Lexham English Bible

1 Samuel 18:19-25 Lexham English Bible (LEB)

19. But at the time Saul’s daughter Merab was to be given to David, she was given instead to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.

20. Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, so they told Saul, and the matter pleased him.

21. And Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare for him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time you can become my son-in-law today.”

22. Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. So then, become a son-in-law of the king.’ ”

23. And Saul’s servants spoke these words to David privately. But David said, “Is it insignificant in your sight to become the son-in-law of the king, as I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?”

24. So the servants of Saul informed him, saying, “This is what David said.”

25. Then Saul said, “This is what you must say to David: ‘The king desires no bride price except for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to avenge himself on the enemies of the king.’ ” (Now Saul had planned to allow David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.)