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20 In the meantime, Saul’s daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it. 21 “Here’s another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!” Saul said to himself. But to David he said, “Today you have a second chance to become my son-in-law!”

22 Then Saul told his men to say to David, “The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don’t you accept the king’s offer and become his son-in-law?”

23 When Saul’s men said these things to David, he replied, “How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?”

24 When Saul’s men reported this back to the king, 25 he told them, “Tell David that all I want for the bride price is 100 Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want.” But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight.

26 David was delighted to accept the offer. Before the time limit expired, 27 he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king’s requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him. So Saul gave his daughter Michal to David to be his wife.

28 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, 29 Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.

30 Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.

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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