Sauls Jealousy
But as David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistines,
the women came out of the cities of Israel, singng and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets and other musical instruments.
And the women sang to each other as they played, and said:
"Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."
This much displeased Saul, and he said: "If they reckon that David is ten times better than I, he will soon want to have the kingdom for himself."
And from this time forward Saul eyed David with suspicion.
The next day, David was playing his harp as before,
and an evil spirit came upon Saul and he picked up a javelin and threw it at David, saying: "I will pin David to the wall with it."
David avoided the point of the javelin, and Saul was more than ever afraid of him,
for he knew that the Lord was with David, and no longer with him.
But David behaved very wisely in all his ways and all Israel loved and trusted him.
Then Saul said to David: "Here is my elder daughter Merab.
I will give her to you as your wife, if you will fight my battles for me."
For Saul did not want to kill David with his own hand,
and he hoped that he would fall in battle with the Philistines.
David said: "Who am I, and what is my family, that I should be the king's son-in-law?"
But at the time that Merab should have been given to David,
instead Saul married her to Adriel the Meholathite.
But it happened that Michal, Saul's younger daughter, also loved David,
and when Saul was told of this, he was very pleased,
thinking that through her love he might ensnare and destroy David.
So he sent for David and told him: "Today you will be my son-in-law,
and marry the other of my daughters
To his servants he said: "Take David aside and tell him privately that the king delights in him, and that all the people love him, and so it is fitting that he should be the king's son-in-law."
( Link to free online Bible to view where this event takes place in the Bible )
www.biblica.com/bibles/chapter/?verse=1+Samuel+18&version=nasb
