I Samuel 18

שמואל א׳ פרק י״ח

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: I Samuel | Chapter: 18 of 31 | Day: 63 of 742

Date: April 15, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 18 marks the decisive turning point in the relationship between Saul and David, charting a psychological descent that moves with almost clinical precision from admiration to jealousy, from jealousy to fear, and from fear to murderous scheming. The chapter opens not with Saul at all but with Jonathan, whose soul “became bound up” (נקשרה) with David’s soul — a verb that conveys an involuntary, almost mystical attachment. Jonathan strips himself of his royal cloak, tunic, sword, bow, and belt, handing them to David in what Radak understands as a symbolic transfer of dynastic succession. The heir to the throne freely gives up the trappings of kingship to the man he recognizes as God’s chosen. This act of selfless love stands in devastating contrast to everything Saul will do in the verses that follow.

The women’s song after the Philistine campaign — “Saul has slain his thousands; David, his tens of thousands” (הכה שאול באלפיו ודוד ברבבותיו) — functions as the catalyst for Saul’s unraveling. Rashi notes that Saul’s response, “All that he lacks is the kingship” (ועוד לו אך המלוכה), reveals that the king already suspects what Samuel’s anointing portended. The narrator’s terse observation, “From that day on Saul kept a jealous eye on David” (ויהי שאול עין את דוד מהיום ההוא והלאה), compresses an entire psychological transformation into a single verse. The very next day, an “evil spirit of God” (רוח אלהים רעה) descends upon Saul and he hurls a spear at David while David plays the lyre — the same instrument that once soothed the king’s torment now accompanies an attempted murder. The text states David “eluded him twice,” suggesting this was not a single impulsive outburst but a pattern of violence that David had to learn to navigate.

What makes this chapter especially rich is the narrator’s repeated emphasis on the theological dimension of Saul’s decline. Three times we are told that God was “with David” (ה׳ עמו), and twice we hear that Saul “was afraid” (ויירא) of David precisely because of this divine presence. Metzudat David observes that Saul’s fear was not merely political but existential — he recognized that the same God who had chosen him had now turned away from him and toward David. Saul’s response is paradoxical: he removes David from his immediate presence by making him a military commander, which only increases David’s public success and popularity. The narrator notes with quiet irony that “all Israel and Judah loved David” (ויאהבהו כל ישראל ויהודה), using the same root of love (אהב) that described Jonathan’s attachment in the opening verses.

The marriage negotiations reveal Saul at his most calculating. He offers his elder daughter Merab as bait, hoping David will die fighting “God’s battles” (מלחמות ה׳) — a phrase dripping with irony, since Saul is effectively hoping God’s own wars will kill God’s anointed. When Merab is given to another, Saul seizes upon Michal’s love for David as a second opportunity, setting the bride-price at one hundred Philistine foreskins — a mission designed to be fatal. Radak emphasizes the cruelty of this scheme: Saul weaponizes his own daughter’s love as “a snare” (למוקש). Yet David not only survives but exceeds the requirement, bringing two hundred foreskins. The chapter closes with a devastating summary: Saul “realized that God was with David and that Michal daughter of Saul loved him,” and so “Saul grew still more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy ever after” (ויהי שאול איב את דוד כל הימים). The verb “ever after” (כל הימים) signals that there will be no reconciliation — the breach is permanent, and the remainder of I Samuel will play out the consequences of this rupture between Israel’s first king and the man destined to succeed him.

פרק י״ח · Chapter 18

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וְנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נִקְשְׁרָ֖ה בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ דָּוִ֑ד (ויאהבו) [וַיֶּֽאֱהָבֵ֥הוּ] יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

English:

When [David] finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan’s soul became bound up with the soul of David; Jonathan loved David as himself.

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיִּקָּחֵ֥הוּ שָׁא֖וּל בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וְלֹ֣א נְתָנ֔וֹ לָשׁ֖וּב בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיו׃

English:

Saul took him [into his service] that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.—

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִ֑ית בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ אֹת֖וֹ כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

English:

Jonathan and David made a pact, because [Jonathan] loved him as himself.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיִּתְפַּשֵּׁ֣ט יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן אֶֽת־הַמְּעִיל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֔יו וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּ לְדָוִ֑ד וּמַדָּ֕יו וְעַד־חַרְבּ֥וֹ וְעַד־קַשְׁתּ֖וֹ וְעַד־חֲגֹרֽוֹ׃

English:

Jonathan took off the cloak and tunic he was wearing and gave them to David, together with his sword, bow, and belt.

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצֵ֨א דָוִ֜ד בְּכֹל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁלָחֶ֤נּוּ שָׁאוּל֙ יַשְׂכִּ֔יל וַיְשִׂמֵ֣הוּ שָׁא֔וּל עַ֖ל אַנְשֵׁ֣י הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וַיִּיטַב֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י כׇל־הָעָ֔ם וְגַ֕ם בְּעֵינֵ֖י עַבְדֵ֥י שָׁאֽוּל׃ {פ}

English:

David went out [with the troops], and he was successful in every mission on which Saul sent him, and Saul put him in command of all the soldiers; this pleased all the troops and Saul’s courtiers as well.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י בְּבוֹאָ֗�� בְּשׁ֤וּב דָּוִד֙ מֵהַכּ֣וֹת אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔י וַתֵּצֶ֨אנָה הַנָּשִׁ֜ים מִכׇּל־עָרֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (לשור) [לָשִׁ֣יר] וְהַמְּחֹל֔וֹת לִקְרַ֖את שָׁא֣וּל הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ בְּתֻפִּ֥ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְשָׁלִשִֽׁים׃

English:

When the [troops] came home [and] David returned from killing the Philistine, the women of all the towns of Israel came out singing and dancing to greet King Saulathe women … King Saul Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Septuagint reads “the dancing women came out to meet David from all the towns of Israel.” with hand-drums,bhand-drums See note at Exod. 15.20. shouting, and sistrums.csistrums Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַֽתַּעֲנֶ֛ינָה הַנָּשִׁ֥ים הַֽמְשַׂחֲק֖וֹת וַתֹּאמַ֑רְןָ הִכָּ֤ה שָׁאוּל֙ בַּאֲלָפָ֔ו וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִבְבֹתָֽיו׃

English:

The women sang as they danced, and they chanted:Saul has slain his thousands;David, his tens of thousands!

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיִּ֨חַר לְשָׁא֜וּל מְאֹ֗ד וַיֵּ֤רַע בְּעֵינָיו֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר נָתְנ֤וּ לְדָוִד֙ רְבָב֔וֹת וְלִ֥י נָתְנ֖וּ הָאֲלָפִ֑ים וְע֥וֹד ל֖וֹ אַ֥ךְ הַמְּלוּכָֽה׃

English:

Saul was much distressed and greatly vexed about the matter. For he said, “To David they have given tens of thousands, and to me they have given thousands. All that he lacks is the kingship!”

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֥י שָׁא֖וּל (עון) [עוֹיֵ֣ן] אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד מֵֽהַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וָהָֽלְאָה׃ {ס}        

English:

From that day on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

פסוק י״ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י מִֽמׇּחֳרָ֗ת וַתִּצְלַ֣ח ר֩וּחַ֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ רָעָ֤ה ׀ אֶל־שָׁאוּל֙ וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֣א בְתוֹךְ־הַבַּ֔יִת וְדָוִ֛ד מְנַגֵּ֥ן בְּיָד֖וֹ כְּי֣וֹם ׀ בְּי֑וֹם וְהַחֲנִ֖ית בְּיַד־שָׁאֽוּל׃

English:

The next day an evil spirit of God gripped Saul and he began to rave in the house, while David was playing [the lyre], as he did daily. Saul had a spear in his hand,

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֤טֶל שָׁאוּל֙ אֶֽת־הַחֲנִ֔ית וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אַכֶּ֥ה בְדָוִ֖ד וּבַקִּ֑יר וַיִּסֹּ֥ב דָּוִ֛ד מִפָּנָ֖יו פַּעֲמָֽיִם׃

English:

and Saul threwdthrew Change of vocalization yields “raised.” the spear, thinking to pin David to the wall. But David eluded him twice.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

וַיִּרָ֥א שָׁא֖וּל מִלִּפְנֵ֣י דָוִ֑ד כִּֽי־הָיָ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וּמֵעִ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל סָֽר׃

English:

Saul was afraid of David, for GOD was with him and had turned away from Saul.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיְסִרֵ֤הוּ שָׁאוּל֙ מֵֽעִמּ֔וֹ וַיְשִׂמֵ֥הוּ ל֖וֹ שַׂר־אָ֑לֶף וַיֵּצֵ֥א וַיָּבֹ֖א לִפְנֵ֥י הָעָֽם׃ {ס}        

English:

So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him chief of a thousand, to march at the head of the troops.eto march at the head of the troops Lit. “and he went out and came in before the troops.”

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֥י דָוִ֛ד לְכׇל־דְּרָכָ֖ו מַשְׂכִּ֑יל וַיהֹוָ֖ה עִמּֽוֹ׃

English:

David was successful in all his undertakings, for GOD was with him;

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֣רְא שָׁא֔וּל אֲשֶׁר־ה֖וּא מַשְׂכִּ֣יל מְאֹ֑ד וַיָּ֖גׇר מִפָּנָֽיו׃

English:

and when Saul saw that he was successful, he dreaded him.

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וִֽיהוּדָ֔ה אֹהֵ֖ב אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד כִּי־ה֛וּא יוֹצֵ֥א וָבָ֖א לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}

English:

All Israel and Judah loved David, for he marched at their head.

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד הִנֵּה֩ בִתִּ֨י הַגְּדוֹלָ֤ה מֵרַב֙ אֹתָהּ֙ אֶתֶּן־לְךָ֣ לְאִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ךְ הֱיֵה־לִ֣י לְבֶן־חַ֔יִל וְהִלָּחֵ֖ם מִלְחֲמ֣וֹת יְהֹוָ֑ה וְשָׁא֣וּל אָמַ֗ר אַל־תְּהִ֤י יָדִי֙ בּ֔וֹ וּתְהִי־ב֖וֹ יַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ {ס}        

English:

Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter, Merab; I will give her to you in marriage; in return, you be my warrior and fight GOD’s battles.” Saul thought: “Let not my hand strike him; let the hand of the Philistines strike him.”

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־שָׁא֗וּל מִ֤י אָֽנֹכִי֙ וּמִ֣י חַיַּ֔י מִשְׁפַּ֥חַת אָבִ֖י בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּי־אֶהְיֶ֥ה חָתָ֖ן לַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

English:

David replied to Saul, “Who am I and what is my lifefwhat is my life Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Change of vocalization yields “who are my kin.”—my father’s family in Israel—that I should become Your Majesty’s son-in-law?”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֗י בְּעֵ֛ת תֵּ֛ת אֶת־מֵרַ֥ב בַּת־שָׁא֖וּל לְדָוִ֑ד וְהִ֧יא נִתְּנָ֛ה לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל הַמְּחֹלָתִ֖י לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

English:

But at the time that Merab, daughter of Saul, should have been given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel the Meholathite.

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וַתֶּאֱהַ֛ב מִיכַ֥ל בַּת־שָׁא֖וּל אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ לְשָׁא֔וּל וַיִּשַׁ֥ר הַדָּבָ֖ר בְּעֵינָֽיו׃

English:

Now Michal daughter of Saul had fallen in love with David; and when this was reported to Saul, he was pleased.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה לּוֹ֙ וּתְהִי־ל֣וֹ לְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ וּתְהִי־ב֖וֹ יַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד בִּשְׁתַּ֛יִם תִּתְחַתֵּ֥ן בִּ֖י הַיּֽוֹם׃

English:

Saul thought: “I will give her to him, and she can serve as a snare for him, so that the Philistines may kill him.” So Saul said to David, “You can become my son-in-law even now through the second one.”gYou can become … one Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק כ״ב · Verse 22

Hebrew:

וַיְצַ֨ו שָׁא֜וּל אֶת־עֲבָדָ֗ו דַּבְּר֨וּ אֶל־דָּוִ֤ד בַּלָּט֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הִנֵּ֨ה חָפֵ֤ץ בְּךָ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְכׇל־עֲבָדָ֖יו אֲהֵב֑וּךָ וְעַתָּ֖ה הִתְחַתֵּ֥ן בַּמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

English:

And Saul instructed his courtiers to say to David privately, “The king is fond of you and all his courtiers like you. So why not become the king’s son-in-law?”

פסוק כ״ג · Verse 23

Hebrew:

וַֽיְדַבְּר֞וּ עַבְדֵ֤י שָׁאוּל֙ בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִ֗ד הַֽנְקַלָּ֤ה בְעֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ הִתְחַתֵּ֣ן בַּמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִֽישׁ־רָ֥שׁ וְנִקְלֶֽה׃

English:

When the king’s courtiers repeated these words to David, David replied, “Do you think that becoming the son-in-law of a king is a small matter, when I am but a poor man of no consequence?”

פסוק כ״ד · Verse 24

Hebrew:

וַיַּגִּ֜דוּ עַבְדֵ֥י שָׁא֛וּל ל֖וֹ לֵאמֹ֑ר כַּדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה דִּבֶּ֥ר דָּוִֽד׃

English:

Saul’s courtiers reported to him, “This is what David answered.”

פסוק כ״ה · Verse 25

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֨אמ��ר שָׁא֜וּל כֹּה־תֹאמְר֣וּ לְדָוִ֗ד אֵֽין־חֵ֤פֶץ לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ בְּמֹ֔הַר כִּ֗י בְּמֵאָה֙ עׇרְל֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים לְהִנָּקֵ֖ם בְּאֹיְבֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְשָׁא֣וּל חָשַׁ֔ב לְהַפִּ֥יל אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּיַד־פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃

English:

And Saul said, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price than the foreskins of a hundred Philistines, as vengeance on the king’s enemies.’”—Saul intended to bring about David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.—

פסוק כ״ו · Verse 26

Hebrew:

וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ עֲבָדָ֤יו לְדָוִד֙ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיִּשַׁ֤ר הַדָּבָר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ וְלֹ֥א מָלְא֖וּ הַיָּמִֽים׃

English:

When his courtiers told this to David, David was pleased with the idea of becoming the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired,hBefore the time had expired Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

פסוק כ״ז · Verse 27

Hebrew:

וַיָּ֨קׇם דָּוִ֜ד וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ ׀ ה֣וּא וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו וַיַּ֣ךְ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֮ מָאתַ֣יִם אִישׁ֒ וַיָּבֵ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶת־עׇרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וַיְמַלְא֣וּם לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ שָׁא֛וּל אֶת־מִיכַ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ {ס}        

English:

David went out with his men and killed two hundreditwo hundred Septuagint reads “one hundred” and cf. 2 Sam. 3.14. Philistines; David brought their foreskins and they were counted outjthey were counted out Meaning of Heb. uncertain. for the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

פסוק כ״ח · Verse 28

Hebrew:

וַיַּ֤רְא שָׁאוּל֙ וַיֵּ֔דַע כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה עִם־דָּוִ��ד וּמִיכַ֥ל בַּת־שָׁא֖וּל אֲהֵבַֽתְהוּ׃

English:

When Saul realized that GOD was with David and that Michal daughter of Saul loved him,kand that Michal daughter of Saul loved him Septuagint reads “and that all Israel loved him.”

פסוק כ״ט · Verse 29

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אסֶף שָׁא֗וּל לֵרֹ֛א מִפְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד ע֑וֹד וַיְהִ֥י שָׁא֛וּל אֹיֵ֥ב אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ {פ}

English:

Saul grew still more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy ever after.

פסוק ל׳ · Verse 30

Hebrew:

וַיֵּצְא֖וּ שָׂרֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיְהִ֣י ׀ מִדֵּ֣י צֵאתָ֗ם שָׂכַ֤ל דָּוִד֙ מִכֹּל֙ עַבְדֵ֣י שָׁא֔וּל וַיִּיקַ֥ר שְׁמ֖וֹ מְאֹֽד׃ {ס}        

English:

The Philistine chiefs marched out [to battle]; and every time they marched out, David was more successful than all the other officers of Saul. His reputation soared.

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