So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

Then Samuel went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

So Saul feared David, because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.

When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is that your voice, my son David?” Then Saul wept loudly. ¹ 

When Saul’s servants reported what David had said,

David sent scouts and verified that Saul had indeed arrived. ¹ 

David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him a great deal, ¹  and he became his armor bearer.

Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it ¹  pleased him.

Saul became even more afraid of him. ¹  Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on. ² 

Until the day he ¹  died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul’s servants. ¹ 

While ¹  Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistines’ camp was becoming greater and greater. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!”

Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait a minute! ¹  Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” Saul ²  said to him, “Tell me.”

Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much. ¹ 

When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied.

David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down ¹  the road.

David promised Saul this on oath. ¹  Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. ¹  The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

The Philistines stayed right on the heels ¹  of Saul and his sons. They ²  struck down Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua.

As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential ¹  in the house of Saul.