16. However, all of Israel and Judah were loving David, for he was going forth and marching ahead of them.
17. Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife. Only be a brave warrior for me and fight the battles of Yahweh.” For Saul thought, “My hand will not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
18. But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, the clan of my father in Israel, that I should be a son-in-law to the king?”
19. But at the time Saul’s daughter Merab was to be given to David, she was given instead to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
20. Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, so they told Saul, and the matter pleased him.
21. And Saul thought, “I will give her to him, so that she may be a snare for him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “For a second time you can become my son-in-law today.”
22. Then Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in secret, saying, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. So then, become a son-in-law of the king.’ ”
23. And Saul’s servants spoke these words to David privately. But David said, “Is it insignificant in your sight to become the son-in-law of the king, as I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?”
24. So the servants of Saul informed him, saying, “This is what David said.”
25. Then Saul said, “This is what you must say to David: ‘The king desires no bride price except for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to avenge himself on the enemies of the king.’ ” (Now Saul had planned to allow David to fall by the hand of the Philistines.)
26. So his servants told David these words, and the matter pleased David to become the son-in-law of the king as the specified time had not expired.