David’s First Wife
Introduction: After David had surprised many by killing Goliath, King Saul allowed him to be in command of soldiers against the Philistines. David led the soldiers to a series of decisive victories, and “all Israel and Judah loved David.” This began the fear and hatred that Saul had for David, and his first attempt to kill him failed. Then Saul offered his elder daughter Merab to David as a wife, but David declined. Later, Saul offered his younger daughter Michal. David accepted the bride’s price set by Saul, and delivered it before Michal became his wife. Saul had ulterior motives in these plans, and when they failed, he sent men to David’s house to kill him.
NOTE: All scripture is from the 1833 Webster Bible.
A — David’s Loyal Service Made King Saul Jealous of Him
1 Samuel 18 “7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth… and said, They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. 11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David escaped from his presence twice. 12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and had departed from Saul.”
Comments: Jonathan was Saul’s eldest son, and the likely heir to be king after his father. But he and David became so closely knit in friendship that they made a covenant to honor each other. Jonathan symbolically showed his willingness to see David become the next king by giving David his robe, his warrior’s tunic and sash, and his sword and bow. King Saul sent David out to battle and when he returned from great victory, the songs of the women of Israel praising David more than Saul made Saul very angry. Saul knew he had lost the favor of the LORD, and he was afraid of David. But all Israel and Judah loved David.
B — King Saul Wanted David to Be His Son-in-Law
1 Samuel 18 “20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 And Saul said, I will give her to him, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.”
Comments: Saul wanted David to die in battle so he would no longer be a challenge to become king. When David declined to marry Saul’s daughter Merab, he expressed that he was not worthy to become the king’s son-in-law. Since David had declined to marry Merab, Saul pursued a second opportunity when he learned that Michal loved David. He said to himself that she would be a “snare” to him, and continued to hope that David would be killed in battle with the Philistines.
C — David Presented the Dowry for Michal
1 Samuel 18 “25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dower, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. 28 And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him.”
Comments: Saul set the dowry at one hundred Philistine foreskins, hoping David would die in the attempt. David led his men successfully in killing two hundred Philistines — twice the designated number. All two hundred foreskins were presented to King Saul, and he gave his daughter Michal to David as a wife. With this outcome, Saul knew that the LORD was with David, and it further troubled him that Michal loved him. These things brought Saul to be even more afraid of David and made him David’s enemy continually.
D — Saul Sent Men to Kill David
1 Samuel 19 “11 Saul also sent messengers to David’s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, If thou dost not save thy life to-night, to-morrow thou wilt be slain. 12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goat’s hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.”
Comments: Saul was determined to have David killed, so he sent men to David’s house to watch overnight and kill him in the morning. Michal warned David that if he did not escape during the night, he would be killed in the morning, so she let him down through a window and he made his escape. Then as a delaying tactic, Michal took an idol and laid it in the bed with goat’s hair on the head. When Saul finally discovered the ruse, Michal defended herself by claiming David had threatened to kill her if she did not help him escape. David went to Ramah and told Samuel of all the things that Saul had done to him, and David remained separated from Michal for quite a few years.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, as I reviewed the events that led up to the point of Michal becoming David’s first wife, I was reminded of how members in one family can have such diversity in their response to knowledge of the true and living God. King Saul had various opportunities to submit to your plans for him and for the people of Israel, but he continually tried to set his own ways to hold on to what you had given to him. May I be satisfied with the ways you provide for my needs, and be open to the ways you want me to serve my Savior. Lord, guide me to have an authentic love for those to whom you have given abundant talents to serve others, and give me the same spirit that was demonstrated in Jonathan so I will avoid any reason to be jealous of other believers. Apply to my heart the lessons you have for me from these passages. Amen.
Published 23 March 2016