12. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul.
13. Therefore, Saul reassigned David and made him commander over 1,000 men. David led the troops
14. and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him.
15. When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him.
16. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops.
17. Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “My hand doesn’t need to be against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18. Then David responded, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law? ”
19. When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.
20. Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him.
21. “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.”
22. Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”
23. Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor man who is common.”
24. The servants reported back to Saul, “These are the words David spoke.”