17 Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife,(A) if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.”(B) But Saul was thinking, “My hand doesn’t need to be against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”(C)

18 Then David responded, “Who am I,(D) and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.(E)

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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.

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