Michal
She loved David and saved his life, then watched him dance and despised him.
Old Testament · c. 1000 BC · 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel · Also known as Daughter of Saul, Wife of David
About Michal
Michal was King Saul’s younger daughter, and "Michal Saul’s daughter loved David." Saul gave her to David hoping it would lead to his death. When Saul sent men to kill David, Michal let him down through a window and put an image in his bed to fool them. While David was a fugitive, Saul gave her to another man, Phaltiel. Years later David demanded her back, and Phaltiel followed her, weeping. When David danced before the ark of the LORD, Michal "despised him in her heart," and they quarrelled. Scripture ends her story: she "had no child unto the day of her death."
Royal marriages were often political. Michal was used by her father to trap David, given away to another man, and taken back by David as he claimed Saul’s throne. Scripture records what was done to her, and her one recorded quarrel.
The story
Michal loved David
"And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him." Saul said, "I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him," and set a dangerous bride price, hoping David would fall to the Philistines. David paid it, and they were married.
1 Samuel 18:20-28
Through a window
Saul sent men to watch David’s house and kill him in the morning. Michal warned him: "If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain." "So Michal let David down through a window." She put an image in the bed with a pillow of goats’ hair, and told the messengers he was sick.
1 Samuel 19:11-17
Weeping behind her
While David was on the run, Saul gave Michal to Phalti. When David later demanded her back, Ish-bosheth took her from her husband, "And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim," until he was told to go home.
1 Samuel 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:13-16
Despised in her heart
As the ark came into Jerusalem, Michal looked through a window and saw "king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart." She met him with scorn: "How glorious was the king of Israel to day…!" David answered that he danced "before the LORD." "Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death."
2 Samuel 6:16-23
Key moments
- Loves David: Saul plans a snare. (1 Samuel 18:20-21)
- Saves David’s life: Through a window. (1 Samuel 19:12)
- Given to Phalti: While David is a fugitive. (1 Samuel 25:44)
- Taken back by David: Her husband weeping behind. (2 Samuel 3:16)
- Despises David’s dancing: Before the ark. (2 Samuel 6:16)
Questions about Michal
In meetBible these answers are given in Michal’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Did you love David?
Scripture says so twice: "Michal Saul’s daughter loved David," and Saul "knew… that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him." I risked my father’s anger to save David’s life. Years later, after much had been done to me, I "despised him" in my heart. What happened to my love in between isn’t recorded.
Why did you despise David’s dancing?
I saw "king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart." I told him, "How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants." I thought it shameful for a king. David answered that it was "before the LORD, which chose me before thy father." Scripture gives our words, not every reason behind them.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with 1 Samuel 18–19; 2 Samuel 6.