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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>1 Samuel 18 ISV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_samuel/18.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_samuel/18-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">ISV</a> > 1 Samuel 18</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_samuel/17.htm" title="1 Samuel 17">◄</a> 1 Samuel 18 <a href="../1_samuel/19.htm" title="1 Samuel 19">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/1_samuel/18.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Jonathan and David’s Friendship</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan became a close friend to David,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:1 Lit. Jonathan’s soul was knit with David’s soul">a</a></span> and Jonathan<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:1 Lit. he">b</a></span> loved him as himself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Saul took David<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:2 Lit. him">c</a></span> that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as he loved himself. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Jonathan took off the robe that he had on and gave it to David, along with his coat, his sword, his bow, and his belt. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>David went out and was successful everywhere Saul sent him, and Saul put him in charge of the troops. This pleased the entire army,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:5 Or pleased all the people">d</a></span> as well as Saul’s officials.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:5 Or servants">e</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">Saul’s Jealousy of David</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>When David returned from defeating the Philistine, as they were entering the city, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul, singing and dancing as they joyously played tambourines and lyres. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>As the women sang and played, they said,</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop">“Saul has struck down his thousands</p> <p class="poetry2 marginbot">but David his ten thousands.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Saul was very angry and he did not like what the women sang. He told himself,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:8 The Heb. lacks to himself">f</a></span> “They have attributed tens of thousands to David, but to me they have attributed thousands. What else can he have but the kingdom?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>From then on Saul kept his eye on David.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:9 Or eyed David with suspicion">g</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>The next day, while David was playing the lyre<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:10 Lit. playing with his hand">h</a></span> as he had before, the evil spirit from the LORD attacked Saul, and he began to rave<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:10 Or prophesy">i</a></span> inside the house with a spear in his hand. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Saul hurled it, thinking,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:11 Lit. saying">j</a></span> “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from him twice.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Now Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him and had departed from Saul. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Saul removed David<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:13 Lit. him">k</a></span> from his presence and made him an officer over a division of soldiers.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:13 Lit. over a thousand">l</a></span> So David led the troops in battle.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:13 Lit. went out and came in before the people (i.e. the soldiers)">m</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>David was successful in all that he did, for the LORD was with him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>When Saul saw that David<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:15 Lit. he">n</a></span> was highly successful, he feared him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>But all Israel and Judah loved David because he led them in battle.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:16 Lit. went out and came in before them">o</a></span> </p> <p class="heading">David Marries Saul’s Daughter</p><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Saul told David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife. Just be an excellent soldier for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” Now Saul told himself,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:17 The Heb. lacks to himself">p</a></span> “I won’t harm him myself.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:17 Lit. Let not my hand be against him">q</a></span> Instead, I’ll let the Philistines harm him.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:17 Lit. let the hand of the Philistines be against him">r</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>David told Saul, “Who am I and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>And when the time came to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given as a wife to Adriel of Meholah.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was informed of this and he liked the idea.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:20 Lit. the matter was straight in his eyes">s</a></span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Saul told himself,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:21 The Heb. lacks to himself">t</a></span> “I’ll give her to him and she can be a snare to him and the Philistines will harm him.”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:21 Lit. so the hand of the Philistines will be against him">u</a></span> So Saul told David, “For a second time you can be my son-in-law today.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Saul commanded his officials,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:22 Or servants">v</a></span> “Speak with David privately and say, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his officials<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:22 Or servants">w</a></span> love you. Now become the king’s son-in-law.’”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Saul’s officials<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:23 Or servants">x</a></span> delivered this message to David,<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:23 Lit. spoke these words in the ears of David">y</a></span> and he<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:23 Lit. David">z</a></span> asked, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law an unimportant thing to you? I’m a poor and unimportant man.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Saul’s officials<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:24 Or servants">aa</a></span> reported to him: “This is what David said.”</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>Saul said, “This is what you are to tell David, ‘The king desires no bride price except 100 Philistine foreskins to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would cause David to die at the hand of the Philistines. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>When his officials<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:26 Or servants">bb</a></span> delivered this message to David, David decided it would be a good thing to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time was up, <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>David got up, went out with his men, and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and gave them all to the king so he could become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>As Saul continued to observe, he realized that the LORD was with David and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him. <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was David’s enemy from that time on.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:29 Lit. all the days">cc</a></span> </p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/1_samuel/18-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>The Philistine commanders would go out to fight<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:30 The Heb. lacks to fight">dd</a></span> and whenever they did, David was more successful than any of Saul’s other leaders.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="18:30 Or servants">ee</a></span> His name was held in high esteem.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 18:1 Lit. <i>Jonathan’s soul was knit with David’s soul</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 18:1 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 18:2 Lit. <i>him</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 18:5 Or <i>pleased all the people</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 18:5 Or <i>servants</i><br /><span class="fnb">f</span> 18:8 The Heb. lacks <i>to himself</i><br /><span class="fnb">g</span> 18:9 Or <i>eyed David with suspicion</i><br /><span class="fnb">h</span> 18:10 Lit. <i>playing with his hand</i><br /><span class="fnb">i</span> 18:10 Or <i>prophesy</i><br /><span class="fnb">j</span> 18:11 Lit. <i>saying</i><br /><span class="fnb">k</span> 18:13 Lit. <i>him</i><br /><span class="fnb">l</span> 18:13 Lit. <i>over a thousand</i><br /><span class="fnb">m</span> 18:13 Lit. <i>went out and came in before the people</i> (i.e. the soldiers)<br /><span class="fnb">n</span> 18:15 Lit. <i>he</i><br /><span class="fnb">o</span> 18:16 Lit. <i>went out and came in before them</i><br /><span class="fnb">p</span> 18:17 The Heb. lacks <i>to himself</i><br /><span class="fnb">q</span> 18:17 Lit. <i>Let not my hand be against him</i><br /><span class="fnb">r</span> 18:17 Lit. <i>let the hand of the Philistines be against him</i><br /><span class="fnb">s</span> 18:20 Lit. <i>the matter was straight in his eyes</i><br /><span class="fnb">t</span> 18:21 The Heb. lacks <i>to himself</i><br /><span class="fnb">u</span> 18:21 Lit. <i>so the hand of the Philistines will be against him</i><br /><span class="fnb">v</span> 18:22 Or <i>servants</i><br /><span class="fnb">w</span> 18:22 Or <i>servants</i><br /><span class="fnb">x</span> 18:23 Or <i>servants</i><br /><span class="fnb">y</span> 18:23 Lit. <i>spoke these words in the ears of David</i><br /><span class="fnb">z</span> 18:23 Lit. <i>David</i><br /><span class="fnb">aa</span> 18:24 Or <i>servants</i><br /><span class="fnb">bb</span> 18:26 Or <i>servants</i><br /><span class="fnb">cc</span> 18:29 Lit. <i>all the days</i><br /><span class="fnb">dd</span> 18:30 The Heb. lacks <i>to fight</i><br /><span class="fnb">ee</span> 18:30 Or <i>servants</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../1_samuel/17.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 17"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 17" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../1_samuel/19.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 19"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" 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