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1 Samuel 18:23

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 18:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Saul`s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king`s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Saul`s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king`s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
1 Samuel 18:23 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20And Michal, Saul`s daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
21And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.
22And Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king`s son-in-law.
23And Saul`s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king`s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?
24And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.
25And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king`s enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
26And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king`s son-in-law. And the days were not expired;
← 1 Samuel 18:221 Samuel 18:24 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Saul’s servants spake these words in the ears of David, etc.] Those before related, which Saul commanded them to speak, which they delivered exactly according to their orders, with an audible voice, clearly, plainly, and distinctly, so that David might hear and understand them: and David said, seemeth it to you [a] light [thing] to be a king’s son in law; a small a trifling matter, an easy thing to come into, every thing requisite to it: seeing that I [am] a poor man; and not able to give a dowry suitable to the daughter of a king; it being usual in those times for a man to give a dowry to, and not receive a portion with a wife; and which also was the custom of the Germans, as Tacitus…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A poor man and lightly esteemed - Compare Psalms 119:141. Poor, and therefore unable to pay a sufficient dowry. See 1 Samuel 18:25. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“18:23 The future son-in-law would give the bride price as a gift to his bride’s father (see Gen 34:12; Exod 22:16-17).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a light: Jo1 3:1 a poor man: Sa1 9:21; Pro 14:20, Pro 19:6, Pro 19:7; Ecc 9:15, Ecc 9:16 and lightly: Psa 119:141 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 18:24”
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Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification