1 Samuel 18: Jonathan loves David, Saul grows jealous, and David marries Michal
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What happens?
Jonathan, Saul's son, loves David as himself, makes a covenant with him and gives him his robe and his weapons, and Saul keeps David with him and sets him over the men of war. When the women sing that Saul has killed his thousands and David his tens of thousands, Saul grows angry and keeps a jealous eye on David; the next day, with an evil spirit from God on him, he throws his spear at David, and David escapes from him twice. Saul offers David his older daughter Merab, but she is given to another man; Michal loves David, and Saul asks a hundred Philistine foreskins as the bride price, hoping David will fall, but David brings two hundred and marries Michal. Saul sees that Yahweh is with David, grows even more afraid of him, and is David's enemy from then on.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. The women sing in verse 7. Saul speaks in verses 8, 11, 17, 21, 22 and 25; in verses 17 and 21 the text also gives what Saul said about his plan. David speaks in verses 18 and 23, and Saul's servants tell Saul what David said in verse 24. Verses 12, 14 and 28, that Yahweh was with David, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
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.
In plain English: When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul (or: life) was bound (this Bible: knit) to David's soul, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul (or: as himself).
The Hebrew words: "Was knit" is qashar, which the dictionary gives as "to tie, physically ... or mentally (in love, league)". "Soul" is nephesh, the word this Bible gives as "soul" here and as "life" in , where Judah uses the same two words of Jacob and Benjamin: "his life is bound up in the boy's life".
Good to know: "Loved" is ahab, which the dictionary gives as "to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)". It is used of Saul and David in , and in this chapter of all Israel and Judah (verse 16), of Michal (verses 20 and 28) and of Saul's servants (verse 22). The text uses the one word for all of them.
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2Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.
In plain English: Saul took David that day and would not let him go back home to his father's house.
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3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
In plain English: Then Jonathan made a covenant with David (or: Jonathan and David made a covenant; literally: cut a covenant), because he loved him as his own soul (or: as himself).
The Hebrew words: "Made a covenant" is literally "cut a covenant": karath, "to cut", with berith, which the dictionary gives as "a compact". In the Hebrew the word "cut" is said of one person: "Jonathan cut, and David, a covenant".
What changes: Read as "Jonathan made a covenant with David", Jonathan is the one who binds himself. Read as "Jonathan and David made a covenant", both bind themselves. The text does not say here what was promised. David speaks of it in as "a covenant of Yahweh", and the two make a covenant again in .
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4Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.
In plain English: Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, with his clothing, even his sword, his bow and his belt (this Bible: sash).
Good to know: The text does not say why Jonathan, the king's son, gave David his robe and his weapons. In , on the day of battle, only Saul and Jonathan had a sword or a spear among the people with them.
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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.
In plain English: David went out wherever Saul sent him and acted wisely (or: had success), and Saul set him over the men of war. This pleased all the people (literally: was good in the eyes of all the people), and Saul's servants too.
The Hebrew word: "Behaved himself wisely" is sakal, which the dictionary gives as "to be ... circumspect and hence, intelligent". It can also mean to do well or succeed: in this Bible it is "prosper" or a longer form in 7 of the 63 verses that use it. In 1 Samuel it is in only 4 verses, all in this chapter (verses 5, 14, 15 and 30), and this Bible says "wisely" in all 4.
What changes: Read as "acted wisely", David was careful and wise in what he did. Read as "had success", he did well wherever he was sent. Verse 14 sets it beside the words "Yahweh was with him".
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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.
In plain English: As they were coming, when David came back from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments (the Hebrew word may mean a three-stringed lute or a triangle).
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7The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
In plain English: As they made merry (this Bible: played), the women sang back and forth (literally: answered), "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
Good to know: The women's song is quoted again by Philistines: by the servants of Achish in , and in .
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8Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
In plain English: Saul was very angry. This saying displeased him (literally: was evil in his eyes). He said, "They have given David tens of thousands, and given me only thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?"
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9Saul watched David from that day and forward.
In plain English: From that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David (this Bible: watched David).
The Hebrew word: "Watched" is avan, which the dictionary gives as "to watch (with jealousy)".
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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;
In plain English: The next day an evil spirit from God came powerfully (this Bible: mightily) on Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. David was playing music (literally: playing with his hand), as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand,
The Hebrew words: "Came mightily" is the word used of Yahweh's Spirit coming on David in (see the note there). "Prophesied" is naba, which the dictionary gives as "to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration". It is the word used when the Spirit of God came on Saul among the prophets in . Here it follows the evil spirit from God (see the note on ). The text does not say what Saul said or sang.
Good to know: The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has no verses 9 to 11 of this chapter, and none of verses 1 to 5, 17 to 19 or 30.
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11and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
In plain English: and Saul threw the spear, for he said, "I will pin David to the wall!" But David got out of his way (literally: turned aside from before him) twice.
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12Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.
In plain English: Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with David and had left Saul.
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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.
In plain English: So Saul sent him away from him and made him commander of a thousand. He went out and came in at the head of the people (literally: before the people).
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14David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
In plain English: David acted wisely (or: had success) in everything he did (literally: in all his ways), and Yahweh was with him.
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15When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
In plain English: When Saul saw how very wisely he acted (or: how very successful he was), he was afraid of him (this Bible: stood in awe of him).
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16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
In plain English: But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
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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.”
In plain English: Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife. Only be brave (literally: a son of strength) for me and fight Yahweh's battles." For Saul said, "I will not lift my own hand against him (literally: let not my hand be on him). Let the hand of the Philistines be on him."
Good to know: In the men of Israel said the king would give his daughter to the man who killed the Philistine. The text does not say whether this offer of Merab is that promise.
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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?”
In plain English: David said to Saul, "Who am I, and what is my life (or: my family), or my father's clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?"
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19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
In plain English: But when the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she was given as wife to Adriel the Meholathite.
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20Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
In plain English: Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When Saul was told, he was pleased (literally: the thing was right in his eyes).
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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 a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”
In plain English: Saul said, "I will give her to him, so that she will be a trap (this Bible: a snare) for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him." So Saul said to David a second time (literally: by two), "Today you will become my son-in-law."
The Hebrew word: "A second time" is literally "by two": shenayim, "two". It can be read "a second time". It can also be read "by one of the two": Saul now offers the second of his two daughters.
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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.’”
In plain English: Saul ordered his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. So now become the king's son-in-law.'"
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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?”
In plain English: Saul's servants spoke these words to David (literally: in the ears of David). David said, "Do you think it is a small thing (this Bible: a light thing) to become the king's son-in-law, when I am a poor man and of little standing (this Bible: little known)?"
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24The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”
In plain English: Saul's servants told him, "This is what David said."
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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.
In plain English: Saul said, "Tell David this: 'The king wants no bride price (this Bible: dowry) except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take revenge on the king's enemies.'" Saul was planning to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
The Hebrew word: "Dowry" is mohar, which the dictionary gives as "a price (for a wife)". It is in only 3 verses: here, , where Shechem offers to pay it to the young woman's family, and .
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26When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,
In plain English: When his servants told David these words, David was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. Before the time was up (literally: the days were not yet full; this Bible: before the deadline),
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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.
In plain English: David got up and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred Philistine men. David brought their foreskins, and they gave the full number to the king, so that he could become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal as his wife.
Good to know: Saul asked for a hundred (verse 25), and the Hebrew says David brought two hundred. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "a hundred men". In David says Michal was given to him "for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines".
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28Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
In plain English: Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David. And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him.
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29Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
In plain English: Saul became even more afraid of David, and Saul was David's enemy from then on (literally: all the days).
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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.
In plain English: Then the commanders (this Bible: princes) of the Philistines came out. Every time they came out, David acted more wisely (or: had more success) than all of Saul's servants, so that his name became highly honored.
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