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Saul’s Daughter Given to David

20 And (A)Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. So they told Saul, and the thing was right in his eyes. 21 And Saul said, “I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and (B)that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “(C)For a second time you may be my son-in-law today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David secretly, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; so now, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words in [a]David’s hearing. But David said, “Is it trivial in your eyes to become the king’s son-in-law, (D)since I am a poor man and lightly esteemed?” 24 And the servants of Saul told to him [b]according to these words which David spoke. 25 Saul then said, “Thus you shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any (E)dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, (F)to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” Now (G)Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 Then his servants told David these words, and it was right in the eyes of David to become the king’s son-in-law. [c](H)So before the days had expired, 27 David rose up and went, (I)he and his men, and struck down two hundred men among the Philistines. Then (J)David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife. 28 Then Saul saw and knew that Yahweh was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 so Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines (K)went out to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David (L)behaved himself more insightfully than all the servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:23 Lit the ears of David
  2. 1 Samuel 18:24 Lit by saying according
  3. 1 Samuel 18:26 Lit And the days had not expired

20 Now Saul’s younger daughter Michal loved David. When this was reported to Saul, he was happy about it. 21 I’ll give her to him, Saul thought; she’ll cause him problems, and the Philistines will be against him.

So Saul said to David a second time, “Become my son-in-law now.”

22 Saul instructed his servants, “Tell David in private: ‘Look, the king likes you, and all his servants love you. You should become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 Saul’s servants whispered these things in David’s ear. But David said, “Do you think it’s a simple matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I don’t! I’m poor and insignificant.”

24 Saul’s servants reported what David said, 25 and Saul replied, “Tell David this: ‘The king doesn’t want any bridal gift, just a hundred Philistine foreskins as vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” (Saul was hoping that David would die at the hands of the Philistines.) 26 When the servants reported this to David, he was happy to become the king’s son-in-law. Even before the allotted time had expired,[a] 27 David got up and went with his soldiers and killed one hundred Philistines.[b] David brought their foreskins and counted them out for the king so he could become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to him in marriage.

28 When Saul knew for certain that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was David’s enemy for the rest of his life.[c] 30 And whenever the Philistine commanders came out for battle, David would have more success than the rest of Saul’s officers, so his fame spread widely.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:26 Heb uncertain
  2. 1 Samuel 18:27 LXX, cf 2 Sam 3:14; MT two hundred
  3. 1 Samuel 18:29 Or Saul became David’s constant enemy.