Study Desk

Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father's house.

Jonathan stripped himself of the outer robe that he was wearing and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword, his bow, and his belt.

The women sang as they played and danced, saying, "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."

Now it came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul, and he raved [madly] inside his house, while David was playing the harp with his hand, as usual; and there was a spear in Saul's hand.

So Saul had David removed from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he publicly associated with the people.

David acted wisely and prospered in all his ways, and the LORD was with him.

Then Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David secretly, saying, 'Listen, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king's son-in-law.'"

When his servants told David these words, it pleased him to become the king's son-in-law. Before the time [for the marriage] arrived,

David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred Philistine men, and David brought their foreskins [as proof of death] and presented every one of them to the king, so that he might become the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal, his [younger] daughter, as a wife.

When Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, his daughter, loved him,

Then the Philistine commanders (princes) came out to battle, and it happened as often as they did, that David acted more wisely and had more success than all Saul's servants. So his name was highly esteemed.

Now Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan, Saul's son, greatly delighted in David.

Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "May the king not sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you.

"For he took his life in his hand and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by killing David without a cause?"

So Jonathan called David and told him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence [serving him] as previously.

Then an evil spirit from the LORD came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand.

Then Saul sent the messengers [again] to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me on his bed [if necessary], so that I may kill him."

He also took off his [royal] robes [and armor] and prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and night. So they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

"If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked permission from me to go to Bethlehem, his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the entire family.'

Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, for Jonathan loved him as himself.