1 Samuel 18:5

³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

⁴ And Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

⁶ As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.

⁷ And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.
KJV: And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
WEB: David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely; and Saul set him over the men of war. It was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
ASV: And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul`s servants.
DARBY: And David went forth; whithersoever Saul sent him he prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
BLB: And David went out everywhere Saul sent him; he acted wisely, and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.

ÅB: Så dro David ut i krigen; i alt det Saul sendte ham til, bar han seg klokt at; Saul satte ham over sine krigsmenn, og han var vel likt av hele folket, også av Sauls tjenere.
OTB: Og David gikk ut og hadde suksess hvor enn Saul sendte ham, så Saul satte ham over krigsmennene. Og det var til behag for hele folket, og også for Sauls tjenere.
B1930: Så drog David ut i krigen; i alt det Saul sendte ham til, bar han sig klokt at; Saul satte ham over sine krigsmenn, og han var vel likt av hele folket, også av Sauls tjenere.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 18:30
Every time the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers, so that his name was highly esteemed.
Read in context
1 Samuel 18:14–15
and he continued to prosper in all his ways, because the LORD was with him.
Read in context
Colossians 4:5
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.
Read in context
Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
Read in context
Ephesians 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Read in context
Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Read in context
Psalms 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
Read in context
1 Samuel 13:2
He chose for himself three thousand men of Israel: Two thousand were with Saul at Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. And the rest of the troops he sent away, each to his own home.
Read in context