1 Samuel 18:25

²³ But when Saul’s servants relayed these words to David, he replied, “Does it seem trivial in your sight to be the son-in-law of the king? I am a poor man and lightly esteemed.”

²⁴ And the servants told Saul what David had said.

Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶ When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived,

²⁷ David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
KJV: And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
WEB: Saul said, “Tell David, ‘The king desires no dowry except one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies.’” Now Saul thought he would make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
ASV: And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king`s enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
DARBY: And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David: The king does not desire any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
BLB: And Saul said, “Thus you⁺ shall say to David, ‘The king does not desire any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines to take vengeance on the enemies of the king.’” And Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

ÅB: Da sa Saul: Så skal dere si til David: Kongen krever ingen annen festegave enn hundre filister-forhuder, så han kan få hevnet seg på kongens fiender. Men Saul tenkte å felle David ved filistrenes hånd.
OTB: Da sa Saul: "Dette skal dere si til David: 'Kongen ønsker ingen medgift bortsett fra hundre forhud fra filisterne, for å ta hevn på kongens fiender.'" Men Saul hadde til hensikt at David skulle falle ved filisternes hånd.
B1930: Da sa Saul: Så skal I si til David: Kongen krever ingen annen festegave enn hundre filister-forhuder, så han kan få hevnet sig på kongens fiender. Men Saul tenkte å felle David ved filistrenes hånd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 14:24
Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
Read in context
1 Samuel 18:17
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage. Only be valiant for me and fight the LORD’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I need not raise my hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”
Read in context
Genesis 34:12
Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”
Read in context
Exodus 22:16–17
If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
Read in context
Genesis 17:11–14
You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
Read in context
1 Samuel 17:36
Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
Read in context
2 Samuel 17:8–11
He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops.
Read in context
1 Samuel 17:26
David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
Read in context