After the great victory of David over Goliath, and thus the Israelites over the Philistines, the history of 1 Samuel focuses on Saul's family. David, we are told, leaves his father Jesse's household and joins King Saul's household, eventually becoming his son-in-law.
The reasons for this, and the timeline, are a little unclear. 1 Samuel offers several possibilities: David, the poet and singer, was the only person who could calm the king; David, the slayer of Goliath, was rewarded by being invited to join the king's family (and eventually marry one of his daughters); David, the successful general, appeared to be a threat to Saul's authority, and he wanted to keep a close eye on this potential challenger to the throne (i.e. "keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer"). Perhaps David was already part of the royal household before he faced Goliath; perhaps only afterward.
In any event, David becomes a recognizable figure alongside Saul's biological children, especially his son Jonathan and his daughter Michel (who becomes David's wife). Like many ancient kings, Saul sees his children not only as the future -- that is, as people who can succeed him after he dies -- but as a present threat -- that is, as people who might try to hasten either the king's death or defeat. So we get several stories of family politics, which suggest some pretty dramatic love/hate relationships between those involved.
This common motif of history (the most notable Biblical practitioner of this was King Herod aka "Herod the Great" who was likely King of Judea when Jesus was born, and who likely killed several of his children to prevent them from usurping the throne) is also a common theme of tragedy, perhaps most notably of Shakespeare's King Lear, where all the king's children are girls which both explains Lear's desire to control them and his subsequent descent into madness.
Consider this brief exchange between Goneril and Regan after the King has disowned their sister Cordelia (from Act I, Scene 1):
GONERIL:
Sister, it is not little I have to say of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will hence tonight.
REGAN:
That's most certain, and with you. Next month with us.
GONERIL:
You see how full of changes his age is. The observation we have made of it hath been but little. He always loved our sister most, and with what poor judgement he hath now cast her off appears too grossly.
REGAN:
'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.
GONERIL:
The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look from his age to receive not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring them.
REGAN:
Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of Kent's banishment.
GONERIL:
There is further compliment of leave-taking between France and him. Pray you, let us sit together. If our father carry authority with such disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us.
So it is in the house of Saul. Saul is beginning to act strangely and erratically, post David and Goliath. His mood swings are greater; his impulses are less controlled and less rational. The children have to cope with this. They love their father; moreover they owe obedience to him. But Saul makes this difficult.
So the kids talk about it behind the king's back. They plan what to do whenever Saul goes off the deep end. Michel marries David, and grows to love him. Jonathan is enthralled with David and develops a deep friendship with him -- perhaps even more than that, politically speaking, an alliance. They protect the king and each other. Eventually one of them, David, is disowned and forced to leave Saul's household.
And so begins the downfall of the House of Saul.
This is some of what we'll consider Sunday as we continue our study of the early Jewish Monarchy.
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