1 Samuel 18:8-18

8 Sha'ul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 Sha'ul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 It happened on the next day, that an evil spirit from God came mightily on Sha'ul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Sha'ul had his spear in his hand;

11 and Sha'ul cast the spear; for he said, I will strike David even to the wall. David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 Sha'ul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Sha'ul.

13 Therefore Sha'ul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

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

15 When Sha'ul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.

16 But all Yisra'el and Yehudah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.

17 Sha'ul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merav, her will I give you as wife: only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Sha'ul said, Don't let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Pelishtim be on him.

18 David said to Sha'ul, Who am I, and what is my life, [or] my father's family in Yisra'el, that I should be son-in-law to the king?

1 Samuel 18:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 18

This chapter gives an account of the respect shown to David by Saul and Jonathan, by the servants of Saul, and all the people, and of what was said in his praise in the songs of the women, 1Sa 18:1-7; which latter gave Saul a great offence, and upon which he envied him, and eyed him, and indeed sought his life, and removed him from him; and yet still he continued the darling of the people, behaving wisely among them, which greatly embarrassed Saul, that be knew not what to do, 1Sa 18:8-16; he proposed his eldest daughter to him in marriage, which he had a claim to by killing the Philistine, and then he cheated him by giving her to another, 1Sa 18:17-19; and then he offered his youngest daughter to him, on condition that he would bring him an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, execution of which he thought his life would be exposed to danger, which yet he performed, 1Sa 18:20-27; and having the affection of his wife, and the good esteem of the servants of Saul, Saul was more afraid of him, and became his enemy, 1Sa 18:28-30.