Saul Envies David

David prospers in military service and pleases both the people and Saul’s officers, but public celebration after the Philistine victory stirs Saul’s resentment. The song of the women makes Saul see David as a rival to the throne.

S⁵o David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well. ⁶As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments. ⁷And as the women danced, they sang out: ⁸And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” ⁹And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

Saul’s distress deepens, and while David plays music for him, Saul twice tries to kill him with a spear. Saul fears David because the Lord is with David and no longer with him.

¹⁰The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, ¹¹and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. ¹²So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

Saul moves David into field command, but David prospers there as well and leads the troops effectively. Saul’s fear grows, while all Israel and Judah come to love David.

¹³Therefore Saul sent David away and gave him command of a thousand men. David led the troops out to battle and back, ¹⁴and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him. ¹⁵When Saul saw that David was very successful, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he was leading them out to battle and back.