Michal
“Who Is Like God?”
Summary
The younger daughter of King Saul who became David's first wife, later despised him for dancing before the Ark.
☩Love and Marriage
Michal 'loved David' (1 Samuel 18:20)—the only woman in Scripture explicitly said to love a man. Saul offered her to David hoping he would be killed obtaining the bride price of one hundred Philistine foreskins (1 Samuel 18:25). David succeeded, and 'Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him' (1 Samuel 18:28).
☩Saving David's Life
When Saul sent men to kill David, Michal warned him and lowered him through a window to escape. She placed an image in his bed to deceive the messengers, buying David time to flee (1 Samuel 19:11-17). When Saul demanded an explanation, she claimed David had threatened her—a lie protecting both of them.
☩Separation and Reunion
During David's years as a fugitive, Saul gave Michal to Phalti (also called Phaltiel) as wife (1 Samuel 25:44). When David became king over all Israel, he demanded her return as condition of peace with Abner. Phalti followed her weeping until Abner sent him back (2 Samuel 3:14-16). The forced separation and reunion suggest political considerations had eclipsed earlier love.
☩Despising David
When David brought the Ark to Jerusalem, dancing before the LORD 'with all his might,' Michal 'despised him in her heart' (2 Samuel 6:14-16). She confronted him sarcastically about exposing himself before servants. David responded that he would be even more undignified before the LORD. 'Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death' (2 Samuel 6:23).