Study Desk

David got Goliath's head and took it to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath's weapons in his own tent.

When Saul saw David going out to fight Goliath, he asked Abner, the commander of his army, "Abner, whose son is he?" "I have no idea, Your Majesty," Abner answered.

Jonathan swore eternal friendship with David because of his deep affection for him.

He took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, together with his armor and also his sword, bow, and belt.

David was successful in all the missions on which Saul sent him, and so Saul made him an officer in his army. This pleased all of Saul's officers and men.

The next day an evil spirit from God suddenly took control of Saul, and he raved in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did every day, and Saul was holding a spear.

So Saul sent him away and put him in command of a thousand men. David led his men in battle

He ordered his officials to speak privately with David and tell him, "The king is pleased with you and all his officials like you; now is a good time for you to marry his daughter."

and Saul ordered them to tell David: "All the king wants from you as payment for the bride are the foreskins of a hundred dead Philistines, as revenge on his enemies." (This was how Saul planned to have David killed by the Philistines.)

David and his men went and killed two hundred Philistines. He took their foreskins to the king and counted them all out to him, so that he might become his son-in-law. So Saul had to give his daughter Michal in marriage to David.

Saul realized clearly that the Lord was with David and also that his daughter Michal loved him.

So he became even more afraid of David and was his enemy as long as he lived.

Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials that he planned to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David,

He risked his life when he killed Goliath, and the Lord won a great victory for Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. Why, then, do you now want to do wrong to an innocent man and kill David for no reason at all?"

One day an evil spirit from the Lord took control of Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was there, playing his harp.

Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear, but David dodged, and the spear stuck in the wall. David ran away and escaped.

But Saul sent them back to see David for themselves. He ordered them, "Carry him here in his bed, and I will kill him."

He took off his clothes and danced and shouted in Samuel's presence, and lay naked all that day and all that night. (This is how the saying originated, "Has even Saul become a prophet?")

and Jonathan said to David, "May the Lord God of Israel be our witness! At this time tomorrow and on the following day I will question my father. If his attitude toward you is good, I will send you word.

and sat in his usual place by the wall. Abner sat next to him, and Jonathan sat across the table from him. David's place was empty,