10. The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he prophesied in his house. David was playing the harp as he usually did, but Saul had a spear in his hand.
11. He threw the spear, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David escaped from him twice.
12. The Lord was with David but had left Saul. So Saul was afraid of David.
13. He sent David away and made him commander of a thousand soldiers. So David led them in battle.
14. He had great success in everything he did because the Lord was with him.
15. When Saul saw that David was very successful, he feared David even more.
16. But all the people of Israel and Judah loved David because he led them well in battle.
17. Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will let you marry her. All I ask is that you remain brave and fight the Lord’s battles.” Saul thought, “I won’t have to kill David. The Philistines will do that.”
18. But David answered Saul, saying, “Who am I? 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, he was pleased.
21. He thought, “I will let her marry David. Then she will be 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 ordered his servants to talk with David in private and say, “Look, the king likes you. His servants love you. You should be his son-in-law.”
23. Saul’s servants said these words to David, but David answered, “Do you think it is easy to become the king’s son-in-law? I am poor and unimportant.”