1 Samuel 18

6 And the women came out dancing to meet David from all the cities of Israel, with hand-drums and with gladness and with cymbals. [a] 7 And the women led off the song, and they said,

8 And the thing looked evil in Saul’s eyes, on account of this saying, and he said, “To David they have given the ten thousands, and to me they have given the thousands.” 9 And Saul was eyeing David with suspicion from that day on and afterward. [b]

12 And Saul became afraid of David. 13 And he removed him from his presence and made him his own commander of a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David acted with understanding in all his ways, and the Lord was with him.

15 And Saul saw that he had very great understanding, and he went in dread of him. 16 And all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before the people. [c]

20 And Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and it was reported to Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes. [d] 21 And Saul said, “I will give her to him, and she will be a stumbling block to him.” Now the hand of the Philistines was against Saul. [e]

22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, “Speak privately to David and say, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you. Now become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 And Saul’s servants spoke these words in David’s ears, and David said, “Is it a light thing in your eyes to become son-in-law to a king? I am a man of low standing, and not held in honor.” 24 And Saul’s servants reported back to him according to these words that David had spoken.

25 And Saul said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king wants no gift but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul was planning to make him fall into the hands of the Philistines. [f] 26 And Saul’s servants reported these words to David, and the thing was right in David’s eyes, to become the king’s son-in-law. 27 And David got up and went, he and his men, and struck down a hundred men among the Philistines, and he brought their foreskins to the king; and he became the king’s son-in-law, and Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife. [g]

28 And Saul saw that the Lord was with David and that all Israel loved him, [h] 29 and he went in dread of David more than ever. [i]