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So David went out wherever Saul sent him and [a]prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of Saul’s servants.

Saul Looks at David with Suspicion

And it happened as they were coming, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, that (A)the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with gladness, and with [b]musical instruments. And the women (B)sang as they [c]were merry and said,

(C)Saul has struck his thousands,
(D)And David his ten thousands.”

Then Saul became very angry, for this saying was [d]displeasing in his eyes; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now (E)what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:5 Or acted wisely
  2. 1 Samuel 18:6 Possibly three-stringed lutes
  3. 1 Samuel 18:7 Or danced
  4. 1 Samuel 18:8 Lit evil

David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he was successful. So Saul put him in charge of a group of soldiers. All the people approved, as did Saul’s officials.

As the army was coming back from battle, when David was returning from striking down the Philistine, women came out from all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful music, with hand drums, and with noisemakers.[a] The women sang to each other as they played:

Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.

Saul became furious, because he resented this statement. He said, “They have credited David with tens of thousands, but to me they have credited only thousands. What more can be given to him but the kingship?” So Saul eyed David suspiciously from that day on.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:6 The Hebrew term shalish very likely refers to a type of noisemaker known as a sistrum, but some think it refers to a three-stringed instrument or a type of song.