1 Samuel 18 23

1 Samuel 18:23 kjv

And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

1 Samuel 18:23 nkjv

So Saul's servants spoke those words in the hearing of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing I am a poor and lightly esteemed man?"

1 Samuel 18:23 niv

They repeated these words to David. But David said, "Do you think it is a small matter to become the king's son-in-law? I'm only a poor man and little known."

1 Samuel 18:23 esv

And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?"

1 Samuel 18:23 nlt

When Saul's men said these things to David, he replied, "How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?"

1 Samuel 18 verses

1 Samuel 18 23 Meaning

1 Samuel 18:23 reveals King Saul's duplicitous scheme to eliminate David under the guise of an honorable marriage proposal. Saul, driven by intense jealousy, instructs his servants to tell David that he does not require a traditional dowry for his daughter Michal. Instead, he demands a dangerous and seemingly impossible payment: one hundred foreskins of the Philistines. While publicly presented as a patriotic act of revenge against Israel's enemies, Saul's hidden intention is to ensure David's death at the hands of the Philistines during this perilous mission, thus ridding himself of a perceived rival without direct culpability.

1 Samuel 18 23 Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the escalating conflict between Saul and David, immediately following David's remarkable victory over Goliath and subsequent military successes. King Saul initially embraced David, appointing him to high command (1 Sam 18:5), but soon became consumed by intense jealousy as David's fame surpassed his own, leading to the chilling pronouncement "Saul has slain thousands, and David his tens of thousands" (1 Sam 18:7). This verse comes after Saul's failed attempt to pin David to the wall with a spear (1 Sam 18:10-11), and after reneging on his promise to give David his elder daughter Merab in marriage (1 Sam 18:17), instead giving her to Adriel.

Now, Saul offers his younger daughter, Michal, who genuinely loves David, as a bride. This proposal is a thinly veiled death trap. In ancient Israel, a dowry (mohar) was typically paid by the groom to the bride's father. Saul's reversal of this tradition, demanding a unique and perilous "dowry," was a cunning stratagem. The Philistines were the perennial and formidable enemies of Israel, often possessing superior military technology. Confronting them was inherently dangerous, and securing one hundred of their foreskins, rather than merely killing them, meant deep engagement in battle to the point of disfigurement, often indicating confirmed kills in significant numbers. This "dowry" was specifically designed to lead David into a fatal encounter, showcasing Saul's deep-seated malevolence disguised as national service. It reveals the extent of Saul's paranoia and his descent into treachery as he increasingly views God's chosen successor as his ultimate threat.

Historically, circumcision set Israel apart from other nations, particularly the Philistines, who were "uncircumcised." Thus, collecting their foreskins was the ultimate act of humiliation for them and a powerful symbol of victory for Israel, solidifying proof of conquest. Saul exploited this cultural understanding to make his murderous plot appear like a justifiable act of patriotic valor.

1 Samuel 18 23 Word analysis

• And Saul said: Indicates a direct decree from the king, carrying authority but, in this case, malevolent intent.
• Thus shall ye say to David: An official instruction to his servants, establishing the formal communication of a manipulative proposal.
• The king desireth not any dowry, (Hebrew: mōhar מֹהַר): Mohar refers to the bride price or dowry given by the groom to the bride's father as compensation for the loss of her labor and offspring and as a sign of her value and commitment. Saul's statement initially appears generous, removing a financial burden from David, but this is immediately followed by a demand that is far more costly. This twists a customary practice into a death plot.
• but a hundred foreskins (Hebrew: ʻorlōṯ עָרְל֣וֹת): This is the unique, grotesque, and extremely dangerous "dowry." ʻOrlōṯ signifies uncircumcised foreskins, directly referencing the Philistines' distinction from the covenant people of Israel. This demand ensures personal combat and definitive proof of death, emphasizing a profound defeat and humiliation of the enemy. It was not a typical custom for proof of conquest; Saul invents this barbarous "proof" out of his hatred. The number "a hundred" implied facing and defeating many Philistine warriors.
• of the Philistines, The designated targets of this deadly "dowry." They were constant antagonists of Israel, and encounters with them were often perilous. Saul chooses them as David's instruments of demise.
• to be avenged of the king's enemies. This is Saul's stated, publicly acceptable justification for the unusual dowry. He frames it as a patriotic duty, tapping into Israel's long-standing animosity towards the Philistines. It provides a veneer of righteousness to his wicked plan, implying that David would be performing a great service to the crown. However, the true "king's enemy" in Saul's mind was David himself.
• But Saul thought: This phrase is a crucial divine insight into Saul's mind, revealing his inner motive that contradicts his outward words. It pulls back the curtain on his wicked heart, showing his deceitful nature. This divine commentary clarifies the true intent behind his actions.
• to make David fall (Hebrew: nap̄al נָפַל): Naphal means to fall, implying defeat, failure, or specifically, to fall in battle and die. It perfectly conveys Saul's intent for David's demise.
• by the hand of the Philistines. This specifies Saul's intended means for David's death – not by his own direct action, which would invite public scorn, but by proxy through a dangerous mission, making David's death appear as a casualty of war rather than a calculated murder by the king.

Word Group Analysis:

• "The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins...": This stark contrast immediately signals an ulterior motive. The absence of a traditional requirement, replaced by an extreme, violent one, reveals a cunning trap rather than a genuine offer. It is a perversion of a covenantal family institution (marriage) for murderous ends.
• "to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall...": The juxtaposition of the publicly stated, patriotic reason and the privately held, murderous intention (But Saul thought) is the rhetorical core of this verse. It exposes the depth of Saul's hypocrisy and evil, where national interest becomes a smokescreen for personal vendetta. This contrast emphasizes the fundamental corruption of Saul's rule, twisting even good intentions into tools of destruction.

1 Samuel 18 23 Bonus section

Saul's plot to "make David fall by the hand of the Philistines" unwittingly served a divine purpose, even as it reflected Saul's wickedness. God had already chosen David and purposed to establish his kingdom (1 Sam 16:1, 12). By exposing David to this peril, God providentially provided another opportunity for David to demonstrate his unparalleled valor and trust in the Lord, further cementing his reputation and popularity among the people. The Philistine foreskins, meant as a measure of David's inevitable demise, instead became tangible proof of his divine protection and his suitability as the next king, solidifying his claim to Michal (which meant a claim on the royal family) and positioning him even more firmly in the public's eye. David even exceeded the demand, bringing 200 foreskins (1 Sam 18:27), turning Saul's evil intention on its head and confirming God's hand upon him. This highlights a recurring biblical theme where the schemes of the wicked are often ironically used by God to advance His sovereign plan and to bring about His desired outcomes.

1 Samuel 18 23 Commentary

1 Samuel 18:23 starkly portrays Saul's malicious and desperate efforts to eradicate David, his perceived rival for the throne. His demand for a "dowry" of one hundred Philistine foreskins was not a customary practice but a carefully crafted death warrant, presented under the guise of patriotic duty and royal favor. This verse demonstrates Saul's deep-seated jealousy, fear, and moral degradation following the departure of the Spirit of the Lord from him. He attempts to use the institutions of marriage and national defense as instruments of murder, meticulously designing a scenario where David's death would appear as an unfortunate casualty of war rather than a deliberate assassination orchestrated by the king. Yet, the divine narrative punctures this façade with the parenthetical "But Saul thought," revealing the true, sinister intention behind his seemingly noble request. This hidden motivation underscores Saul's utter depravity and marks a tragic decline for Israel's first king, who prioritizes personal ambition and hatred over divine will and national good.

Examples of similar cunning, disguised plans:

• King Ahab and Jezebel's plot to seize Naboth's vineyard by false charges (1 Kings 21).
• Herod's feigned desire to worship the newborn King in Bethlehem, while planning to kill Him (Matt 2:8, 16).