The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

1 Samuel 18

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

1 Samuel chapter 18 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of…” — the complete text of all 30 verses is below, free to read online.

1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5And David went out; whithersoever Saul sent him, he had good success; and Saul set him over the men of war; and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

6And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments.

7And the women sang one to another in their play, and said: Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said: 'They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands; and all he lacketh is the kingdom!'

9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from G-d came mightily upon Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house; and David played with his hand, as he did day by day; and Saul had his spear in his hand.

11And Saul cast the spear; for he said: 'I will smite David even to the wall.' And David stepped aside out of his presence twice.

12And Saul was afraid of David, because HaShem was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14And David had great success in all his ways; and HaShem was with him.

15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.

16But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.

17And Saul said to David: 'Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight HaShem'S battles.' For Saul said: 'Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.'

18And David said unto Saul: 'Who am I, and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?'

19But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

20And Michal Saul's daughter loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21And Saul said: 'I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.' Wherefore Saul said to David: 'Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law through the one of the twain.'

22And Saul commanded his servants: 'Speak with David secretly, and say: Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee; now therefore be the king's son-in-law.'

23And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said: 'Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?'

24And the servants of Saul told him, saying: 'On this manner spoke David.'

25And Saul said: 'Thus shall ye say to David: The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies.' For Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. And the days were not expired;

27and David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

28And Saul saw and knew that HaShem was with David; and Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

29And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David's enemy continually.

30Then the princes of the Philistines went forth; and it came to pass, as often as they went forth, that David prospered more than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

30 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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