1And as David finished speaking to Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took David that day, and would no longer let him return to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan removed his robe, garments, bow, belt and even his sword, and gave them to David.

5And David went wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul gave him a high rank in the army, and he was well accepted by all, including Saul's servants. 6And as they returned from the slaughter of the Philistines, the women came out of all cities of Israel, joyfully singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with timbrels and other instruments of music. 7And as they danced, the women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten-thousands.”

8And that saying displeased and angered Saul; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten-thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands; and what can he have besides, except my kingdom?” 9And Saul watched David with envy from that day onward. 10And the next day, the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in his house; and David played his harp, as at other times; and there was a javelin in Saul's hand. 11And Saul hurled the javelin; for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall with it.” And David escaped from his presence twice.

12And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD had departed from Saul and was with David. 13Therefore, Saul sent him from his presence, and made him him commander over a thousand men; and David went out and came in before the people. 14And David conducted himself wisely in all he did; because the LORD was with him. 15And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was all the more afraid of him. 16But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in successful campaigns. 17And Saul told David, “I will give my elder daughter, Merab, to you in marriage; just be valiant in your service to me, and fight the LORD's battles.” For Saul thought, “I will not raise my hand against him, but let the Philistines do that!” 18And David replied, “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 then, at the time when Saul's daughter, Merab, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel, the Meholathite, in marriage.

20But Michal, Saul's younger daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and that pleased him. 21And Saul said, “I will give her to him, so 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 yet be my son-in-law by the other of the two. 22And Saul ordered his servants: “Speak with David privately, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you: now become the king's son-in-law.’” 23And Saul's servants spoke those words to David. And David said, “Does it seem a light thing to you to be a king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?” 24And the servants of Saul told him what David said. 25And Saul said, “Say this to David, ‘The king desires no dowry, except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies.’” But again, Saul hoped to cause David to die at the hand of the Philistines. 26And when Saul’s servants told David those words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. And so, before the allotted time had expired, 27David arose, he and his men, and they went and killed two hundred men of the Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, and presented them in full number to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And so Saul gave him Michal, his daughter, in marriage. 28And as Saul realized all the more that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29Saul was even more afraid of David; and became David's enemy for the rest of his days. 30Then, when the commanders of the Philistines continued to go out to battle, David behaved himself more wisely than all the other officers of Saul; so that his name was much esteemed.