1 Samuel 18:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now Saul 's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

NIV: Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.

NASB: Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. When they informed Saul, the thing was pleasing to him.

CSB: Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him.

NLT: In the meantime, Saul’s daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it.

KJV: And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

NKJV: Now Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

David has refused to marry Saul's oldest daughter, Merab, because he thinks himself and his clan unworthy to become joined to the royal line of Israel (1 Samuel 18:17–18). Saul hoped David would agree to the marriage, making him more easily controlled by the king and compelled to continue to fight the Philistines. Saul wants David dead. His secret strategy is to allow the Philistines to kill David so he wouldn't have to do it himself (1 Samuel 18:17).

Now Saul learns that another of his daughters, Michal, sincerely loves David. Most marriages during this time—and throughout human history—were arranged by the families. The first objective of royal marriages was often whatever benefit an alliance between clans might provide. If the couple happened to like each other, so much the better.

Saul is pleased to hear that Michal has feelings for David. Saul thinks David will be more likely to marry someone who loves him. Then Saul can use his daughter to bait David to continue fighting the Philistines and hopefully die. Saul's true heart is revealed in his complete disregard for the well-being of his daughter. He cynically exploits her love, her position, and her femininity while also plotting to make her a widow as soon as possible.

The fact that Saul's own children, Michal and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1–4), love David and are eager to express loyalty to him only drives Saul into deeper resentment. Their devotion toward David makes Saul's dynasty even more fragile (1 Samuel 19:17; 20:30–31).

First Samuel 18:17–30 reveals the depths of King Saul's hatred toward David. When David killed Goliath, Saul thought he had a champion (1 Samuel 17). The moment they return from battle, however, the people's affections transfer to David, and the king grows furious. Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail (1 Samuel 18:6–16), so he uses his daughters to lure David into a fatal battle with the Philistines. Again, Saul's plan fails, and the king realizes God's protection over David is too great. Soon, Saul will watch as even his children favor David (1 Samuel 19).

Saul's son Jonathan becomes David's best friend. David succeeds in every military mission Saul sends him on. The people praise David as being even mightier than Saul. The king is furious and terrified that David will take his throne. After Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail, the king sends David to battle the Philistines using marriage to his daughter as bait. David not only survives, but he continues to prove himself to be a mightier warrior and leader than Saul. Saul knows the Lord is with David and not with him and cements himself as David's permanent enemy.

First Samuel 18 begins the story of how the changed work of the Holy Spirit on both Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:13–14) leads to the king's destruction and David's rise. David faithfully serves both Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23) and Saul's kingdom (1 Samuel 17—18). But David wins the hearts of Saul's people and his children. Saul can't handle the competition (1 Samuel 19—20). Finally, David flees the royal court and raises his own army. He spends years fighting Israel's enemies from afar, patiently waiting until Saul dies in battle and the shepherd boy can take his rightful crown (1 Samuel 21—31).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.