Useful Bible Studies > 1 Samuel Commentary > chapter 18
As time passed, Saul’s attitude towards David grew worse. Originally, Saul just felt jealous of David (18:9). That feeling got out of control, and he tried to kill David (18:10-11). That was just a sudden reaction to his feelings; afterwards, he was calm again. However, Saul did decide to send David away then (18:13).
David fought a series of battles on Saul’s behalf. David was successful and became even more popular. Saul’s jealous feelings continued to increase. Now he wanted to put David in danger (18:17); later he would try to cause David’s death (18:25).
Saul had promised to give his daughter to be the wife of the man who killed Goliath (17:25). Of course, David had done that, so he had the right to marry Saul’s daughter. Saul tried to use that fact to put David in danger. He urged David to fight for him against his fiercest enemies, Philistia’s army. Then David could marry Saul’s daughter, Merab. That was what Saul promised.
However, David refused. He was already fighting all Saul’s battles, so perhaps he would not be agreeing to do anything more. Still, David knew that it was the custom to pay a high price for a bride. That money (called the dowry) would be very expensive for a king’s daughter (18:23). Even if he could afford it, David did not consider himself important enough to marry her.
So David allowed Merab to marry another man. Then Saul tried to find another opportunity to put David in danger.
Next part: Michal’s love for David (1 Samuel 18:20)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.