Saul’s Family

⁴⁹ Saul’s sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua.^(A) The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal.^(B)

² The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons,^(A) and they killed his sons Jonathan,^(B) Abinadab and Malki-Shua.^(C)

²⁰ When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked^(A) in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

²¹ David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed^(B) me ruler^(C) over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. ²² I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

²³ And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

¹³ “Good,” said David. “I will make an agreement with you. But I demand one thing of you: Do not come into my presence unless you bring Michal daughter of Saul when you come to see me.”^{(A) 14} Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, “Give me my wife Michal,^(B) whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins.”

¹⁵ So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband^(C) Paltiel^(D) son of Laish. ¹⁶ Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim.^(E) Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.

⁴⁴ But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel^[a](A) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.^(B)

⁷ As they danced, they sang:^(A)

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?^(C)” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close^(D) eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil^[a] spirit^(E) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,^(F) as he usually^(G) did. Saul had a spear^(H) in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself,^(I) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded^(J) him twice.^(K)

¹² Saul was afraid^(L) of David, because the Lord^(M) was with^(N) David but had departed from^(O) Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led^(P) the troops in their campaigns.^{(Q) 14} In everything he did he had great success,^(R) because the Lord was with^(S) him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.^(T)

¹⁷ Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter^(U) Merab. I will give her to you in marriage;^(V) only serve me bravely and fight the battles^(W) of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself,^(X) “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”

¹⁸ But David said to Saul, “Who am I,^(Y) and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?^(Z)” ¹⁹ So^[b] when the time came for Merab,^(AA) Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.^(AB)

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal^(AC) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.^{(AD) 21} “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare^(AE) to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”