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proposed to carry out his original promise to the conqueror of Goliath, by giving
David his eldest daughter Merab to wife, at the same time professing only anxiety
that his future son-in-law should fight "the battles of Jehovah." The reply given
might have convinced him, that David had no exaggerated views of his position in
life.^179 It is idle to ask why Saul upon this so rapidly transferred Merab to one^180
who is not otherwise known in history.
The affection of Michal, Saul's younger daughter, for David, promised to afford Saul
the means of still further proving David's views, and of bringing him to certain
destruction. The plan was cleverly devised. Taught by experience, David took no
further notice of the king's personal suggestion of such an alliance.^181
At this the courtiers were instructed secretly to try the effect of holding out a
prospect so dazzling as that of being the king's son-in-law. But the bait was too
clumsily put, - or rather it failed to take, from the thorough integrity of David. Next
came not the suggestion merely, but a definite proposal through the courtiers, to give
the king as dowry within a certain specified time a pledge that not less than a
hundred heathen had fallen in "the Lord's battles." If the former merely general
admonition to fight had not led to David's destruction, a more definite demand like
this might necessitate personal contests, in which, as Saul imagined, every chance
would be against David's escape. But once more the king was foiled. David, who
readily entered on a proposal so much in harmony with his life-work, executed
within less than the appointed time double the king's requirements, and Michal
became his wife.
And still the story becomes darker and darker. We have marked the progress of
murderous thought in the king's mind, from the sudden attack of frenzy to the
scarcely self-confessed wish for the death of his victim, to designed exposure of his
life, and lastly to a deliberate plan for his destruction. But now all restraints were
broken through. Do what he might, David prospered, and all that Saul had attempted
had only turned out to the advantage of the son of Jesse. Already he was the king's
son-in-law; Michal had given her whole heart to him; constant success had attended
those expeditions against the heathen which were to have been his ruin; nay, as
might be expected in the circumstances, he had reached the pinnacle of popularity.
One dark resolve now settled in the heart of the king, and cast it shadow over every
other consideration. David must be murdered. Saul could no longer disguise his
purpose from himself, nor keep it from others. He spoke of it openly - even to
Jonathan, and to all around him. So alarming had it become, that Jonathan felt it
necessary to warn David, who, in his conscious integrity, seemed still unsuspicious
of real danger. Yet Jonathan himself would fain have believed that his father's mood
was only the outcome of that dreadful disease of which he was the victim.
Accordingly, almost within hearing of David, who had secreted himself near by, he
(^)