rd

1 Samuel 18

1.And when he had made an end of speaking unto Saúl, the asoule of Jonathán was knit with the soule of David, and Jonathán loved him, as his owne soule.
2.And Saúl toke him that day, and wolde not let him returne to his fathers house.
3.Then Jonathán and David made a covenant: for he loved him as his owne soule.
4.And Jonathán put of the robe that was upon him, and gave it David, and his garments, even to his sworde, and to his bowe, and to his girdle.
5.And David went out whethersoever Saúl sent him, and behaved him selfe bwisely: so that Saúl set him over the men of warre, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Sauls servants.
6.¶ When thei came againe, and David returned from the slaughter of the cPhilistím, the women came out of all cities of Israél, singing and dansing to mete King Saúl, with timbrels, with instruments of joye, and with rebecks.
7.And the women ^sang by cours in their playe, & said, *Saúl hathe slayne his thousand, and David his ten thousand.
8.Therefore Saúl was exceding wrath, and the saying displeased him, and he said, Thei have ascribed unto David ten thousand, and to me thei have ascribed but a thousand, and what can he have more save the kingdome?
9.Wherefore Saúl dhad an eye on David from that day forwarde.
10.¶ And on the morowe, the evil spirit of God came upon Saúl, and he eprophecied in the middes of the house: and David plaied with his hand like as at other times, and there was a speare in Sauls hand.
11.And Saúl toke the speare, and said, I wil smite David through to the wall. But David avoyded twise out of his presence.
12.And Saúl was afraied of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saúl.
13.Therefore Saúl put him from him, and made him a captaine over a thousand, and he went fout and in before the people.
14.And David behaved him selfe wisely in all his waies: for the Lord was with him.
15.Wherefore when Saúl sawe that he was very wise, he was afraied of him.
16.For all Israél and Judáh loved David, because he went out and in before them.
17.¶ Then Saúl said to David, Beholde mine eldest daughter Meráb, her I wil give thee to wife: onely be a valiant sonne unto me, and gfight the Lords battels: for Saúl thoght, Mine hand shal not be upon him, but the hand of the Philistíms shalbe upon him.
18.And David answered Saúl, What am I? and what is my life, or the familie of my father in Israél, that I shulde be sonne in lawe to the King?
19.Howbeit when Meráb Saúls daughter shulde have bene given to David, hshe was given unto Adriél a Meholathite to wife.
20.¶ Then Michál Saúls daughter loved David: and thei shewed Saúl, and the thing pleased him.
21.Therefore Saúl said, I wil give him her, that she may be a isnare to him, and that the hand of the Philistíms may be against him. Wherefore Saúl said to David, Thou shalt this day be my sonne in lawe in the one of the twaine.
22.And Saúl commanded his servants, Speake with David secretly, and say, Beholde, the King hathe a favour to thee, and all his servants love thee: be now therefore the Kings sonne in lawe.
23.And Saúls servants spake these wordes in the eares of David. And David said, kSemeth it to you a light thing to be a Kings sonne in lawe, seing that I am a poore man and of small reputation?
24.And then Saúls servants broght him worde againe, saying, Suche wordes spake David.
25.And Saúl said, This wise shal ye say to David, The King desireth no dowrie, but an hundreth foreskinnes of the Philistíms, to be avenged of the Kings enemies: for Saúl thoght to make David fall into the hands of the Philistíms.
26.And when his servants tolde David these wordes, it pleased David wel, to be the lKings sonne in lawe: and the daies were not expired.
27.Afterwarde David arose with his men, and went & slewe of the Philistíms two hundreth men: and David broght their foreskinnes, and mthei gave them wholy to the King that he might be the Kings sonne in lawe: therefore Saúl gave him Michál his daughter to wife.
28.Then Saúl sawe, and understode that the Lord was with David, and that Michál the daughter of Saúl loved him.
29.Then Saúl was more and more nafraied of David, & Saúl became alway Davids enemy.
30.And when the princes of the Philistíms went forthe, at their going forthe oDavid behaved him selfe more wisely then all the servantes of Saúl, so that his name was muche set by.

Notes

1-a.
His affection was fully bent toward him.
5-b.
That is, he prospered in all his doings.
6-c.
To wit, Goliath.
7-*.
Ch. 21.11 and 29.5, Eccles 47.6.
7-^.
Ebr., answered, playing.
9-d.
Because he bore him envy and hatred.
10-e.
That is, spoke as a man beside himself: for so the people abused this word, when they could not understand.
13-f.
Meaning, he was captain over the people.
17-g.
Fight against them that war against God’s people. 1 Geneva Bible 1560
19-h.
By whom he had five sonnes, which David put to death at the request of the Gibeonites, 2 Sam. 21.8.
21-i.
So his hypocrisy appeared: for under pretence of favour he sought his destruction.
23-k.
Meaning, that he was not able to endow his wife with riches.
26-l.
Because he thought himself able to compass the King’s request.
27-m.
Meaning, David and his soldiers.
29-n.
To be deprived of his kingdom.
30-o.
That is, David had better success against the Philistines then Saul’s men.