Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it happened, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
David’s behavior and wisdom in battle, guided and provided by God’s Spirit, caused him to become increasingly effective and appreciated in Israel (1 Samuel 18:30). David had regarded himself as lightly esteemed (1 Samuel 18:23), but God made him highly esteemed (1 Samuel 18:30; cf. 1 Samuel 9:2).