What does 1 Samuel 18:20 mean?
"And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him." - 1 Samuel 18:20

The verse 1 Samuel 18:20 from the King James Version of the Bible reads, "And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him."
This verse comes from the Old Testament of the Bible and is part of the narrative of the rise of David, who becomes the second king of Israel. In this verse, we see the budding relationship between David and Michal, the daughter of King Saul, being introduced.
The context of this verse is important in understanding its deeper meaning. David had recently gained fame and favor in the eyes of Saul and the people of Israel by defeating the Philistine giant, Goliath. This victory had made David a hero and had also brought him to the attention of the royal family. As a result, Saul had taken David into his service and had given him an important position in his army. It is in this context that Michal, Saul's daughter, develops feelings for David.
The love that Michal has for David represents the theme of love and affection in the biblical narrative. This love is significant in the larger story of David's life, as it leads to his eventual marriage to Michal. The love between David and Michal is also symbolic of the love and unity that can exist between different people, even in the midst of political and personal turmoil.
Furthermore, the reaction of Saul to the news of Michal's love for David is noteworthy. The verse states that "the thing pleased him." This reaction is surprising, considering the tension that develops between David and Saul in later chapters of 1 Samuel. The fact that Saul initially approves of Michal's love for David may foreshadow the complex and tumultuous relationship that David will have with Saul and his family in the future.
The symbolism in this verse can be interpreted in several ways. One interpretation is that the love between David and Michal represents the undercurrent of personal relationships in the midst of political power struggles. Despite the political rivalry between David and Saul, the love between David and Michal highlights the human element of the struggle for power.
Another interpretation is the symbolic significance of the union between David and Michal. In ancient cultures, marriages were often used to form alliances and solidify political power. By marrying Michal, David becomes further intertwined with the royal family, which has both positive and negative implications for his future.
Overall, 1 Samuel 18:20 is a verse that introduces an important relationship in the biblical narrative. The love between Michal and David represents themes of love, unity, and the complexity of personal relationships amidst political turmoil. The verse also sets the stage for the events that will unfold in the lives of David, Saul, and their families in the subsequent chapters of 1 Samuel. As with many biblical verses, 1 Samuel 18:20 has layers of meaning and symbolism that enrich the larger narrative of the Bible.
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1 Samuel 18:20 Artwork
1 Samuel 18:20 - "And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him."
"And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him." - 1 Samuel 18:20
1 Samuel 20:18 - "Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty."
1 Samuel 2:18 - "¶ But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod."
1 Samuel 20:20 - "And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark."
1 Samuel 30:18
"Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty." - 1 Samuel 20:18
1 Samuel 28:15-20
1 Samuel 10:20 - "And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken."
1 Samuel 12:18 - "So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel."
1 Samuel 3:20 - "And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD."
1 Samuel 20:27-30
1 Samuel 20:27-29
2 Samuel 20:18 - "Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter."
1 Samuel 19:18 - "¶ So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth."
1 Samuel 9:18 - "Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is."
1 Samuel 18:9 - "And Saul eyed David from that day and forward."
1 Samuel 18:24 - "And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David."
1 Samuel 18:12 - "¶ And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul."
1 Samuel 20:39 - "But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter."
1 Samuel 18:29 - "And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually."
1 Samuel 18:28 - "¶ And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him."
1 Samuel 1:20 - "Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD."
1 Samuel 20:28 - "And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:"
1 Samuel 18:18 - "And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?"
1 Samuel 18:14 - "And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him."
1 Samuel 19:20 - "And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied."
1 Samuel 3:18 - "And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good."
1 Samuel 28:20 - "Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night."
2 Samuel 18:20 - "And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead."