BibleTools
1 Samuel 18:17
Compare all
15 Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.
16 But aall Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.  

David Marries Michal

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; aI will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight bthe Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, c“Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”  
18 So David said to Saul, a“Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”  
19 But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to aAdriel the bMeholathite as a wife.  
20 aNow Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.  
21 So Saul said, “I will give her to him, that she may1 be a snare to him, and that athe hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, b“You shall be my son-in-law today.”  
22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Communicate with David secretly, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”
23 So Saul’s servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?”
24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying,1 “In this manner David spoke.”  
25 Then Saul said, “Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any adowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take bvengeance on the king’s enemies.’ ” But Saul cthought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.  
26 So when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to become the king’s son-in-law. Now athe days had not expired;  
27 therefore David arose and went, he and ahis men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. And bDavid brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full count to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as a wife.  
28 Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him;
29 and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy1 continually.  
Verse Comparison: 1 Samuel 18:17

<< 1 Samuel 18:16   1 Samuel 18:18 >>

American Standard Version
And Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight Jehovah's battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

Amplified® Bible
Saul said to David, My elder daughter Merab I will give you as wife; only serve me courageously and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul thought, Let not my hand, but the Philistines' hand, be upon him.

Contemporary English Version
One day, Saul told David, "If you'll be brave and fight the LORD's battles for me, I'll let you marry my oldest daughter Merab." But Saul was really thinking, "I don't want to kill David myself, so I'll let the Philistines do it for me."

Darby English Version
And Saul said to David, Behold my eldest daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight Jehovah's battles. But Saul thought, My hand shall not be upon him, but the hand of the Philistines shall be upon him.

Good News Bible
Then Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife on condition that you serve me as a brave and loyal soldier, and fight the LORD's battles." (Saul was thinking that in this way the Philistines would kill David, and he would not have to do it himself.)

King James Version
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.""

New International Version
Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"

New King James Version
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Then Saul said to David, "Here you see my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only prove yourself a valiant man for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not come against him, but let the hand of the Philistines come against him."

Revised Standard Version
Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you for a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the LORD'S battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him."

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith unto David, `Lo, my elder daughter Merab -- her I give to thee for a wife; only, be to me for a son of valour, and fight the battles of Jehovah;' and Saul said, `Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.'


<< 1 Samuel 18:16   1 Samuel 18:18 >>

Join 137,084+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Close
E-mail This Page