1 Samuel 18
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
18 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, 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 not let him return to his father's house.
3 And David and Jonathan made a covenant, for be loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the coat with which he was clothed, and gave it to David, and the rest of his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out to whatsoever business Saul sent him, and he behaved himself prudently: and Saul set him over the soldiers, and he was acceptable in the eyes of all the people, and especially in the eyes of Saul's servants.
6 Now when David returned, after be slew the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels of joy, and cornets.
7 And the women sung as they played, and they said: I Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was exceeding angry, and this word was displeasing in his eyes, and he said: They have given David ten thousands, and to me they have given but a thousand; what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul did not look on David with a good eye from that day and forward.
10 And the day after the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of his house. And David played with his hand as at other times. And Saul held a spear in his hand,
11 And threw it, thinking to nail David to the wall: and David stept aside out of his presence twice.
12 And Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from himself.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him a captain over a thousand men, and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.
15 And Saul saw that he was exceeding prudent, and began to beware of him.
16 But all Israel and Juda loved David, for he came in and went out before them.
17 And Saul said to David: Behold my elder daughter Merob, her will I give thee to wife: only be a valiant man, and fight the battles of the Lord. Now Saul said within himself: Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hands of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said to Saul: Who am I, or what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law of the king?
19 And it came to pass at the time when Merob the daughter of Saul should have been given to David, that she was given to Hadriel the Molathite to wife.
20 But Michol the other daughter of Saul loved David. And it was told Saul, and it pleased him.
21 And Saul said: I will give her to him, that she may be a stumblingblock to him, and that the band of the Philistines may be upon him. And Saul said to David: In two things thou shalt be my son in law this day.
22 And Saul commanded his servants to speak to David privately, saying: Behold thou pleasest the king, and all his servants love thee. Now therefore be the king's son in law.
23 And the servants of Saul spoke all these words in the ears of David. And David said: Doth it seem to you a small matter to be the king's son in law? But I am a poor man, and of small ability.
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying: Such words as these hath David spoken.
25 And Saul said: Speak thus to David: The king desireth not any dowry, but only a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. Now Saul thought to deliver David into the hands of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants had told David the words that Saul had said, the word was pleasing in the eyes of David to be the king's son in law.
27 And after a few days David rose up, and went with the men that were under him, and he slew of the Philistines two hundred men, and brought their foreskins and numbered them out to the king, that he might be his son in law. Saul therefore gave him Michol his daughter to wife.
28 And Saul saw, and understood that the Lord was with David. And Michol the daughter of Saul loved him.
29 And Saul began to fear David more: and Saul became David's enemy continually.
30 And the princes of the Philistines went forth: and from the beginning of their going forth, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, and his name became very famous.
1 Samuel 18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Jonathan’s Covenant with David
18 When David[a] had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.(A) 2 Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.(B) 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David and his armor and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.[b](C) 7 And the women sang to one another as they made merry,
“Saul has killed his thousands
and David his ten thousands.”(D)
8 Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?”(E) 9 So Saul eyed David from that day on.
Saul Tries to Kill David
10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand,(F) 11 and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.(G)
12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.(H) 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand, and David marched out and came in, leading the army.(I) 14 David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.(J) 15 When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.(K)
David Marries Michal
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I will not raise a hand against him; let the Philistines deal with him.”(L) 18 David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my kinsfolk, my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”(M) 19 But at the time when Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.(N)
20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him.(O) 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,[c] “You shall now be my son-in-law.”(P) 22 Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ” 23 So Saul’s servants reported these words to David in private. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?” 24 The servants of Saul told him, “This is what David said.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.(Q) 26 When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired,(R) 27 David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one hundred[d] of the Philistines, and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife.(S) 28 But when Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him, 29 Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy from that time forward.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his fame became very great.(T)
1 Samuelsboken 18
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
Sauls avund och vrede
18 (A) När David hade talat med Saul fäste sig Jonatans själ vid Davids själ, och Jonatan hade honom lika kär som sitt eget liv. 2 (B) Saul tog till sig David den dagen och lät honom inte återvända till sin fars hus. 3 (C) Och Jonatan slöt ett förbund med David, som han älskade lika djupt som sitt eget liv. 4 Jonatan tog av sig manteln[a] som han bar och gav den till David, och även sina andra kläder, till och med sitt svärd, sin båge och sitt bälte. 5 Och när David drog ut hade han framgång överallt dit Saul sände honom. Därför satte Saul honom över krigsfolket, och allt folket uppskattade honom, även Sauls tjänare.
6 (D) När de kom hem och David återvände efter att ha dödat filistén, gick kvinnorna ut från Israels alla städer med sång och dans för att möta kung Saul med jubel, tamburiner och lyror[b]. 7 (E) Kvinnorna sjöng och dansade och sade: ”Saul har slagit sina tusen, David sina tiotusen.” 8 Då blev Saul mycket vred. Dessa ord berörde honom mycket illa. Han sade: ”David gav de tiotusen, mig gav de tusen. Nu fattas bara att han får kungadömet också.” 9 Från och med den dagen hade Saul ett ont öga till David.
10 (F) Dagen därpå kom en ond ande från Gud över Saul. Han bar sig åt som en galen inne i sitt hus medan David spelade, som han brukade göra varje dag. Saul hade ett spjut i handen, 11 och han kastade det och tänkte: ”Jag ska spetsa fast David vid väggen.” Men två gånger vek David undan för honom.
12 Saul var rädd för David, eftersom Herren var med David men hade vikit ifrån Saul. 13 Därför skickade Saul bort honom och gav honom befälet över tusen man. Och han drog ut och kom tillbaka framför sin trupp. 14 (G) David lyckades väl i allt han gjorde och Herren var med honom. 15 När Saul såg att han lyckades så väl blev han rädd för honom. 16 Men hela Israel och Juda älskade David, eftersom han var deras ledare och anförare.
Mikal blir Davids hustru
17 Saul sade till David: ”Här är min äldsta dotter Merab. Henne vill jag ge dig till hustru. Visa mig bara att du är tapper och utkämpar Herrens krig.” Saul tänkte nämligen: ”Min hand ska inte drabba honom, det får filisteernas hand göra.” 18 Men David svarade Saul: ”Vem är jag, vad är mitt liv och vad är min fars släkt i Israel, eftersom jag skulle bli kungens svärson?” 19 (H) Men när tiden kom att Sauls dotter Merab[c] skulle ha getts åt David, fick i stället meholatiten Adriel henne till hustru.
20 Men Sauls dotter Mikal[d] älskade David. När man berättade det för Saul gladde det honom, 21 för Saul tänkte: ”Jag ska ge henne till honom. Hon ska bli en snara för honom, så att filisteernas hand kan drabba honom.” Han sade till David: ”För andra gången kan du nu bli min svärson.” 22 Saul befallde sina tjänare att de i hemlighet skulle säga till David: ”Kungen tycker om dig och alla hans tjänare älskar dig. Bli nu kungens svärson!” 23 När Sauls tjänare sade så till David svarade han: ”Tror ni det är så enkelt att bli kungens svärson? Jag är en fattig och enkel man.” 24 När Sauls tjänare berättade för honom vad David sagt, 25 (I) bad Saul dem säga så här: ”Kungen begär ingen annan brudgåva än förhudarna av etthundra filisteer som hämnd på kungens fiender.” Saul hoppades nämligen att David skulle falla för filisteernas hand. 26 När Sauls tjänare talade om för David vad han hade sagt, ville David gärna bli kungens svärson på det villkoret.
Innan tiden ännu hade gått ut, 27 (J) bröt David upp och drog i väg med sina män och slog tvåhundra man av filisteerna. Han tog med sig deras förhudar och överlämnade hela antalet åt kungen för att få bli kungens svärson. Då gav Saul honom sin dotter Mikal till hustru. 28 Men Saul såg och förstod att Herren var med David och att Sauls dotter Mikal älskade honom. 29 Då blev Saul ännu mer rädd för David, och Saul blev Davids fiende för alltid.
30 Filisteernas furstar drog ut i fält, men så ofta de gjorde det hade David större framgång än någon annan av Sauls tjänare. Och hans namn blev mycket aktat.
Footnotes
- 18:4 tog av sig manteln Tronarvingen Jonatan (20:31) antyder att det i stället är David som kommer att bli kung (23:17).
- 18:6 lyror Ordagrant: ”treor”. Troligen en tresträngad lyra. Kan också syfta på rytminstrument. Triangeln, som föreslagits som översättning, var dock okänd på Bibelns tid.
- 18:19f Merab ... Mikal Betyder ungefär ”förökning” och ”vem är som Gud” (jfr Mikael).
- 18:20 Sauls dotter Mikal Andra handskrifter (Septuaginta): ”hela Israel”.
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015, Copyright © 2015 by Svenska Folkbibeln Foundation