Add parallel Print Page Options

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

17 One day Saul said to David, “I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.”

18 “Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” David exclaimed. “My father’s family is nothing!” 19 So[a] when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 18:19 Or But.

17 Saul said to David, “Look, here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage on this condition: you must be my warrior and fight the Lord’s battles.” I won’t raise my hand against him, Saul thought; let the Philistines do that!

18 “I’m not worthy,” David replied to Saul, “and neither is my family or my father’s clan in Israel, to become the king’s son-in-law.” 19 And so when the time came for Saul’s daughter Merab to be married to David, she was given to Adriel from Meholah instead.

Read full chapter

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

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

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:19 Or However,

17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?

19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

Read full chapter