1 Samuel 18:1-16

When David finished talking with Saul, Jonathan felt very close to David. He loved David as much as he loved himself. Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him go home to his father’s house. Jonathan made an agreement with David, because he loved David as much as himself. He took off his coat and gave it to David, along with his armor, including his sword, bow, and belt. Saul sent David to fight in different battles, and David was very successful. Then Saul put David over the soldiers, which pleased Saul’s officers and all the other people. After David had killed the Philistine, he and the men returned home. Women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul. They sang songs of joy, danced, and played tambourines and stringed instruments. As they played, they sang, “Saul has killed thousands of his enemies, but David has killed tens of thousands.” The women’s song upset Saul, and he became very angry. He thought, “The women say David has killed tens of thousands, but they say I have killed only thousands. The only thing left for him to have is the kingdom!” So Saul watched David closely from then on, because he was jealous. The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied in his house. David was playing the harp as he usually did, but Saul had a spear in his hand. He threw the spear, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from him twice. The LORD was with David but had left Saul. So Saul was afraid of David. He sent David away and made him commander of a thousand soldiers. So David led them in battle. He had great success in everything he did because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw that David was very successful, he feared David even more. But all the people of Israel and Judah loved David because he led them well in battle.