Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:49
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab (his firstborn) and Michal (his younger daughter).
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Saul’s immediate family details directly after recounting his military campaigns against the Amalekites and before introducing his wife and chief military officer.
The words — The Hebrew phrase בְּנֵי שָׁאוּל (benei sha'ul) literally renders as "sons of Saul," while וְשֵם (ve'shem) introduces the naming of his daughters. The verb וַיִּהְיוּ (va-yihyu) functions as a narrative connector meaning "and they were" or "and there were."
The thread — These names reappear in 1 Samuel 31:2 when Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua fall in battle against the Philistines. The genealogical line is also traced in 1 Chronicles 8:33, and the daughter Michal is later mentioned in 2 Samuel 6:20 when she comes out to meet David.
Why it lands — The text plainly lists Saul’s children to establish his household before the narrative shifts to his downfall. It asks the reader to track the fulfillment of Saul’s lineage through the battle records and royal history without adding unverified details about Merab.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchi–shua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 31:2 The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
- 1 Chronicles 8:33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
- 2 Samuel 6:20 When David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”
- 1 Chronicles 9:39 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
- 1 Samuel 18:7 And as the women danced, they sang out: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”
- 1 Samuel 25:44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
- 2 Samuel 3:13 “Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”