1 Samuel 19:1-10

New English Translation

Saul Repeatedly Attempts to Take David’s Life

19 Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much.^{[a] 2} So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying^[b] to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find^[c] a hiding place and stay in seclusion.^{[d] 3} I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak to my father about you. When I find out what the problem is,^[e] I will let you know.”

⁴ So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf^[f] to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial^[g] for you. ⁵ He risked his life^[h] when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”

⁶ Saul accepted Jonathan’s advice^[i] and took an oath, “As surely as the Lord lives, he will not be put to death.” ⁷ Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.^[j]

⁸ Now once again there was war. So David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them thoroughly,^[k] and they ran away from him. ⁹ Then an evil spirit from the Lord came upon^[l] Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.^{[m] 10} Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saul’s presence, and the spear drove into the wall.^[n] David escaped quickly^[o] that night.