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1 Samuel 18: Jonathan's Friendship and Saul's Jealousy

Jonathan loved David as his own soul and made a covenant with him, giving him his robe, sword, bow, and sash. When the women sang that Saul had slain his thousands and David his ten thousands, Saul became angry and jealous. He tried to pin David to the wall with a spear, and David escaped. David behaved wisely, and the Lord was with him. Saul tried to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines, but David succeeded, and Saul's daughter Michal loved him.

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Read 1 Samuel 18

World English Bible · 30 verses

  1. 1 When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  2. 2 Saul took him that day, and wouldn’t let him go home to his father’s house any more.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  3. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  4. 4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his clothing, even including his sword, his bow, and his sash.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  5. 5 David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  6. 6 As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  7. 7 The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  8. 8 Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have credited David with ten thousands, and they have only credited me with thousands. What can he have more but the kingdom?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  9. 9 Saul watched David from that day and forward.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  10. 10 On the next day, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. David played with his hand, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  11. 11 and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  12. 12 Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  13. 13 Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  14. 14 David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Yahweh was with him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  15. 15 When Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  16. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  17. 17 Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  18. 18 David said to 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?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  19. 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  20. 20 Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  21. 21 Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall today be my son-in-law.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  22. 22 Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  23. 23 Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and little known?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  24. 24 The servants of Saul told him, saying, “David spoke like this.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  25. 25 Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  26. 26 When his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  27. 27 David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  28. 28 Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David; and Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  29. 29 Saul was even more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy continually.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
  30. 30 Then the princes of the Philistines went out; and as often as they went out, David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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1 Samuel 18 · Preschool

Best Friends

Name Date

Color Jonathan giving his robe to David! They were best friends.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”

1 Samuel 18:3 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Jonathan loved David like his own self. A good friend is kind and loyal. How can you be a good friend?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

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