Saul's son-in-law; husband of Merab
Adriel
Named in 2 verses across 2 books, first in 1 Samuel 18:19.
עַדְרִיאֵלAdriel
The name means “the flock of God.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Adriel Written by AI
Adriel was the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. King Saul had promised his eldest daughter Merab to David, but instead gave her in marriage to Adriel. Merab bore Adriel five sons. During David's reign, these five sons were handed over to the Gibeonites and put to death to avenge Saul's earlier massacre of the Gibeonites, with whom Israel had a treaty. (1 Samuel 18:19; 2 Samuel 21:8).
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
Flock of God, the son of Barzillai, the Meholathite, to whom Saul gave in marriage his daughter Merab (1 Sam. 18:19). The five sons that sprang from this union were put to death by the Gibeonites (2 Sam. 21:8, 9. Here it is said that Michal “brought up” [R.V., “bare”] these five sons, either that she treated them as if she had been their own mother, or that for “Michal” we should read “Merab,” as in 1 Sam. 18:19).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- 1 Samuel 18:19
So when it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.
- 2 Samuel 21:8
But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.