1 Samuel 18:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Saul commanded his servants, "Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king 's son-in-law.’"

NIV: Then Saul ordered his attendants: "Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’ "

NASB: Then Saul commanded his servants, 'Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Behold, the king delights in you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.’?'

CSB: Saul then ordered his servants, "Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’"

NLT: Then Saul told his men to say to David, 'The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don’t you accept the king’s offer and become his son-in-law?'

KJV: And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.

NKJV: And Saul commanded his servants, “Communicate with David secretly, and say, ‘Look, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”

Saul wants David to marry his daughter Michal so he can order David to fight the Philistines. Saul hopes David will die in one of these battles. Saul tried this before, with Michal's older sister, but was thwarted when David insisted his family wasn't worthy of being related to the king. This time, Saul is more cunning (1 Samuel 18:17–21).

First, unlike Saul's older daughter, Michal sincerely loves David (1 Samuel 18:20). Second, Saul tells his servants to convince David that they and the king approved of the match. But even this two-pronged attack can't get through David's humility. David insists he is too poor and has no reputation. He can't offer the large price a princess would normally command from a husband.

Saul realizes this works in his favor. He tells David he will earn the right to marry Michal if he kills one hundred Philistines (1 Samuel 18:25). With David's energy focused on such a specific goal, rather than simply winning battles, it's more likely he will die before the wedding. Much to Saul's dismay, David and his men kill not one hundred but two hundred of the enemy (1 Samuel 18:27). Even worse, David's still not dead.

First Samuel 18:17–30 reveals the depths of King Saul's hatred toward David. When David killed Goliath, Saul thought he had a champion (1 Samuel 17). The moment they return from battle, however, the people's affections transfer to David, and the king grows furious. Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail (1 Samuel 18:6–16), so he uses his daughters to lure David into a fatal battle with the Philistines. Again, Saul's plan fails, and the king realizes God's protection over David is too great. Soon, Saul will watch as even his children favor David (1 Samuel 19).

Saul's son Jonathan becomes David's best friend. David succeeds in every military mission Saul sends him on. The people praise David as being even mightier than Saul. The king is furious and terrified that David will take his throne. After Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail, the king sends David to battle the Philistines using marriage to his daughter as bait. David not only survives, but he continues to prove himself to be a mightier warrior and leader than Saul. Saul knows the Lord is with David and not with him and cements himself as David's permanent enemy.

First Samuel 18 begins the story of how the changed work of the Holy Spirit on both Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:13–14) leads to the king's destruction and David's rise. David faithfully serves both Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23) and Saul's kingdom (1 Samuel 17—18). But David wins the hearts of Saul's people and his children. Saul can't handle the competition (1 Samuel 19—20). Finally, David flees the royal court and raises his own army. He spends years fighting Israel's enemies from afar, patiently waiting until Saul dies in battle and the shepherd boy can take his rightful crown (1 Samuel 21—31).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.