David’s Successes Arouse Saul’s Suspicions

5 David went out whenever[fn] Saul sent him, and he succeeded. So Saul appointed him over the men of the war, and it pleased[fn] all the people and even pleased[fn] the servants of Saul. 6 When they were coming back[fn] after David had returned from striking down the Philistine, the women went out from all the cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, with joy, and with three-stringed instruments.

• 7 And the women sang as they danced, and they said,“Saul has struck down his thousands,
  • but David his ten thousands!”

8 Saul became very angry,[fn] and this saying displeased him,[fn] and he thought, “They have attributed to David ten thousands, but to me they have attributed thousands! What more can he have but the kingdom?”[fn] 9 So Saul was watching[fn] David with suspicion from that day onward.

10 On[fn] the next day, the evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied in the middle of the house. Now David was playing the lyre with his hand on that day as usual,[fn] and the spear was in Saul’s hand. 11 Then Saul hurled the spear and thought, “I will pin David to the wall.”[fn] But David eluded him twice. 12 Now Saul was threatened by the presence of David[fn] because Yahweh was with him, but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence,[fn] and made him commander of a thousand, so he[fn] marched in and out at the front of the army.[fn] 14 And David was achieving success in all his ways and Yahweh was with him, 15 but when Saul saw that he was very successful, he was severely threatened by him.[fn] 16 However, all of Israel and Judah were loving David, for he was going forth and marching ahead of them.