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.  ‡

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.’ ”