What is the story of David and Michal?

Response

The story of David and Michal can be found in the book of 1 Samuel. Michal, the daughter of King Saul from the tribe of Benjamin, was David’s first wife. She is introduced as Saul’s younger daughter in 1 Samuel 14:49. David, the youngest son of Jesse from the tribe of Judah, started as a shepherd and was known for his skill in playing the harp. He later became King Saul’s armor bearer after playing the harp for him. David gained national recognition in Israel when he defeated the Philistine giant Goliath, leading to a significant military victory (1 Samuel 16).

Following Goliath’s defeat, Saul offered his older daughter Merab to David for marriage. Feeling unworthy of this offer, David declined, and Merab was given to a man named Adriel instead “And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.”, (1 Samuel 18:17).

The relationship between David and Michal is set in 1 Samuel 18:20, where it is mentioned that “Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.” However, Saul demanded a peculiar dowry—a hundred Philistine foreskins—as a condition to marry Michal. This demand was actually a ploy by Saul to have David killed: “Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines” “And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.”, (1 Samuel 18:25). Despite this dangerous task, David successfully completed it and married Michal, further intensifying Saul’s animosity towards him.

Later, Saul sent men to kill David, but Michal helped David escape through a window, and she covered for him with a story that he was sick. She later claimed David had threatened to kill her if she didn’t help him (1 Samuel 19:11-17). In 1 Samuel 25:44, we discover Michal was taken from David and given as a bride to Palti son of Laish. After Saul died in a battle against the Philistines, David demanded Michal back as his wife as a condition of his becoming king of Judah. His condition was met (2 Samuel 3:13-16).

The only other biblical account of David and Michal concerns David’s bringing the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Second Samuel 6:16 says that David danced with all his might before the Lord and that his wife “despised him in her heart.” We are then told, “Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, ‘How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!’” «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 today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! », (2 Samuel 6:20). David rebuked Michal, and the final verse of the chapter notes that Michal had no children.

What began as a “celebrity marriage” in Israel involved a series of dramatic events that ultimately led to David choosing multiple wives. Michal chose to speak against her husband and went through her life childless. Though David was a man after God’s own heart «And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and sa

Indeed, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will.” (Acts 13:22). Despite his marriage challenges, God used David and Michal’s relationship to work through their sinful nature. Similarly, the Lord calls us today to live for Him, moving forward from past failures and seeking His guidance for our lives.