וַיְהִי כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר אֶל שָׁאוּל וְנֶפֶשׁ יְהוֹנָתָן נִקְשְׁרָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ דָּוִד וַיֶּאֱהָבֵהוּ יְהוֹנָתָן כְּנַפְשׁוֹ

Until now, David would play music for Saul until the king would be relieved of his melancholy. Consequently, Saul’s officers and even Saul himself, who met David only when his spirit was disturbed, did not really get to know David. This was the first encounter in which Saul and his inner circle could get an impression of David’s character. It was as he finished speaking to Saul that the soul of Yehonatan became attached to the soul of David, and Yehonatan loved him as his own soul.

וַיִּקָּחֵהוּ שָׁאוּל בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וְלֹא נְתָנוֹ לָשׁוּב בֵּית אָבִיו

Saul took him, David, on that day, and he did not permit him to return to his father’s house.

וַיִּכְרֹת יְהוֹנָתָן וְדָוִד בְּרִית בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ אֹתוֹ כְּנַפְשׁוֹ

In light of the great love of Yehonatan for David, and the fact that each fully identified with the other, Yehonatan established an eternal, unbreakable covenant with David, as he loved him as his own soul.

וַיִּתְפַּשֵּׁט יְהוֹנָתָן אֶת הַמְּעִיל אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ לְדָוִד וּמַדָּיו וְעַד חַרְבּוֹ וְעַד קַשְׁתּוֹ וְעַד חֲגֹרוֹ

Yehonatan stripped off the robe that was upon him and gave it to David with his garments, and even his sword, even his bow, and even his belt, as a sign of their unity as expressed by their covenant.

וַיֵּצֵא דָוִד בְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁלָחֶנּוּ שָׁאוּל יַשְׂכִּיל וַיְשִׂמֵהוּ שָׁאוּל עַל אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינֵי כָל הָעָם וְגַם בְּעֵינֵי עַבְדֵי שָׁאוּל

David went forth, primarily on military missions; in everything that Saul would send him he would succeed. Since it became clear that David was not only successful in a one-on-one confrontation, but was consistently reliable and successful, Saul appointed him as an officer over the men of war, and he was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of Saul’s servants. David enjoyed the respect and admiration of everyone.

וַיְהִי בְּבוֹאָם בְּשׁוּב דָּוִד מֵהַכּוֹת אֶת הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי וַתֵּצֶאנָה הַנָּשִׁים מִכָּל עָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָשִׁיר וְהַמְּחֹלוֹת לִקְרַאת שָׁאוּל הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּתֻפִּים בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְשָׁלִשִׁים

It was upon their arrival, of the soldiers, from the Valley of Ela, when David returned from smiting the Philistine on that first occasion, and possibly on other occasions, the women came out from all the cities of Israel that the king passed, to sing, and with dances came toward King Saul and his entourage as they returned home, with drums, with joy, and with triangles [shalishim]. Alternatively, some translate the verse to mean that the women came out singing and with instruments, and some interpret shalishim to mean rhymed verse.

וַתַּעֲנֶינָה הַנָּשִׁים הַמְשַׂחֲקוֹת וַתֹּאמַרְןָ הִכָּה שָׁאוּל בַּאֲלָפָיו וְדָוִד בְּרִבְבֹתָיו

The rejoicing women who went out to greet the victorious soldiers proclaimed and said: Saul smote his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. This was obviously an exaggeration, which may have stemmed from their desire to flatter the handsome young man, whom they must have favored.

וַיִּחַר לְשָׁאוּל מְאֹד וַיֵּרַע בְּעֵינָיו הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר נָתְנוּ לְדָוִד רְבָבוֹת וְלִי נָתְנוּ הָאֲלָפִים ועוֹד לוֹ אַךְ הַמְּלוּכָה

Saul was very incensed over what he perceived to be a slight to his stature, and this matter was displeasing in his eyes, and he said: They ascribed tens of thousands to David, but to me they ascribed thousands. Next for him is only the kingdom. What advantage do I have over him? My kingdom may very well pass to him.

וַיְהִי שָׁאוּל עוֹיֵן אֶת דָּוִד מֵהַיּוֹם הַהוּא וָהָלְאָה

Saul was hostile to David from that day onward.

וַיְהִי מִמָּחֳרָת וַתִּצְלַח רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים רָעָה אֶל שָׁאוּל וַיִּתְנַבֵּא בְתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת וְדָוִד מְנַגֵּן בְּיָדוֹ כְּיוֹם בְּיוֹם וְהַחֲנִית בְּיַד שָׁאוּל

It was on the next day, an evil spirit from God rested upon Saul; he became depressed, and he raved inside the house; he acted insane, or foresaw a gloomy future for himself. David was playing music with his hand like every day, in order to soothe Saul, and the spear was in Saul’s hand.

וַיָּטֶל שָׁאוּל אֶת הַחֲנִית וַיֹּאמֶר אַכֶּה בְדָוִד וּבַקִּיר וַיִּסֹּב דָּוִד מִפָּנָיו פַּעֲמָיִם

In his melancholy state, Saul cast the spear. He said to himself: I will smite David to the wall. David eluded him twice. This was not a planned attack but rather an impulsive act initiated by a tortured mind. David, who was young and agile, and was aware of Saul’s unstable mental condition, was able to escape.

וַיִּרָא שָׁאוּל מִלִּפְנֵי דָוִד כִּי הָיָה ה' עִמּוֹ וּמֵעִם שָׁאוּל סָר

When his depression lifted, Saul feared David, as the Lord was with him, and He had departed from Saul. Saul was suffering from his own deteriorating condition, and was envious of the young and talented David, who was becoming ever more successful and prominent before his very eyes.

וַיְסִרֵהוּ שָׁאוּל מֵעִמּוֹ וַיְשִׂמֵהוּ לוֹ שַׂר אָלֶף וַיֵּצֵא וַיָּבֹא לִפְנֵי הָעָם

Saul removed him from being with him, as David’s presence disturbed Saul’s peace of mind and, concomitantly, Saul appointed him leader of one thousand for him, a very high ranking officer, perhaps even the second highest rank in the army; and he went and came before the people in battle.

וַיְהִי דָוִד לְכָל דְּרָכָו מַשְׂכִּיל וַה' עִמּוֹ

David was successful in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

וַיַּרְא שָׁאוּל אֲשֶׁר הוּא מַשְׂכִּיל מְאֹד וַיָּגָר מִפָּנָיו

Saul saw that he, David, was very successful in all his endeavors, and he was alarmed by him. This may have been due to the lack of self-confidence that plagued Saul from the time he was initially anointed as king (See 9:21, 10:22, 10:27). Now, David represented everything that Saul wished he were himself.

וְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל וִיהוּדָה אֹהֵב אֶת דָּוִד כִּי הוּא יוֹצֵא וָבָא לִפְנֵיהֶם

But all Israel and Judah loved David, as he would go and come before them. They all saw his great success as a warrior and in his management of other affairs.

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל דָּוִד הִנֵּה בִתִּי הַגְּדוֹלָה מֵרַב אֹתָהּ אֶתֶּן לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה אַךְ הֱיֵה לִּי לְבֶן חַיִל וְהִלָּחֵם מִלְחֲמוֹת ה'וְשָׁאוּל אָמַר אַל תְּהִי יָדִי בּוֹ וּתְהִי בוֹ יַד פְּלִשְׁתִּים

The verse presents a parenthetical comment: When it came time for Saul to fulfill his promise to give his daughter as a wife to the man who would kill Goliath, Saul said to David: Behold, my eldest daughter Merav, I will give her to you as a wife; this was the ultimate manner in which the king could bring someone close. However, you must be a man of valor for me, and fight the wars of the Lord. Saul said to himself: Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל שָׁאוּל מִי אָנֹכִי וּמִי חַיַּי מִשְׁפַּחַת אָבִי בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי אֶהְיֶה חָתָן לַמֶּלֶךְ

David said to Saul: Who am I, and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should become son-in-law to the king? I do not deserve this great honor.

וַיְהִי בְּעֵת תֵּת אֶת מֵרַב בַּת שָׁאוּל לְדָוִד וְהִיא נִתְּנָה לְעַדְרִיאֵל הַמְּחֹלָתִי לְאִשָּׁה

It was when Merav, Saul’s daughter, was to be given to David that she was given to Adriel the Meholatite as a wife. Saul had changed his mind and given her to someone else.

וַתֶּאֱהַב מִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל אֶת דָּוִד וַיַּגִּדוּ לְשָׁאוּל וַיִּשַׁר הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינָיו

Mikhal, Saul’s younger daughter, loved David; she knew him from his time in the king’s palace and perhaps from his semi-official visits to her older sister. They told Saul that Mikhal was interested in David, and that David was possibly interested in her too; and the matter was fitting in his eyes. Saul was pleased with the opportunity to marry a daughter to David, and may have even preferred that it was his younger daughter, who was of lesser stature.

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶתְּנֶנָּה לּוֹ וּתְהִי לוֹ לְמוֹקֵשׁ וּתְהִי בוֹ יַד פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל אֶל דָּוִד בִּשְׁתַּיִם תִּתְחַתֵּן בִּי הַיּוֹם

Saul said to himself: I will give her to him, and she will be a snare for him, and let the hand of the Philistines be against him. This thought did not leave Saul, even though he knew that as long as David was striking the Philistines they were in a defensive posture and would refrain from launching attacks. Saul said to David: Through the second one of my two daughters will you become my son-in-law today. Some maintain that Merav was also married to David, and was given to Adriel in a sinful manner.

וַיְצַו שָׁאוּל אֶת עֲבָדָו דַּבְּרוּ אֶל דָּוִד בַּלָּט לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה חָפֵץ בְּךָ הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכָל עֲבָדָיו אֲהֵבוּךָ וְעַתָּה הִתְחַתֵּן בַּמֶּלֶךְ

David did not respond to Saul’s failure to fulfill his promise to give him Merav. It is also possible that he was not sure Saul actually intended to give him Mikhal; he may have thought that Saul was simply trying to appease him. Consequently, Saul commanded his servants: Speak to David discreetly, saying: Behold, the king really desires you, and all his servants love you. Now, you should take the opportunity to become son-in-law to the king.

וַיְדַבְּרוּ עַבְדֵי שָׁאוּל בְּאָזְנֵי דָוִד אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד הַנְקַלָּה בְעֵינֵיכֶם הִתְחַתֵּן בַּמֶּלֶךְ ואָנֹכִי אִישׁ רָשׁ וְנִקְלֶה

Saul’s servants spoke these words in the ears of David. David said: Is becoming son-in-law to the king trivial in your eyes? And I am a poor and insignificant man. One who marries must give a dowry, and it is customary to give fifty silver shekels even for a regular woman, not to mention what the proper dowry would be for the king’s daughter.

וַיַּגִּדוּ עַבְדֵי שָׁאוּל לוֹ לֵאמֹר כַּדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה דִּבֶּר דָּוִד

Saul’s servants told him, saying: David spoke with these words. David is not making demands or issuing complaints; on the contrary, he says that he is not fit to become the king’s son-in-law.

וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל כֹּה תֹאמְרוּ לְדָוִד אֵין חֵפֶץ לַמֶּלֶךְ בְּמֹהַר כִּי בְּמֵאָה עָרְלוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים לְהִנָּקֵם בְּאֹיְבֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְשָׁאוּל חָשַׁב לְהַפִּיל אֶת דָּוִד בְּיַד פְּלִשְׁתִּים

Saul said: So you shall say to David: You say that you are not able to pay a fitting dowry, but the king has no desire for a dowry; rather, for one hundred Philistine foreskins, to exact vengeance upon the enemies of the king. He wants you to kill a hundred Philistines and to bring their foreskins as proof that you killed them; this act of valor will be esteemed more highly by the king than any sum of money. Saul thought to cause David to fight the Philistines again, this time at his own initiative, hoping that David would fall by the hand of the Philistines.

וַיַּגִּדוּ עֲבָדָיו לְדָוִד אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיִּשַׁר הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי דָוִד לְהִתְחַתֵּן בַּמֶּלֶךְ וְלֹא מָלְאוּ הַיָּמִים

His servants told these words to David, and the matter was fitting in David’s eyes to become son-in-law to the king. The days, the time limit for David to bring the foreskins, had not yet elapsed,

וַיָּקָם דָּוִד וַיֵּלֶךְ הוּא וַאֲנָשָׁיו וַיַּךְ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים מָאתַיִם אִישׁ וַיָּבֵא דָוִד אֶת עָרְלֹתֵיהֶם וַיְמַלְאוּם לַמֶּלֶךְ לְהִתְחַתֵּן בַּמֶּלֶךְ וַיִתֶּן לוֹ שָׁאוּל אֶת מִיכַל בִּתּוֹ לְאִשָּׁה

and David arose, and he and his men went and smote among the Philistines two hundred men, rather than the one hundred that Saul requested. David brought their foreskins and delivered them in full to the king, to become son-in-law to the king, and since David had fulfilled the stipulation, Saul gave him Mikhal, his daughter, as a wife. Apparently, all were pleased with this union.

וַיַּרְא שָׁאוּל וַיֵּדַע כִּי ה' עִם דָּוִד וּמִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל אֲהֵבַתְהוּ

Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David in all he did; and that Mikhal, Saul’s daughter, loved him. David had a loving wife.

וַיֹּאסֶף שָׁאוּל לֵרֹא מִפְּנֵי דָוִד עוֹד וַיְהִי שָׁאוּל אֹיֵב אֶת דָוִד כָּל הַיָּמִים

Saul continued to fear David, as he witnessed David’s success in every area, whereas Saul was unable to approximate that success; and Saul was forever an enemy to David. This was not a clearly formulated or rational thought, as David had not shown any indication that he was interested in taking over the kingship. However, this obsessive concern did not cease to torment Saul.

וַיֵּצְאוּ שָׂרֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים וַיְהִי מִדֵּי צֵאתָם שָׂכַל דָּוִד מִכֹּל עַבְדֵי שָׁאוּל וַיִּיקַר שְׁמוֹ מְאֹד

The commanders of the Philistines went forth from time to time to fight against Israel, and it was that whenever they went forth, David was more successful, acting prudently and experiencing success, than all the other servants of Saul, and his name became greatly honored. David’s reputation soared, and Saul was deeply resentful.