1 Samuel 17:50-18:4

New International Version

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling^(A) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

⁵¹ David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut^(B) off his head with the sword.^(C)

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. ⁵² Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath^[a] and to the gates of Ekron.^(D) Their dead were strewn along the Shaaraim^(E) road to Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ When the Israelites returned from chasing the Philistines, they plundered their camp.

⁵⁴ David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem; he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.

⁵⁵ As Saul watched David^(F) going out to meet the Philistine, he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner,^(G) whose son is that young man?”

Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

⁵⁶ The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”

⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head.

⁵⁸ “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse^(H) of Bethlehem.”

Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan^(I) became one in spirit with David, and he loved^(J) him as himself.^{(K) 2} From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(L) with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe^(M) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.^(N)