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Michal

femaleUnited Monarchy

Meaning: “Who is like God?

A daughter of King Saul and the first wife of David, who loved him and saved his life but later despised him for his exuberant worship.

M

Biography

Michal, a daughter of King Saul, was David's first wife. Scripture says plainly that "Michal Saul's daughter loved David" (1 Samuel 18:20), and her father gave her to him — though partly as a snare.

Saving David's life

When Saul sent men to kill David, Michal let him down through a window and disguised an image in the bed to buy time for his escape (1 Samuel 19:11–17). During David's exile Saul gave her to another man, but David later reclaimed her (2 Samuel 3:13–16).

Estrangement

When David danced before the ark with abandon, Michal "despised him in her heart" and rebuked him; the narrative notes that "Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death" (2 Samuel 6:16, 23). Her story traces the painful collision of the houses of Saul and David.

Life Timeline

1018 BC

Marries David, having loved him

1 Samuel 18:27
1018 BC

Helps David escape Saul through a window

1 Samuel 19:12
1003 BC

Returned to David during his rise to the throne

2 Samuel 3:14
1000 BC

Despises David for dancing before the ark; remains childless

2 Samuel 6:16

On the Bible timeline

Michal belongs to the The United Monarchy era (c. 1050 – 930 BC).

  1. c. 1010 – 970 BCDavid's Reign
  2. c. 966 BCSolomon's Temple Built
  3. c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides

Family Tree

MMichalUnited Monarchy
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Themes & lessons from Michal

Biblical themes that run through the passages where Michal appears.

Michal13×Abner2×Philistines2×Zion2×Abinadab1×Ajah1×Circumcision1×Dancing1×Daughter1×Gibeonites1×Ish-Bosheth1×Jerusalem1×Melchishua1×Merab1×Prayer, Social and Family1×Reviling and Reproaching1×Rizpah1×Wives1×

People they appear with

Saul14×
David11×
Jonathan1×
Ishbosheth1×
Rizpah1×
Mephibosheth1×

Places in their story

Dan (Laish)1×

Things in their story

Ark of the Covenant2×

Scripture Appearances

17 verses in 3 books
1 Samuel9 verses

1 Samuel 14:49

Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:

1 Samuel 18:20

And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. pleased him: Heb. was right in his eyes

1 Samuel 18:27

Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

1 Samuel 18:28

And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.

1 Samuel 19:11

Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

1 Samuel 19:12

So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

1 Samuel 19:13

And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. image: Heb. teraphim

1 Samuel 19:17

And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

1 Samuel 25:44

But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

2 Samuel7 verses

2 Samuel 3:13

And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face. that is: Heb. saying

2 Samuel 3:14

And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

2 Samuel 6:16

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

2 Samuel 6:20

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! shamelessly: or, openly

2 Samuel 6:21

And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

2 Samuel 6:23

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

2 Samuel 21:8

But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: Michal: or, Michal's sister brought: Heb. bare to Adriel

1 Chronicles1 verse

1 Chronicles 15:29

And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

Frequently asked about Michal

Who was Michal in the Bible?

A daughter of King Saul and the first wife of David, who loved him and saved his life but later despised him for his exuberant worship.

What does the name Michal mean?

The name Michal means “Who is like God?”.

What did Michal do in the Bible?

Michal served as princess.

Where does Michal appear in the Bible?

Michal is mentioned 17 times across 3 books: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles.

What can we learn from Michal?

The story of Michal touches on themes of michal, abner, philistines, zion — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Michal's life.

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