1 Samuel 18
New English Translation
Saul Comes to Fear David
18 When David[a] had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship.[b] Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life.[c] 2 Saul retained David[d] on that day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house. 3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life.[e] 4 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.
5 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.[f]
6 When the men[g] 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.[h] 7 The women who were playing the music sang,
“Saul has struck down his thousands,
but David his tens of thousands!”
8 This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought,[i] “They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?” 9 So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward.
10 The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied[j] within his house. Now David was playing the lyre[k] as usual. There was a spear in Saul’s hand, 11 and Saul threw the spear, thinking, “I’ll nail David to the wall!” But David escaped from him on two different occasions.
12 So Saul feared David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul. 13 Saul removed David[l] from his presence and made him a commanding officer.[m] David led the army out to battle and back.[n] 14 Now David achieved success in all he did,[o] for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back.
17 [p] 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[q] 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!”
18 David said to Saul, “Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father[r] in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 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.
20 Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it[s] pleased him. 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.”[t]
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.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to[u] David. David replied, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly esteemed man!”
24 When Saul’s servants reported what David had said, 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[v] enemies.’” (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.)
26 So his servants told David these things and David agreed[w] to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired[x] 27 when David, along with his men, went out[y] 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.
28 When Saul realized[z] that the Lord was with David and that his[aa] daughter Michal loved David,[ab] 29 Saul became even more afraid of him.[ac] Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on.[ad] 30 [ae] 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.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 18:1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Samuel 18:1 tn Heb “the soul of Jonathan was bound with the soul of David.”
- 1 Samuel 18:1 tn Heb “like his [own] soul.”sn On the nature of Jonathan’s love for David, see J. A. Thompson, “The Significance of the Verb Love in the David-Jonathan Narratives in 1 Samuel,” VT 24 (1974): 334-38.
- 1 Samuel 18:2 tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Samuel 18:3 tn Heb “like his [own] soul.”
- 1 Samuel 18:5 tn Heb “it was good in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.”
- 1 Samuel 18:6 tn Heb “them.” The masculine plural pronoun apparently refers to the returning soldiers.
- 1 Samuel 18:6 tn Heb “with tambourines, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments.”
- 1 Samuel 18:8 tn Heb “said.” So also in vv. 11, 17.
- 1 Samuel 18:10 tn Or “he raved.” This same construction appears in 1 Sam 10:10 “the spirit of God rushed upon him and then he prophesied in their midst.” It is important to consider the agent affecting Saul, the verb describing his actions, and the broader cultural background. The phrase רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים (ruakh ʾelohim) could mean “a divine wind/spirit,” “a spirit from God,” or “the spirit of God.” Unlike 1 Sam 10:10, this case involves a harmful, or evil, spirit. The range of meaning of רָעָה (raʿah) can mean either harm or evil, and here indicates that this spirit’s purpose is to afflict Saul. The verb וַיִּתְנַבֵּא (vayyitnabbeʾ) is a Hitpael of the root נָבָא (nabaʾ) which means “to prophesy” in both the Niphal and the Hitpael. The difference may well be that the Niphal refers primarily to acting as a spokesman, while the Hitpael reflects an accompanying ecstatic experience on the part of the prophet (cf. 1 Sam 10:6; 19:24). 1 Kgs 18:29 also describes the antics of the prophets of Baal with the Hitpael of the root נָבָא (nabaʾ). Ecstatic experiences or expressions were sometimes associated with prophecy in the broader West Semitic culture as well as in the Israel. Some translations focus on the presumed outward effects of the afflicting spirit on Saul and render the verb “he raged” or “he raved” (NASB, ESV, NLT, NRSV). Although most biblical references to Israel’s prophets do not involve ecstatic experiences, the original audience would probably not have made a distinction here, that is, “raving” and “prophesying” would not have been considered alternatives.
- 1 Samuel 18:10 tn The Hebrew text adds here “with his hand.”
- 1 Samuel 18:13 tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Samuel 18:13 tn Heb “an officer of a thousand.”
- 1 Samuel 18:13 tn Heb “and he went out and came in before the people.” See v. 16.
- 1 Samuel 18:14 tn Heb “in all his ways.”
- 1 Samuel 18:17 tc Much of the ms evidence for the LXX lacks vv. 17-19.
- 1 Samuel 18:17 tn Heb “son of valor.”
- 1 Samuel 18:18 tn Heb “Who are my relatives, the clan of my father?” The term חַי (khay), traditionally understood as “my life,” is here a rare word meaning “family, kinfolk” (see HALOT 309 s.v. III חַי). The phrase “clan of my father” may be a scribal gloss explaining the referent of this rare word.
- 1 Samuel 18:20 tn Heb “the matter.”
- 1 Samuel 18:21 tc The final sentence of v. 21 is absent in most LXX mss.
- 1 Samuel 18:23 tn Heb “in the ears of.”
- 1 Samuel 18:25 tn Heb “the king’s.”
- 1 Samuel 18:26 tn Heb “and it was acceptable in the eyes of David.”
- 1 Samuel 18:26 tn Heb “the days were not fulfilled.”
- 1 Samuel 18:27 tn Heb “arose and went.”
- 1 Samuel 18:28 tn Heb “saw and knew.”
- 1 Samuel 18:28 tn Heb “Saul’s.” In the translation the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
- 1 Samuel 18:28 tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Samuel 18:29 tn Heb “of David.” In the translation the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
- 1 Samuel 18:29 tc The final sentence of v. 29 is absent in most LXX mss.tn Heb “all the days.”
- 1 Samuel 18:30 tc Verse 30 is absent in most LXX mss.
1 Samuel 18
Palabra de Dios para Todos
Saúl siente envidia de David
18 En cuanto David terminó de hablar con Saúl, Jonatán empezó a entablar una buena amistad con David.[a] Lo quería como a sí mismo. 2 Desde ese día, Saúl mantuvo a David con él, sin dejarlo volver a casa de su papá. 3 Jonatán y David hicieron un pacto porque Jonatán lo quería como a sí mismo. 4 Jonatán se quitó el manto que llevaba y se lo dio a David. También le dio todo su uniforme, hasta su espada, su arco y su cinturón.
5 Saúl envió a David a pelear en muchas batallas, y en todas tenía éxito. También lo puso a cargo de los soldados, lo cual fue del agrado de todos, hasta de los oficiales.
6 Cuando David regresó de matar al filisteo, las mujeres de los pueblos de Israel salieron cantando y danzando a recibir al rey Saúl. Gritando tocaban panderetas y liras, 7 y exclamaban:
«¡Saúl mató a miles,
pero David mató a diez miles!»
8 Eso no le gustó nada a Saúl y se enojó muchísimo. Pensaba: «Las mujeres le dan crédito a David por unos cuantos miles, sólo les falta que le den el reino mismo». 9 A partir de aquel momento Saúl lo miraba con recelo.
10 Al día siguiente, un espíritu maligno de parte de Dios se apoderó de Saúl, haciéndolo actuar en su casa como loco. David tocó el arpa como de costumbre. 11 Pero Saúl tenía una lanza en la mano y pensó: «Lo clavaré en la pared». Saúl lo intentó dos veces, pero en ambas ocasiones David saltó y esquivó la lanza.
12 Saúl tenía miedo de David porque el SEÑOR ya no estaba con él, sino con David. 13 Saúl mandó a David lejos como comandante de 1000 soldados. David los dirigía en las batallas. 14 David tenía éxito porque el SEÑOR estaba con él. 15 Al ver su éxito, Saúl cada vez temía más a David. 16 Pero todos en Israel y Judá apreciaban a David porque los dirigía en las batallas.
17 Saúl quería matar a David y se le ocurrió ponerle una trampa, diciéndole:
—Aquí tienes a Merab, mi hija mayor. Cásate con ella y así te convertirás en un soldado poderoso. Serás como un hijo para mí. Luego irás y pelearás las batallas del SEÑOR.
En realidad, Saúl pensaba: «Así no tendré que matar a David yo mismo, sino que lo matarán los filisteos». 18 Pero David dijo:
—Yo no me puedo casar con la hija del rey. No vengo de una familia importante ni tampoco soy importante.
19 Así que cuando llegó la hora de que David se casara con Merab, Saúl se la entregó a Adriel de Mejolá. 20 Mical, la otra hija de Saúl estaba enamorada de David. Cuando Saúl lo supo, le agradó la noticia, 21 y pensó: «Atraparé a David por medio de Mical. Se la daré en matrimonio y luego dejaré que los filisteos lo maten». Así que Saúl habló con David de nuevo:
—Puedes casarte con mi hija hoy mismo.
22 Saúl les ordenó a sus oficiales que hablaran con David en privado y que le dijeran: «Mira, el rey te aprecia y sus oficiales también, deberías casarte con su hija». 23 Los oficiales hablaron con David, pero él contestó:
—¿Creen que es muy fácil ser yerno del rey? Yo no soy más que un hombre común y corriente.
24 Los oficiales le dijeron a Saúl lo que David había dicho. 25 Saúl les dijo:
—Díganle a David que el rey no quiere que pague dinero por su hija.[b] Saúl sólo quiere vengarse de sus enemigos, así que pide 100 prepucios de filisteos para darte su hija en casamiento.
Saúl pensaba en secreto que los filisteos matarían a David. 26 Los oficiales hablaron de nuevo con David, quien se puso contento por la oportunidad de ser yerno del rey, así que enseguida se puso en acción. 27 David y sus soldados salieron a pelear contra los filisteos. Mataron a 200[c] y le llevó los prepucios a Saúl para convertirse en yerno del rey. Saúl le entregó a su hija Mical en casamiento. 28 Entonces Saúl se dio cuenta de que el SEÑOR estaba con David y de que su hija Mical amaba a David. 29 Por eso empezó a temer más a David, y siempre se ponía en su contra.
30 Además, los comandantes filisteos continuaron saliendo a pelear contra los israelitas, pero David siempre los derrotaba, y aumentó su fama de ser el mejor oficial.
1 Samuel 18
King James Version
18 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.
11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20 And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
23 And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.
27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
1 Samuel 18
New King James Version
Saul Resents David
18 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, (A)the [a]soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, (B)and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, (C)and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a (D)covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.
5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and [b]behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the [c]Philistine, that (E)the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. 7 So the women (F)sang as they danced, and said:
(G)“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”
8 Then Saul was very angry, and the saying (H)displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but (I)the kingdom?” 9 So Saul [d]eyed David from that day forward.
10 And it happened on the next day that (J)the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, (K)and he prophesied inside the house. So David (L)played music with his hand, as at other times; (M)but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. 11 And Saul (N)cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.
12 Now Saul was (O)afraid of David, because (P)the Lord was with him, but had (Q)departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from [e]his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and (R)he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and (S)the Lord was with him. 15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. 16 But (T)all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
David Marries Michal
17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; (U)I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight (V)the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, (W)“Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18 So David said to Saul, (X)“Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to (Y)Adriel the (Z)Meholathite as a wife.
20 (AA)Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may [f]be a snare to him, and that (AB)the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, (AC)“You shall be my son-in-law today.”
22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Communicate with David secretly, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”
23 So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, [g]“In this manner David spoke.”
25 Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any (AD)dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take (AE)vengeance on the king’s enemies.’ ” But Saul (AF)thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king’s son-in-law. Now (AG)the days had not expired; 27 therefore David arose and went, he and (AH)his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And (AI)David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.
28 Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him; 29 and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy [h]continually. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines (AJ)went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David (AK)behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 18:1 life of Jonathan was bound up with the life of
- 1 Samuel 18:5 Or prospered
- 1 Samuel 18:6 Philistines
- 1 Samuel 18:9 Viewed with suspicion
- 1 Samuel 18:13 Lit. himself
- 1 Samuel 18:21 be bait for
- 1 Samuel 18:24 Lit. According to these words
- 1 Samuel 18:29 all the days
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