1-2. Saul decided to take David with him. He would not let David go back home to his father. After David finished talking with Saul, Jonathan developed a strong friendship with David.
3. Jonathan loved David as much as himself, so they made a special agreement.
4. Jonathan took off the coat he was wearing and gave it to David. In fact, Jonathan gave David his whole uniform—including his sword, his bow, and even his belt.
5. David went to fight wherever Saul sent him. He was very successful, so Saul put him in charge of the soldiers. This pleased everyone, even Saul’s officers.
6. David would go out to fight against the Philistines. On the way home, after the battles, women in every town in Israel would come out to meet him. They sang and danced for joy as they played their tambourines and lyres. They did this right in front of Saul!
7. The women sang, “Saul has killed his thousands, but David has killed tens of thousands.”
8. This song upset Saul and he became very angry. Saul thought, “The women give David credit for killing tens of thousands of the enemy, and they give me credit for only thousands. A little more of this and they will give him the kingdom itself!”
9. So from that time on, Saul watched David very closely.
10. The next day, an evil spirit from God took control of Saul and he went wild in his house. David played the harp to calm him as he usually did,
11. but Saul had a spear in his hand. He thought, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” Saul threw the spear twice, but David jumped out of the way both times.
12. The Lord had left Saul and was now with David, so Saul was afraid of David.
13. Saul sent David away and made him a commander over 1000 soldiers. This put David out among the men even more as they went into battle and returned.
14. The Lord was with David, so he was successful in everything.