Lamplight in a plain stone room: on a wooden bench against the wall lie a folded robe of fine dyed blue wool, a bronze sword in a leather sheath, a bow and a broad woven belt, gifts set down together.

The Book of

1 Samuel 18

The king’s son gives David his robe and his sword. The king gives him a jealous eye.

30 verses≈ 6 min5 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–7SamuelA boy who listened
8–15SaulA king like the nations
16–20David risesThe LORD looks at the heartChapter 18
21–27David huntedThe anointed one waits
28–31Saul fallsEndor and Gilboa

Jonathan Befriends David

After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house.

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Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

In the courtyard of Saul's house, Jonathan lays his fine blue robe over the shoulders of David, whose hands already hold Jonathan's sword, bow and belt; a formal, solemn gift, a servant watching from a doorway.

And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

Reflect

As himself

Jonathan, the king’s son, “loved him as himself” and gave David his robe, his sword, his bow and his belt. Who has been that kind of friend to you? Write their name down. And to whom could you be loyal like that this week, even when it costs you something?

Saul Envies David

So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

On the road below a hill town at evening, women in bright dyed robes and head coverings come out dancing and beating round frame drums to meet a column of returning Israelite soldiers led by tall Saul, with David among the men behind him.

As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.

1 Samuel 18:7

And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

A lamplit hall at night: in the foreground, in deep shadow, a big hand grips a long bronze-headed spear upright; beyond it, small in the lamplight, the young man David sits on a stool playing a small wooden lyre.

The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

0:10

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul

1 Samuel 18:12

Question

Quick question

Jonathan sealed his covenant with David with gifts from his own hands.

What did Jonathan give David along with his robe?

David Marries Michal

Two men, one throne

Whiteboard

Same court, same battles. The difference was not talent or luck: “the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.” David “continued to prosper in all his ways,” and the more Saul saw it, the more “he was afraid of him.” Jonathan loved David, Michal loved David, “all Israel and Judah loved David.” And “from then on Saul was David’s enemy.”

Saul

Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

David

And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, that I should become the son-in-law of the king?”

So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

From the shaded doorway of the inner rooms of Saul's house, Michal, fully and modestly dressed in a long saffron-and-blue robe and fine head covering, watches David cross the sunlit courtyard below, a small smile on her face.

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

“I will give her to David,” Saul thought, “so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time now you can be my son-in-law.”

Saul

Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”

David

But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

And the servants told Saul what David had said.

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, he grew even more afraid of David. So from then on Saul was David’s enemy.

Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.

the LORD was with David

1 Samuel 18:28

Pray

No plot can undo it

Saul plotted, offered his daughters as a snare and hoped the Philistines would do his work. Every plot failed, because “the LORD was with David.” Thank God that no scheme can undo what He has purposed. Ask Him to free you from envy when others are praised, and for a heart that rejoices in His gifts to them.

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1 Samuel 18

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A verse to carry with you

So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 18:12

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