After David’s battle success against Goliath, Saul initially offers his elder daughter Merab to David in marriage (1 Samuel 18:17). David declines with the result that Merab is given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah (1 Samuel 18:18–19). Hoping that David will be killed in his attempt to secure a bride price, Saul later decides to offer his youngest daughter Michal to David (1 Samuel 18:20–28). Initially loyal, she orchestrates David’s escape when her father’s men come looking for him (1 Samuel 19:1–24). With David having fled, Saul gives her in marriage to Paltiel son of Laish in an apparent move to block David from claiming the kingship through her. After Saul’s death, she is returned to David (2 Samuel 3:13–14). However, it appears as if her love for him has turned into hate since she despises David when he dances before the ark (2 Samuel 6:16).123
49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchi-shua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.