Michal

MICHAL, or Michol, Daughter of King Saul. The Hebrews think, that she had also the Name of Eglah¹, and that she was Mother of Ithream, 2 Sam. iii. 5. But this Opinion has no Foundation. Michal falling in Love with David, and her Father Saul being informed of it, was not a little glad of it², saying, I will give her to David for a Wife, that he may fall into the Hands of the Philistines, and so she may be the Cause of his Ruine. Saul therefore bid his Confidents to move it to David as from their selves, and to say to him; You see that the King and all his Officers have an Affection for you, endeavour therefore to become the King’s Son-in-Law. David made Answer, that he was unworthy of that Honour, and that he had not an Estate to support such high Pretensions. This was told Saul, who replied, Let David know that I have no Need of a Dowry for my Daughter; for then it was the Custom for the Husband to give a Dowry for his Wife, and in some Manner to buy her of her Parents. David was given to understand, that all the Dowry required of him was, an hundred Foreskins of the Philistines, that by his Means Saul might be revenged of his Enemies. A little while after David marches out against the Philistines, and having killed two Hundred of them, he brought their Foreskins to King Saul, being double the Number that was required of him. And thus Saul gave him his Daughter Michal in Marriage.

Some Time after³ the evil Spirit taking Possession of Saul, and David playing on the Harp before him for his Relief; he threw a Javelin at David, thinking to kill him, but David avoided the Blow, and escaped out of Saul’s House. Saul sent his Guards after him, to secure him in his own House during the Night Season, and to bring him with them on the Morrow. But Michal let him down through a Window, and by this Means he made his Escape. Michal then took a Statue⁴, and laid it in David’s Bed, and put about its Head the Skin of a Goat⁵ with the Hair on, and covered it with a Cloath. Saul sent next Morning to take David, but was told he was sick. He sent again, and gave Orders that he should be brought in his Bed; but going to take him, they found nothing but a Statue, and Michal excused her self to her Father by saying, that David threatened to kill her if she did not assist him in his Escape. Some Time after⁶ Saul gave Michal to Phalti, (or Phaltiel) Son of Laish of Gallim.

But David, when he came to the Crown, caused Michal to be restored to him again⁷, and this was one of the Conditions that he stipulated with Abner, when this General came to offer his Services to him, and undertook to reduce all Israel to his Obedience. Then David sent Messengers to Ish-bosheth, who reigned at Mahanaim beyond Jordan, to demand Michal. Ish-bosheth therefore sent her back to David, and Phaltiel followed her weeping as far as Baburim. The Hebrews pretend, that Phaltiel never came near Michal, who in Strictness could not be his Wife, since she never had been divorced from David. Others believe that Michal had five Sons by Phaltiel, which were given up to the Gibeonites to be executed, as is related 2 Sam. xxi. 8, 9. But in this Place there appears to be a Fault somehow crept into the Text, which ought to be read Merob, instead of Michal. For Michal was not given to Adriel the Son of Barzillai the Meholathite, as this Text would insinuate, but to Phaltiel the Son of Laish. Therefore instead of Adriel Son of Barzillai, we must read here Phaltiel Son of Laish, or we must seek some other Solution of this Difficulty, which may be seen before under the Article MEROB. David from the very Beginning of his Reign⁸ had formed a Design of translating the Ark of the Covenant from Shilo, where it then was, to Jerusalem, where he had fixed his Habitation. This pious Design he executed with all the Pomp and Ceremony that his Zeal and Devotion could inspire him with; he himself leaping and dancing for Joy in this great Solemnity. Michal observing this at a Window, where she had placed herself to see the Procession, took great Offence at it, and conceived no small Contempt for King David; which she could not forbear shewing, when he returned to his Palace. She upbraided him with descending to such Meannesses, below the Majesty of a King, as to dance and play among his Servants, discovering his Nakedness, and acting rather like a Buffoon than a King. But David vindicated himself by telling her, that he would dance and appear vile before the Lord, who had made Choice of him to be King of Israel, preferring him before her Father and all his Family; and that being contemptible in his own Eyes, he should be the more honourable for that in the Eyes of all his Servants. Michal had no Children to the Day of her Death, which the Scripture seems to impute to the Reproaches she made to David on this Occasion. From this Time no more Mention is made of Michal in Scripture, and the Time of her Death is unknown.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages