1 Samuel 18:21-26

18:21 Saul said, “I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law.” ¹ 

18:22 Then Saul instructed his servants, “Tell David secretly, ‘The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king’s son-in-law.” 18:23 So Saul’s servants spoke these words privately ²  to David. David replied, “Is becoming the king’s son-in-law something insignificant to you? I’m just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!”

18:24 When Saul’s servants reported what David had said, 18:25 Saul replied, “Here is what you should say to David: ‘There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except a hundred Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his ³  enemies.’” (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.)

18:26 So his servants told David these things and David agreed ⁴  to become the king’s son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired ⁵ 

1 Samuel 26:21-25

26:21 Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won’t harm you, for you treated my life with value ⁶  this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!” ⁷  26:22 David replied, “Here is the king’s spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it. 26:23 The Lord rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty. ⁸  Even though today the Lord delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against the Lord’s chosen one. 26:24 In the same way that I valued your life this day, ⁹  may the Lord value my life ¹⁰  and deliver me from all danger.” 26:25 Saul replied to David, “May you be rewarded, ¹¹  my son David! You will without question be successful!” ¹²  So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

[18:21]  ¹ tc The final sentence of v. 21 is absent in most LXX mss.

[18:23]  ² tn Heb “in the ears of.”

[18:25]  ³ tn Heb “the king’s.”

[18:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “and it was acceptable in the eyes of David.”

[18:26]  ⁵ tn Heb “the days were not fulfilled.”

[26:21]  ⁶ tn Heb “my life was valuable in your eyes.”

[26:21]  ⁷ tn Heb “and I have erred very greatly.”

[26:23]  ⁸ tn Heb “and the Lord returns to the man his righteousness and his faithfulness.”

[26:24]  ⁹ tn Heb “your life was great this day in my eyes.”

[26:24]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “may my life be great in the eyes of the Lord.”

[26:25]  ¹¹ tn Heb “blessed.”

[26:25]  ¹² tn Heb “you will certainly do and also you will certainly be able.” The infinitive absolutes placed before the finite verbal forms lend emphasis to the statement.