The Bible — World English Bible
1 Samuel 18
In brief
1 Samuel 18 tells of David's rise and Saul's inner fall. Jonathan is drawn to David and makes a covenant with him. David succeeds everywhere and pleases the people, but the women's song, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”, stirs the king's jealousy. Saul tries to kill him with his spear, then sets traps for him through his daughters. Each time, the text repeats that the Lord is with David.
The chapter in 5 parts
1When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.
3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.
5David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
8Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have creditd David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
9Saul watched David from that day and forward.
10On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;
11and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
12Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.
13Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
15When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
17Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
18David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
20Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, “You shall today be my son-in-law a second time.”
22Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’ ”
23Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and little known?”
24The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”
25Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,
27David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.
28Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
29Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30Then the princes of the Philistines went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
Key verses
When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
The soul of Jonathan is knit to the soul of David. This friendship, sealed by a covenant in verse 3, contrasts with Saul's jealousy in the rest of the chapter.
The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have creditd David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
The women's song compares the victories of Saul and David, and Saul is hurt by it. The chapter shows how a comparison can awaken jealousy in an insecure heart.
Saul watched David from that day and forward.
Saul watches David with a jealous eye from that day on. The text follows jealousy as a gaze that hardens and then leads to acts of violence.
David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
David succeeds in everything he does, and the reason given is that the Lord is with him. The text credits his success to God's presence rather than to talent alone.
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Frequently asked questions about 1 Samuel 18
Why is Saul jealous of David?
Because the women sing that Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands. Saul is irritated and tells himself that David has nothing left to gain but the kingdom. He also sees that the Lord is with David and has left him. His jealousy leads him to fear, then to violence.
What is the message of 1 Samuel 18?
The chapter contrasts two attitudes: Jonathan's, who loves David without jealousy, and Saul's, who is eaten up by comparison. It shows that jealousy grows when it is fed and that God stays with the one he has chosen, despite the traps. It is a warning about the heart of anyone who leads.
What does the covenant between Jonathan and David mean?
Jonathan makes a covenant with David because he loves him as his own soul, and he gives him his robe, his clothing, his sword and his bow. The gesture is strong, because Jonathan is the king's heir. It shows a faithful friendship that accepts God's plan for David rather than defending its own place.
Articles quoting 1 Samuel 18
World English Bible translation — public domain.