1 Samuel 18:17–29 (ESV)

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 against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’” And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. But when Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

At first, Saul offers his eldest daughter, Merab, to David but adds a creepy condition—David must fight “the LORD’s battles.” But the reason Israel asked for a king was to have someone to fight their battles. Saul is asking David to do his job for him.

The text notes that Saul’s motives are anything but honorable. David politely declines, or at least hints at declining. This parallels David’s rejection of Goliath’s terms. Then Saul reneges totally on the deal.

Enter Michal’s heart. The plot twists in an unexpected way, but Saul responds predictably. He’s still scheming to do away with David. He demands a ridiculous dowry; killing Goliath should have covered that. Then David mocks it by delivering double.

Saul hatred of David is becoming an all-consuming passion.

But notice that the passage doesn’t use the word hate. It says, “Saul was even more afraid of David.” The Hebrew word for to be afraid (לֵרֹ֛א, lay-roe) can mean to be in awe or have reverence for as well as to fear. This is all because, “Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.”

Saul thinks he’s scheming against David, but he’s actually scheming against God.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday ones are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to the DEEP click here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

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Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.