David & Jonathan Become Brothers
- Dates
- 1024 BC
Saul is jealous, angry, and afraid of David's growing popularity in Israel. He arranges for David to marry his daughter and become a son—in—law of the king. Thus, David becomes a brother—in—law of Jonathan who becomes his best friend.
In detail
In 1 Samuel 18 we see two distinct personalities stand forth in sharp contrast, the cunning duplicity of Saul against the simplicity and straightforward conduct of David. Not only did Saul's conscience trouble him, but secretly he was also afraid of the people, who loved David and were vocal in their expressions of loyalty to him. Jealous of every word of praise favoring the youth, Saul resorted to double—dealing—the stock in trade of selfish men—open flattery, and secret plotting.
At first David seems to have been unaware of the snares set for him. He accepted both promotion and demotion in the same spirit of cooperative humility. His heart being pure before God, he was concerned only with the efficient discharge of every task assigned him, and calmly indifferent to personal danger.
Bible passages
- 1 Samuel 18:17-30
17 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. 18 And David said unto Saul, 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 came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife. …
Text of the King James Version.
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