but he offered a double portion of sacrificial meat for Hannah because he loved her even though the Eternal One had not given her children.

Elkanah (seeing Hannah’s despair): Why are you crying and not eating? Why are you so sad, Hannah? Don’t I love you more than any 10 sons could?

David came to Saul and served him. The king loved him greatly and made David his armor-bearer.

By the time David had finished speaking to Saul, Saul’s son Jonathan was bound to David in friendship, and Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved himself.

All of Israel and Judah loved David, who led their soldiers into battle and brought them back victorious. Saul came up with a plan and called David.

Saul’s daughter Michal, however, loved David; and when Saul heard this, he was pleased.

He thought that he would give her to David to trap him in a dangerous situation where the Philistines could still destroy David. So Saul spoke to David again. Saul (to David): I want you to marry my other daughter.

(to his servants) Talk to David privately. Tell him, “The king is very happy with you, and you are loved by those who serve him. So why don’t you become the king’s son-in-law?”

but when the king saw how David enjoyed the favor of the Eternal One, and that his daughter Michal loved him,

Jonathan (warning David): My father wants you dead. Watch out tomorrow morning. Think of a safe place to hide that nobody knows about.

If I live, then show to me the faithful love of the Eternal that I may not die.

Do not ever take your faithful love away from my descendants, not even if the Eternal were to remove all the enemies of the house of David from the face of the earth.

And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for Jonathan loved him more than life itself.

David went to a place called Nob, where he visited the priest Ahimelech, who came forward fearfully to meet him. Ahimelech: Why are you here alone, without anyone else?