18By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David's number-one advocate and friend.H3615H1696H7586H5315H3083H7194H5315H1732H3083H157H53152Saul received David into his own household that day, no more to return to the home of his father.H7586H3947H3117H5414H7725H1H10043Jonathan, out of his deep love for David, made a covenant with him.H3083H1732H3772H1285H160H53154He formalized it with solemn gifts: his own royal robe and weapons—armor, sword, bow, and belt.H3083H6584H4598H5414H1732H4055H2719H7198H22895Whatever Saul gave David to do, he did it—and did it well. So well that Saul put him in charge of his military operations. Everybody, both the people in general and Saul's servants, approved of and admired David's leadership.H1732H3318H7586H7971H7919H7586H7760H582H4421H3190H5869H5971H5869H7586H56506As they returned home, after David had killed the Philistine, the women poured out of all the villages of Israel singing and dancing, welcoming King Saul with tambourines, festive songs, and lutes.H935H1732H7725H5221H6430H802H3318H5892H3478H7891H4246H7125H4428H7586H8596H8057H79917In playful frolic the women sang, Saul kills by the thousand, David by the ten thousand!H802H6030H7832H559H7586H5221H505H1732H72338This made Saul angry—very angry. He took it as a personal insult. He said, "They credit David with 'ten thousands' and me with only 'thousands.' Before you know it they'll be giving him the kingdom!"H7586H3966H2734H1697H3415H5869H559H5414H1732H7233H5414H505H44109From that moment on, Saul kept his eye on David.H7586H5770H1732H3117H197310The next day an ugly mood was sent by God to afflict Saul, who became quite beside himself, raving. David played his harp, as he usually did at such times. Saul had a spear in his hand.H4283H7451H7307H430H6743H7586H5012H8432H1004H1732H5059H3027H3117H2595H7586H302711Suddenly Saul threw the spear, thinking, "I'll nail David to the wall." David ducked, and the spear missed. This happened twice.H7586H2904H2595H559H5221H1732H7023H1732H5437H6440H647112Now Saul feared David. It was clear that GOD was with David and had left Saul.H7586H3372H6440H1732H3068H5493H758613So, Saul got David out of his sight by making him an officer in the army. David was in combat frequently.H7586H5493H7760H8269H505H3318H935H6440H597114Everything David did turned out well. Yes, GOD was with him.H1732H7919H1870H306815As Saul saw David becoming more successful, he himself grew more fearful. He could see the handwriting on the wall.H7586H7200H7919H3966H7919H1481H644016But everyone else in Israel and Judah loved David. They loved watching him in action.H3478H3063H157H1732H3318H935H644017One day Saul said to David, "Here is Merab, my eldest daughter. I want to give her to you as your wife. Be brave and bold for my sake. Fight GOD's battles!" But all the time Saul was thinking, "The Philistines will kill him for me. I won't have to lift a hand against him."H7586H559H1732H1419H1323H4764H5414H802H1121H2428H3898H3068H4421H7586H559H3027H3027H643018David, embarrassed, answered, "Do you really mean that? I'm from a family of nobodies! I can't be son-in-law to the king."H1732H559H7586H2416H1H4940H3478H2860H442819The wedding day was set, but as the time neared for Merab and David to be married, Saul reneged and married his daughter off to Adriel the Meholathite.H6256H4764H7586H1323H5414H1732H5414H5741H4259H80220Meanwhile, Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David. When Saul was told of this, he rubbed his hands in anticipation. "Ah, a second chance. I'll use Michal as bait to get David out where the Philistines will make short work of him." So again he said to David, "You're going to be my son-in-law."H4324H7586H1323H157H1732H5046H7586H1697H3474H586921(SEE 18:20)H7586H559H5414H4170H3027H6430H7586H559H1732H3117H2859H814722Saul ordered his servants, "Get David off by himself and tell him, 'The king is very taken with you, and everyone at court loves you. Go ahead, become the king's son-in-law!'"H7586H6680H5650H1696H1732H3909H559H4428H2654H5650H157H4428H285923The king's servants told all this to David, but David held back. "What are you thinking of? I can't do that. I'm a nobody; I have nothing to offer."H7586H5650H1696H1697H241H1732H1732H559H5869H7043H4428H2859H7326H376H703424When the servants reported David's response to Saul, he told them to tell David this: "The king isn't expecting any money from you; only this: Go kill a hundred Philistines and bring evidence of your vengeance on the king's behalf. Avenge the king on his enemies." (Saul expected David to be killed in action.)H5650H7586H5046H559H1697H1696H173225(SEE 18:24)H7586H559H559H1732H4428H2656H4119H3967H6190H6430H5358H4428H341H7586H2803H1732H5307H3027H643026On receiving this message, David was pleased. There was something he could do for the king that would qualify him to be his son-in-law! He lost no time but went right out, he and his men, killed the hundred Philistines, brought their evidence back in a sack, and counted it out before the king—mission completed! Saul gave Michal his daughter to David in marriage.H5650H5046H1732H1697H3474H1697H5869H1732H4428H2859H3117H439027(SEE 18:26)H1732H6965H3212H582H5221H6430H3967H376H1732H935H6190H4390H4428H4428H2859H7586H5414H4324H1323H80228As Saul more and more realized that GOD was with David, and how much his own daughter, Michal, loved him, his fear of David increased and settled into hate. Saul hated David.H7586H7200H3045H3068H1732H4324H7586H1323H15729(SEE 18:28)H7586H3254H3372H6440H1732H7586H1732H341H311730Whenever the Philistine warlords came out to battle, David was there to meet them—and beat them, upstaging Saul's men. David's name was on everyone's lips.H8269H6430H3318H1767H3318H1732H7919H5650H7586H8034H3966H3365
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