Page "Books of Samuel" Paragraph 18

* Republican source: a source with an anti-monarchial bias.

This source first describes Samuel as decisively ridding the people of the Philistines, and begrudgingly appointing an individual chosen by God to be king, namely Saul.

David is described as someone renowned for his skill at playing the harp, and consequently summoned to Saul's court to calm his moods.

Saul's son Jonathan becomes friends with David, which some commentators view as romantic, and later acts as his protector against Saul's more violent intentions.

At a later point, having been deserted by God on the eve of battle, Saul consults a medium at Endor, only to be condemned for doing so by Samuel's ghost, and told he and his sons will be killed.

David is heartbroken on discovering the death of Jonathan, tearing his clothes apart.