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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.

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.[a](A) And the women sang to one another as they made merry,

“Saul has killed his thousands
    and David his ten thousands.”(B)

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?”(C) So Saul eyed David from that day on.

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Footnotes

  1. 18.6 Or triangles or three-stringed instruments

David went out and was successful in every mission Saul sent him to do. So Saul placed him in charge of the soldiers, and this pleased all the troops as well as Saul’s servants.

Saul jealous of David

After David came back from killing the Philistine, and as the troops returned home, women from all of Israel’s towns came out to meet King Saul[a] with singing and dancing, with tambourines, rejoicing, and musical instruments. The women sang in celebration:

“Saul has killed his thousands,
    but David has killed his tens of thousands!”

Saul burned with anger. This song annoyed him. “They’ve credited David with tens of thousands,” he said, “but only credit me with thousands. What’s next for him—the kingdom itself?” So Saul kept a close eye on David from that point on.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:6 MT; LXX to meet David