1-2Una vez que David y Saúl terminaron de hablar, Saúl tomó a David a su servicio y, desde ese día, no lo dejó volver a la casa de su padre. Jonatán, por su parte, entabló con David una amistad entrañable y llegó a quererlo como a sí mismo.3Tanto lo quería que hizo un pacto con él:4Se quitó el manto que llevaba puesto y se lo dio a David; también le dio su túnica, y aun su espada, su arco y su cinturón.5Cualquier encargo que David recibía de Saúl, lo cumplía con éxito, de modo que Saúl lo puso al mando de todo su ejército, con la aprobación de los soldados de Saúl y hasta de sus oficiales.6Ahora bien, cuando el ejército regresó, después de haber matado David al filisteo, de todos los pueblos de Israel salían mujeres a recibir al rey Saúl. Al son de liras y panderetas, cantaban y bailaban,7y exclamaban con gran regocijo: «Saúl mató a sus miles, ¡pero David, a sus diez miles!»8Disgustado por lo que decían, Saúl se enfureció y protestó: «A David le dan crédito por diez miles, pero a mí por miles. ¡Lo único que falta es que le den el reino!»9Y a partir de esa ocasión, Saúl empezó a mirar a David con recelo.10Al día siguiente, el espíritu maligno de parte de Dios se apoderó de Saúl, quien cayó en trance en su propio palacio. Andaba con una lanza en la mano y, mientras David tocaba el arpa, como era su costumbre,11Saúl se la arrojó, pensando: «¡A este lo clavo en la pared!» Dos veces lo intentó, pero David logró esquivar la lanza.12Saúl sabía que el SEÑOR lo había abandonado, y que ahora estaba con David. Por eso tuvo temor de David13y lo alejó de su presencia, nombrándolo jefe de mil soldados para que dirigiera al ejército en campaña.14David tuvo éxito en todas sus expediciones, porque el SEÑOR estaba con él.15Al ver el éxito de David, Saúl se llenó de temor.16Pero todos en Israel y Judá sentían gran aprecio por David, porque él los dirigía en campaña.17Un día Saúl le dijo a David: ―Aquí tienes a Merab, mi hija mayor. Te la entrego por esposa, con la condición de que me sirvas con valentía, peleando las batallas del SEÑOR. Saúl pensaba: «Será mejor que no muera por mi mano, sino a mano de los filisteos».18Pero David le respondió: ―¿Quién soy yo? ¿Y quiénes son en Israel mis parientes, o la familia de mi padre, para que yo me convierta en yerno del rey?19Sin embargo, cuando llegó la fecha en que Saúl había de casar a su hija Merab con David, Saúl se la entregó por esposa a Adriel de Mejolá.20Mical, la otra hija de Saúl, se enamoró de David. Cuando se lo dijeron a Saúl, le agradó la noticia21y pensó: «Se la entregaré a él, como una trampa para que caiga en manos de los filisteos». Así que volvió a decirle a David: ―Ahora sí vas a ser mi yerno.22Entonces Saúl ordenó a sus funcionarios: ―Hablad con David en privado y decidle: “Oye, el rey te aprecia, y todos sus funcionarios te quieren. Acepta ser su yerno”.23Esto se lo repitieron a David, pero él respondió: ―¿Creéis que es cosa fácil ser yerno del rey? ¡Yo no soy más que un plebeyo insignificante!24Los funcionarios le comunicaron a Saúl la reacción de David.25Pero Saúl insistió: ―Decidle a David: “Lo único que el rey quiere es vengarse de sus enemigos, y como dote por su hija pide cien prepucios de filisteos”. En realidad, lo que Saúl quería era que David cayera en manos de los filisteos.26Cuando los funcionarios de Saúl le dieron el mensaje a David, no le pareció mala la idea de convertirse en yerno del rey. Aún no se había cumplido el plazo27cuando David fue con sus soldados y mató a doscientos filisteos, cuyos prepucios entregó al rey para convertirse en su yerno. Así fue como Saúl le dio la mano de su hija Mical.28Saúl se dio cuenta de que, en efecto, el SEÑOR estaba con David, y de que su hija Mical lo amaba.29Por eso aumentó el temor que Saúl sentía por David, y se convirtió en su enemigo para el resto de su vida.30Además, cada vez que los jefes filisteos salían a campaña, David los enfrentaba con más éxito que los otros oficiales de Saúl. Por eso llegó a ser muy famoso.
1.Samuel 18
English Standard Version
David and Jonathan’s Friendship
1As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (5Mo 13,6; 1Sam 19,2; 1Sam 20,17; 2Sam 1,26)2And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. (1Sam 17,15)3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. (1Sam 18,1)4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.5And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. (1Sam 18,14; 1Sam 18,30)
Saul’s Jealousy of David
6As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, 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.[1] (2Mo 15,20; Ri 11,34)7And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (2Mo 15,21; 1Sam 21,11; 1Sam 29,5)8And 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 the kingdom?” (1Sam 15,28)9And Saul eyed David from that day on.10The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. (Ri 9,23; 1Sam 16,14; 1Sam 16,16; 1Sam 19,9; 1Sam 19,23; 1Kön 18,29; Apg 16,16)11And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. (1Sam 19,10; 1Sam 20,33)12Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. (1Sam 16,14; 1Sam 16,18; 1Sam 18,15; 1Sam 18,28; 1Sam 18,29; 1Sam 28,15)13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. (4Mo 27,17; 1Sam 18,16; 2Sam 5,2)14And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. (1Sam 18,5; 1Sam 18,12)15And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. (1Sam 18,14)16But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. (1Sam 18,5)
David Marries Michal
17Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” (1Sam 14,49; 1Sam 17,25; 1Sam 18,21; 1Sam 18,25; 1Sam 25,28)18And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” (1Sam 18,23; 2Sam 7,18)19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife. (Ri 7,22; 2Sam 21,8)20Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. (1Sam 18,17; 1Sam 18,28)21Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,[2] “You shall now be my son-in-law.” (2Mo 10,7; 1Sam 18,17; 1Sam 18,26)22And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’”23And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” (4Mo 16,9)24And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.”25Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. (1Mo 34,12; 2Mo 22,17; 1Sam 14,24; 1Sam 18,17; 1Sam 18,21)26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, (1Sam 18,21)27David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. (1Sam 18,13; 2Sam 3,14)28But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, (1Sam 18,12; 1Sam 18,20)29Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.30Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed. (1Sam 18,5; 1Sam 19,8; 2Sam 11,1)