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David went out and was successful everywhere Saul sent him, and Saul put him in charge of the troops. This pleased the entire army,[a] as well as Saul’s officials.[b]

Saul’s Jealousy of David

When David returned from defeating the Philistine, as they were entering the city, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul, singing and dancing as they joyously played tambourines and lyres. As the women sang and played, they said,

“Saul has struck down his thousands
    but David his ten thousands.”

Saul was very angry and he did not like what the women sang. He told himself,[c] “They have attributed tens of thousands to David, but to me they have attributed thousands. What else can he have but the kingdom?” From then on Saul kept his eye on David.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:5 Or pleased all the people
  2. 1 Samuel 18:5 Or servants
  3. 1 Samuel 18:8 The Heb. lacks to himself
  4. 1 Samuel 18:9 Or eyed David with suspicion

Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful(A) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.(B) 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,(C) with joyful songs and with timbrels(D) and lyres. As they danced, they sang:(E)

“Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens(F) 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?(G) And from that time on Saul kept a close(H) eye on David.

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