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Saúl siente envidia de David

18 En cuanto David terminó de hablar con Saúl, Jonatán empezó a entablar una buena amistad con David.[a] Lo quería como a sí mismo. Desde ese día, Saúl mantuvo a David con él, sin dejarlo volver a casa de su papá. Jonatán y David hicieron un pacto porque Jonatán lo quería como a sí mismo. Jonatán se quitó el manto que llevaba y se lo dio a David. También le dio todo su uniforme, hasta su espada, su arco y su cinturón.

Saúl envió a David a pelear en muchas batallas, y en todas tenía éxito. También lo puso a cargo de los soldados, lo cual fue del agrado de todos, hasta de los oficiales.

Cuando David regresó de matar al filisteo, las mujeres de los pueblos de Israel salieron cantando y danzando a recibir al rey Saúl. Gritando tocaban panderetas y liras, y exclamaban:

«¡Saúl mató a miles,
    pero David mató a diez miles!»

Eso no le gustó nada a Saúl y se enojó muchísimo. Pensaba: «Las mujeres le dan crédito a David por unos cuantos miles, sólo les falta que le den el reino mismo». A partir de aquel momento Saúl lo miraba con recelo.

10 Al día siguiente, un espíritu maligno de parte de Dios se apoderó de Saúl, haciéndolo actuar en su casa como loco. David tocó el arpa como de costumbre. 11 Pero Saúl tenía una lanza en la mano y pensó: «Lo clavaré en la pared». Saúl lo intentó dos veces, pero en ambas ocasiones David saltó y esquivó la lanza.

12 Saúl tenía miedo de David porque el SEÑOR ya no estaba con él, sino con David. 13 Saúl mandó a David lejos como comandante de 1000 soldados. David los dirigía en las batallas. 14 David tenía éxito porque el SEÑOR estaba con él. 15 Al ver su éxito, Saúl cada vez temía más a David. 16 Pero todos en Israel y Judá apreciaban a David porque los dirigía en las batallas.

17 Saúl quería matar a David y se le ocurrió ponerle una trampa, diciéndole:

—Aquí tienes a Merab, mi hija mayor. Cásate con ella y así te convertirás en un soldado poderoso. Serás como un hijo para mí. Luego irás y pelearás las batallas del SEÑOR.

En realidad, Saúl pensaba: «Así no tendré que matar a David yo mismo, sino que lo matarán los filisteos». 18 Pero David dijo:

—Yo no me puedo casar con la hija del rey. No vengo de una familia importante ni tampoco soy importante.

19 Así que cuando llegó la hora de que David se casara con Merab, Saúl se la entregó a Adriel de Mejolá. 20 Mical, la otra hija de Saúl estaba enamorada de David. Cuando Saúl lo supo, le agradó la noticia, 21 y pensó: «Atraparé a David por medio de Mical. Se la daré en matrimonio y luego dejaré que los filisteos lo maten». Así que Saúl habló con David de nuevo:

—Puedes casarte con mi hija hoy mismo.

22 Saúl les ordenó a sus oficiales que hablaran con David en privado y que le dijeran: «Mira, el rey te aprecia y sus oficiales también, deberías casarte con su hija». 23 Los oficiales hablaron con David, pero él contestó:

—¿Creen que es muy fácil ser yerno del rey? Yo no soy más que un hombre común y corriente.

24 Los oficiales le dijeron a Saúl lo que David había dicho. 25 Saúl les dijo:

—Díganle a David que el rey no quiere que pague dinero por su hija.[b] Saúl sólo quiere vengarse de sus enemigos, así que pide 100 prepucios de filisteos para darte su hija en casamiento.

Saúl pensaba en secreto que los filisteos matarían a David. 26 Los oficiales hablaron de nuevo con David, quien se puso contento por la oportunidad de ser yerno del rey, así que enseguida se puso en acción. 27 David y sus soldados salieron a pelear contra los filisteos. Mataron a 200[c] y le llevó los prepucios a Saúl para convertirse en yerno del rey. Saúl le entregó a su hija Mical en casamiento. 28 Entonces Saúl se dio cuenta de que el SEÑOR estaba con David y de que su hija Mical amaba a David. 29 Por eso empezó a temer más a David, y siempre se ponía en su contra.

30 Además, los comandantes filisteos continuaron saliendo a pelear contra los israelitas, pero David siempre los derrotaba, y aumentó su fama de ser el mejor oficial.

Footnotes

  1. 18:1 Jonatán […] con David Textualmente el alma de Jonatán estaba atada al alma de David.
  2. 18:25 dinero por su hija En los tiempos bíblicos, los hombres tenían que pagarle dinero al papá de la novia para poder casarse con ella.
  3. 18:27 200 LXX: 100.

David and Jonathan's Friendship

18 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan (A)loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day (B)and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because (C)he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out (D)and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

Saul's Jealousy of David

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, (E)the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.[a] And the women (F)sang to one another as they celebrated,

(G)“Saul has struck down his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands.”

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but (H)the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.

10 The next day (I)a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and (J)he raved within his house while David was (K)playing the lyre, as he did day by day. (L)Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul (M)hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 (N)Saul was afraid of David because (O)the Lord was with him (P)but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. (Q)And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David (R)had success in all his undertakings, (S)for the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that (T)he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 (U)But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

David Marries Michal

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is (V)my elder daughter Merab. (W)I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me (X)and fight the Lord's battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, (Y)but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, (Z)“Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to (AA)Adriel the (AB)Meholathite for a wife.

20 Now (AC)Saul's daughter Michal (AD)loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may (AE)be a snare for him (AF)and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,[b] (AG)“You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.’” 23 And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, (AH)“Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no (AI)bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, (AJ)that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” (AK)Now 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. (AL)Before the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, (AM)along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. (AN)And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 But when Saul saw and knew that (AO)the Lord was with David, (AP)and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.

30 (AQ)Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out (AR)David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:6 Or triangles, or three-stringed instruments
  2. 1 Samuel 18:21 Hebrew by two

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

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

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

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing,(I) with joyful songs and with timbrels(J) and lyres. As they danced, they sang:(K)

“Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens(L) of thousands.”

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?(M) And from that time on Saul kept a close(N) eye on David.

10 The next day an evil[a] spirit(O) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,(P) as he usually(Q) did. Saul had a spear(R) in his hand 11 and he hurled it, saying to himself,(S) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded(T) him twice.(U)

12 Saul was afraid(V) of David, because the Lord(W) was with(X) David but had departed from(Y) Saul. 13 So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led(Z) the troops in their campaigns.(AA) 14 In everything he did he had great success,(AB) because the Lord was with(AC) 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.(AD)

17 Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter(AE) Merab. I will give her to you in marriage;(AF) only serve me bravely and fight the battles(AG) of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself,(AH) “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”

18 But David said to Saul, “Who am I,(AI) and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?(AJ) 19 So[b] when the time came for Merab,(AK) Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.(AL)

20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal(AM) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.(AN) 21 “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare(AO) to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

22 Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”

23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law?(AP) I’m only a poor man and little known.”

24 When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price(AQ) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge(AR) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan(AS) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

26 When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, 27 David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal(AT) in marriage.

28 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal(AU) loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid(AV) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success(AW) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:10 Or a harmful
  2. 1 Samuel 18:19 Or However,