I couldn’t believe that my older sister Merab didn’t want to marry David. He was amazing! So strong and talented – even more so than my father! When my father said he was going to offer me to David in marriage, I was amazed at my fortune. Instead of being pawned off in some politically motivated marriage, I was being offered to the poor, handsome shepherd boy who had proved himself a valuable asset to Israel.
Unfortunately, after the wedding, I never had an opportunity to express my love to David physically. He was constantly distracted, mumbling about my brother Jonathan in his sleep.
It came to my attention that our father had confided in Jonathan his intention to kill David. I couldn’t believe this news. Why marry me to him only to kill him? But my brother would never lie about something like that. He is an honorable man, and David was his dearest friend. Jonathan tried earnestly to derail our father’s intentions, but to no avail.
One night, David came bursting into our room, saying that my father had tried to pin him with his spear and that he knew Jonathan was right. “If you do not save your life tonight,” I said, “tomorrow you will be killed.” I let him down through the window, so he could escape. Then I told my father’s messengers that David was sick and set up a decoy in our bed to buy him some time.
Of course, it was inevitable that my father would discover his escape and my role in it. He called me to him saying, “Why have you deceived me like this, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?”
My heart pounded against my bosom. I wanted to be like my brother Jonathan who boldly defended David. I wanted to say, “The king should no t sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you; for he took his life in his hand when he attacked the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against an innocent person by killing David without cause?” But I couldn’t do it. I feared what my father might say or do to me. So, I lied. I said David threatened to harm me if I didn’t help him escape. “He said to me, ‘Let me go; why should I kill you?’”
And even as I had helped my husband escape, I felt ashamed. I knew that I had not proven my love to him the way my brother had.
1 Samuel 18, 19
Neglected Word 