Chapter 15
The King's Envy
King Saul praises David, but the people's adoration sparks a seed of jealousy in the king's heart, foreshadowing future conflict.
The cheers of the Israelite soldiers, once a desperate murmur of fear, now swelled into a mighty chorus, echoing off the very hills that had so recently trembled with Goliath's fury. They surged around David, a tide of relieved men, their faces etched with a wonder that bordered on disbelief. He, the boy who had arrived with nothing but a sling and a prayer, had done what their seasoned warriors, their mighty king, could not. He had silenced the giant.
King Saul, his armor still bearing the dust of the battlefield, stood a little apart, his gaze fixed on the young shepherd. A slow smile spread across the king's face, a smile that seemed to chase away the shadows that had long clung to his brow. He extended a hand, his voice, usually commanding, now carrying a note of genuine admiration. "David, son of Jesse! You have saved us. You have brought glory to Israel this day."
The soldiers pressed closer, their hands clapping David on the back, their voices a cacophony of praise. "He is our champion!" "A