David and Jonathan's Friendship

¹As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan dloved him as his own soul. ²And Saul took him that day eand would not let him return to his father's house. ³Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because dhe loved him as his own soul. ⁴And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. ⁵And David went out fand was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

Saul's Jealousy of David

⁶As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, gthe women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.1 ⁷And the women hsang to one another as they celebrated,

i“Saul has struck down his thousands,

and David his ten thousands.”

⁸And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but jthe kingdom?” ⁹And Saul eyed David from that day on.

¹⁰The next day ka harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and lhe raved within his house while David was mplaying the lyre, as he did day by day. nSaul had his spear in his hand. ¹¹And Saul ohurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

¹²pSaul was afraid of David because qthe Lord was with him rbut had departed from Saul. ¹³So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. sAnd he went out and came in before the people. ¹⁴And David thad success in all his undertakings, qfor the Lord was with him. ¹⁵And when Saul saw that the had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. ¹⁶uBut all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

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