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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”

20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal(A) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.(B) 21 “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare(C) to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

22 Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”

23 They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law?(D) I’m only a poor man and little known.”

24 When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, 25 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price(E) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge(F) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan(G) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

26 When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, 27 David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal(H) in marriage.

28 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal(I) loved David, 29 Saul became still more afraid(J) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

30 The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success(K) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

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