“Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.”
King Saul smiled down at me, his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It felt as though just yesterday I had been a poor shepherd boy. Now, I lived in the king’s palace, was friends with his son, commander of his army, and now he was offering his daughter to me as a wife! How had this all happened, and so quickly?
Shaking my head, I replied, “Who am I and who are my kinsfolk, my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”
King Saul frowned. “Come now, David. You have been a great asset to your king, and I would be delighted to have you as my son-in-law.”
I looked at Merab. She scowled at me. I swallowed. I couldn’t marry her no matter who her father was. Her brother and my best friend Jonathan told me that she was in love with Adriel the Meholathite. Far be it from me to ever interfere in someone else’s relationship!
“I’m sorry, my king, but I cannot accept your daughter’s hand in marriage.” I bowed to demonstrate that it was not out of disrespect that I refused his offer, and then I left before he could say anything else.
Shortly thereafter, Merab was married to Adriel, which was a great relief to me. But King Saul refused to give up. He insisted that I marry his daughter Michal instead, saying that he truly wanted me to be his son-in-law. His servants came to me saying, “See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king’s son-in-law.”
In all honesty, being son-in-law to the king had its appeal. Who wouldn’t want to marry into the royal family? But there was something more going on.
Jonathan.
He was my best friend, and I wanted the very best for him in everything. We were so close that it was as if we were two bodies that shared a single soul. I felt that if he ever stopped breathing, I would too. And somehow, marrying his sister felt like a betrayal. I couldn’t do it.
Of course, I couldn’t say as much to the king or he would think I’d gone mad. So, I offered another excuse that was water-tight: “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute? How could I afford the bride price for the king’s daughter?”
The king’s messengers nodded and took my message back to the king. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I would be allowed to stay at the palace with Jonathan without having to marry Michal. It was the best situation I could ever ask for! I had absolutely nothing to worry about.
Until the king’s messengers returned to say, “The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king’s enemies.”
I panicked. What could I say in response to that? What further excuse could I make? None. King Saul knew that I was a capable warrior. To say I was too afraid would likely cost me my role as army commander. I was trapped. I had no choice but to go into battle and earn Michal’s hand in marriage.
1 Samuel 18
Neglected Word 