The battle-weary King Saul struggles to defend his Kingdom from one of Israel’s ancient enemies, the Philistines, by marrying off his daughter, Merav, to Mattiyahu of Judah. All are hopeful this strategic marriage will unify the twelve Israelite tribes. In the midst of the wedding preparations, the prophet Samuel beckons Saul and relays a message from God that he must destroy the Amalekites, another of Israel’s ancient enemies. Saul dares to challenge the Prophet Samuel, setting in motion a series of calamities that will threaten his rule of the kingdom. Meanwhile, the shepherd, David, is determined to settle his family’s debts. He travels to the King’s palace in Gibeah with his cousin Yoab and makes the bold proposition that he can kill the lion hunting his flock. Queen Ahinoam scoffs at David, but daughter Michal thinks he just might accomplish this dangerous feat.
Saul confides in David after Samuel's prophecy; Ishbaal plans to assassinate the prophet; as the Philistines prepare to wage war, the Israelites realize they're outnumbered; Ahinoam proposes a marriage between her son and the daughter of Eitan.
King Achish has been using his fierce general, Goliath, to demoralize King Saul’s depleted and outnumbered army of soldiers. Saul sends his son Ishbaal to fight Goliath, but when that yields disastrous results, Saul offers any man who beats Goliath a bounty and the hand of his daughter in marriage. Everyone is shocked when David volunteers to fight Goliath with his slingshot in the Valley of Elah. Despite everyone’s pleas, Michal escapes Gibeah, believing her place is by her father’s side at the battlefield. Meanwhile, Rizpah’s true origins are revealed, and David’s older brother, Eliab, inadvertently helps David realize his destiny.
In the midst of battle, David struggles with his feelings for Michal and devises a plan to get King Saul’s approval to marry her instead of Merav. Michal confides in Jonathan and asks him to watch out for David on his journey. Fueled by suspicion and jealousy, Ishbal seeks out Eliab to travel back to Bethlehem so he can find out more about David. Meanwhile, Ahinoam simmers with anger over David’s humiliation of Merav, and Saul empathizes with David’s plight by pledging to be faithful and more loving toward Ahimoam.
On the day of David's wedding to Michal, trouble ensues. King Achish tests David's loyalty to him. The truth of David's prophecy comes to light, and King Saul takes action at the wedding ceremony.
Jonathan is dying in the dungeon while Saul refuses to help him, forcing Merav and Anihoam to rescue Jonathan with the help of Ritzpah. Meanwhile, David recruits Israelite soldiers being held under Philistine guard to create an army for himself.
Eliab finds David and brings him six hundred Israelite soldiers who have defected from Saul's army. When Michal warns her father about war with the Israelites, Saul refuses to let her return to David. An upset David forms an alliance with Achish against Saul.
Merav believes the House of Saul will fall and the only one who can save them from their fate is David. Rizpah aligns with David in exchange for vengeance against the Edomites.
Saul ignores a vision of his destroyed legacy, and unites with David to fight King Achish for Israel's sake. In the end, David flees Gibeah, abandoning his people, his wife, and his destiny.
