So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and [a]behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the [b]Philistine, that (A)the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women (B)sang as they danced, and said:

(C)“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying (D)displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but (E)the kingdom?” So Saul [c]eyed David from that day forward.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:5 Or prospered
  2. 1 Samuel 18:6 Philistines
  3. 1 Samuel 18:9 Viewed with suspicion

Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful(A) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.(B) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing,(C) with joyful songs and with timbrels(D) and lyres. As they danced, they sang:(E)

“Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens(F) of thousands.”

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?(G) And from that time on Saul kept a close(H) eye on David.

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