1 Samuel 18 begins with the continued rise of David, who had gained favor with King Saul after defeating Goliath. Jonathan, Saul’s son, forms a deep friendship with David, and the two make a covenant before the Lord. However, as David gains more popularity and success, Saul becomes increasingly jealous and fearful of him.
The chapter highlights David’s military achievements and his growing influence among the people. Saul’s jealousy intensifies when the Israelite women sing songs praising David more than Saul. This angers Saul, and he develops a plan to get rid of David by offering him his daughter Michal in marriage, hoping that she will become a snare to him. Yet, David proves to be successful in fulfilling Saul’s difficult tasks, further fueling Saul’s resentment.
Saul’s jealousy reaches a point where he tries to spear David while he plays the harp, but David skillfully evades the attack. Saul then sends David away to lead a military campaign with the hope that he will perish in battle. However, David continues to succeed and win battles, earning the admiration and love of the people.
This chapter sets the stage for the conflict between Saul and David, highlighting Saul’s deteriorating mental state and David’s growing popularity. To uncover the depths and context of each verse in 1 Samuel 18, click on the links below: