1
When David had finished speaking with Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2
Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.
3
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as himself.
4
Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, along with his armor, even to his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5
David went out to battle, and wherever Saul sent him, he prospered; so Saul set him over the men of war. This was pleasing in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6
But as they were coming home, when David returned after striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments;
7
and the women who danced sang to one another, saying:
“Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands.”
8
Then Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him, for he thought, “They have ascribed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands; and what more can he have but the kingdom?”
9
So Saul kept a jealous eye on David from that day on.
10
The next day an evil spirit from God came powerfully upon Saul, and he raved within the house while David played the harp as he did day by day. Saul had a spear in his hand.
11
Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.
12
Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David, but had departed from Saul.
13
Therefore Saul removed David from his presence and made him commander over a thousand men, so that he went out and came in before the people.
14
David prospered in all his ways, for the LORD was with him.
15
When Saul saw that David prospered greatly, he was even more afraid of him;
16
but all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18
But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
19
But when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as his wife.
20
But Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and when this was told to Saul, it pleased him.
21
For Saul thought, “I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to David, and that the hand of the Philistines may strike him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “Today you shall be my son-in-law.”
22
Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now therefore become the king’s son-in-law.’”
23
And Saul’s servants spoke those words to David, but David answered, “Is it a small thing in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of little account?”
24
And the servants of Saul told the king, saying, “Thus and thus David answered.”
25
Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David: The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.” Saul intended to bring David down by the hand of the Philistines.
26
When his servants told David these words, David was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law.
The time had not yet fully come,
27
but David arose and went, he and his men, and struck down two hundred Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife.
28
And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that all Israel loved David.
29
So Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul remained David’s enemy all his life.
30
Whenever the Philistine commanders went out to battle, David was more successful than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was greatly esteemed.
🤝⚔️🎯 Summary of 1 Samuel 18 – David Loved and Hated
1 Samuel 18 describes a change in atmosphere from victory to jealousy. After David defeated Goliath, he became very famous, loved by the people, and formed a spiritual friendship with Jonathan, Saul’s son. But David’s popularity stirred deep jealousy in King Saul’s heart, who began to see David as a threat. This chapter shows how blessing and success can awaken envy, even from those who were once close.
📌 1. David and Jonathan’s Friendship (verses 1–4)
➡️ Jonathan’s heart was bound to David and they made a covenant of friendship
➡️ Jonathan gave his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt
🎯 Spiritual friendship is built on love, not position or power.
📌 2. David Becomes a Beloved Leader (verses 5–7)
➡️ Saul appointed David as commander of the troops, and David succeeded in everything
➡️ The women sang a song:
“Saul has struck down thousands, but David tens of thousands.”
➡️ Saul was very angry and began to suspect David
🎯 Other people’s success can test our hearts: will we be thankful or envious?
📌 3. Saul Feared and Hated David (verses 8–16)
➡️ From that time on, Saul watched David with envy
➡️ An evil spirit came upon Saul; in his anger, he threw a spear at David
➡️ But David continued to serve, and the Lord was with him
➡️ Saul became afraid, but the people and the troops loved David more and more
🎯 Hatred cannot hold back God’s blessing on the faithful.
📌 4. Saul’s Plan to Trap David (verses 17–30)
➡️ Saul promised to give his daughter Merab, but then deceived him
➡️ Then Saul learned that Michal, his other daughter, loved David — he agreed to marry them, but with the intention of trapping David through a dangerous task: bringing 100 Philistine foreskins
➡️ David did twice as much (200) and married Michal
➡️ Saul grew even more afraid and knew that the Lord was truly with David
🎯 Even evil plans can be used by God to exalt His servant.
📖 Main Teaching
- True friendship does not envy a friend’s success
- Envy damages relationships, brings fear, and makes people blind to the truth
- The success and grace of God in a person’s life can provoke a negative reaction from those who are disobedient
- David’s sincerity and courage made him favored by the people, even when he was hated by his leader
- The Lord is with the one whose heart is sincere, even amid threats and deceit
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“Rejoice with those who rejoice…”
➡️ Saul failed to do this — instead, he hated David’s success.
“Cain killed Abel because his deeds were evil, while Abel was righteous.”
➡️ Saul was like Cain: he hated David because God was pleased with him.
“Love your enemies…”
➡️ David continued to serve Saul faithfully even though Saul wanted to kill him.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition…”
➡️ Saul’s envy destroyed himself, not David.
🕊️ “Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as himself.” – 1 Samuel 18:3
🕊️ “Saul was jealous of David.” – 1 Samuel 18:9
🕊️ “The Lord was with David, but had departed from Saul.” – 1 Samuel 18:12
🕊️ “David was successful in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.” – 1 Samuel 18:14
