⁴⁹ Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua, and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger was Michal.^(A)

³³ Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul,^[a] Saul^[b] of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal;^(A)

² The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

³⁹ Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal;^(A)

²⁰ David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!”^{(A) 21} David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—I will dance before the Lord.^{(B) 22} I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be humbled in my own eyes, but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” ²³ And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

¹³ He said, “Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall never appear in my presence unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”^{(A) 14} Then David sent messengers to Saul’s son Ishbaal,^[a] saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I became engaged at the price of one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.”^{(B) 15} Ishbaal^[b] sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish.^{(C) 16} But her husband went with her, weeping as he walked behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back home!” So he went back.^(D)

⁴⁴ Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.^(A)

⁷ And the women sang to one another as they made merry,

⁸ Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?”^{(B) 9} So Saul eyed David from that day on.

Saul Tries to Kill David

¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand,^{(C) 11} and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.^(D)

¹² Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.^{(E) 13} So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand, and David marched out and came in, leading the army.^{(F) 14} David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.^{(G) 15} When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.^(H)

David Marries Michal

¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I will not raise a hand against him; let the Philistines deal with him.”^{(I) 18} David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my kinsfolk, my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”^{(J) 19} But at the time when Saul’s daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.^(K)

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him.^{(L) 21} Saul thought, “Let me give her to him that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,^[a] “You shall now be my son-in-law.”^(M)