Das vereinte KönigreichHusband of MerabSon-in-law of King SaulFather of five sons who were handed over to the Gibeonitesc. 1050–1000 BC
Adriel, son of Barzillai the Meholathite, took Merab to be his wife – King Saul’s eldest daughter – after the king broke his promise to give her to David. The marriage likely had a political dimension in Saul’s strategy to weaken David’s influence. However, Adriel’s name is most closely associated with the tragic event that unfolded during David’s reign: A prolonged famine was attributed to Saul’s breach of covenant against the Gibeonites, and as atonement, David handed over seven of Saul’s descendants – among them the five sons Merab had borne to Adriel. This account raises profound questions about inherited guilt, the unyielding nature of covenants, and how the actions of kings could impact future generations in Israelite society.
King Saul promised his eldest daughter Merab to David as a wife after David had distinguished himself in battle against the Philistines. However, Saul had ulterior motives and hoped that the Philistines would take David's life in combat.
17Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you as your wife; only serve me bravely and fight the LORD's battles." For Saul thought, "I will not lay a hand on him; let the hand of the Philistines be on him."
Contrary to his promise to David, Saul gave his daughter Merab to Adriel, son of Barzillai the Meholathite. This breach of covenant was part of Saul's ongoing attempts to undermine David's position and influence.
During a three-year famine, David sought the Lord and learned that the cause was Saul's bloodguilt against the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites demanded that seven of Saul's descendants be handed over to them to make atonement.
1In the days of David there was a famine that lasted three years, year after year, and David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, "It is because of Saul and his bloodstained house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."
2So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites but a remnant of the Amorites, and the Israelites had sworn an oath to spare them; yet Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for Israel and Judah.
4The Gibeonites answered him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put any man in Israel to death." David said, "Then what do you say I should do for you?"
6let seven of his sons be handed over to us, and we will hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD." The king said, "I will hand them over."
David handed over the five sons that Merab had borne to Adriel, along with Rizpah's two sons, to the Gibeonites. The seven were executed on the mountain in the presence of the Lord at the beginning of the barley harvest.
8So the king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she had borne to Saul—Armoni and Mephibosheth—and the five sons of Michal daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. [^1]
[^1]: The Hebrew text reads *Michal*; since Adriel married Saul's daughter Merab (1 Samuel 18:19) and Michal had no children (2 Samuel 6:23), some ancient manuscripts and many interpreters read *Merab* here.
9He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who hanged them on the hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
After the execution, Rizpah, mother of two of the slain, faithfully kept watch over all seven bodies to protect them from birds of prey and wild animals. Her steadfast devotion moved King David, who gathered the bones of the executed together with those of Saul and Jonathan and ensured a dignified burial in Kish's family tomb.
10Then Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain poured down on the bodies from the heavens, she did not let the birds of the sky settle on them by day or the wild animals by night.
12he went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them on the day they struck Saul down at Gilboa.
14They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin, at Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father, and they did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer on behalf of the land.