Merab

17Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter, Merab. I will let you marry her. Just be brave for me and fight the LORD's battles." But Saul was thinking something else. He thought, "I will not hurt David myself. I will let the Philistines do it."

And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

NoteLong ago a father chose the man his daughter would marry. So Saul could offer David his daughter.

18David said to Saul, "Who am I? My family is not an important one in Israel. How could I marry the king's daughter?"

And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?

NoteDavid's family were shepherds from a small town. Marrying the king's daughter would make him part of the royal family.

19The time came for Merab to be given to David. But Saul gave her to a different man instead. That man was Adriel from a town called Meholah.

But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.