Study Desk

This was their song: "Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!"

The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand,

Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.

But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.

So when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah.

Then Saul told his men to say to David, "The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don't you accept the king's offer and become his son-in-law?"

he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king's requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him. So Saul gave his daughter Michal to David to be his wife.

When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him,

Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David's enemy for the rest of his life.

Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David,

told him what his father was planning. "Tomorrow morning," he warned him, "you must find a hiding place out in the fields.

The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. "The king must not sin against his servant David," Jonathan said. "He's never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could.

Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!"

War broke out again after that, and David led his troops against the Philistines. He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away.

But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp,

Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night.

Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat's hair at its head.

But Saul sent the troops back to get David. He ordered, "Bring him to me in his bed so I can kill him!"

He tore off his clothes and lay naked on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, "What? Is even Saul a prophet?"

If he says, ‘Fine!' you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me.