1Sa 18:17-29 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Sam 18:17-19: 18:17-19 Saul offered his older daughter, Merab , to David. But it was an insincere gesture. 18:17 Saul had promised his daughter to anyone who could slay Goliath (17:25 ; cp. Josh 15:16 ; Judg 1:12 ), but he tacked on additional risks for David (see also 1 Sam 18:21 , 25 ).

Summary for 1Sam 18:17-19: 18:17-19 ^a Saul offered his older daughter, Merab, to David. But it was an insincere gesture. 18:17 ^b Saul had promised his daughter to anyone who could slay Goliath (17:25 ^c; cp. Josh 15:16 ^d; Judg 1:12 ^e), but he tacked on additional risks for David (see also 1 Sam 18:21 ^f, 25 ^g).
18:18 ^h Who am I, and what is my family: An expression of humility (see also 2 Sam 7:18 ⁱ; cp. Exod 3:11 ^j). David’s family could not afford the bride price to marry the king’s daughter (1 Sam 18:23-25 ^k).
18:19 ^l So: Or But. Either David declined the offer, or Saul reneged.
18:22 ^m really likes you: The same Hebrew word describes Jonathan’s love for David (18:3 ⁿ; 19:1-2 ^o, “strong affection”). Here, it was completely untrue.
18:23 ^p The future son-in-law would give the bride price as a gift to his bride’s father (see Gen 34:12 ^q; Exod 22:16-17 ^r).
18:29 ^s even more afraid: Saul’s fear was unfounded. Although he made himself David’s enemy, David consistently honored Saul as king (see chs 24 ^t, 26 ^u).