1 And it happened that when he finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound {niksharah: mutually united} to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul {kenafsho: life counterpart}.
2 Saul {shaul: Israel’s king} took him that day and did not permit him {natan: grant permission} to return to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant {berit: binding pact} because of his love for him as his own soul {nefesh: life essence}.
4 Then Jonathan {Yehonatan: Covenant Ally} removed the robe that was upon him and gave it to David, along with his armor {maddav: battle gear}, and even his sword, and even his bow, and even his belt.
5 And David went out wherever Saul sent him {yishlachenu: mission assignments} and acted wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war {vayesimehu: appointed him commander}, and he was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of Saul’s servants.
6 And it happened as they returned, when David had struck down the Philistine, that the women went out from all the cities of Israel to sing and to dance to meet Saul the king with tambourines {betupim: hand drums} and with joy {besimchah: festival rejoicing}, and with stringed instruments.
7 And the women {hanashim: female chorus} who played {hamesachakot: ritual dancers} answered and said, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
8 And Saul {sha’ul: anointed monarch} was exceedingly angry, and this matter deeply displeased him. He said, “They have given to David tens of thousands, and to me only thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom {melukhah: royal authority}?”
9 And it came to pass that Saul {Shaul: Requested One} kept a suspicious eye on David from that day {yom: Period of Time} onward.
10 And it happened on the next day that an evil spirit of God {Elohim, Divine Sovereign} rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied within the house, while David was playing by his hand {yad: agency} as day by day; and the spear was in Saul’s hand.
11 Saul {Shaul: Israel’s king} hurled his spear and said, “I will strike David into the wall.” David turned aside from before him twice {pa’amayim: two attempts}.
12 And Saul was afraid {vayira: sudden dread} of David because the LORD {YHWH, Active Presence} was with him, but He had departed from Saul.
13 So Saul {Shaul: jealous king} removed him from his presence and appointed him as commander {sar: military officer} over a thousand, and he went out and came in before the people.
14 And David was prudent {maskil: skillful insight} in all his ways, and the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Supporter} was with him.
15 And Saul saw that he was very successful {maskil: strategic acumen}, and he feared {vayagar: responded with dread} him.
16 And all Israel and Judah loved {ohev: steadfast devotion} David because he went out and came in {yotze-va-va: active leadership} before them.
17 And Saul said to David, “Behold, my eldest daughter Merab, I will give you as a wife; only be a son of valor {chayil: military champion} for me and fight the battles of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Warrior}.” And Saul said, “Do not be my hand against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who is my life {hayyai: personal being}, and what is the family {mishpachat: clan group} of my father in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
19 And it came to pass at the time {be’et: temporal marker} when Merab, daughter of Saul, was to be given to David, and she was given to Adriel the Meholathite {meholati: geographic origin} as a wife.
20 And Michal, the daughter of Saul, loved {ahav: emotional devotion} David, and they told Saul, and the matter {davar: issue at hand} was pleasing in his eyes.
21 And Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she shall be a snare {moqesh: snare device} to him and the hand {yad: hostile force} of the Philistines shall be against him.” And Saul said to David, “Today you shall become my son-in-law for a second time.”
22 And Saul commanded his servant, “Speak to David secretly {balat: secret manner}, saying, ‘Behold, the king desires you, and all his servants love you; now become the king’s son-in-law {hitchaten: marital alliance}.’”
23 And the servants {avadim: royal attendants} of Saul spoke these words in the ears of David, and David said, “Does it seem a small matter in your eyes to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor {rash: lacking means} and lightly regarded man?”
24 And the servants {eved: royal attendants} of Saul told him, saying, “David has spoken these words {dabarim: specific declarations}.”
25 And Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king has no desire for a bride-price other than one hundred foreskins {orlot: trophy of vengeance} of the Philistines, to take revenge on the king’s enemies.’” And Saul planned {khashav: calculated scheme} to cause David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26 And his servants told David these things, and the matter {davar: official report} was pleasing in David’s eyes to marry the king’s daughter, but the days were not fulfilled {male’u: customary period}.
27 And David rose up and went out with his men, struck down {vayyakh: delivered decisive blow} two hundred Philistine soldiers, and brought their foreskins {ʿôrělōṯēhem: victory proof} to present in full to the king for the marriage. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.
28 And Saul saw and knew {yada: discerned inwardly} that the LORD {YHWH, Divine Protector} was with David, and Michal, the daughter of Saul, loved him.
29 Saul continued {yasaf: intensifying fear} to fear David, and he remained David’s enemy {oyeb: hostile adversary} all the days.
30 And the commanders of the Philistines went out, and as often as they went out, David prospered {sakhal: excelled militarily} more than all the servants of Saul, and his name became very esteemed {meod: exceedingly respected}.