1 Samuel 18:26

KJV

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when his servants {H5650} told {H5046} David {H1732} these words {H1697}, it pleased {H3474}{H1697}{H5869} David {H1732} well to be the king's {H4428} son in law {H2859}: and the days {H3117} were not expired {H4390}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When his servants said these words to David, it pleased David to become the king's son-in-law. Even before the time [for him to be married],

Berean Standard Bible

When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

American Standard Version

And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. And the days were not expired;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse captures David's sincere acceptance of King Saul's proposal to become his son-in-law, a proposal which, unknown to David, was a malicious trap designed to lead to his death at the hands of the Philistines. Despite Saul's wicked intentions, David's prompt and successful fulfillment of the king's dangerous demand further highlights God's protective hand over him and providentially strengthens his position within the royal household, moving him closer to his destined kingship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [1 Samuel 18:26](/1_samuel/18-26 "1 Samuel 18:26 - David Accepts Saul's Offer") is situated within a pivotal section of 1 Samuel that chronicles the escalating conflict between King Saul and David. Following David's triumphant victory over Goliath in [1 Samuel 17](/1_samuel/17 "1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath"), David's popularity soared, inciting intense jealousy and paranoia in Saul. Saul's initial attempts to eliminate David included direct assaults with a spear ([1 Samuel 18:10-11](/1_samuel/18-10 "1 Samuel 18:10-11 - Saul's First Attempt to Spear David")) and sending him into perilous battles against the Philistines, hoping he would fall. When these failed, Saul devised a more insidious plot: offering his daughter Michal's hand in marriage, not out of genuine affection or honor, but as a calculated scheme requiring a "dowry" of one hundred Philistine foreskins ([1 Samuel 18:25](/1_samuel/18-25 "1 Samuel 18:25 - Saul's Dowry Demand")). Saul’s true intent was that David would perish in this seemingly impossible and deadly mission. This verse marks David's unsuspecting, yet eager, embrace of this deceptive offer.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, a royal marriage was a significant political and social event. Becoming the king's son-in-law (חָתָן, _chathan_) conferred immense status, potentially linking one to the royal succession or at least solidifying one's position within the kingdom's elite. The concept of a "dowry" (מוֹהַר, _mohar_) was customary, typically involving a payment from the groom to the bride's father, often in silver or service. However, Saul's demand for one hundred Philistine foreskins was highly unusual and culturally provocative. It was not a traditional dowry but a grotesque and dangerous task, clearly designed to be a death sentence. The Philistines were Israel's perennial enemies, and engaging them in such a manner was fraught with peril, making Saul's request a thinly veiled assassination attempt under the guise of an honorable marriage proposal.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in 1 Samuel. Firstly, it underscores the destructive nature of **Saul's unchecked jealousy and paranoia**, revealing the depths of his malice and his willingness to use his own daughter as bait in a murderous scheme against David. Secondly, it highlights **David's unwavering humility, courage, and loyalty**. Despite his growing fame and the prior attempts on his life, David remained deferential to Saul, genuinely viewing the prospect of becoming the king's son-in-law as a great honor, and readily undertook the perilous task without suspicion. His earlier response in [1 Samuel 18:23](/1_samuel/18-23 "1 Samuel 18:23 - David's Humble Response") demonstrates his profound sense of unworthiness for such a high position. Most importantly, the verse implicitly reveals **God's sovereign providence** at work. What Saul intended for evil, God masterfully orchestrated for good, using Saul’s malicious plot to further elevate David, connect him by marriage to the royal line, and demonstrate divine favor upon him, ultimately paving the way for his anointing as king in [1 Samuel 16:13](/1_samuel/16-13 "1 Samuel 16:13 - David's Anointing by Samuel"). David's swift and successful completion of the task, even exceeding the demand by bringing two hundred foreskins ([1 Samuel 18:27](/1_samuel/18-27 "1 Samuel 18:27 - David Doubles the Dowry")), served as undeniable proof of God's protective hand.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pleased (Hebrew, _yashar'_):** The Hebrew verb יָשַׁר (_yashar_), often translated as "to be right," "to be straight," or "to be pleasing," conveys David's genuine satisfaction and approval of the proposal. It indicates that the idea of becoming the king's son-in-law was not only acceptable but truly agreeable and honorable in David's eyes. This stands in stark contrast to Saul's crooked and malicious intentions, highlighting David's integrity and unsuspecting nature.
* **Son in law (Hebrew, _chathan'_):** The term חָתָן (_chathan_) refers to a son-in-law or a bridegroom. In a royal context, this familial bond was deeply significant, implying a close connection to the king's household and potentially a claim or association with the throne. For David, a humble shepherd, this was an extraordinary elevation in status, which he received with humility and honor, rather than presuming any claim to power.
* **Expired (Hebrew, _male'_):** The verb מָלֵא (_male_), meaning "to be full," "to be complete," or "to expire," in this context, indicates that the allotted time for David to fulfill the dowry condition had not yet run out. This phrase emphasizes David's remarkable efficiency and zeal in accomplishing the dangerous task, demonstrating his immediate and decisive action, which further frustrated Saul's murderous designs.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when his servants told David these words":** This clause indicates the relay of Saul's specific and unusual dowry demand—one hundred Philistine foreskins—to David. It underscores the formal nature of the king's communication and David's reception of the terms of the marriage proposal.
* **"it pleased David well to be the king's son in law":** This phrase reveals David's internal reaction to the proposal. Far from suspecting a trap, David genuinely found the prospect of marrying Michal and entering the royal family honorable and desirable. His response reflects his humility and respect for the king, viewing the offer as a significant elevation in status and a mark of royal favor, rather than a dangerous ploy.
* **"and the days were not expired":** This concluding clause highlights David's swift and decisive action. Before the deadline set by Saul for the dowry's delivery, David had already successfully completed the perilous mission. This detail not only showcases David's courage and military prowess but also implicitly points to God's enabling hand, allowing David to accomplish the seemingly impossible task with remarkable speed and success, thereby thwarting Saul's sinister plot.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several literary devices that enrich its meaning. **Irony** is prominent, as Saul's cunning plan to eliminate David through a dangerous dowry inadvertently serves to elevate David's status and solidify his connection to the royal family. What was intended for destruction becomes an instrument of divine promotion. There is also **contrast** between Saul's hidden malice and David's genuine pleasure and unsuspecting humility, highlighting the moral chasm between the two men. Furthermore, the narrative uses **foreshadowing**, as David's successful completion of the task and his subsequent marriage to Michal, a king's daughter, subtly hint at his future role as king, demonstrating God's hand in preparing him for the throne despite human opposition.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, while seemingly simple, is a profound testament to God's sovereignty over human schemes. Saul's deep-seated malice and calculated deception were no match for the divine plan for David. What Saul intended as a death trap, God transformed into a stepping stone for David's ascent to the throne, demonstrating that no human plot, however clever or wicked, can thwart the Lord's purposes. This narrative powerfully illustrates that God actively works in and through the complexities of human relationships and political intrigue, even using the evil intentions of one person to accomplish His good will for another. David's humility and trust, contrasted with Saul's fear and jealousy, underscore the spiritual battle at play and God's unwavering faithfulness to His chosen one.

* [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good")
* [Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "Genesis 50:20 - Joseph's Declaration of God's Redemptive Purpose")
* [Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in God's Hand")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of David and Saul's escalating conflict, culminating in Saul's deceptive marriage offer, provides profound insights for believers today. It reminds us that even when we are unaware of the dangers or malicious intentions lurking in the hearts of others, God's protective hand remains steadfast. David walked into a trap, yet God not only preserved him but used the very mechanism of the trap to further His divine purposes. This should instill in us a deep trust in God's sovereign care, knowing that He can turn even the most sinister human plots into opportunities for His glory and our good. David's humility in accepting the king's offer, despite his already proven valor, and his immediate, courageous obedience to a dangerous command, serve as a model for our own walk of faith. We are called to live with integrity, humility, and obedience, trusting that God will navigate us through life's perils and use every circumstance, good or bad, to shape us and advance His kingdom. Our ultimate security lies not in avoiding all danger, but in resting in the unfailing wisdom and power of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's unsuspecting acceptance of Saul's offer challenge your own tendency to be suspicious or cynical in difficult situations?**
* **In what ways have you seen God turn what was intended for harm into something good in your own life or in the lives of those you know?**
* **How can David's humility and prompt obedience, even in a risky situation, inspire your response to challenging circumstances or difficult authorities today?**
* **What does this passage teach you about the futility of human schemes when they are set against God's sovereign plan?**

### FAQ
**Why did Saul offer Michal to David if he wanted to kill him?**

Answer: Saul's offer of his daughter Michal was a deceptive and malicious tactic. He had previously attempted to kill David directly with a spear ([1 Samuel 18:10-11](/1_samuel/18-10 "1 Samuel 18:10-11 - Saul's Attempt to Spear David")) and by sending him into battle hoping he would be killed by the Philistines ([1 Samuel 18:17](/1_samuel/18-17 "1 Samuel 18:17 - Saul's First Offer of Merab")). When these failed, he devised a more cunning plot. He offered Michal's hand in marriage, but demanded a "dowry" of one hundred Philistine foreskins ([1 Samuel 18:25](/1_samuel/18-25 "1 Samuel 18:25 - Saul's Dowry Demand")). Saul's true intention was that David would perish in the dangerous mission of fighting the Philistines to obtain such a gruesome and challenging dowry, thereby eliminating his rival without directly implicating himself.

**What was the significance of the "dowry" of Philistine foreskins?**

Answer: In ancient Israelite culture, a dowry (מוֹהַר, _mohar_) was typically a payment or gift from the groom to the bride's father, often in silver or service, signifying the groom's ability to provide for his wife. However, Saul's demand for one hundred Philistine foreskins was highly unusual, culturally provocative, and deeply sinister. It was not a traditional dowry but a grotesque and dangerous task designed to be a death sentence. The Philistines were uncircumcised and bitter enemies of Israel. The demand was meant to force David into a perilous confrontation where Saul expected him to be killed, thus removing the threat David posed to his throne. David's success in bringing two hundred foreskins ([1 Samuel 18:27](/1_samuel/18-27 "1 Samuel 18:27 - David Delivers Two Hundred Foreskins")) not only fulfilled the demand but also highlighted his extraordinary military prowess and God's protective hand over him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of David's elevation despite Saul's malice powerfully foreshadows the ultimate story of Christ. David, God's anointed one, faced relentless opposition and schemes intended for his destruction, yet God sovereignly used these very trials to establish him in his kingdom. Similarly, Jesus, the true Son of David and the ultimate King, came into a world hostile to God's rule. He faced the malicious plots of religious and political leaders who sought His death, believing they could thwart God's plan. Yet, their ultimate act of malice—the crucifixion—was precisely the means by which God accomplished humanity's salvation, turning a death trap into the path to eternal life ([Colossians 2:14-15](/colossians/2-14 "Colossians 2:14-15 - Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). Just as David's "dowry" of Philistine foreskins demonstrated his victory over Israel's enemies, Christ's sacrificial death on the cross served as the ultimate "dowry," securing His bride, the Church, through His triumph over sin and death ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ Loves the Church")). What human evil intended for destruction, God used for the greatest good, ultimately exalting Christ to the highest place, where He reigns forever ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9 "Philippians 2:9-11 - God Exalts Christ")). David's story is a profound type, pointing to the greater reality of God's unwavering faithfulness to His Messiah, who, through suffering and death, secured an eternal kingdom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 18:21

And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in [the one of] the twain.