An Interesting Dowry

As I was reading through my daily Bible reading today, I came across an interesting passage in I Samuel. For those Bible scholars out there, you are probably shaking your head and saying to yourself, "she's not really going to go there, is she?!" Perhaps I have more of a Young Life spirit than I thought!

Brief background: Saul is trying to have it look as though he likes David by offering his daughter in marriage, but really wants David dead and out of the picture. Saul first offered his eldest daughter's hand in marriage to David, but had her married to someone else at the last minute. This is his second attempt.....

Here is the passage "The Message" version first:

1 Samuel 18:25-27 (The Message)

When the servants reported David's response to Saul, he told them to tell David this: "The king isn't expecting any money from you; only this: Go kill a hundred Philistines and bring evidence of your vengeance on the king's behalf. Avenge the king on his enemies." (Saul expected David to be killed in action.)

On receiving this message, David was pleased. There was something he could do for the king that would qualify him to be his son-in-law! He lost no time but went right out, he and his men, killed the hundred Philistines, brought their evidence back in a sack, and counted it out before the king—mission completed! Saul gave Michal his daughter to David in marriage.

Important note in this version: it's not specifically stated what was the proof, but that it was "counted out before the king."

Now, let's look at the NIV version to find out what the proof was that was needed:

1 Samuel 18:25-27 (New International Version)

Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.' " Saul's plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines. When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king's son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.

(emphasis mine)

This story begs to have questions asked. Such as what would a bag of two hundred Philistine foreskins look like? Did David kill them first or did the Philistines get to experience an adult circumcision in full consciousness? Who had the honor of counting them to the king? Did Saul get physically sick at the sight of it all? And did Michal ever brag about her dowry to her friends? And other questions that are even more inappropriate.

(I am curious why the 2 versions had variation in the number of foreskins. I feel there is a significant difference between 100 and 200. Really, was David just having that much fun?)

ahh the Old Testament....