1 Samuel 18: Love and Jealousy
Jonathan binds his soul to David in covenant love, while Saul's heart curdles into envy as the women sing David's praises.
1 Samuel 18 (WEB)
1 When he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his clothing, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his sash.
5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7 The women sang one to another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands.”
8 Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
9 Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;
11 and Saul threw the spear; for he said, “I will pin David even to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
15 When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
17 Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
18 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 at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
20 Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David, “You shall this day be my son-in-law a second time.”
22 Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you: now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’”
23 Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seems to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?”
24 The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”
25 Saul said, “You shall tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. The days were not expired;
27 and David arose and went, he and his men, and killed of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.
28 Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
29 Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out: and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was highly esteemed.
1 Samuel 18 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself 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 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said unto 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 came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.
23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.
27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.
29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
1 Samuel 18 (ASV)
1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with instruments of music.
7 And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. And Saul had his spear in his hand;
11 and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 And Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah was with him, and was departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Jehovah was with him.
15 And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
17 And Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight Jehovah’s battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
18 And David said unto 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 came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
20 And Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.
22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.
23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. And the days were not expired;
27 and David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
28 And Saul saw and knew that Jehovah was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Summary
After the victory over Goliath, the soul of Jonathan is knit to the soul of David, and he loves him as his own life. Jonathan makes a covenant with David and strips off his own robe, armor, and weapons to give to him—a striking gesture from the king's heir to the shepherd. David succeeds in everything Saul sends him to do, and Saul sets him over the men of war, to the delight of the people. But when the women come out singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands,” Saul is enraged and begins to eye David with suspicion, sensing the kingdom slipping toward him. The next day, tormented, Saul hurls his spear at David, who escapes twice. Afraid of David because the Lord is with him, Saul removes him to lead troops away from court, yet David's wisdom and success only increase his esteem among the people. Saul schemes to ensnare David through marriage, offering his daughters and demanding a deadly bride-price of Philistine foreskins, hoping David will fall by enemy hands. But David succeeds again and marries Michal, who loves him. Seeing that the Lord is with David and that all Israel loves him, Saul grows still more afraid and becomes David's enemy continually.
Main Characters
- David — The victorious young warrior who prospers in all Saul gives him, wins the love of the people, and survives the king's growing hostility.
- Jonathan — Saul's son and heir, who loves David as his own soul, makes covenant with him, and gives him his own robe and weapons.
- Saul — The king whose admiration sours into jealous fear and murderous resentment as David's fame and the Lord's favor grow.
- Michal — Saul's daughter who loves David and becomes his wife, even as her father intends the marriage as a snare.
Key Verse
1 Samuel 18:1 (WEB)
When he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Lessons Learned
- Selfless, covenant love seeks the good of another even at cost to oneself.
- Jealousy poisons the heart and turns admiration into hostility.
- Comparing ourselves with others breeds envy and steals our joy.
- God's favor on a person often provokes opposition from those who resist him.
- The presence of the Lord sustains the faithful even amid the schemes of enemies.
- Covenant love gives itself away. Jonathan “loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1, WEB) and stripped off his robe and weapons for David (18:4), a love that surrenders its own advantage for another.
- Comparison breeds jealousy. The song “Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7, WEB) sparks Saul's rage; measuring ourselves against others feeds envy.
- Jealousy leads to violence. Saul “threw the spear” at David (1 Samuel 18:11, WEB). Unchecked envy festers into the desire to destroy what we resent.
- God's presence guards his servant. “Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him” (1 Samuel 18:12, WEB). The Lord's nearness is David's protection against the king's schemes.
- What is remarkable about Jonathan's love for David, especially given that David threatened Jonathan's own claim to the throne?
- What triggers Saul's jealousy, and how does it grow over the course of the chapter?
- How does David respond to Saul's hostility, and what does this reveal about his character?
- Why does the repeated note that “the Lord was with David” matter in this chapter?
- Where do comparison and envy tend to take root in your own heart, and how might you guard against them?
- Jonathan, as the king's son, had the most to lose from David's rise, yet he loves David as his own soul and gives him his royal robe and weapons (18:1-4). His self-giving love, free of rivalry, stands as a beautiful contrast to his father's envy.
- Saul's jealousy ignites when the women credit David with ten thousands and him with only thousands (18:7-8). What begins as wounded pride hardens into suspicious watching, spear-throwing, fearful scheming, and finally settled enmity—envy escalating step by step.
- David keeps serving faithfully, behaving wisely, and succeeding in all Saul sends him to do (18:5, 14-15, 30). He does not retaliate but continues to honor the king, trusting God with his vindication—marking the patient character that fits him to rule.
- The refrain that the Lord was with David (18:12, 14, 28) explains both David's success and Saul's fear. It assures the reader that David's rise is God's doing and that no royal scheme can finally thwart the one God has chosen.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider where they compare themselves with others and feel the sting of envy, and to bring it honestly before God. As leader, point to contentment in God's particular calling and grace as the antidote.