The oldest daughter of King Saul.
- Tribe: Benjamin (1 Samuel 10:20-21)
- Father: Saul
- Mother: Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz
- Siblings: Jonathan, Ishvi, Malchi-shua, Michal, Abinadab, and Ish-bosheth. (1 Samuel 14:49-51; 1 Samuel 31:2; 2 Samuel 2:8)
- Husband: Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite (1 Samuel 18:17-19)
- Children: 5 sons (2 Samuel 21:8)
Merab is offered as a bride to David, but she is given to Adriel instead
When David saw Israel cowering before Goliath, he asked how the man who defeats the uncircumcised Philistine would be rewarded: the king will enrich the man with great riches and give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel. (1 Samuel 17:24-27)
Saul offered her to David if he would only be valiant and fight the LORD's battles, but David declined on basis of his father's status. At the time when Merab was to be given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite. (1 Samuel 18:17-19)