20 Now (A)Saul's daughter Michal (B)loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may (C)be a snare for him (D)and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time,[a] (E)“You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.’” 23 And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, (F)“Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no (G)bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, (H)that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” (I)Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. (J)Before the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, (K)along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. (L)And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 But when Saul saw and knew that (M)the Lord was with David, (N)and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.

30 (O)Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out (P)David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:21 Hebrew by two

20 Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. Saul was informed of this and he liked the idea.[a] 21 Saul told himself,[b] “I’ll give her to him and she can be a snare to him and the Philistines will harm him.”[c] So Saul told David, “For a second time you can be my son-in-law today.”

22 Saul commanded his officials,[d] “Speak with David privately and say, ‘Look, the king delights in you, and all his officials[e] love you. Now become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 Saul’s officials[f] delivered this message to David,[g] and he[h] asked, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law an unimportant thing to you? I’m a poor and unimportant man.”

24 Saul’s officials[i] reported to him: “This is what David said.”

25 Saul said, “This is what you are to tell David, ‘The king desires no bride price except 100 Philistine foreskins to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would cause David to die at the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his officials[j] delivered this message to David, David decided it would be a good thing to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the time was up, 27 David got up, went out with his men, and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and gave them all to the king so he could become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28 As Saul continued to observe, he realized that the Lord was with David and that Saul’s daughter Michal loved him. 29 Then Saul was even more afraid of David, and Saul was David’s enemy from that time on.[k]

30 The Philistine commanders would go out to fight[l] and whenever they did, David was more successful than any of Saul’s other leaders.[m] His name was held in high esteem.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:20 Lit. the matter was straight in his eyes
  2. 1 Samuel 18:21 The Heb. lacks to himself
  3. 1 Samuel 18:21 Lit. so the hand of the Philistines will be against him
  4. 1 Samuel 18:22 Or servants
  5. 1 Samuel 18:22 Or servants
  6. 1 Samuel 18:23 Or servants
  7. 1 Samuel 18:23 Lit. spoke these words in the ears of David
  8. 1 Samuel 18:23 Lit. David
  9. 1 Samuel 18:24 Or servants
  10. 1 Samuel 18:26 Or servants
  11. 1 Samuel 18:29 Lit. all the days
  12. 1 Samuel 18:30 The Heb. lacks to fight
  13. 1 Samuel 18:30 Or servants