Merab
מֵרָב · me.rav · H4764מִיכַל · mi.khal · H4324H“he that fights or disputes” Hitchcock's 18694 mentions in 2 books, most in 1 Samuel (3)
Who she was
Merab was the eldest daughter of King Saul (1 Samuel 14:49). She was initially promised to David as a wife, with the condition that he fight valiantly for Saul and the Lord (1 Samuel 18:17). However, when the time came for her to be given to David, she was instead given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife (1 Samuel 18:19). Merab had five sons with Adriel, and these sons were among the seven descendants of Saul who were handed over to the Gibeonites for execution, as a means of atonement for Saul's attempt to annihilate the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:8). This event occurred during David's reign, when a three-year famine prompted David to seek the Lord's guidance.
Article: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Family
FatherSaulMotherAhinoamSiblingsJonathan, Abinadab, Malchi-shua, Michal, Ish-bosheth, Armoni, MephiboshethSpouseAdriel
Family relations: STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0
Every mention
4 references, counted from STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0 · verse text: World English Bible (public domain)
1 Samuel 3 mentions
1 Samuel 14:49Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.1 Samuel 18:17Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but…1 Samuel 18:19But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as wife.
2 Samuel 1 mention
What the dictionary says
Increase, the eldest of Saul’s two daughters (1 Sam. 14:49).
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Read the article →Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain