16. Everyone in Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in and out ⌊of battle⌋.
17. Finally, Saul said to David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife if you prove yourself to be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” (Saul thought, “I must not lay a hand on him. Let the Philistines do that.”)
18. “Who am I?” David asked Saul. “And how important are my relatives or my father’s family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?”
19. But when the time came to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was married to Adriel from Meholah.
20. However, Saul’s daughter Michal fell in love with David. When Saul was told about it, the news pleased him.