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20 Michal, Saul’s other daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about it, this situation pleased him. 21 Saul said, “I will give her to him, so that she will be a snare for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.”

So Saul said to David, “Today you have another opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

22 Saul commanded his officials to speak with David privately and to say, “Look, the king is delighted with you, and all his officials love you, so you should become the king’s son-in-law.” 23 Saul’s officials spoke those words to David’s ears.

But David said, “Does it seem to you to be a trivial thing for me to be the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and not highly regarded?”

24 Then Saul’s officials told him what David had said.

25 So Saul said, “Tell David that the king desires no price for the bride except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, for revenge against the king’s enemies.” Saul intended to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 When Saul’s officials told David these words, David was very pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the deadline, 27 David got up and went out with his men and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins and counted them out for the king, so that he could become the king’s son-in-law.

Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife. 28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that Michal, his daughter, loved David. 29 So Saul was even more afraid of David, and he was hostile to David all the time.

30 The commanders of the Philistines were regularly going out for battle, and as often as they went out, David was more successful than all the other officers of Saul. So his name was highly regarded.

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20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, so they told Saul, and the matter pleased him.[a] 21 And Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare for him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time you can become my son-in-law today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. So then, become a son-in-law of the king.’” 23 And Saul’s servants spoke these words to David privately.[b] But David said, “Is it insignificant in your sight[c] to become the son-in-law of the king, as I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?” 24 So the servants of Saul informed him, saying, “This is what David said.”[d] 25 Then Saul said, “This is what you must say to David: ‘The king desires no bride price[e] except for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to avenge himself on the enemies of the king.’” (Now Saul had planned to allow David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.) 26 So his servants told David these words, and the matter pleased David[f] to become the son-in-law of the king as the specified time had not expired.[g]

27 And David got up, and he and his men went and struck down two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they presented the full number[h] to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife. 28 When Saul realized[i] that Yahweh was with David and his own daughter Michal[j] loved him, 29 Saul was threatened by David still more,[k] so Saul became a perpetual enemy of David.[l] 30 Then the commanders of the Philistines went out for battle, and as often as they went out, David succeeded more than all the servants of Saul, and his name became very esteemed.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:20 Literally “was right in his eyes”
  2. 1 Samuel 18:23 Literally “in the ears of David”
  3. 1 Samuel 18:23 Literally “in your eyes”
  4. 1 Samuel 18:24 Literally “According to these words David spoke”
  5. 1 Samuel 18:25 Literally “There is not a desire for the king for a bride price”
  6. 1 Samuel 18:26 Literally “was right in the eyes of David”
  7. 1 Samuel 18:26 Literally “the days were not full”
  8. 1 Samuel 18:27 Literally “they filled them up”
  9. 1 Samuel 18:28 Literally “saw and knew”
  10. 1 Samuel 18:28 Literally “Michal the daughter of Saul”
  11. 1 Samuel 18:29 Literally “added to be afraid from the presence of David”
  12. 1 Samuel 18:29 Literally “was an enemy with David all the days”