David Marries Michal

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is vmy elder daughter Merab. wI will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me xand fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, ybut let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 And David said to Saul, z“Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” 19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to aAdriel the bMeholathite for a wife.

20 Now vSaul’s daughter Michal cloved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may dbe a snare for him eand that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,2 f“You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’ ” 23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, g“Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no hbride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, ithat he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ ” jNow Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. kBefore the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, lalong with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. mAnd David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 But when Saul saw and knew that nthe Lord was with David, oand that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 pThen the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out qDavid had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.