⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling^(A) and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

²⁵ Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price^(A) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge^(B) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan^(C) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶ When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, ²⁷ David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal^(D) in marriage.

²⁸ When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal^(E) loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid^(F) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

³⁰ The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success^(G) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

⁸ Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

David Saves Keilah

23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah^(A) and are looting the threshing floors,”^{(B) 2} he inquired^(C) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

³ But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

⁴ Once again David inquired^(D) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines^(E) into your hand.^(F)” ⁵ So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah.

David Defeats the Philistines^(A)

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.^{(B) 18} Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;^{(C) 19} so David inquired^(D) of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^{[a](E) 21} The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.^(F)

²² Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ²³ so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound^(G) of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front^(H) of you to strike the Philistine army.” ²⁵ So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines^(I) all the way from Gibeon^[b](J) to Gezer.^(K)

David’s Victories^(A)

8 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines^(B) and subdued^(C) them, and he took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.