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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”

David Marries Saul’s Daughter

20 Now (A)Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they informed Saul, the thing was pleasing [a]to him. 21 For Saul thought, “I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for 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 become my son-in-law, today.” 22 Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’” 23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words [b]to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, (D)since I am only a poor man and insignificant?” 24 Then Saul’s servants reported to him, saying, “[c]These are the words David spoke.” 25 Saul then said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any (E)dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, (F)to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But (G)Saul plotted to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 When his servants told David these words, [d]it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. So [e](H)before the time had expired, 27 David set out and went, (I)he and his men, and fatally struck two hundred men among the Philistines. Then (J)David brought their foreskins, and they presented all two hundred of them to the king, so that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. 28 When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines (K)went to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David (L)was more [f]successful than all the servants of Saul. So his name was held in high esteem.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 18:20 Lit in his sight
  2. 1 Samuel 18:23 Lit in the ears of
  3. 1 Samuel 18:24 Lit According to these words David
  4. 1 Samuel 18:26 Lit the thing was pleasing in the sight of
  5. 1 Samuel 18:26 Lit the days were not fulfilled, and
  6. 1 Samuel 18:30 Or wise