1 Samuel 18

From Brothers to Beef

1 Right after David finished talking with Saul, Jonathan’s soul clicked with David’s. He loved him like a brother, heart to heart.

2 From that day, Saul kept David close, did not let him go back home anymore.

3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him like his own blood.

4 He even took off his royal robe and gave it to David, plus his gear: sword, bow, and belt.

David’s Winning Streak

5 David went wherever Saul sent him and always came through. So Saul made him a top officer. The people and soldiers loved it.

6 When the army came home after David wrecked the Philistine, women poured into the streets, singing and dancing, with tambourines and joy.

7 They sang: “Saul struck down thousands, but David, tens of thousands!”

8 That hit Saul in the gut. He got real mad. “They giving him credit for tens of thousands and me just a few, What is next, giving him the throne?”

9 From that day, Saul gave David the side-eye nonstop.

Saul Turns Jealous

10 The next day, a dark spirit from God hit Saul hard. He was wilding out in the palace. David was playing the harp, like usual.

11 Saul grabbed a spear and threw it at David, trying to pin him to the wall. David dodged, twice.

12 Saul was shook of David, because the Lord had left him and was now riding with David.

13 So Saul kicked him outta the palace and made him commander over 1,000 troops. David led them out and brought them back like a pro.

14 David kept winning, because the Lord was with him.

15 Saul saw David’s success and got even more scared.

16 But all of Israel and Judah loved David, he was out there leading from the front.

Saul’s Trap Plan

17 Saul said, “Hey David, take my oldest daughter Merab. Be my son-in-law, just keep fighting the Lord’s battles.” But he was thinking, “Let the Philistines kill him, not me.”

18 David said, “Who am I, I am just a regular dude, I am not worthy to marry the king’s daughter.”

19 But when it came time to give Merab to David, Saul gave her to Adriel from Meholah instead.

Michal Loves David

20 Saul’s other daughter, Michal, fell in love with David. Saul heard about it, and was happy.

21 He said, “Perfect. I will use her to trap him. Let the Philistines finish him.” He told David again, “You can still be my son-in-law.”

22 Saul told his men, “Talk to David in private, tell him, ‘The king likes you, and all his people do too. Marry his daughter.’”

23 They did what Saul said. David replied, “You all think marrying the king’s daughter is a small thing, I am not rich or royal.”

The Philistine Bride Price

24 Saul’s men told him what David said.

25 Saul said, “Tell him he does not need money, just bring me 100 Philistine foreskins. That will be the bride price.” (He planned to get David killed in battle.)

26 David was cool with it. Before the deadline,

27 David and his crew hit the Philistines, dropped 200 men, and brought back all the receipts. He gave them to Saul, and Saul gave him Michal as his wife.

Saul Gets Even More Jealous

28 Saul saw and knew the Lord was with David, and that Michal loved him.

29 That made Saul even more scared. From then on, Saul stayed beefing with David.

30 Every time the Philistine commanders rolled out, David handled business better than all of Saul’s guys. His name stayed hot, everybody respected him.