Topical Encyclopedia Merab was the eldest daughter of King Saul, the first king of Israel, and his wife Ahinoam. Her account is primarily found in the Old Testament, specifically in the First Book of Samuel. As a member of the royal family, Merab's life was intertwined with the political and spiritual dynamics of Israel during a tumultuous period.Family and Lineage Merab was born into the tribe of Benjamin, as her father Saul was a Benjamite. Her siblings included her sister Michal and brothers Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. The family dynamics were complex, especially given Saul's troubled reign and his eventual rejection by God as king. Betrothal to David Merab's most notable biblical mention occurs in the context of her betrothal to David, the future king of Israel. After David's victory over Goliath, Saul promised his daughter in marriage to the man who defeated the Philistine giant. Initially, Saul offered Merab to David as a wife. In 1 Samuel 18:17 , Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." Saul's offer, however, was not genuine; he hoped that David would fall in battle against the Philistines. Despite the promise, Merab was not given to David. Instead, she was married to Adriel the Meholathite. The Bible does not provide explicit reasons for this change, but it reflects the ongoing tension and Saul's growing jealousy and fear of David. Marriage to Adriel Merab's marriage to Adriel is briefly mentioned in 1 Samuel 18:19 : "So when the time came for Merab, Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah." This union produced five sons, as noted in 2 Samuel 21:8. The marriage to Adriel, a man from Meholah, suggests a political alliance, as marriages during this period often served to strengthen political ties and consolidate power. Tragic Outcome The most tragic aspect of Merab's account is the fate of her sons. During the reign of King David, a famine struck Israel, and it was revealed that it was due to Saul's breach of a covenant with the Gibeonites. To atone for Saul's actions, David handed over seven of Saul's male descendants to the Gibeonites, who executed them. Among those handed over were the five sons of Merab, as recorded in 2 Samuel 21:8-9 . This event underscores the far-reaching consequences of Saul's disobedience and the complex interplay of justice and retribution in the biblical narrative. Legacy Merab's life, though not extensively detailed in the Scriptures, reflects the challenges faced by women in the biblical era, particularly those in royal households. Her account is a poignant reminder of the personal costs of political and spiritual conflicts. While Merab herself is not a central figure in the biblical narrative, her experiences and the fate of her children highlight the broader themes of covenant, loyalty, and the consequences of sin that permeate the biblical text. Nave's Topical Index 1 Samuel 14:49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: Nave's Topical Index Library David the Shepherd Youth. War! War! War! The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus Resources Who was Michal in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the story of David and Michal? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
    |