12. The Lord was with David but had left Saul. So Saul was afraid of David.
13. He sent David away from him. He made David commander of 1,000 soldiers. So David led them in battle.
14. He had great success in everything he did because the Lord was with him.
15. Saul saw that David was very successful. And he became even more afraid of David.
16. But all the people of Israel and Judah loved David. This was because he led them well in battle.
17. Saul said to David, “You’re a brave soldier. And you fight the Lord’s battles. Here is my older daughter Merab. I will let you marry her.” Saul had decided, “I won’t have to kill David. The Philistines will do that!”
18. But David said, “I am not good enough for this honor. And my family is not important enough for me to become the king’s son-in-law.”
19. So when the time came for Saul’s daughter Merab to marry David, Saul gave her instead to Adriel of Meholah.
20. Now Saul’s other daughter Michal loved David. When they told Saul about Michal loving David, he was pleased.
21. He thought, “I will let Michal marry David. Then she will become a trap for him. And the Philistines will defeat him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You may become my son-in-law.”
22. And Saul gave an order to his servants. He told them, “Speak to David in private. Say, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you. His servants like you. You should become his son-in-law.’”