1 Samuel 18:17 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Saul offers his daughter Merab to David if he fights bravely, secretly hoping the Philistines will kill him.
What Does 1 Samuel 18:17 Mean?
Saul dangles a royal marriage before David, promising his elder daughter Merab in exchange for valor in battle. But the narrator exposes the king's hidden purpose: he hopes the enemy will do what he dares not, and that David will fall in the fighting.
Here is treachery dressed as honor. Saul cloaks his murderous wish in the language of the LORD's battles, using even God's name to mask his sin. Yet his scheming will fail, for no plot can prosper against the one the Lord protects. The contrast between Saul's deceit and David's integrity grows sharper with every verse.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 18:17
What does 1 Samuel 18:17 mean?
Saul offers his daughter Merab to David if he fights bravely, secretly hoping the Philistines will kill him.