Topical Encyclopedia
Introduction:Michal is a significant yet complex figure in the Hebrew Bible, known primarily as the daughter of King Saul and the first wife of David, who would later become king of Israel. Her account is interwoven with themes of love, loyalty, political intrigue, and personal tragedy.
Family Background:Michal was the younger daughter of King Saul, Israel's first king, and his wife Ahinoam. Her older sister was Merab. As a member of the royal family, Michal was accustomed to the privileges and responsibilities that came with her status.
Marriage to David:Michal's relationship with David is introduced in
1 Samuel 18. Saul, aware of Michal's love for David, saw an opportunity to ensnare David by offering her in marriage. Saul demanded a dowry of one hundred Philistine foreskins, hoping David would fall in battle. However, David succeeded and married Michal, as recorded in
1 Samuel 18:27: "David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them in 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."
Loyalty and Deception:Michal's loyalty to David is notably demonstrated when she helps him escape from Saul's murderous intent. In
1 Samuel 19:11-12, Michal warns David of her father's plan and aids his escape by lowering him through a window. She then deceives Saul's messengers by placing an idol in David's bed, claiming he was ill.
Separation and Second Marriage:After David's escape, Michal was given in marriage to another man, Paltiel (also called Palti), as noted in
1 Samuel 25:44: "But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim." This act was likely intended to sever her ties with David and solidify Saul's opposition to him.
Return to David:Following Saul's death and David's rise to power, David demanded Michal's return as part of his negotiations with Abner, Saul's former commander. In
2 Samuel 3:13-16, Michal is taken from Paltiel and restored to David, despite Paltiel's emotional protest.
Conflict and Estrangement:Michal's relationship with David deteriorates further during his reign. A pivotal moment occurs when David brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Michal, observing David's exuberant dancing, despises him in her heart. In
2 Samuel 6:16, it is written: "As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart." Their subsequent confrontation results in a bitter exchange, and Michal remains childless, as noted in
2 Samuel 6:23: "And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death."
Legacy:Michal's life is marked by her initial love and loyalty to David, her role in the political machinations of Saul's court, and her eventual estrangement from David. Her account reflects the complexities of personal relationships amidst the broader narrative of Israel's monarchy. Michal's experiences highlight the challenges faced by women in biblical times, particularly those caught in the crossfire of political and familial conflicts.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Michalwho is perfect?
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Michal(who is like God), the younger of Saul's two daughters, (1 Samuel 14:49) who married David. The price fixed on Michal's hand was no less than the slaughter of a hundred Philistines. David by a brilliant feat doubled the tale of victims, and Michal became his wife. Shortly afterward she saved David from the assassins whom her father had sent to take his life. (1 Samuel 19:11-17) When the rupture between Saul and David had become open and incurable, she was married to another man, Phalti or Phaltiel of Gallim. (1 Samuel 25:44) After the death of her father and brothers at Gilboa, David compelled her new husband to surrender Michal to him. (2 Samuel 3:13-16) How Michal comported herself in the altered circumstances of David's household we are not told; but it is plain from the subsequent occurrences that something had happened to alter the relations of herself and David, for on the day of David's greatest triumph, when he brought the ark of Jehovah to Jerusalem, we are told that "she despised him in her heart." All intercourse between her and David ceased from that date. (2 Samuel 6:20-23) Her name appears, (2 Samuel 21:8) as the mother of five of the grandchildren of Saul.
ATS Bible Dictionary
MichalThe younger of Saul's two daughters, in love with David, and whom Saul reluctantly gave to him in marriage,1 Samuel 14:49 18:20-29. She saved her husband's life from assassins sent by her father, by a stratagem that gave him time to escape,1 Samuel 19:14-15. Her father then gave her in marriage to Phalti,1 Samuel 25:44, from whom David some years after recovered her,2 Samuel 3:12-21.
When David brought the ark of God to Jerusalem, she conceived and expressed great disgust at his pious joy, and the affections of the king remained alienated from her till her death,2 Samuel 6:16-23. Her hatred of unfashionable zeal in religion was stronger than her love of her husband and her God. She left no children.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Rivulet, or who as God?, the younger of Saul's two daughters by his wife Ahinoam (
1 Samuel 14:49, 50). "Attracted by the graces of his person and the gallantry of his conduct, she fell in love with David and became his wife" (
18:20-28). She showed her affection for him by promoting his escape to Naioth when Saul sought his life (
1 Samuel 19:12-17. Comp.
Psalm 59. See TERAPHIM). After this she did not see David for many years. Meanwhile she was given in marriage to another man, Phalti or Phaltiel of Gallim (
1 Samuel 25:44), but David afterwards formally reclaimed her as his lawful wife (
2 Samuel 3:13-16). The relation between her and David soon after this was altered. They became alienated from each other. This happened on that memorable day when the ark was brought up in great triumph from its temporary resting-place to the Holy City. In David's conduct on that occasion she saw nothing but a needless humiliation of the royal dignity (
1 Chronicles 15:29). She remained childless, and thus the races of David and Saul were not mixed. In
2 Samuel 21:8 her name again occurs, but the name Merab should probably be here substituted for Michal (Comp.
1 Samuel 18:19).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
MICHALmi'-kal (mikhal, contracted from mikha'el, "Michael" (which see); Melchol): Saul's younger daughter (1 Samuel 14:49), who, falling in love with David after his victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 18:20), was at last, on the payment of double the dowry asked, married to him (1 Samuel 18:27). Her love was soon put to the test. When Saul in his jealousy sent for David, she was quick to discern her husband's danger, connived at his escape, and not only outwitted and delayed the messengers, but afterward also soothed her father's jealous wrath (1 Samuel 19:11-17). When David was outlawed and exiled, she was married to Palti or Paltiel, the son of Laish of Gallim (1 Samuel 25:44), but was, despite Palti's sorrowful protest, forcibly restored to David on his return as king (2 Samuel 3:14-16). The next scene in which she figures indicates that her love had cooled and had even turned to disdain, for after David's enthusiastic joy and ecstatic dancing before the newly restored Ark of the Covenant, she received him with bitter and scornful mockery (2 Samuel 6:20), and the record closes with the fact that she remained all her life childless (2 Samuel 6:23; compare2 Samuel 21:8 where Michal is an obvious mistake for Merab). Michal was evidently a woman of unusual strength of mind and decision of character. She manifested her love in an age when it was almost an unheard-of thing for a woman to take the initiative in such a matter. For the sake of the man whom she loved too she braved her father's wrath and risked her own life. Even her later mockery of David affords proof of her courage, and almost suggests the inference that she had resented being treated as a chattel and thrown from one husband to another. The modern reader can scarce withhold from her, if not admiration, at least a slight tribute of sympathy.
John A. Lees
Strong's Hebrew
4324. Mikal -- wife of David... 4323, 4324. Mikal. 4325 . wife of David. Transliteration: Mikal Phonetic
Spelling: (me-kawl') Short Definition:
Michal. Word
... 17).
Michal.
...Library
Saul's Mean Jealousy
...Michal, Saul's daughter, also loved David, and when they told Saul, he was pleased,
for he said, "I will give her to him, that she may lead him to destruction...
Religious Zeal.
... ThenMichal his wife, Saul's daughter, looked out of a window, and sneered at him,
"and despised him in her heart." She was one of your cold-blooded people...
David the Shepherd Youth.
... Jonathan, the king's son, andMichal, the king's daughter, also learnt to love
the shepherd-singer as he went in and out before the king....
How David, Upon Saul's Laying Snares for Him, did yet Escape the...
... Upon Saul's Laying Snares For Him, Did Yet Escape The Dangers He Was In By The
Affection And Care Of Jonathan And The Contrivances Of His WifeMichal: And How...
That when David had Conquered the Philistines who Made War against...
... 3. But whenMichal his wife, the daughter of Saul, came and stood by him, she wished
him all other happiness, and entreated that whatsoever he should further...
The History of Saul
... And after this he weddedMichal, daughter of Saul, and Jonathan made oft times peace
between Saul and David, yet Saul kept no promise, but ever lay in wait to...
The Exile.
... yielded to his spell. The youngerMichal had been cherishing his image
in secret, and now tells her love. Her father returns to...
How David Reigned Over one Tribe at Hebron While the Son Of
... his message to him, he desired that he would give this as the first mark of performance
of the present league, that he might have his wifeMichal restored to...
The King --Continued.
... The story of the actual removal of the ark to the city of David with glad ceremonial
need not be repeated here; nor the mocking gibes ofMichal who had once...
2 Sam. 23:4-5. Without Clouds.
... trials from the unjust persecution of Saul, retrials from his own servants, such
as Joab and Ahithophel, " trials from a wife, even thatMichal who once...
Thesaurus
Michal (18 Occurrences)... In 2 Samuel 21:8 her name again occurs, but the name Merab should probably be
here substituted for
Michal (Comp. 1 Samuel 18:19). Int.
...MICHAL.
...Merab (4 Occurrences)
... But now another element complicated matters-Michal's love for David (1 Samuel
18:20), which may have been the retarding factor from the first....
Adriel (2 Occurrences)
... The five sons that sprang from this union were put to death by the Gibeonites (2
Samuel 21:8, 9. Here it is said thatMichal "brought up" [RV, "bare"] these...
Dancing (21 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:16 It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that
Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David...
Palti (2 Occurrences)
... of the "searchers" of Canaan sent by Moses (Numbers 13:9), representing Benjamin
in the expedition (13:9). (2) The man to whom Saul gaveMichal, David's wife...
Teraphim (14 Occurrences)
... In order to deceive the guards sent by Saul to seize David,Michal his wife prepared
one of the household teraphim, putting on it the goat's-hair cap worn by...
Saul's (79 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). 1 Samuel 18:20Michal, Saul's daughter,
loved David; and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him....
Window (24 Occurrences)
... Why do the wheels of his chariots wait?' (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV
NIV). 1 Samuel 19:12 SoMichal let David down through the window....
Escaped (94 Occurrences)
... David fled, and escaped that night. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV). 1 Samuel
19:12 SoMichal let David down through the window. He went, fled, and escaped....
Leaping (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 6:16 It was so, as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, that
Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David...
Resources
Did David dance naked (2 Samuel 6:14)? | GotQuestions.orgWho was David in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did people keep family idols in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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