![]() Saul’s dynasty does not mix together with David’s.Īfter beginning as a fairy tale romance, the story of Michal soon incorporated strong currents of sacrifice and tragedy. Since David has no children by Michal, no grandson of Saul will sit on David’s throne after him. Michal’s story ends like this: “And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death” (II Samuel 6:23). Has he forgotten what Michal did for him when she saved his life? She is quick to tell David he is making a mockery of himself. Michal watches David’s undignified dance out of the window and feels disgusted. He celebrates before God and Israel with dancing, not concerned with royal protocol and propriety. He arrives with the Ark of the Covenant, returning it to the Tabernacle in Jerusalem. She is brought back to David to become one of his wives.ĭavid rises to greatness. In Second Samuel 3:15 we may see a hint that Michal is happily married to her new husband Paltiel, but he realizes that he has no choice in this power game. And now she’s the crown of the victor?ĭoes David think that in order to reign he must be the legitimate heir of Saul? Is that why he needs Michal? Then she becomes his escape rope from Saul. Love is not mentioned here.Īt first she is the ladder helping David ascend to the royal palace. It feels almost like she is property, an object. David demands to have his wife Michal returned to him. ![]() From the triangle of Saul-David-Michal, only Michal and David remain.Įven with Saul out of the picture, it is not rosy. This intensifies the pain and our empathy towards Michal, who remains a tool in her father’s hands. David marries two wives while he is a fugitive on the run from Saul! And in the meanwhile, Saul marries Michal off to another man (I Samuel 25:44)! Saul is expelling David from the royal house. We hope that they will be reunited, that David will love Michal as much as she loves him, and that they will live happily ever after.īut we are disappointed. Even after Michal and David are separated in these tragic circumstances, we readers still hope for a happy ending to this love story. ĭavid flees for his life, and Michal remains alone. Yes, dear ladies, we should pay attention to the inner voice of intuition which is so often accurate and can give us foresight. Think of Rebecca, Rachel, Pharaoh’s daughter and others. The woman’s intuition, often prophetic, is in quite a few Bible stories. She fools Saul’s messengers and helps David escape with his life. She is willing to sacrifice her dream of an ideal family life, for David’s sake. She uses all of her qualities, the same qualities that helped her get David now help her save him. In the second part, she is already true to herself. In the first part of the story, Michal may seem to be only a delicate princess. These action verbs show how much will-power and focus she needs to save her beloved. “And she went down… and took… and she placed…” (I Samuel 19:11-14). David becomes temporarily passive, and Michal becomes active. And this understanding together with a woman’s intuition transforms the personality of both. She understands what David doesn’t: King Saul wants to kill David. Next, Michal appears as a strong, active woman who rescues her hero husband against all odds. ![]() Michal risked her life to save that of her beloved David. We might see Michal as a kind of pawn in a chess game between Saul and David. Three times the text mentions that Saul wants to kill David! David for his part wants to be part of the royal house. God is with David and therefore Saul is even more afraid. David is successful and therefore Saul is nervous. The Israelites love David, and therefore Saul feels threatened. ![]() This is a problematic triangle: Michal-Saul-David. When the desire to please is too dominant, in the end no one is pleased. Michal so wants to be desirable that she becomes a “pleaser.” This weakens her ability to exercise judgment. It seems love is blinding Michal, and will lead her on a journey that includes sacrifice and even tragedy. Michal loves David, but we do not read of David loving her in return, at least not at the same level. David has great charm, and many are attracted to him. This is one of the few times that the Bible emphasizes a woman’s love for a man. ![]() “And Michal the daughter of Saul loved David” (I Samuel 18:20). Let’s take a look at her life and try to glean some lessons. David’s life has some sharp edges, as does Michal’s. Teen shepherd boy defeats giant and wins hand of Princess Michal, daughter of King Saul.Īfter that, things get messy. The story opens like a classic fairy tale: ![]()
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