Another Plan to Get David Killed

And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually. —1 Samuel 18:28, 29

No dowry had been mentioned as being necessary for the man who would receive Saul’s daughter for slaying Goliath. Saul changed the rules once David was victorious.

It was nothing for a king without honor.

Another scheme to do away with David came to Saul.

His servants told him that Michal, another of his daughters, was in love with David.

“In his daughter Michal the scheming Saul saw an opportunity yet to carry out his nefarious plan for David’s destruction. He would require such a dowry as would in all probability accomplish his purpose in an even better way than would have been possible had he given Merab to David. Saul was greatly pleased but had to move carefully, for David must not know that Michal was in love with him.” Using unsuspecting servants as go-betweens, Saul hinted that since David was well thought of by the king, it might be possible to marry another of Saul’s daughters. David was not convinced. He again replied, “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).

The subject of a dowry again came up.

Saul instructed his servants to tell David he would settle for one hundred Philistine foreskins. Saul hoped to have David die at the hands of the Philistines while trying to earn the dowry. Destroying Israel’s enemies was something David could do.

He killed not one hundred but two hundred men.

Saul had made his dowry request public knowledge, thinking to gain sympathy from the people when David fell to their enemies.

Trapped by his own cunning, Saul had no choice but to honor the promise and make Michal David’s wife. “Chagrin at the failure of his evil scheme intensified Saul’s hatred of David. But instead of yielding to God, Saul grieved over wounded pride. David’s prestige was greater than ever. Now, fully possessed by an evil spirit, Saul’s darkly brooding mind assiduously sought a new snare for his enemy, now his own son-in-law.” “Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue” (Psalm 120:2).