12. Saul was then afraid of David, for the lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.
13. Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.
14. David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the lord was with him.
15. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.
16. But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.
17. One day Saul said to David, “I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “I’ll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself.”
18. “Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” David exclaimed. “My father’s family is nothing!”
19. So when the time came for Saul to give his daughter Merab in marriage to David, he gave her instead to Adriel, a man from Meholah.