Saul's Jealousy of David

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, (A)the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.[a] And the women (B)sang to one another as they celebrated,

(C)“Saul has struck down his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands.”

And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but (D)the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:6 Or triangles, or three-stringed instruments

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,(A) with joyful songs and with timbrels(B) and lyres. As they danced, they sang:(C)

“Saul has slain his thousands,
    and David his tens(D) 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?(E) And from that time on Saul kept a close(F) eye on David.

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