After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with him, and he loved David as he loved himself. From that day onward, Saul kept David close, not allowing him to return to his father's house. Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him deeply.
Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt, symbolizing a profound bond and trust between them.
Whatever Saul sent David to do, he carried out with great success. Saul was so pleased that he gave David a high rank in the army. The people of Israel and Saul's officers were all delighted with David's achievements.
When the men were returning from battle after David had killed the Philistine, the women of Israel came out from all the towns with singing and dancing, accompanied by joyful songs, tambourines, and lutes. As they danced, they sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands."
Saul became very angry. That refrain galled him deeply. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?" From that time, Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
The next day, an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He began prophesying inside his house, while David played the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand, and he hurled it, saying to himself, "I'll pin David to the wall." But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, for the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
Saul then sent David away from him, giving him command over a thousand men. David led the troops in their campaigns, and in everything he did, he succeeded greatly, because the LORD was with him. When Saul saw David's success, he feared him even more. Yet all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.
Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." Saul thought to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"
David replied, "Who am I, and what is my family or my father's clan in Israel, that I should become the king's son-in-law?" When the time came for Merab to be given to David, she was given instead to Adriel of Meholah.
Meanwhile, Saul's daughter Michal was in love with David. When this was reported to Saul, he was pleased. "I will give her to him," he thought, "so that she may be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David, "Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law."
Saul ordered his attendants, "Speak to David privately: 'Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his attendants like you. Now become his son-in-law.'" The attendants repeated these words to David, but he said, "Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I am only a poor man and little known."
When Saul's servants told him what David said, he replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than one hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" Saul planned to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.
When David's men heard this, they were pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines.
He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might marry Saul's daughter. Then Saul gave Michal in marriage to David.
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, Saul became even more afraid of David. He remained his enemy for the rest of his days.
The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with greater success than all of Saul's officers. His name became well known throughout Israel.