Jonathan, soul knit to David's soul, makes a covenant of friendship, giving David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt. David succeeds in all Saul sends him to do, but when women celebrate David's ten thousands versus Saul's thousands, Saul becomes jealous and eyes David suspiciously from that day. Twice a harmful spirit prompts Saul to hurl a spear at David as he plays the lyre. Saul fears David because the LORD is with him and has departed from Saul; he makes David commander of a thousand and offers his daughter Merab, then Michal who loves David, hoping the Philistines will kill him. David brings two hundred Philistine foreskins as bride-price; Saul realizes the LORD is with David and his daughter loves him, and fears David ever more.
Read 1 Samuel Chapter 18 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Samuel
Last judge and prophet who anointed both Saul and David as kings
Saul
First king of Israel, whose disobedience led to his rejection by God
David
Shepherd boy anointed as future king, man after God's own heart
Jonathan
Saul's son who became David's closest friend despite the rivalry
Hannah
Samuel's mother who prayed for a son and dedicated him to God
Judah
Son of Jacob, Ancestor of David and Christ
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
Samuel's MinistryChapters 1-7
Saul's ReignChapters 8-15
David's RiseChapters 16-31
David anointed, defeats Goliath, friendship with Jonathan, flees from Saul, Saul's death in battle.