Saul told Jonathan and his servants that they should kill David. When he was in the field where David was hiding, Jonathan pleaded that David is innocent and has brought good to Saul and the LORD's salvation to Israel by killing Goliath. Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death." David returned to his presence.
When a war came and another victory for David, a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. As David played the lyre, Saul tried to pin David to no success. David fled, so he sent messengers to his house to watch so he might kill him in the morning. Michal told the messengers that David was sick, so Saul sent back the messengers to see him in the bed and kill him. When they came in, there was merely a teraphim in the bed with a pillow of goats' hair at its head. Saul asked Michal about the deception, and she said he had threatened to kill her.
Saul learned that David was with Samuel at Naioth in Ramah. Saul sent three groups of messengers, and each prophesied when they found him. Saul went himself, asking at the great well that is in Secu the whereabouts of Samuel and David and went after them and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and he prophesied until he came to Naioth. He, too, stripped off his clothes, and he, too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. This it is said, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
Saul's anger at David's absence
Saul sat on his seat at the table by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner by Saul's side. David's place was empty, but Saul thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean." But on the second day of his absence, he asked about it. Jonathan told him he had asked to go to a sacrifice in Bethlehem. Saul became angry and called Jonathan a shameful son of a perverse woman for choosing David, for he cannot become king as long as David lives. Jonathan asked what David had done to deserve death. Saul hurled his spear at him. Jonathan rose from the table without eating and left. (1 Samuel 20)
When Saul heard David was discovered with 400 men. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree with his spear, and he asked his servants if the son of Jesse would give them vineyards, make them commanders, that they would conspired against him. No one disclosed to him when his son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None is sorry for him or discloses David's stirring up of his servants to lie in wait.
Doeg the Edomite told him he had seen David coming to Nob to Ahimelech to inquire of the LORD and receive provisions and the sword of Goliath. Saul summoned Ahimelech and all his father's house, but he replied that he often inquired of the LORD for David and knew nothing of this.Saul told him he shall die because he knew about the rebellion and didn't report it. When none of his servants would strike the priests of the LORD, Doeg the Edomite killed 85 priests and all the men, women, children, infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep of Nob. (1 Samuel 22:1-19)
Saul learns David is in Keilah (he had just delivered them from a Philistine attack) and knows God will give him into his hand in that city with gates and bars. Saul summoned an army to go to Keilah to besiege David and his men. When Saul was told David had escaped Keilah, he gave up the expedition. (1 Samuel 23:1-14)
The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah, telling him to come down and receive David, for he was hiding in the wilderness of Ziph, in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah. Saul said, "May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me." And had them ensure their info first. Saul heard David was in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon, and he went after him. Saul went on one side of the mountain, David the other. As Saul was closing in, a messenger alerted him to a Philistine raid. So he returned from pursuing David and went against the Philistines. That place was called the Rock of Escape. (1 Samuel 23:15-29)
When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told David is in the wilderness of Engedi. So he took 3000 chosen men to seek David in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. He came to sheepfolds by the way to a cave and went to relieve himself. David and his men were in the innermost parts of the cave, but he did not know. David stealthily cut his robe corner. Saul left, and David called after him, bowing. He showed the robe corner and said may the LORD judge and avenge, but his hand was not going to be against him. Saul asked if he was his son David, and called him more righteous than him. He asked the LORD reward him. He knew David would be king, so he asked he not cut off his offspring nor destroy his name out of his father's house, and David swore it. Saul went home, and David went up to the stronghold. (1 Samuel 24)
When David marries Abigail and Ahinoam of Jezreel, Saul gives Michal to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim. (1 Samuel 25:39-44)
David steals Saul's spear and jar of water
The Ziphites told Saul at Gibeah that David hid on the hill of Hachilah. Saul pursued him in the wilderness of Ziph with Abner the son of Ner and 3000 men and camped on the hill of Hachilah beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. He slept with his spear stuck in the ground at his head and his commander and army around him. David came in the night with Abishai the son of Zeruiah and took his spear and jar of water. The LORD sent a deep sleep, so no one noticed.
From a great space, David called to Abner that he had not protected the LORD's anointed and deserved death. His spear and jar of water are missing. Saul recognized David, and David asked him that if he was stirred by the LORD that the LORD may accept an offering, but if he was stirred by men, that they may be cursed. They had driven David out so he had no share in the heritage of the LORD, telling him to serve other gods. Saul claimed to be in sin and asked David to return in peace. David offered his spear back to one of Saul's young men and asked the LORD to see his own life as precious like how he had viewed Saul's. Saul blessed him, and David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. (1 Samuel 26)
It was told to Saul that David had fled to Gath, so Saul no longer sought him. (1 Samuel 27:4)