1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

2007 Edition Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 75Saul's indirect attempts to kill David 18:17-30Since he had been unsuccessful in murdering David himself, Saul also tried to get otherpeople to kill him (cf. 2 Sam. 11:15). Saul had promised his daughter in marriage toGoliath's victor (17:25). Nevertheless now Saul added the condition that David also hadto fight more battles for his king. David, on the other hand, did not aspire to marry theking's daughter even though such a marriage would have advanced his career greatly (v.18; cf. 16:18). He evidently dismissed this possibility since he could not afford the dowry(bridal price, v. 23). Saul went back on his promise to give David his older daughter,Merab, anyway (v. 19).Michal, like her brother Jonathan, had come to love David (v. 20). Evidently Saul meantthat Michal would become a snare to David (v. 21) because as the son-in-law of the kingDavid would have been in line for the throne. This would have made David an even moreimportant target for the Philistines in battle. This time Saul tried to break down David'shumble resistance to becoming his son-in-law by sending servants (courtiers, leading menof the kingdom) to persuade him. They assured David that his lack of wealth would notbe a problem. Normally grooms paid their prospective fathers-in-law a price tocompensate for the loss of their daughter. 232 But Saul was willing to take 100uncircumcised Philistine foreskins instead. He probably thought that David wouldrespond to the challenge and perhaps die in the encounter with the Philistines. Saul usedMichal as the bait to lure David into what he though would be a fatal encounter with thePhilistines.God protected David, however, and he was able to provide the king with twice as manyforeskins as Saul had specified (v. 27). 233 This time Saul gave him his daughter. 234 Saulsaw in these events evidence that Yahweh's blessing was with David (v. 28), and thismade him even more fearful of him (v. 29). Ironically Saul from then on became David'senemy continually (v. 29) even though David had become his son-in-law as well as hisfaithful commander-in-chief and his effective field general. By setting himself againstDavid, Saul was setting himself against God since David was the Lord's anointed (cf.Gen. 12:3)."Saul's playing the part of a latter-day Laban (cf. Gn. 29:15-30) hasrebounded upon himself, for now a second member of his own family hasmade her special contribution to the theme 'all Israel and Judah lovedDavid' (v. 16)." 235David's behavior and wisdom in battle, guided and provided by God's Spirit, caused himto become increasingly effective and appreciated in Israel (v. 30). David had regardedhimself as lightly esteemed (v. 23), but God made him highly esteemed (v. 30; cf. 9:2).232 See Edwin Yamauchi, "Cultural Aspects of Marriage in the Ancient World," Bibliotheca Sacra 135:539(July-September 1978):244.233 David's accomplishment was similar to scalping practices in the Indian wars in the United States.234 For a study of four important women in David's life, see Adele Berlin, "Characterization in BiblicalNarrative: David's Wives," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 23 (July 1982):69-85.235 Gordon, p. 162.