⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

⁵⁸ “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse^(A) of Bethlehem.”

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan^(B) became one in spirit with David, and he loved^(C) him as himself.^{(D) 2} From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(E) with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe^(F) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.^(G)

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful^(H) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.^(I) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

¹⁰ The next day an evil^[a] spirit^(A) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,^(B) as he usually^(C) did. Saul had a spear^(D) in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself,^(E) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded^(F) him twice.^(G)

¹² Saul was afraid^(H) of David, because the Lord^(I) was with^(J) David but had departed from^(K) Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led^(L) the troops in their campaigns.^{(M) 14} In everything he did he had great success,^(N) because the Lord was with^(O) him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.^(P)