After the heroic feat of Da'vid in slaying Go-li'ath in single combat, Saul showed the same ungrateful, selfish spirit which had possessed him after the victory of his eldest son Jon'a-than at Mich'mash. He pretended not to know who Da'vid was, and tried to deprive him of the honor in which he was held by the people. The love which Saul had once felt toward his young musician was now turnt into envy, for the king could not bear to hear anyone praised but himself.
Da'vid came back from his great victory carrying the head of Go-li'ath, which he presented to the king. Under the circumstances, Saul was forced to acknowledge Da'vid's bravery by suitable honors and rewards, so he received him into his own house and made him an officer in the army.
A few days passed before the armies returnt from pursuing the Phi-lis'tines, and the usual celebrations of victory took place. When the soldiers returnt, Da'vid took his place among them in the triumphal march, for his victory over Go-li'ath had done more than anything else to end the war.
Even though Saul had already publicly honored the heroism of Da'vid and had appointed him as an officer in his army, he could not overcome his envy; to hear the people sing the praises of one who had put his own glory to shame deeply aroused the king's anger. Da'vid's loyalty to the army won him the good-will of the other officers and soldiers, while his courage in warfare made him more popular than ever with the Is'ra-el-ites. Much as he hated to do it, Saul was obliged to show Da'vid the same courtesy and favor which the other officers enjoyed, and to send him out in battle whenever the peace of Is'ra-el was threatened by further uprisings by the Phi-lis'tines.
These circumstances brought great unhappiness to Saul, and he fell once again into fits of melancholy and fierce unrest. He was constantly haunted by Sam'u-el's report that the LORD had chosen another to take his place upon the throne. The black moods which had been the occasion for bringing the shepherd boy to him some years before now became worse than ever. So Da'vid was invited once more to play the harp for him with the hope that these trying spells might be driven away. This time, however, the sweet music of Da'vid no longer soothed the troubled spirit of the king. Saul's heart was filled with murderous jealousy, for he began to suspect that the young hero was the LORD'S choice for the throne of Is'ra-el. Twice he tried to kill Da'vid by throwing a javelin at him, but each time the young man was able to dodge the deadly weapon.
Convinced that the LORD was with Da'vid, and that he himself was rejected by GOD, Saul decided to place him in command of a thousand men in some outpost where he could not see him. But even this plan did not overcome his determination to do away with Da'vid. He began to seek some means of having him killed by some of the officers, or by the Phi-lis'tines in battle.
Saul pretended to have great admiration for Da'vid because of his bravery and prudent behavior, and offered to give him his eldest daughter in marriage. Of course, he did not really wish to have Da'vid become his son-in-law, but the offer was made in the hope of encouraging him to attempt such dangerous exploits in war that he would eventually be killed. Saul had no intention of keeping his promise, and when the time came for Da'vid to marry Me'rab, the princess who had been promised him in marriage, it was found that she had been given to another officer in the army.
In the meantime Saul's younger daughter Mi'chal had fallen in love with the noble young officer, and the king proposed once more to make Da'vid his son-in-law. He was no more sincere this time than before, and his failure to keep the promise concerning Me'rab seems to have led Da'vid to pay little attention to the second proposal.
