1 samuel 18:22 - Saul commanded his servants, “Talk with David secretly, and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’”

Generated Verse: 1 samuel 18:22

What does "1 samuel 18:22" mean?


This verse from 1 Samuel 18:22 describes a deceptive tactic employed by King Saul against David. Let's break down the meaning:

"Saul commanded his servants..." This establishes that Saul is the instigator and is acting with intent. He's not approaching David directly, but using intermediaries.
"...“Talk with David secretly..." The secrecy is key. Saul doesn't want this offer to be seen as a formal royal request. He wants it to appear as if it originates from well-wishing servants. This allows him to manipulate the situation without directly committing himself initially.
"...and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you..." This is flattery designed to appeal to David's ego and sense of loyalty. They're attempting to make David feel valued and respected within the court. Note the contrast - Saul does NOT delight in David, this is a complete lie.
"...Now therefore be the king’s son-in-law.’” This is the ultimate goal of the deception. Saul is offering David his daughter, Michal, in marriage. On the surface, this seems like a great honor and would elevate David's status significantly.

Why is this deceptive?

Saul's motivation is not genuine affection or admiration for David. Chapter 18 is riddled with evidence of Saul's growing jealousy and fear of David's popularity and military prowess.

Saul intends to use this marriage as a trap. He hopes that by placing David in a dangerous military situation as a condition for marriage (as revealed later in the chapter), he can get David killed. He's trying to get rid of David under the guise of bestowing a great honor upon him. He thinks he can do this by setting the "bride price" as killing 100 Philistines. This was a notoriously difficult and dangerous task, so it was essentially sending David on a suicide mission.

In summary:

This verse reveals Saul's manipulative nature and his desperate attempt to eliminate David through a seemingly benevolent offer. It's a plot born out of jealousy and fear, cloaked in flattery and deception. Saul is using his servants to present a false image of his feelings towards David in order to lure him into a deadly trap.

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