1 Samuel 18 In Laws
For defeating Goliath, Saul had promised to give his daughter in marriage. He decides to do so now, but the ‘in-laws’ are not on David’s side.
David has earned the right to Saul’s daughter through his victory over Goliath. But David doesn’t count himself worthy of this position. “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” (1 Samuel 18:18) Saul’s offer isn’t because he wants David as an in-law but because he wants David owing to him and in every battle possible. If David is fighting the Philistines, there is a better than even chance he will be killed; or so Saul thinks. And with David dead, Saul believes his kingdom will be safe.
David is blind to Saul’s duplicity. He serves Saul, not because he is such a special man, in earthly terms, but because he is the Lord’s anointed. David will maintain this reverence for the rest of Saul’s life; no matter how horribly Saul treats him. Let’s rejoin our story as David becomes son-in-law to the king.
♥ ♦ ♥
David no longer plays the harp for Saul. He seldom even sees Saul, as he is engaged in defeating the Philistines at every turn. Saul made him a commander of a thousand men. David and these men are quickly making a name for themselves.
The men given to David as his own were NOT the finest Israel had to offer. They were the misfits. Those other commanders had labeled as ‘trouble makers’, ‘slackers’, or ‘too dumb for duty’ soldiers. Because of Israel’s need for soldiers, they couldn’t be tossed away, but they were put in positions where they wouldn’t hurt those around them.
When David first took command, his first task was to convince them that HE was their commander. Many of these ‘misfits’ were older than David, yet he was being exalted over them. That didn’t sit well with some.
David didn’t feel like he should be exalted either, but he was and he was going to do the job he was tapped to do. But he went about it a different way than any of the other commanders. David earned his men’s respect. First of all, he was not afraid to get his hands dirty. When he told his men to dig latrines, he dug right beside them. When he ordered them to clean up their appearance, he modeled the ‘dress’ he expected them to adapt. When they didn’t comply, he helped and encouraged them to make the necessary changes.
David was NEVER cruel, but he was firm. He was not afraid of the trouble makers. He turned their energy toward positive outcomes. The lazy, he discovered what motivated them and used it to inspire them. The ‘unskilled’, he taught them using whatever worked best for them; including repetition until the tasks were second nature. And he honed their fighting skills while also teaching them that the Lord was their true source in battle.
David had only had his thousand for a month before Saul called Abner to himself.
“Abner, I want you to send David and his men into battle tomorrow. Put them on the front lines.”
“My king, they are not ready for that intense of a battle.”
“David faced down Goliath. Was that any less intense of a battle?”
“No. But he had the full forces of Israel’s army to back him up after he completed that one deed.”
“And there will be others to back him up if they need it.”
“Yes, my king. I will do as you command.”
As Abner turns to leave, Saul calls out after him. “Don’t make his ‘back up’ too close. We wouldn’t want them ‘getting in the way’ of David’s work.”
Abner knew that this meant that Saul wanted David’s men all alone. He didn’t understand why, but he would obey his king.
Abner went to David in his camp. David was working with his men. Drilling them in battle. Abner watched for a little bit. “They are not ready” he said to himself. “Some of them are nothing but clumsy oafs.”
Abner finally interrupts their practice. “David, I need a word with you.”
David stops and looks over his shoulder to find Abner standing there. He turns back to his men and motions one of his best fighters to take over his place. “I’ll be back. You keep working. We need to be ready when the king calls for us. We will make him proud!”
David smiles and then walks over to Abner. “How may I help you, my lord?”
Abner wants a little distance between himself and David’s men. “Walk with me.”
The two commanders walk in the direction of the tents that are David’s men’s camp. As they near David’s tent, Abner stops and turns to face David. “You spoke prophetically to your men just now” said Abner.
“How so” asked David.
“The king has called you into battle. He wants you and your men to lead in the Valley of Elam.”
David is surprised by this news. “Surely, there are better trained troops than mine.”
“The king knows that the Lord fights on your side. He believes you will be victorious.”
David will not argue with the king. “When do we go?”
“You will leave at dusk. You are to be in the valley by first light.”
“It will be as you command.”
Abner puts his hand on David’s shoulder. “I look forward to hearing a good report” he says. Then he turns and walks away. “Lord help them” he says to himself as he makes his way back to the garrison.
David walks back over to his men, who have continued their exercises in his absence. He calls a halt to the practice. “We have been called into battle by the king” announces David.
The group has mixed reactions. Some give a war cry, some stand there with their mouths hanging open in shock, and some look terrified. But none of them voice any objection to David’s command. They will follow him wherever he leads.
“We will leave at dusk. We march through the night to the valley of Elam, where we will be ready to fight with the dawn.”
David looks around at his men as they take in his orders. Before any of them make a move, he holds up his hand to forestall them. “I want to ask the Lord’s blessing on us. I am not a priest, but I believe He hears our hearts as well.”
David looks toward heaven and begins his simple prayer. “Lord, I trust You with these men who have been entrusted to me. Watch over us as we go into battle.” He looks back at his men and smiles. “We need to pack and eat a good meal before leaving. Once everyone is ready, I will issue marching orders. Dismissed.”
The men break up and hurry back to their tents. The day is already more than half over. They need to get moving on their tasks if they are to be ready in time. Meals are quickly prepared, tents are taken down and rolled for travel, weapons are sharpened, and hushed conversations float about on the air.
“Why do you think the king called for us?”
“Maybe he heard how much better we are doing.”
“We are NOTHING compared to his other troops.”
“Maybe we will be backup for them.”
“I sure hope so.”
David has no idea their role in the upcoming campaign, but he trusts in the Lord to lead their actions. Abner hadn’t said if they would be joining troops that were already there or joining up with other forces. David decided to be prepared for anything. And preparedness to him meant making sure his heart was right with the Lord. For him, the best way to do that was to sing songs of praise to the Lord.
“The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a man of war;
the Lord is his name.”
(Exodus 15:2-3)
This song begins to flow from David’s mouth and heart. It is part of the song of Moses. The part David wants his men to hear, as well as himself. As David’s voice rises above the conversations taking place in the camp, they begin to hush. Before long, other voices join David’s in singing this song of praise. Within minutes, the whole camp is ringing with this song of praise. And EVERY heart is drawing strength and courage from it. David smiles as he hears all his men’s voices raised in praise to the Lord. No. They are not all in tune musically, but they are spiritually.
The song rising out of David’s camp didn’t go unnoticed by those around them. Their praise brings comfort to the other men stationed nearby as well as to those in the garrison. Even the palace can hear the voices rising on the breeze. Saul is soothed by the music, for a little bit. Then he begins thinking about the Lord fighting for David. He doesn’t want the Lord to fight for him! He wants him DEAD. The song is now an irritation to him. Saul seethes with anger until the song finally fades.
David calls his men together as the sun descends behind the mountain. “We march to victor, under the Lord’s hand.” David then issues orders for where the ranks will stand. “We will march in silence tonight so that we may take our enemy by surprise. I do not know what awaits us when we arrive; other than the Lord’s victory. Whatever the task, KNOW that it is the Lord who fights for His people.” David looks around and sees his men’s faces. They are ready. “Single squad formation” David calls out. He takes the lead, and his troops fall in line behind him, six wide.
David and his men march through the night, keeping the noise of their advance to a minimum. They reach the valley of Elam well before daybreak. There is enough time to survey the area before they settle down to wait.
David hasn’t seen any other troops in this side of the valley. “Maybe they haven’t arrived yet” he thinks as his men settle into battle formation. As dawn is so close, they do not pitch their camp, but leave their belongings in a low spot that was out of the way.
David quietly gathers his commanders together. “I have seen the Philistine camp but I haven’t seen any of our troops. It would be suicide to try and face them across the battle field in the morning. I’m going to split us into three groups. One will come from the front, one from the left flank, and one from the right. Get in as close as possible. If you can get past the sentries and into the camp, so much the better. We still have a couple hours before night begins to lift. Get into position while it is still dark. Be watching, and when the guard changes its final time, we attack the camp from all sides. I want you to make as much noise going in as possible, so they will think there are more of us. Remember, the Lord is on our side.”
The troops break up into three groups and move into position without making a sound. David and his men are even within a stone’s throw of the guards. The final shift for the night is almost over. The one that is nearest Israel’s troops moves his robe aside and relieves himself almost on top of David’s men. No one moves while they wait for the signal. Finally, the morning guard comes to relieve the last guard of the night. As soon as the ‘handoff’ is made, war cries are heard all the way around the Philistines camp, and David’s men rush in. The Philistines are completely unprepared and are thrown into a panic. Within minutes all is in chaos! The Philistines grab their swords and start swinging indiscriminately, felling their own countrymen. David’s men are more organized and discriminating in their targets as they fell Philistines right and left as they make their way towards the center of the camp.
The Philistines who realized what was happening begin to flea to the only side Israel had not surrounded. Israel dispatches all within the camp and pursue those who are escaping. By the time David and his men sheath their swords, ten times their number lay dead. The Lord has indeed given the Philistines into David’s hand!
There were three more troops of thousands lying in wait in the closest town to the Valley of Elam. They were to wait until called for. They heard the war cries that went up, but were held fast by Abner’s orders. They were to attack IF the Philistines broke through from the valley.
Now that the battle is over, David and his thousand begin plundering the camp. They have to take carts to carry all they have taken. There are even enough horses that ALL of David’s men ride out of the valley bringing their plunder and singing praises to the Lord! The troops waiting in the city recognize the song being sung and rush out to meet the victors. David dismounts his horse and greets the commanders of the three thousands.
“You missed all the ‘fun’” David said with a smile.
“We were your rear guard; in case the Philistines broke through.”
“They ran the other way, so your work is done. Unless you want to gather more of the spoils. We weren’t able to take it all because of the size of the camp. As you can see, we have more than we can use already.” David points to the three laden carts being pulled by oxen.
“We just might do that” says one of the commanders. “If you are sure you don’t mind” he says while looking sheepishly at David.
“We don’t mind. Help yourselves.”
David and his men turn toward home; Gibeah. They can hardly wait to give their report to Abner. As they make their way across the hills and valleys, they receive a hero’s welcome all the way home. Songs can be heard all the way to the palace when they reach Gibeah. And they don’t please Saul’s ears.
“Abner, I thought I told you to put David’s men on the front lines! How is it that the people are singing about his victory?”
“He was on the front line, my king; and alone! None were to come to his aid.”
“Did you send him to a small encampment of the enemy?”
“NO, my king! I sent him to face the largest single force on our borders. There was a camp of 10,000 at last report.”
Saul grinds his teeth then tells Abner to bring David in for a report when he arrives.
David and his men go to their regular camp and begin to unload what they have brought. David readies himself to be debriefed by Abner. He washes the blood from his hands and face and puts on a clean robe. He also runs a hand through his beard and hair to ensure there are no twigs from their hiding place still clinging to his curls. As soon as he feels he is presentable, he steps from his tent and almost runs into Abner.
“Report” demands Abner.
“The Lord handed us a glorious victory my lord!”
“The specific of the battle please… No. Wait. The king should hear of your victory first hand” Abner says. “Follow me.”
David falls in line and the two make their way to the throne room. David has seen it seldom since the night Saul tried to impale him with his spear. He refuses to allow fear of that night to color this visit. It is a visit of victory!
Saul is seated on his throne as Abner and David approach. The two men bow before Saul and he raises his hand to indicate that they are to come forward and stand before him.
“David is here to make the report of the battle, my king. I assumed you would want to hear it from his lips.”
Saul nods his head slightly. “Proceed.”
“We were instructed to engage the enemy in the Valley of Elam. After arriving in the night, scouting revealed that we were the only troops within reach of the enemy and their numbers were significantly larger than ours. I called for a three pronged attack, at the change of the last shift of night guards. We hit the enemy from three sides. The Lord caused chaos and fear to grip the Philistines hearts and they began killing one another as well as being felled by my troops. We made our way to the center of camp. By the time we reached the center, a small group tried to escape but we gave chase and all but about 20 were put to death as they fled. We returned and plundered the camp, taking only a portion of what there was. We took enough horses that all of my men were able to ride home. We also carried off three ox carts loaded with spoils. When we reached the nearest town, we were met by the commanders of three troops that had been held in reserve, in case we needed help. We told them to gather the remaining plunder for themselves. And we came home.”
Saul listened to David’s account in amazement. He has no idea how David survived this encounter, but surely if he had more encounters, he would eventually fall. With that thought in mind, Saul makes David an offer.
“Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” (1 Samuel 18:17a) In the back of his mind he is thinking something else; something cunning and diabolical. “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” (1 Samuel 18:17b)
David is shocked by Saul’s offer. He did not take Saul’s daughter as his wife after killing Goliath, even though she was part of the promise circulating throughout the camp. He didn’t even ask for this honor, and he wasn’t asking for it now. He was a humble servant. David answers to Saul is unexpected.
“Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” (1 Samuel 18:18)
Saul has no argument to offer David. He waves him away and goes back to sulking.
As Abner is walking David from the throne room, he looks back over his shoulder and sees the menacing look Saul is aiming at David. He still doesn’t understand Saul’s malice. “I will have to ask him about it; soon” he vows to himself.
David returns to his camp where he and his men enjoy a victory celebration and a much-needed rest. Abner decides that there is no time like the present to address Saul’s hatred of David, so he makes his way back to the throne room.
“My king, may I ask a question of you?”
“You are my uncle and my valued advisor. What is it you wish to know?”
“My king, it is obvious that the Lord fights for David, and that David fights for Israel. Why are you displeased with him?”
“BECAUSE HE WILL TAKE MY KINGDOM” roars Saul.
“My king, he has done nothing to advance his place in the kingdom. All the advances he has received have been at your hands. Surely, you could demote him just as easily.”
“The people LOVE HIM. They would revolt if I lifted a finger against David.”
“Is this why you have put him in dangerous battles? So that your hands will be clean if he dies?”
“You know me too well my uncle. Best not let anyone else hear you say that, or I will have your tongue.”
Abner has no doubt that Saul means what he says by the look in his eyes. “So what am I to do with David?”
“You will continue to put him forward. His ‘luck’ has to run out some time. And, until it does, Israel will reap the benefit.”
“As you command, my king.” Abner bows and then goes back to the garrison. He is torn between his duties as a good leader and the king’s right hand. “The nation cannot depend on one man. But Saul has spoken. David will fight the hardest battles; alone. And I PRAY that the enemy does not break through and wreak havoc as a result.”
Abner was true to his word. He sent David and his thousand into the thickest battles and against the greatest odds time and Time and TIME again. And David came back each time victorious. The people were truly in love with David. He was their champion.
After six months of this, even Saul’s youngest daughter loved David. This gave Saul an idea. He had already given his older daughter, the one first offered to David as a wife, to another. Michal would be overjoyed to be offered to David as a bride. “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” (1 Samuel 18:21a) So, Saul called David before him again.
It had been some time since David stood before Saul. He had been giving his reports of his battles to Abner instead of Saul. He has no idea why Saul is calling him, but he readies himself as before and goes to stand before his king.
Abner is already at Saul’s side when David arrives. Both men are all smiles as they greet David.
“The hero of Israel, and the love of my daughter, Michal” announces Saul in a loud voice with his arms spread wide in welcome. David walks forward and bows before Saul. Saul motions him to his feet again.
“David, my son! ‘You shall now be my son-in-law.’ (1 Samuel 18:21b) I give you my daughter Michal to be your wife.”
David is shocked by Saul’s offer. He restates his original answer. “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” (1 Samuel 18:18)
“Surely, you have earned the right, as the champion of Israel” answers Abner.
“No, my lord. I am only a humble servant. I have nothing to give for such an honor.”
With that Saul excuses David to leave. Once he is out of the room, Saul turns to Abner.
“We have to find a way to get him to marry Michal. I firmly believe she will be his undoing.”
“Have someone else convince him to become your son-in-law. He won’t hear if from either of us.”
“Who would you suggest I use?”
“A few of your servants could approach him, in the performance of their duties of course.”
“That is a good idea. Which ones should I choose?”
“The scribe who records the battles would be a good choice, as well as one of the stablemen where David keeps his horse.”
“Let it be done as you have said. Have them say this; ‘Speak to David in private and say, “Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.”’ (1 Samuel 18:22)”
The next day, as David goes to see about his horse, the stable man repeats Saul’s words to him. “Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.”
David is taken back by the stable man’s words. He shakes his head in despair. “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) he answers.
“But you HAVE a reputation! You are the hero of Israel.”
“I am but a humble servant of the Lord.”
Two days later, David is again approached by Saul’s well-placed servant. The scribe shares Saul’s opinion of David. And David has the same answer for him. “I am but a humble servant of the Lord. Not worthy to be the king’s son-in-law. I have nothing to give for such an honor.”
The next day, both servants report their encounters to the king.
“He said that he is a poor man and has nothing to give for such an honor, my king. He calls himself a ‘humble servant of the Lord.’”
Saul shakes his head. This is not going like he thought it would. Another though came to him. A way to make him believe he was offering a ‘bride price’ to Saul, but actually putting his own life in danger yet again. Saul looked to his servants and said; “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” (1 Samuel 18:24)
The servants found a time to approach David again. The first was the scribe.
“David, I have heard something that you need to know. ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ If you do this for him, he will give you his daughter, Michal to be your bride.”
David was skeptical but he said nothing. When he went to retrieve his horse, he heard the same message from the stable man. “Thank you for sharing this with me” he said as he took his horse.
David went back to his campsite and spoke with his men. They had heard David’s telling of the king offering him his daughters, and of David’s reply. They had urged him to reconsider, and to take the king up on his offer. David still refused. But today, David would make good on the king’s offer.
“The king is asking for 100 foreskins from the Philistines as a bride price! I intend to bring him double. Who will go with me on this mission for the king, and for love?”
There wasn’t a single man who didn’t volunteer to go with David, but he felt it would be ‘too easy’ a task and unworthy of the honor if a thousand men went after 200. David chose his commanders as his men for this task. The men originally complained, but David assured them that they would share in the celebration afterwards, and would be invited to the wedding.
David and 50 of his men set off on this mission. They chose a small contingent of soldiers; only 500 in all. With the Lord on his side again, David and his men dispatched all of these soldiers. They would only take the foreskins of 200 though.
With triumphant smiles, David and his men made their way back to Gibeah. “Wait until the king sees this” David said, holding aloft the bag containing the foreskins.
“You are as good as married, my friend” his closest commanders said while clapping him on the back.
David took only a moment to wash the blood from his hands before appearing before Abner. He wanted the king to see the cost of this bride price as it stained his clothing.
Abner raised his eyebrows at David’s state. “Have you no clean clothes to wear, that you would appear before me like this?”
“I have brought the bride price the king demanded for his daughter. And, this…” David held out his hands “…is the evidence that I did this myself.”
Abner shook his head, but brought David in to stand before Saul. David boldly walked up to Saul and dropped the bag at Saul’s feet. The mouth of the bag fell open, and Saul could see the bloody remnants as they threatened to spill forth.
“The bride price you have asked for, two times over my king, Two hundred Philistine foreskins for the hand of Michal in marriage.”
Saul swallowed hard and then motioned for Abner to come to him. “Bring my daughter, Michal. She is to be David’s wife.”
Abner himself went to retrieve Michal. She had already heard of her father’s offer of her hand to David. And she was anxiously awaiting the day when her heart’s dream would come true; to be David’s wife.
Michal was in her sewing room when Abner found her. “Your father calls for you. He is ready to present you to David as his wife.”
Michal hurriedly put her sewing aside, straightened her robe, and touched her hair to see if the pins were still in place. Satisfied that she was presentable, she followed Abner to the throne room where her father and David waited.
As Michal entered, Saul stood up to intercept her. He took her by the hand and led her to David. He then placed her hand in David’s. “I give to you my daughter Michal as your wife. The wedding will be one month from today so that her mother may have time to prepare her wedding gown.”
David was excited about the upcoming event, but he had not expected it to happen so soon. It gave him no time to prepare a home for her. He had enough money that he could rent a place in town, but that would only be temporary. His heart’s desire was to take her back to his home town of Bethlehem to live near his family. But, as long as he was in Saul’s service, that would have to wait.
The month flew by with preparations on both sides. David found a suitable home and invited his family to the wedding. His men insisted on helping him acquire furnishings for his new home; some of them being made by the hands of his own men. Before long, everything was ready; including all his relatives from Bethlehem arriving for the ceremony.
On the day of the wedding the attendants on the groom’s side far outweighed the bride’s as all of David’s thousand were in attendance. The wedding itself was extravagant and went on for the customary week.
David reveled in his new role as husband. He and Michal were perfect together. He could not imagine a more beautiful bride or a better partner. Their hearts entwined on the deepest level in their time in the wedding tent. David wished it could last forever, but he was also anxious to show her the home he had made for her. When they finally emerged from the tent on the final day, Saul had another surprise for them.
“As a wedding gift, I am giving you a home in the city as your own. It is not as grand as my home, but my daughter is used to living in style.”
“I had prepared a place for us already, my king. I would take my wife to our home.”
“You bought a home already? I did not know you had that much in funds.”
“It is a rental for now. I have plans to build a home in Bethlehem when my service has ended.”
“Then my provision of a home is not a problem. Save your rent for building supplies and accept the gift that I truly desire to bestow on my precious daughter.”
David looked at Michal. She tilted her head to the side and gave David a ‘whatever you think’ gaze. “We will accept your generous offer. But I insist that my furnishings be brought in for us. There are some special pieces among them that were gifts from dear friends.”
“Agreed!” announced Saul.
David and Michal moved into the home Saul had provided and David’s furnishings were put into place. This would be where David stayed when not in the field. He would not completely leave his men though, as his presence gave them strength. He would divide his nights in Gibeah between Michal and his men.
What David didn’t know was that Saul was not fully terrified of David. He had married into the royal family and was one step closer to the throne. Yes, it was his own idea, but it was NOT supposed to happen like this. “David should have been dead a hundred times over! Is there no stopping this man from taking all that is mine?” Saul would work VERY HARD to maintain a friendly face whenever in the presence of David, lest he discover his inner thoughts.
(to be continued)
This story turned out to be longer than I expected, but it is where the Lord took me. I hope you enjoyed it.
Saul, no matter how hard he tried, could not derail God’s plans. I don’t know for certain the numbers in David’s actual battles, but I know he was outmatched physically. But, with God on his side, the Philistines, and anyone else standing in his path, didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of defeating him!
David’s success wasn’t because he was such a great man or an extraordinarily skilled fighter, but because he gave God the top spot in his life. David remained humble, no matter how many battles he won. He KNEW where his source lay. And he sought God in all he did. He was truly a man after God’s own heart.
Father God, I pray that I seek You in all I do. I know I have failed in that in the past, but I’m trusting You to lead me from today onward. Be my Guiding Light. My Fortress and Strong Tower. My Rear Guard. My Savior and my God. Never let me forget ALL that You have done for me and Your plans for my future.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
I trust YOUR plans Father God.
