1 Samuel 18 19

1 Samuel 18:19 kjv

But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

1 Samuel 18:19 nkjv

But it happened at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

1 Samuel 18:19 niv

So when the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.

1 Samuel 18:19 esv

But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.

1 Samuel 18:19 nlt

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.

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 19 Meaning

This verse details King Saul's treachery: despite his prior promise to give his elder daughter Merab to David as a reward for fighting the Lord's battles, Saul instead gave her to Adriel the Meholathite in marriage. This act serves as a stark revelation of Saul's escalating fear and jealousy towards David, marking a public humiliation and betrayal designed to undermine David's rising popularity and legitimacy, further indicating Saul's moral decay and abandonment of covenant fidelity.

1 Samuel 18 19 Context

Following David's heroic victory over Goliath, his fame soared, earning him the immediate devotion of the people and the intimate friendship of Jonathan, King Saul's son. Saul, initially impressed, quickly became consumed by jealousy and fear as David's popularity eclipsed his own, evidenced by the people's songs exalting David's achievements. Saul had promised Merab, his elder daughter, as a prize to the man who would defeat Goliath (1 Sam 17:25). As David's success continued, Saul began actively seeking David's downfall. He initially tried to kill David directly with a spear (1 Sam 18:10-11) and then subtly placed David in charge of a thousand men, hoping he would fall in battle (1 Sam 18:13). Subsequently, Saul reiterates his promise of Merab's hand in marriage, stating he would give her to David if David would fight "the LORD's battles" (1 Sam 18:17), which David humbly responds to (1 Sam 18:18). This verse (1 Sam 18:19) reveals Saul's manipulative breaking of that very promise, giving Merab to another man, further exposing his intent to eliminate David. This action directly precedes Saul's offer of Michal, his younger daughter, to David, which he sets up with an impossible "dowry" – 100 Philistine foreskins – again hoping for David's demise. The entire sequence showcases Saul's descent into paranoia, deception, and active hostility towards God's chosen successor.

1 Samuel 18 19 Word analysis

• But it came to pass: This common transitional phrase signals a significant shift or development in the narrative, often preceding an unexpected or important event. Here, it marks the immediate culmination of Saul's escalating ill will.
• at the time: Highlights a specific, chosen moment for Saul's betrayal. This was not an oversight but a deliberate action, implying calculation and intent.
• when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David:
  • Merab (מֵרַב, Merab): Means "abundance" or "increase." Ironically, her name suggests fruitfulness and prosperity, a stark contrast to the betrayal she becomes an instrument of. As Saul's elder daughter, she held prominence.
  • should have been given: This phrase in English conveys an expectation or obligation that was not met. The original Hebrew (וַיְהִי בְּעֵת הִפָּתַח אֶת־מֵרַב בַּת־שָׁאוּל לְדָוִד - wa-yihi b'eet hippatach et-Merab bat-Sha'ul l'David) implies the "opening" or "handing over" was expected or due to occur. This highlights Saul's clear contractual breach.
  • to David: He was the designated recipient based on Saul's repeated royal promise, given in the presence of the people. This breach of promise by a king was a severe act.
• that she was given: A passive voice construction, yet it points directly to Saul as the agent of action. The stark contrast between "should have been given" and "was given" emphasizes the direct defiance of expectation and promise.
• to Adriel: (עַדְרִיאֵל, ‘Adri’el): Meaning "my help is God." An ironic name for someone who is made a pawn in a human scheme to hinder God's purposes. He enters the narrative solely through this arranged marriage.
• the Meholathite: (הַמְּחֹלָתִי, ha-Mechollati): Denotes his origin from Abel-meholah, a town likely in the Jordan Valley, associated later with Elisha (1 Kgs 19:16). His regional identity might have offered Saul a strategic minor alliance or simply a convenient party for the deceptive transaction.
• to wife: Clearly stating the purpose of the transaction: marriage, a sacred covenant broken by Saul for ulterior motives.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But it came to pass at the time when Merab... should have been given to David": This segment sets up the expectation, explicitly reminding the reader of the promised royal marriage between David and Merab. The wording "should have been given" strongly emphasizes that an agreed-upon, rightful transaction was due. This directly recalls Saul's previous public promise, turning the reader's attention to the impending betrayal.
• "that she was given to Adriel the Meholathite to wife.": This second segment delivers the shock and reversal. The deliberate act of giving Merab to another man—Adriel, a minor figure—directly counters the previous statement. It highlights Saul's deceit and the calculated public humiliation of David. The use of "was given" signifies a completed action, cementing the broken promise. The specificity of "Adriel the Meholathite" underscores the tangible nature of the betrayal.

1 Samuel 18 19 Bonus section

The discrepancy found in 2 Samuel 21:8, where the five sons of Adriel the Meholathite are mentioned as borne by Michal, not Merab, has been a significant point of discussion among biblical scholars. Many conclude this is likely a scribal error, where "Michal" was written instead of "Merab," possibly due to Michal's prominence in the narrative and her earlier association with David. It is strongly believed that Merab, not Michal (who is explicitly stated elsewhere as having no children, 2 Sam 6:23), was the mother of Adriel's five sons. This potential textual issue further highlights the fate of Saul's lineage and David's relationship with it. Additionally, this verse confirms David's humility (from 1 Sam 18:18), where he truly did not perceive himself as worthy of marrying into the royal family, which Saul cruelly exploited.

1 Samuel 18 19 Commentary

This concise verse carries profound implications, acting as a crucial turning point in the deepening conflict between Saul and David. It directly reveals King Saul's malicious intent and manipulative character. Far from being a king who honors his word or the "Lord's battles" he invoked, Saul breaks a public and significant promise made to David, the national hero. This act is not an oversight but a deliberate, public slight. Saul intended to use Merab as bait to get David killed, and when that failed (because David still lived after the requirement for "Lord's battles"), he found a way to renege on his word, demonstrating his abject failure in leadership and integrity. This public breach of contract, typical of a despotic ruler, signifies Saul's increasing paranoia and his abandonment of justice, decency, and divine counsel. God, however, uses Saul's treachery to further His own plan, leading to David’s marriage to Michal, which later strengthens David’s claim to the throne through affinity with the royal family, even though it started with a deceitful intent from Saul.

• Example for Practical Usage: In life, this verse can serve as a warning against letting fear and jealousy lead to deceit and broken promises. Just as Saul's envy corroded his integrity, unchecked negative emotions can corrupt character and lead to regrettable actions, damaging trust and relationships. It also reminds us that while human schemes may seek to thwart divine purposes, God's ultimate plan will prevail.