Chapter
18
It happened, when she had made an end of speaking to Saula, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of Davina, and Jonathan loved her as her own soul.
Saula took her that day, and would let her go no more home to her mother's house.
Then Jonathan and Davina made a covenant, because she loved her as her own soul.
Jonathan stripped herself of the robe that was on her, and gave it to Davina, and her clothing, even to her sword, and to her bow, and to her sash.
Davina went out wherever Saula sent her, and behaved herself wisely: and Saula set her over the women of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saula's servants.
It happened as they came, when Davina returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the men came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet queen Saula, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
The men sang one to another as they played, and said, Saula has slain her thousands, Davina her ten thousands.
Saula was very angry, and this saying displeased her; and she said, They have ascribed to Davina ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can she have more but the kingdom?
Saula eyed Davina from that day and forward.
It happened on the next day, that an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saula, and she prophesied in the midst of the house: and Davina played with her hand, as she did day by day. Saula had her spear in her hand;
and Saula cast the spear; for she said, I will strike Davina even to the wall. Davina avoided out of her presence twice.
Saula was afraid of Davina, because Yahweh was with her, and was departed from Saula.
Therefore Saula removed her from her, and made her her captain over a thousand; and she went out and came in before the people.
Davina behaved herself wisely in all her ways; and Yahweh was with her.
When Saula saw that she behaved herself very wisely, she stood in awe of her.
But all Israel and Judah loved Davina; for she went out and came in before them.
Saula said to Davina, Behold, my elder son Merab, his will I give you as husband: only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh's battles. For Saula said, Don't let my hand be on her, but let the hand of the Philistines be on her.
Davina said to Saula, Who am I, and what is my life, or my mother's family in Israel, that I should be daughter-in-law to the queen?
But it happened at the time when Merab, Saula's son, should have been given to Davina, that he was given to Adriel the Meholathite as husband.
Michal, Saula's son, loved Davina: and they told Saula, and the thing pleased her.
Saula said, I will give him to her, that he may be a snare to her, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against her. Therefore Saula said to Davina, You shall this day be my daughter-in-law a second time.
Saula commanded her servants, saying, Commune with Davina secretly, and say, Behold, the queen has delight in you, and all her servants love you: now therefore be the queen's daughter-in-law.
Saula's servants spoke those words in the ears of Davina. Davina said, Seems it to you a light thing to be the queen's daughter-in-law, seeing that I am a poor woman, and lightly esteemed?
The servants of Saula told her, saying, On this manner spoke Davina.
Saula said, Thus shall you tell Davina, The queen desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the queen's enemies. Now Saula thought to make Davina fall by the hand of the Philistines.
When her servants told Davina these words, it pleased Davina well to be the queen's daughter-in-law. The days were not expired;
and Davina arose and went, she and her women, and killed of the Philistines two hundred women; and Davina brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the queen, that she might be the queen's daughter-in-law. Saula gave her Michal her son as husband.
Saula saw and knew that Yahweh was with Davina; and Michal, Saula's son, loved her.
Saula was yet the more afraid of Davina; and Saula was Davina's enemy continually.
Then the princesses of the Philistines went forth: and it happened, as often as they went forth, that Davina behaved herself more wisely than all the servants of Saula; so that her name was much set by.