7. So the women sang as they danced, and said:“Saul has slain his thousands,And David his ten thousands.”
8. Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?”
9. So Saul eyed David from that day forward.
10. And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand.
11. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.
12. Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul.
13. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14. And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.
15. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
17. Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18. So David said to 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?”
19. But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.