1 Samuel 18:28
ESV
But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul 's daughter, loved him,
NIV
When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,
NASB
When Saul saw and realized that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,
CSB
Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him,
NLT
When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him,
KJV
And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.
NKJV
Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him;
What does 1 Samuel 18:28 mean?
Saul, king of Israel, is having a difficult time. The prophet Samuel had informed Saul that God would take away the throne of Israel due to Saul's disobedience (1 Samuel 15:28–29). The Holy Spirit left Saul while empowering David (1 Samuel 16:13–14). An evil spirit started tormenting Saul, and the only cure was David's music (1 Samuel 16:1–23). The Holy Spirit also equipped David to kill a giant warrior who blasphemed God and threatened to put Saul's army into servitude (1 Samuel 17). When the army returned home, the women praised David more than Saul (1 Samuel 18:7).Saul's appreciation of a shepherd boy changed into rage, jealousy, and a deep fear. Saul tries to kill David with a spear, but David escapes. He sends David on countless battles with the Philistines, but David always returns triumphant. Saul uses his daughter to bait David into an even more dangerous mission, but David exceeds Saul's demands (1 Samuel 18:20–27). Saul finally understands how much the Lord has left him and joined with David.
None of that cut as deeply as what Saul sees as betrayal from his own children. His daughter Michal is in love with David (1 Samuel 18:20) and readily marries him. Before long, she will rescue David from Saul's assassins (1 Samuel 19:11–17). And Jonathan, the son who would have taken the throne after Saul, will bind his heart to David and declare his allegiance to his future king (1 Samuel 20:12–17). Rather than accepting God's judgment and repenting, Saul dedicates much of his life to trying to destroy David (1 Samuel 18:29).
