English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

2And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.

2And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

4And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

5And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

5So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

6As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.

6As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

7And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

7And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

8And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?”

8And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

9And Saul eyed David from that day on.

9And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

10The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.

10The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

11And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

11and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

12Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.

12So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.

13Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back,

14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him.

14and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.

15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

15When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.

17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

19So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

21Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.”

21“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

22And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’”

22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’ ”

23And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?”

23But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

24And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.”

24And the servants told Saul what David had said.

25Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

25Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’ ” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired,

26When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

27David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.

27David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

28But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,

28When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,

29Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

29he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

30Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

30Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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