1 Samuel 18:12-30

12Now 1Saul was afraid of David, 2because the Lord was with him but 3had left Saul. 13So Saul removed him from 4his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and 5he went out and came in before the people. 14David was 6successful in all his ways, for 7the Lord was with him. 15When Saul saw that he was 8very successful, he was afraid of him. 16But 9all Israel and Judah loved David, for he would go out to battle and 10return 11before them.

17Then Saul said to David, “12Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight 13the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be against him, but 14let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18But David said to Saul, “15Who am I, and who is my family, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” 19So it came about at the time that Merab, Saul’s daughter, was to be given to David, that she was given instead to 16Adriel 17the Meholathite as a wife.

20Now 18Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they informed Saul, the thing was pleasing 19to him. 21For Saul thought, “I will give her to him so that she may become a trap for him, and 20that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David, “21For a second time you may become my son-in-law, today.” 22Then 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.’” 23So Saul’s servants spoke these words 22to David. But David said, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law, 23since I am only a poor man and insignificant?” 24Then Saul’s servants reported to him, saying, “24These are the words David spoke.” 25Saul then said, “This is what you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any 25dowry except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, 26to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’” But 27Saul plotted to have David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26When his servants told David these words, 28it pleased David to become the king’s son-in-law. So 2930before the time had expired, 27David set out and went, 31he and his men, and fatally struck two hundred men among the Philistines. Then 32David 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. 28When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29then Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

30Then the commanders of the Philistines 33went to battle, and it happened as often as they went out, that David 34was more 35successful than all the servants of Saul. So his name was held in high esteem.