1 Samuel · Geneva Bible (1599)
1 Samuel 18 Geneva Bible (1599)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Original 16th-century spelling.
1 And when he had made an ende of speaking vnto Saul, the soule of Ionathan was knit with the soule of Dauid, and Ionathan loued him, as his owne soule.
1 When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul tooke him that day, and woulde not let him returne to his fathers house.
2 Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.
3 Then Ionathan and Dauid made a couenant: for he loued him as his owne soule.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Ionathan put off the robe that was vpon him, and gaue it Dauid, and his garments, euen to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.
5 And Dauid went out whithersoeuer Saul sent him, and behaued himselfe wisely: so that Saul set him ouer the men of warre, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Sauls seruants.
5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
6 When they came againe, and Dauid returned from the slaughter of the Philistim, the women came out of all cities of Israel singing and dauncing to meete king Saul, with timbrels, with instruments of ioy, and with rebeckes.
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 And the women sang by course in their play, and sayd, Saul hath slayne his thousand, and Dauid his ten thousand.
7 The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
8 Therefore Saul was exceeding wroth, and the saying displeased him, and he sayde, They haue ascribed vnto Dauid ten thousand, and to me they haue ascribed but a thousand, and what can he haue more saue the kingdome?
8 Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”
9 Wherefore Saul had an eye on Dauid from that day forward.
9 Saul watched David from that day and forward.
10 And on the morowe, the euill spirite of God came vpon Saul, and he prophecied in the middes of the house: and Dauid played with his hand like as at other times, and there was a speare in Sauls hand.
10 On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;
11 And Saul tooke the speare, and sayd, I will smite Dauid through to the wall. But Dauid auoyded twise out of his presence.
11 and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
12 And Saul was afrayd of Dauid, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.
13 Therefore Saul put him from him, and made him a captaine ouer a thousand, and he went out and in before the people.
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 Dauid behaued himselfe wisely in all his wayes: for the Lord was with him.
14 David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.
15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he was very wise, he was afrayde of him.
15 When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.
16 For all Israel and Iudah loued Dauid, because he went out and in before them.
16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.
17 Then Saul sayd to Dauid, Beholde mine eldest daughter Merab, her I will giue thee to wife: onely be a valiant sonne vnto me, and fight the Lordes battels: for Saul thought, Mine hand shall not be vpon him, but the hand of the Philistims shalbe vpon him.
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 And Dauid answered Saul, What am I? and what is my life, or the family of my father in Israel, that I should be sonne in law to the King?
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 Howbeit when Merab Sauls daughter should haue bene giuen to Dauid, she was giuen vnto Adriel a Meholathite to wife.
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 Then Michal Sauls daughter loued Dauid: and they shewed Saul, and the thing pleased him.
20 Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21 Therefore Saul said, I wil giue him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistims may bee against him. Wherefore Saul sayde to Dauid, Thou shalt this day be my sonne in law in the one of the twayne.
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 a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”
22 And Saul commanded his seruants, Speake with Dauid secretly, and say, Behold, ye King hath a fauour to thee, and all his seruants loue thee: be now therefore the Kings sonne in law.
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 And Sauls seruantes spake these wordes in the eares of Dauid. And Dauid sayd, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a Kings sonne in lawe, seeing that I am a poore man and of small reputation?
23 Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”
24 And then Sauls seruats brought him word againe, saying, Such wordes spake Dauid.
24 The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”
25 And Saul sayd, This wise shall ye say to Dauid, The King desireth no dowrie, but an hundred foreskinnes of the Philistims, to bee auenged of the Kings enemies: for Saul thought to make Dauid fall into the handes of the Philistims.
25 Saul said, “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 he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And when his seruantes tolde Dauid these wordes, it pleased Dauid well, to be the Kings sonne in law: and the dayes were not expired.
26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,
27 Afterwarde Dauid arose with his men, and went and slewe of the Philistims two hundreth men: and Dauid brought their foreskinnes, and they gaue them wholly to the King that hee might be the Kings sonne in lawe: therefore Saul gaue him Michal his daughter to wife.
27 David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.
28 Then Saul sawe, and vnderstoode that the Lord was with Dauid, and that Michal the daughter of Saul loued him.
28 Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.
29 Then Saul was more and more afrayde of Dauid, and Saul became alway Dauids enemie.
29 Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.
30 And when the Princes of the Philistims went forth, at their going forth Dauid behaued himselfe more wisely then all the seruants of Saul, so that his name was much set by.
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.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Adriel
Adriel of Meholah, son of Barzillai the Meholathite, who received Saul's daughter Merab in marriage and fathered five sons who were handed over to the Gibeonites.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 18:19; 2 Samuel 21:8
Merab
Saul's firstborn daughter, offered to David in marriage but given to Adriel of Meholah; five sons she bore to Adriel were later handed over to the Gibeonites (some manuscripts…
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 14:49; 1 Samuel 18:17; 1 Samuel 18:19
Michal
Saul's daughter who loved David and became his first wife amid her father's schemes.
Cited in the guide: 1 Samuel 18:20-27; 2 Samuel 6:16-23
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Proverbs 18:24; 1 Samuel 20:17; 2 Samuel 1:26; 1 Samuel 18:3; Colossians 2:2
- 2 1 Samuel 17:15; 1 Samuel 16:21–23
- 3 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 20:8–17; 2 Samuel 21:7; 2 Samuel 9:1–3; 1 Samuel 23:18
- 4 Genesis 41:42; Esther 6:8–9; Isaiah 61:10; Luke 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:21
- 5 1 Samuel 18:30; 1 Samuel 18:14–15; Colossians 4:5; Acts 7:10; Ephesians 5:17
- 6 Judges 11:34; Exodus 15:20; Psalm 68:25; Jeremiah 31:11–13
- 7 1 Samuel 21:11; Exodus 15:21; 1 Samuel 29:5; Psalm 24:7–8
- 8 1 Samuel 15:28; Proverbs 13:10; Esther 3:5; James 4:5; 1 Samuel 20:31
- 9 Ephesians 4:27; James 5:9; Genesis 4:5–6; Genesis 31:2; Matthew 20:15
- 10 2 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Kings 18:29; 1 Samuel 19:9; Acts 16:16; 1 Samuel 16:14–16
- 11 1 Samuel 20:33; Isaiah 54:17; John 8:59; Psalm 37:32–33; Luke 4:30
- 12 1 Samuel 18:15; 1 Samuel 18:29; 1 Samuel 16:13–14; 1 Samuel 28:15; 1 Samuel 16:18
- 13 2 Samuel 5:2; Psalm 121:8; 1 Samuel 18:16–17; 1 Samuel 22:7; 1 Samuel 8:12
- 14 Genesis 39:23; Joshua 6:27; 1 Samuel 16:18; Matthew 28:20; Genesis 39:2–3
- 15 Colossians 4:5; Daniel 6:4–5; Psalm 112:5; James 1:5; James 3:17
- 16 1 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 5:2; 1 Kings 3:7; Numbers 27:17; Luke 20:19
- 17 1 Samuel 17:25; 1 Samuel 18:25; 1 Samuel 25:28; 1 Samuel 18:21; 1 Samuel 17:47
- 18 2 Samuel 7:18; 1 Samuel 9:21; 1 Samuel 18:23; Exodus 3:11; Ruth 2:10
- 19 Judges 7:22; 2 Samuel 21:8; Judges 14:20
- 20 1 Samuel 18:28
- 21 1 Samuel 18:17; Jeremiah 9:8; 1 Samuel 18:26; Exodus 10:7; 1 Samuel 19:11–12
- 22 Psalm 55:21; Psalm 36:1–3; 2 Samuel 13:28–29; Proverbs 29:12
- 23 Proverbs 14:20; Ecclesiastes 9:15–16; 1 John 3:1; Proverbs 19:6–7; Psalm 119:141
- 25 1 Samuel 14:24; 1 Samuel 18:17; Genesis 34:12; Exodus 22:16–17; Genesis 17:11–14
- 26 1 Samuel 18:21
- 27 2 Samuel 3:14; 1 Samuel 18:13; Judges 14:19
- 28 Genesis 39:3; 1 Samuel 26:25; Revelation 3:9; 1 Samuel 24:20; Genesis 37:8–11
- 29 Ecclesiastes 4:4; 1 John 3:12–15; James 2:19; 1 Samuel 18:12; Psalm 37:12–14
- 30 2 Samuel 11:1; 1 Samuel 18:5; Ephesians 5:15; Daniel 1:20; Psalm 119:99
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For when he was Saul, his name was derived from Saul: now Saul was a proud king; and in his reign he persecuted the humble David. So when he who was afterwards Paul, was Saul, he was proud, at that time a persecutor of the innocent, at that time a waster of the Church.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)