⁵ On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul’s servants.^[a]

⁶ When the men^[b] arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments.^{[c] 7} The women who were playing the music sang,

⁸ This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought,^[d] “They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?” ⁹ So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward.