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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 Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it[a] pleased him. 21 Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and so the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law.”[b]

22 Then Saul instructed his servants, “Tell David secretly, ‘The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately to[c] David. David replied, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly esteemed man!”

24 When Saul’s servants reported what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Here is what you should say to David: ‘There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except 100 Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his[d] enemies.’” (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.)

26 So his servants told David these things and David agreed[e] to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired[f] 27 when David, along with his men, went out[g] and struck down 200 Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and presented all of them to the king so that he could become the king’s son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

28 When Saul realized[h] that the Lord was with David and that his[i] daughter Michal loved David,[j] 29 Saul became even more afraid of him.[k] Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on.[l] 30 [m] The leaders of the Philistines would march out, and as often as they did so, David achieved more success than all of Saul’s servants. His name was held in high esteem.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:20 tn Heb “the matter.”
  2. 1 Samuel 18:21 tc The final sentence of v. 21 is absent in most LXX mss.
  3. 1 Samuel 18:23 tn Heb “in the ears of.”
  4. 1 Samuel 18:25 tn Heb “the king’s.”
  5. 1 Samuel 18:26 tn Heb “and it was acceptable in the eyes of David.”
  6. 1 Samuel 18:26 tn Heb “the days were not fulfilled.”
  7. 1 Samuel 18:27 tn Heb “arose and went.”
  8. 1 Samuel 18:28 tn Heb “saw and knew.”
  9. 1 Samuel 18:28 tn Heb “Saul’s.” In the translation the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  10. 1 Samuel 18:28 tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  11. 1 Samuel 18:29 tn Heb “of David.” In the translation the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun for stylistic reasons.
  12. 1 Samuel 18:29 tc The final sentence of v. 29 is absent in most LXX mss.tn Heb “all the days.”
  13. 1 Samuel 18:30 tc Verse 30 is absent in most LXX mss.