1 Samuel

Tells about Samuel, the last judge, and the beginning of Israel's monarchy with King Saul and young David.

Chapter 18

1 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.

*After talking to Saul, Jonathan's soul became close to David's, and he loved David deeply like his own life.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

*Saul kept Samuel that day and wouldn't allow him to return to his father's house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

*Then, Jonathan and David agreed to be friends forever, since Jonathan really cared about David like he cared for himself.

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.

*Jonathan took off the clothes he was wearing and gave them all to David - including his coat, sword, bow, and belt.

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.

*David followed wherever Saul sent him and acted wisely. Saul put him in charge of the army, and everyone, including Saul's own servants, approved of David.

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.

*When David returned from defeating the Philistines, the women from all over Israel came out to celebrate and meet King Saul. They brought drums, happiness, and musical instruments with them as they sang and danced.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

*The women talked to each other while playing, and said, "Saul killed thousands of people, and David killed even more, tens of 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?

*Saul became very angry when he heard this. He didn't like that people gave David tens of thousands of followers while he only had thousands. He wondered why David would want anything more than just being king.

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

*From that day on, Saul kept watching David closely.

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.

*The next day, an evil spirit from God troubled Saul, causing him to speak prophecies. Meanwhile, David played music like usual. Saul had a javelin with him.

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.

*Saul threw the spear because he said, "I will hit David with it, against the wall." But David dodged and escaped from him two times.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

*Saul became scared of David since God supported him, while God left 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.

*So Saul took him away from his side and made him a leader of 1,000 people. He then went out and entered with the people.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

*David always acted smartly in everything he did, and God supported him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

*Because when Saul noticed that he acted very smartly, he became scared of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

*But everyone in Israel and Judah liked David, since he always went ahead and followed behind 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.

*Saul told David, "Meet my older daughter Merab. I will marry her to you. But first, you must be brave and fight for me in the Lord's battles. I don't want to directly harm David, so let the Philistines do it instead."

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?

*David asked Saul, "Why would you think I'm suitable to marry your daughter and become part of your royal family? My background isn't that important or connected to the kingdom."

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.

*But when it was time for Merab, Saul's daughter, to marry David, she was instead given to Adriel, a Meholah man, as his wife.

20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

*Michal, Saul's daughter, liked David. When Saul found out, he was happy about it.

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.

*Saul said, "I will have her marry him so she can trap him, and then the Philistines will attack him. That's why I tell David, 'You will become my son-in-law today.'"

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.

*Saul told his helpers to talk privately with David and tell him that the king likes him a lot and everyone who works for the king loves him too. So, they should become part of the royal family.

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?

*Saul's helpers told David about their conversation. David asked if becoming the king's son-in-law seemed easy to them, considering he was poor and not highly regarded.

24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

*And Saul's workers said to him, "This is how David spoke."

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.

*Saul told David, "The king doesn't want a wedding gift, but 100 Philistine foreskins as revenge against his enemies." However, Saul planned for the Philistines to kill David.

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.

*When David's helpers shared this news with him, he was very happy to become the king's daughter's husband. There was still no end to the time period.

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.

*So, David and his group went and defeated 200 Philistine warriors. They brought the foreskins as proof to the king, hoping to marry the king's daughter, Michal. Saul then gave Michal to David as his wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.

*Saul realized the Lord supported David and also saw that Michal, his daughter, loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.

*Saul became even more scared of David, and he constantly became David's enemy.

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.

*Then the Philistine leaders left. After they left, David acted smarter than everyone who worked for Saul. So, people respected him a lot.

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