King Saul tries to defend his kingdom by planning a strategic marriage for his daughter, Merav; Samuel relays a message from God to Saul.
Saul confides in David after Samuel's prophecy; Ishbaal plans to assassinate the prophet; as the Philistines prepare to wage war, the Israelites realize they're outnumbered; Ahinoam proposes a marriage between her son and the daughter of Eitan.
When Saul's plan to have his son Ishbaal fight Goliath yields disastrous results, Saul offers a bounty and his daughter's hand in marriage to any man who defeats Goliath; Rizpah's origins are revealed; David's older brother inadvertently helps him.