I Samuel 18 · שמואל א

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Sha᾽ul, that the soul of Yehonatan was knit with the soul of David, and Yehonatan loved him as his own soul.

And Sha᾽ul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

Then Yehonatan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

And Yehonatan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, and even his sword, and his bow, and his girdle.

And David went out wherever Sha᾽ul sent him, and succeeded: and Sha᾽ul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Sha᾽ul’s servants.

And it came to pass on their return, when David returned from slaying the Pelishtian, that the women came out of all the cities of Yisra᾽el, singing and dancing, to meet king Sha᾽ul, with timbrels, and a joyful song, and with lutes.

And the women answered one another as they danced, and said, Sha᾽ul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

And Sha᾽ul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have given David ten thousands, and to me they have given the thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

And Sha᾽ul viewed David with suspicion from that day and onwards.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came upon Sha᾽ul, and he raved in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and the spear was in Sha᾽ul’s hand.

And Sha᾽ul raised the spear; for he said, I will smite David to the wall with it. And David turned aside out of his presence twice.

And Sha᾽ul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Sha᾽ul.

Therefore Sha᾽ul removed him from him, and made him a captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

And David succeeded in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

Wherefore when Sha᾽ul saw that he succeeded so well, he was afraid of him.

But all Yisra᾽el and Yehuda loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

And Sha᾽ul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merav, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Sha᾽ul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Pelishtim be upon him.

And David said to Sha᾽ul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Yisra᾽el, that I should be son in law to the king?

And so it came to pass at the time when Merav Sha᾽ul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given to ῾Adri᾽el the Meĥolati to wife.

And Mikhal Sha᾽ul’s daughter loved David: and they told Sha᾽ul, and the thing pleased him.

And Sha᾽ul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Pelishtim may be against him. And Sha᾽ul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law through the second.

And Sha᾽ul commanded his servants, saying, Speak with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king has delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.

And Sha᾽ul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seems it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and insignificant?

And the servants of Sha᾽ul told him, saying, In this manner did David speak.

And Sha᾽ul said, Thus shall you say to David, The king desires no dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Pelishtim, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Sha᾽ul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Pelishtim.

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law. Now, before the days were expired,

David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Pelishtim two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Sha᾽ul gave him Mikhal his daughter to wife.

And Sha᾽ul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Mikhal Sha᾽ul’s daughter loved him.

And Sha᾽ul continued to be afraid of David; and Sha᾽ul became David’s enemy continually.

Then the princes of the Pelishtim went out: and it came to pass, after they went out, that David proved himself more competent than all the servants of Sha᾽ul; so that his name was highly prized.