[[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-1 Samuel Overview]] | [[1 Samuel 17]] | [[1 Samuel 19]] # 1 Samuel 18 📖: Saul Grows Jealous of David > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### Saul Comes to Fear David [[#Verse 01.]] When David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life.  [[#Verse 02.]] Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house.  [[#Verse 03.]] Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life.  [[#Verse 04.]] Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear including his sword, his bow, and even his belt. [[#Verse 05.]] On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul’s servants. [[#Verse 06.]] When the men arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments.  [[#Verse 07.]] The women who were playing the music sang, “Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!” [[#Verse 08.]] This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, “They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?”  [[#Verse 09.]] So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward. [[#Verse 10.]] The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied within his house. Now David was playing the lyre as usual. There was a spear in Saul’s hand,  [[#Verse 11.]] and Saul threw the spear, thinking, “I’ll nail David to the wall!” But David escaped from him on two different occasions. [[#Verse 12.]] So Saul feared David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. [[#Verse 13.]] Saul removed David from his presence and made him a commanding officer. David led the army out to battle and back.  [[#Verse 14.]] Now David achieved success in all he did, for the Lord was with him.  [[#Verse 15.]] When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him.  [[#Verse 16.]] But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back. [[#Verse 17.]]  Then Saul said to David, “Here’s my oldest daughter, Merab. I want to give her to you in marriage. Only be a brave warrior for me and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul thought, “There’s no need for me to raise my hand against him. Let it be the hand of the Philistines!” [[#Verse 18.]] David said to Saul, “Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”  [[#Verse 19.]] When the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she instead was given in marriage to Adriel, who was from Meholah. [[#Verse 20.]] Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him. [[#Verse 21.]] Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and so the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law.” [[#Verse 22.]] Then Saul instructed his servants, “Tell David secretly, ‘The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.’”  [[#Verse 23.]] So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly esteemed man!” [[#Verse 24.]] When Saul’s servants reported what David had said,  [[#Verse 25.]] Saul replied, “Here is what you should say to David: ‘There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except 100 Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his enemies.’” (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.) [[#Verse 26.]] So his servants told David these things and David agreed to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired  [[#Verse 27.]] when David, along with his men, went out and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and presented all of them to the king so that he could become the king’s son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. [[#Verse 28.]] When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,  [[#Verse 29.]] Saul became even more afraid of him. Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on.  [[#Verse 30.]]  The leaders of the Philistines would march out, and as often as they did so, David achieved more success than all of Saul’s servants. His name was held in high esteem. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ###### Verse 22. ###### Verse 23. ###### Verse 24. ###### Verse 25. ###### Verse 26. ###### Verse 27. ###### Verse 28. ###### Verse 29. ###### Verse 30. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Jonathan gave David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt (18:4), likely a symbol of giving up his own claim to the throne. 2. The women's song about Saul's thousands and David's tens of thousands (18:7) uses Hebrew parallelism, but Saul heard it as an insult. 3. The Philistines also knew this song (21:11; 29:5). 4. Saul tried to pin David to the wall with his spear twice while David played music (18:10-11). 5. The chapter repeatedly says the Lord was with David (18:12, 14, 28). 6. Saul promised his older daughter Merab to David but gave her to Adriel instead (18:17-19). 7. Michal's love for David (18:20) is one of the few places in the Old Testament narratives where a woman is said to love a man. 8. A bride price was normally paid to the bride's father (Exodus 22:16-17). Saul asked for one hundred Philistine foreskins, hoping David would be killed (18:25). 9. The Hebrew text says David brought two hundred (18:27), double what Saul asked. 10. Saul's fear of David grew the more he saw the Lord was with him (18:12, 15, 29). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Beloved Son whom the Father was always with, yet He was hated without cause. The Lord was with David while Saul feared and hated him (18:12, 29), just as Jesus was hated without reason (John 15:25). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Jonathan loved David as himself and gave him his robe and weapons (18:1-4). What does real friendship cost? 2. Saul became jealous when others praised David (18:7-9). How does comparison feed jealousy, and how can we fight it? 3. David behaved wisely in every assignment (18:5, 14, 30). How do we stay faithful when others are against us? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 1: Jonathan's life became bound up with David's, and he loved him as himself. - 📖 verse 9: From that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. - 📖 verse 14: David succeeded in everything because the Lord was with him. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[1 Samuel 20#Verse 16.|1 Samuel 20:16-17]] - Jonathan's covenant with David. - 🔗 [[Proverbs 14#Verse 30.|Proverbs 14:30]] - Envy rots the bones. - 🔗 [[Proverbs 18#Verse 24.|Proverbs 18:24]] - A friend who sticks closer than a brother. - 🔗 [[John 15#Verse 13.|John 15:13]] - No greater love than laying down one's life for friends. - 🔗 [[John 15#Verse 25.|John 15:25]] - They hated Me without cause. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[1 Samuel 18 - SOAP|Sincerely Celebrate Others]] ## 📂 Internal Notes