1 Samuel 18

¹Now after David's talk with Saul was ended, the soul of Jonathan was joined with the soul of David, and David became as dear to him as his very life.

²And that day Saul took David and would not let him go back to his father's house.

³Then Jonathan and David made an agreement together, because of Jonathan's love for David.

⁴And Jonathan took off the robe he had on and gave it to David, with all his military dress, even to his sword and his bow and the band round his body.

⁵And David went wherever Saul sent him, and did wisely: and Saul put him at the head of his men of war, and this was pleasing to all the people as well as to Saul's servants.

⁶Now on their way, when David came back after the destruction of the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, with songs and dances, meeting David with melody and joy and instruments of music.

⁷And the women, answering one another in their song, said, Saul has put to death his thousands and David his tens of thousands.

⁸And Saul was very angry and this saying was unpleasing to him; and he said, They have given David credit for tens of thousands, and to me for only thousands: what more is there for him but the kingdom?

⁹And from that day Saul was looking with envy on David.

¹⁰Now on the day after, an evil spirit from God came on Saul with great force and he was acting like a prophet among the men of his house, while David was making music for him, as he did day by day: and Saul had his spear in his hand.

¹¹And Saul, balancing the spear in his hand, said, I will give David a blow, pinning him to the wall. And David got away from him twice.