The eldest daughter of king Saul, was promised to David in marriage, in reward for his victory over Goliath; but was given to Adriel, son of Barzillai the Meholathite, 18:17,19. Merab had five sons by him, who were delivered to the Gibeonites, and hanged before the Lord, ,9 . The text intimates that the five men delivered to the Gibeonites were sons of Michal; but see ADRIEL.\par
Saul's oldest daughter (1Sa 14:49). According to promise to the conqueror of Goliath, Saul betrothed Merab to David (1Sa 17:25; 1Sa 18:17), but with the secret design of inciting him thereby to expose himself to be slain by the Philistines. At the time when Merab should have been given to him Saul gave her to Adriel the Meholathite. Her five sons subsequently were crucified to Jehovah by the Gibeonites among the seven, for Saul's bloodthirsty zeal against them (2Sa 21:9). See Exo 34:7; how Saul's sin recoiled on himself and his! *Michal* is a copyist's error for Merab (2Sa 21:8); reading *Michal* we must understand *brought up,* not gave birth to (compare Rth 4:16-17). (See MICHAL.)
Daughter of Saul, (1 Sam. 14. 49.) Her name is taken from Rabah, mistress.
he that fights or disputes
Me´rab (Increase) eldest daughter of king Saul, who was promised in marriage to David; but when the time fixed for their union approached, she was, to the surprise of all Israel bestowed in marriage upon an unknown personage named Adriel (; -19). By him she had six sons, who were among those of the house of Saul that were given up to the Gibeonites, who put them to death in expiation for the wrongs they had sustained from their grandfather.
Me'rab. (increase). Eldest daughter of King Saul. . In accordance with the promise which he made, before the engagement with Goliath, , Saul betrothed Merab to David. . Before the marriage, Merab's younger sister, Michal, had displayed her attachment for David, and Merab was, then, married to Adriel, the Meholathite, to whom she bore five sons. .
Daughter of Saul, (1Sa 14:49) Her name is taken from Rabah, mistress.