The Scriptures 1998

1 Samuel 18:10-26 The Scriptures 1998 (ISR98)

10. And it came to be on the next day that an evil spirit from Elohim came upon Sha’ul, and he prophesied inside the house, while Dawiḏ was playing the lyre with his hand, as usual. And the spear was in the hand of Sha’ul.

11. Then Sha’ul hurled the spear, for he said, “Let me smite Dawiḏ, even to the wall.” But twice Dawiḏ withdrew from his presence.

12. And Sha’ul was afraid of Dawiḏ, because יהוה was with him, but from Sha’ul He had turned away.

13. Sha’ul therefore removed him from his presence, and made him his commander over a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.

14. And Dawiḏ was acting wisely in all his ways, and יהוה was with him.

15. And Sha’ul saw that he was acting very wisely, and was afraid of him.

16. But all Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah loved Dawiḏ, as he went out and came in before them.

17. And Sha’ul said to Dawiḏ, “See my older daughter Mĕraḇ! I give her to you as a wife. Only be brave for me, and fight the battles of יהוה.” For Sha’ul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18. And Dawiḏ said to Sha’ul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s clan in Yisra’ĕl, that I should be son-in-law to the sovereign?”

19. And it came to be at the time when Mĕraḇ, Sha’ul’s daughter, should have been given to Dawiḏ, that she was given to Aḏri’ĕl the Meḥolathite as a wife.

20. And Miḵal, Sha’ul’s daughter, loved Dawiḏ. And they told Sha’ul, and the matter was right in his eyes.

21. And Sha’ul said, “Let me give her to him and let her be a snare to him, and the hand of the Philistines be against him.” So Sha’ul said to Dawiḏ a second time, “Become my son-in-law today.”

22. And Sha’ul commanded his servants, “Speak to Dawiḏ gently, and say, ‘See, the sovereign has delighted in you, and all his servants have loved you. And now, be the sovereign’s son-in-law!’ ”

23. And the servants of Sha’ul spoke those words in the hearing of Dawiḏ. And Dawiḏ said, “Does it seem to you a small matter to be a sovereign’s son-in-law, seeing I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?”

24. And the servants of Sha’ul told him, saying, “Dawiḏ has spoken according to these words.”

25. And Sha’ul said, “Say to Dawiḏ, ‘The sovereign has no delight in any payment for the bride but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the sovereign’s enemies.’ ” But Sha’ul intended to have Dawiḏ fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26. And his servants declared these words to Dawiḏ, and it pleased Dawiḏ well to become the sovereign’s son-in-law. And the days had not expired,