Michal

Michal, the younger daughter of King Saul, became David's wife and helped him escape from Saul's attempts to kill him.

Michal was the younger daughter of King Saul and became the first wife of David, Israel's future king. She first appears in the genealogy of Saul (1Sa 14:49) and is later mentioned as loving David (1Sa 18:20). Saul, seeking to ensnare David, offered Michal's hand in marriage, demanding a bride price of 100 Philistine foreskins. David fulfilled this requirement, and Michal became his wife (1Sa 18:27-28). When Saul attempted to kill David, Michal helped him escape through a window and deceived Saul's messengers by placing an idol in David's bed (1Sa 19:11-17). During David's exile, Saul gave Michal in marriage to Palti (1Sa 25:44). After Saul's death, David demanded that Michal be returned to him as a condition for peace with Abner (2Sa 3:13-14). Later, when David danced before the ark of the Lord, Michal despised him in her heart (2Sa 6:16; 1Ch 15:29). She confronted David, criticizing his behavior, but David rebuked her (2Sa 6:20-21). As a result, Michal remained childless until her death (2Sa 6:23). Michal's story illustrates the complex relationships and conflicts within Saul's family and the early years of David's rise to power.

Rivulet, or who as God?, the younger of Saul’s two daughters by his wife Ahinoam (1 Sam. 14:49, 50). “Attracted by the graces of his person and the gallantry of his conduct, she fell in love with David and became his wife” (18:20-28). She showed her affection for him by promoting his escape to Naioth when Saul sought his life (1 Sam. 19:12-17. Comp. Ps. 59. See TERAPHIM). After this she did not see David for many years. Meanwhile she was given in marriage to another man, Phalti or Phaltiel of Gallim (1 Sam. 25:44), but David afterwards formally reclaimed her as his lawful wife (2 Sam. 3:13-16). The relation between her and David soon after this was altered. They became alienated from each other. This happened on that memorable day when the ark was brought up in great triumph from its temporary resting-place to the Holy City. In David’s conduct on that occasion she saw nothing but a needless humiliation of the royal dignity (1 Chr. 15:29). She remained childless, and thus the races of David and Saul were not mixed. In 2 Sam. 21:8 her name again occurs, but the name Merab should probably be here substituted for Michal (comp. 1 Sam. 18:19).