1 Samuel chapter .xviij.
¶ And when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, the soul of Ionathas was knit with the soul of David. Insomuch that he loved him as his own soul.
And Saul took him that day and would let him go no more home to his father's house.
And Ionathas and David bound themselves the one to the other, for Ionathas loved him as his own soul.
And Ionathas put off his own coat that was upon him, and gave it David, and thereto his mantle, his sword, his bow and his girdle.
And David went out to all that Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely. And when Saul had set him over his men of war, he pleased all the people, and Saul's servants thereto.
¶ And it happened as they went, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that women came out of all cities of Israel singing and dancing, against Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with fiddles.
And the women that played sang thereto, and said: Saul hath slain his thousand, and David his ten thousand.
Then was Saul exceeding wroth and that saying displeased him, and he said: they have ascribed unto David ten thousand, and to me but a thousand. And what can he more have save the kingdom?
Wherefore Saul looked on side of David from that day forward.
And it happened on the morrow, that the evil spirit sent of God came upon Saul, so that he prophesied in the midst of the house. And David played on the instrument with his hand as he was daily wont.
And Saul had a spear in his hand, and hurled it intending to to have nailed David to the wall. But David avoided out of his presence two times.
¶ For Saul was afeard of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.
And then Saul put David from him and made him a captain over a thousand, and he went out and in before the people.
And David was wise in all that he took in hand, and the LORD was with him.
Wherefore when Saul saw that he was so exceeding wise, he was afraid of him.
But all Israel and Iuda loved David, because he went out and in before them.
Then said Saul to David. Behold my eldest daughter Merob, her I will give thee to wife: Only play the man and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul thought mine hand shall not be upon him, but the hand of the Philistines.
And David answered Saul: what am I? and what is my life or the kindred of my father in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king:
How be it when the time was come that Merob Saul's daughter should have been given to David she was given unto Adziel a Neholothite, to wife.
How be it Michol Saul's daughter loved David. And when it was shewed Saul: the thing pleased him well.
And he said: I will give him her that she may be a snare to him, to bring the hand of the Philistines upon him. And Saul said to David: thou shalt this day be my son-in-law again.
And Saul commanded his servants to commune with David secretly and say: Behold the king hath a favour to thee, and all his servants love thee, be therefore the king's son-in-law.
And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. But David answered: seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, when I am a poor man and of small reputation?
And Saul's servants told him again saying: of this manner answered David.
Then said Saul: this wise say to David: the king careth for no other dowry but for an hundredth foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. For Saul thought to make David fall into the hands of the Philistines.
Then his servants told David these words, and it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law.
And shortly after that David arose with his men, and went, and slew of the Philistines, two hundredth men, and brought their foreskins, and satisfied the king thereof to be his son-in-law. And so Saul gave him Michol his daughter to wife.
And when Saul saw and understood, how that the LORD was with David, and that Michol his daughter loved him,
he was the more afraid of David, and became David's enemy for ever.
And when the Philistines went out to war, David behaved himself wiselier than all the servants of Saul: so that his name was much set by.
Praise the Everlasting Lord for His Faithful Word.