Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give 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 let the hand of the Philistines be on him.
"Saul’s playing the part of a latter-day Laban (cf. Genesis 29:15-30) has rebounded upon himself, for now a second member of his own family has made her special contribution to the theme ’all Israel and Judah loved David’ (1 Samuel 18:16)." [Note: Gordon, p. 162.] 