Michal


The youngest daughter of King Saul.

Michal offered as a bride to David

After Merab was given to Adriel the Meholathite, Saul learned of Michal's love for David and offered her as a bride. Saul convinced David through his servants and had him earn her through valor with a hundred Philistine foreskins as a bride-price. David killed 200 instead. They were wed, and Michal loved him. Saul became even more afraid of David and became his enemy continually. (1 Samuel 18:17-30)

Michal saves David through deception

When Saul sent messengers to David's house in plot of murder, Michal warned David to escape that very night or die. She let him down the window, dressed a teraphim as him in bed, and when Saul sent messengers, she told them he was sick. And when Saul sent messengers to see David in bed to kill him, they discovered the teraphim. Saul asked her why, and she said David had said, "Let me go. Why should I kill you?" (1 Samuel 19:11-17)

Michal marries Palti the son of Laish

When David marries Abigail and Ahinoam of Jezreel, Saul gives Michal to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim. (1 Samuel 25:39-44)

Michal is returned to King David

As civil war split up Israel and Judah between the house of Saul and the house of David, Ish-bosheth's commander Abner came to David to bring all Israel to him. David accepted gladly but set a condition that he first bring Michal before seeing his face. David also sent messengers to Ish-bosheth for Michal. Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. (2 Samuel 3:1-16)

Michal watched from the window as David and all the house of Israel brought the ark of the Covenant into the city of David. David was leaping and dancing before the LORD in a linen ephod, and she despised him in her heart.

When David returned from his sacrifices and distribution of food to all men and women of Israel so he could bless his household, she came out to meet him, saying, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" And David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD--and I will make merry before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor."

And Michal had no child to the day of her death.

(2 Samuel 6)