21: Saul feared David & David Became Saul's Son-in-Law ( 1Samuel 18:1 – 30)

Saul attempted to kill David multiple times but failed. Despite recognizing that the Lord was with David, Saul opposed him—the Lord’s anointed successor to the throne.

👉 Read 1Samuel 18:1 - 30

Q1. (1 – 11) This passage highlights how David was widely welcomed and admired by everyone. Jonathan loved David as much as his (      ). Saul’s (       ) and the entire army favored David as their leader. The women celebrated his return from battle, singing, "Saul has struck down his (       ), but David his (       )!" This made Saul (                 ). Saul threw the (         ) to kill David but failed.

This passage highlights how David was widely welcomed and admired by everyone. Jonathan loved David as much as his ( own life ). Saul’s ( servants ) and the entire army favored David as their leader. The women celebrated his return from battle, singing, "Saul has struck down his ( thousands ), but David his ( tens of thousands )!" This made Saul ( very angry ). Saul threw the ( spear ) to kill David but failed.

Q2. Why did Saul fear David? (12 – 14, 28 – 29)

The Lord was with David. 

When Saul saw that the Lord was with David but had departed from himself, he grew afraid of David. He realized that no one could harm David as long as the Lord was with him. Moreover, if David were to become king, Saul feared that his own family would be destroyed. 

Q3. After he failed to kill David by throwing a spear, he changed his plan. He wanted to kill David using the hands of the Philistines. Find verses showing Saul’s hidden purpose. (two)

verses 17 and 25

As he saw the God of Israel was with David, he devised a plan that David would be killed by the Philistines 

Saul appointed David as a commanding officer, sending him into more battles against the Philistines. He also schemed to have David risk his life by demanding 100 Philistine foreskins as a bride price. Since this was not an official war, David could not deploy the army; only he and a few companions had to fight. This task was even more perilous than leading troops in battle.

 Q4. Saul indirectly told David that the bride price for Michal was the foreskins of (         ) Philistines. David (            ) to become the king’s son-in-law, went out, killed (          ) Philistines even before the due date, and presented (       ) of them to the king so that he could become the (                  ).

Saul indirectly told David that the bride price for Michal was the foreskins of ( 100 ) Philistines. David ( agreed  ) to become the king’s son-in-law, went out, killed ( 200  ) Philistines even before the due date, and presented ( all  ) of them to the king so that he could become the ( king’s son-in-law ).

The Hebrew word for son-in-law is חתן (hatan)—a rare term repeated multiple times in 1 Samuel 18 (verses 20, 21, 23, 26, and 27). This unique word, not found in other languages, specifically means to make oneself a daughter’s husband. In other biblical contexts, it is interpreted as forming a marriage alliance or intermarrying. In the ancient world, marriage was not merely a personal union but a means of merging families or even entire tribes and nations. This understanding explains David’s response: “Who am I, and who are my relatives or my father’s clan in Israel?” (1 Samuel 18:18).

Did David desire to become the king’s son-in-law? Yes. Though Saul initially denied him this position by giving his first daughter, Merab, to another man, the opportunity arose again with Michal. The demand for 100 Philistine foreskins was not a direct command from Saul but an indirect message meant to lure David into danger. Nevertheless, David willingly accepted the challenge. He may have seen becoming Saul’s son-in-law as a potential path to the throne. However, God's plan for David’s kingship unfolded differently than mere political strategy.

In chapter 18, everyone admired David—except Saul. Blinded by his obsession with the throne, Saul resented him. Jonathan, however, made a covenant with David. Recognizing that David was anointed as king and that the Lord’s Spirit was with him, Jonathan chose to submit to God’s providence and enter into a covenantal relationship with David. "How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!" (Psalm 2:12).

However, Saul alone chose to stand against David, even though he saw that the Lord was with him. This foreshadows Saul’s fall because he stood against the Lord. 

Meanwhile, for Saul, accepting the Lord's providence and relinquishing his throne to David must have been incredibly difficult. Are you prepared to acknowledge the Lord's sovereignty if He calls you to humble yourself and serve someone who was once beneath you?