In certain cultures, men would pay money to the father of the woman that they hope to marry (see Genesis 29:1–35). This was meant to compensate the father for the loss of income, seeing as his daughter would now be working and helping in the home of another family. It appears as if at least a portion of such money was also meant to be set aside to provide in the case of emergencies (see Genesis 31:14–15).
24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.”