Saul was intensely jealous of David’s talent at war, which received high praises from the people, above the recognition of Saul. Saul also recognized the glory of God resting consistently with David, and that Saul himself had lost that very presence. Saul had been personally chosen by God to reign over Israel after they reject God in the person of Samuel. However, Saul was arrogant and hot tempered. Saul offered his eldest daughter, Merab to David as a wife. However, Saul’s intention was not to make part of his family to love and mentor him. Saul believed that his daughter would be a snare to him. Why would she have been a snare? Was she a “spoiled brat” of a princess? Merab’s character is not elaborated upon. However, various Rabbinic traditions disagree on the actual marriage of Merab [1]. Some say that Merab was indeed married to David, and then later given to Adriel, making the second union a sin by Jewish law.

Saul’s plan to ruin David with the prowess of a woman backfired. His youngest daughter, Michal loved David genuinely. Thus not only was God’s presence and glory with David in all that he did, David also would have additional favor because it is written that a man that findeth a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor of the LORD. The blessing of God made Saul more jealous and fearful for David’s sake, knowing that he could not directly lay hold upon David to slay him because he was beloved of the people and anointed of God who said, “Touch not mine anointed and do my prophet no harm.” David is in direct contrast to Saul’s arrogance. David did not think more highly of himself than he ought to think. David recognized that he was a shepherd, not born of royalty by man’s tradition, though he was part of the heritage of Christ the King.

Saul gave David what he thought was an impossible task, hoping that David would not survive the battle. Saul asked David to circumcise one-hundred Philistines by force. David not only e number because the LORD was with him, David also delivered a second number, doubling the requested foreskins. Saul must have been floored (infuriated) by David’s success in this undertaking. David’s strength and wisdom in battle was above all others of Saul’s army.

Devotional Reading: I Samuel 19:11-17

¹¹ Saul sent messengers that night to David’s house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, told him, If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed. ¹² So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled and escaped. ¹³ And Michal took the teraph (household good luck image) and laid it in the bed, put a pillow of goats’ hair at its head, and covered it with a bedspread. ¹⁴ And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. ¹⁵ Then Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. ¹⁶ And when the messengers came in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair at its head. ¹⁷ Saul said to Michal, Why have you deceived me so and sent away my enemy so that he has escaped? Michal answered Saul, He said to me, Let me go. Why should I kill you?

Michal proves her love for David by defying her own father, Saul, who sought to kill David. Michal knew of the plot and warned David to flee from their home. When Saul’s guards came, Michal would not allow them to “see” David and claimed that he was ill. Unfortunately, Saul was so intent on killing David that he requested the body and the bed be brought out of the house. Of course when the guards apparently came again, they found only the teraph and a pillow in the bed. David had escaped Saul’s intended murder because David’s wife Michal warned him and mislead the guards.