Chapter 18: The hatred of Shaul for Dovid

1.      The love of Yehonason for Dovid:

• When Dovid finished speaking with Shaul, and the soul of Yehonason connected with the soul of Dovid, and Yehonason loved him like his soul.
• Dovid remains by Shaul: Shaul took Dovid on that day and did not allow him to return home to the house of his father.
• The covenant between Yehonason and Dovid: Yehonason and Dovid made a covenant with each other in expression of their love for each other like their own soul.
• Yehonason gives his armor to Dovid: Yehonason removed the coat that was on him and he gave it to Dovid. He gave him all his gear and armor, including his sword and bow and arrow, and belt.

2.      Dovid’s rise to power and fame:

• Dovid is appointed general: Dovid would successfully do all the bids that Shaul sent him to do, and Shaul appointed him the head of his army. He found favor in the eyes of the nation and also in the eyes of the servants of Shaul [i.e. his generals[1]].
• The women sing to Shaul and Dovid: When they [i.e. Dovid and Shaul] returned from Dovid smiting the Philistine, the women came out from all the cities of Israel to greet them. They sang towards Shaul the king with musical instruments including tambourines and a vessel called Mecholos and a Shalishim [made up of three strings[2]]. The women who played the instruments and rejoiced with the public, sang in a loud voice: Shaul smote the thousands and Dovid smote the tens of thousands.
• Shaul’s anger: Shaul became very angry and it was very disturbing in his eyes that they sang that Dovid smote tens of thousands while he was only praised for smiting thousands, and that all that Dovid was now lacking was the kingship.

3.      Shaul’s hatred for Dovid:

• Shaul hated Dovid from that day and onwards.
• Shaul attempts to kill Dovid while in a state of insanity: The next day, an evil spirit of G-d resided on Shaul and he began prophesizing [i.e. saying incomprehensible words like an insane person, which is also similar to how prophets prophesize[3]] within his house. In the meantime, Dovid was playing the harp with his hand as he would do daily [to help banish the evil spirit from Shaul]. Shaul was holding a sword in his hand while this was taking place. Shaul took the sword and stated that he will smite Dovid and the wall [i.e. throw the sword in a way that it will pierce through Dovid and the wall[4]], and Dovid swerved away from him twice [with Divine providence[5]].
• Shaul fears Dovid, and sees Dovid’s fame and success: Shaul feared Dovid, as G-d was with him, and from Shaul He had removed Himself. So Shaul decided to remove Dovid from his presence and appointed him a general of thousands, and so Dovid would pass back and forth before the nation. Dovid was successful in all his ways, and G-d was with him. Shaul saw that he was very successful, and he feared him. All the Jewish people and Judea loved Dovid, as he would pass back and forth from before them.

[1] Metzudos Dovid 18:5

[2] Metzudos Tziyon 18:7

[3] Rashi 18:10

[4] Rashi 18:11

[5] Metzudos Dovid 18:12