1 Samuel 18 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan’s to David’s and Jonathan him like he himself.
Saul kept David with him that day and wouldn’t let him go back to his father’s house.
Then Jonathan made a with David, because he loved him like he loved himself.
Jonathan stripped off the he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, and even his sword, his bow, and his belt.
David went out and in whatever mission Saul sent him on. So Saul put him in charge of his fighting men, and this pleased all the people — even Saul’s own officials.
As the troops were returning home after David had struck down the women came out from all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, celebration, and three-stringed instruments.
The women and to each other as they celebrated: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands!”
Saul with This song infuriated him. He said, “They’ve given David credit for tens of thousands, but only thousands to me. What more can he get except the kingdom itself?”
From that day on, Saul a on David.
The next day, a from rushed upon Saul, and he began inside his house. David was playing the as he usually did, and Saul had a spear in his hand.
Saul hurled the spear, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David dodged him twice.
Saul was afraid of David, because was with David but had turned away from Saul.
So Saul removed David from his presence and made him a commander over a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back.
David continued to in everything he did, because Yahweh was with him.
When Saul saw how remarkably successful David was, he was terrified of him.
But all Israel and Judah David, because he was the one leading them into battle and back.
Saul said to David, “Look — here’s my older daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife. Just be brave for me and fight battles.” But Saul was really thinking, “I won’t have to lay a hand on him — let the Philistines do it.”
David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
But when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given instead to Adriel from Meholah as his wife.
Now Michal, Saul’s other daughter, had in with David. When Saul was told about this, it pleased him.
Saul thought, “I’ll give her to him so she can be a for him, and the Philistines will take him out.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can become my son-in-law today.”
Saul ordered his officials, “Speak privately with David and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his officials like you. You should become the king’s son-in-law.’”
Saul’s officials repeated these words to David. But David said, “Does becoming the king’s son-in-law seem like a small thing to you? I’m just a with no standing.”
When Saul’s officials reported back what David had said,
Saul said, “Tell David this: ‘The king doesn’t want any except a hundred Philistine to get payback on the king’s enemies.’” Saul’s plan was to have David killed by the Philistines.
When the officials told David these terms, David was pleased with the idea of becoming the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline arrived,
David went out with his men and struck down two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and counted them out in full for the king, so that he could become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal as his wife.
Saul realized that Yahweh was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David.
Saul became even more afraid of David. And Saul remained David’s for the rest of his life.
Whenever the Philistine commanders went out to battle, David had more than any of Saul’s other officers. So David’s and