

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.

10 The next day an evil[a] spirit(A) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,(B) as he usually(C) did. Saul had a spear(D) in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself,(E) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded(F) him twice.(G)

12 Saul was afraid(H) of David, because the Lord(I) was with(J) David but had departed from(K) Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led(L) the troops in their campaigns.(M) 14 In everything he did he had great success,(N) because the Lord was with(O) 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.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:10 Or a harmful

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.

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