1 Samuel 18:5-16 - David's Successes Arouse Saul's Suspicions

⁵ And David went forth - whithersoever Saul sent him, he behaved himself prudently, so Saul set him over the men of war, - and he became a favourite in the eyes of all the people, yea even in the eyes of the servants of Saul.

⁶ But so it was, when they came in on the return of David from the smiting of the Philistine, that the women went forth out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet Saul the king, - with timbrels, with rejoicing, and with instruments of three strings. ⁷ And the women that made merry responded to each other in song, and said, - Saul, hath smitten, his thousands, but, David, his, tens of thousands.

⁸ Then was Saul exceeding angry, and this saying was offensive in his eyes, and he said, - They have ascribed, to David, ten thousands, but, to me, have they ascribed thousands, - What, more, then, can he have but, the kingdom? ⁹ And Saul was eyeing David from that day forward.

¹⁰ And, when it came to pass, on the morrow, that a superhuman spirit of sadness came suddenly upon Saul, and he was moved to raving in the midst of the house, - and, David, began playing with his hand, as he had done day by day, that a spear being in Saul's hand, ¹¹ Saul hurled the spear, and said to himself - I will smite David, even to the wall! But David moved round from before him, twice.

¹² And Saul feared because of David, - for Yahweh was with him, whereas, from Saul, he had departed. ¹³ So Saul removed him from him, and appointed him to be for him the captain of a thousand, - and he went out and came in before the people. ¹⁴ And it came to pass that David, in all his ways, acted prudently, - and, Yahweh, was with him. ¹⁵ And, when Saul saw that, he, was acting very prudently, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But, all Israel and Judah, were in love with David, - for he was going out and coming in before them.