Michal: Difference between revisions

Michal (Hebrew: מיכל) was a daughter of Saul, king of Israel, who loved and became the wife of David, who later became king of Judah, and later of the United Kingdom of Israel.

Their story is recorded in the Book of Samuel. It is recorded that she choose the welfare of David over the wishes of her father. When Saul's messengers are searching for David in order to kill him, Michal secretly sends him away while pretending he is ill and laid up in bed. (1 Samuel 19:11–17)

Whilst David is hiding for his life, Saul gave Michal as a wife to Palti, son of Laish, and David took several other wives, including Abigail. (1 Samuel 25) Later when David became king of Judah and Ish-bosheth Michal's brother (and Saul's son) was king of Israel, David demanded her return to him, in return for peace between them. This Ish-bosheth did.^[1]

Despite an apparent prohibition in Deuteronomy 24:1-4 on re-establishing a marriage with a previous spouse who has subsequently remarried, David demands the return of Michal after he is crowned in Judah following Saul's death. Commentators explain that David had not divorced Michal at this point in time but rather Saul had made the act to break the marriage^[2]. Therefore they were not technically divorced and David had not issued a writ of divorcement according to the biblical law. Nonetheless, Palti follows Michal weeping but Abner commands him to return home (2 Samuel 3:14–16):

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.'

And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, 'Go, return.' and he returned.

In 2 Samuel 6, Michal criticizes David because he dances, partially unclothed, as he brings the Ark of the Covenant to the newly-captured Jerusalem in a religious procession. Michal died childless, which some ^[who?] say was a punishment (whether from God or from David is not clear) for her criticism.

David was succeeded as king of the Israelites by Solomon, David's son with Bathsheba.

Michal in poetry

• The Israeli poet Ra'hel Bluwstein sees a parallel between herself and Michal:

"Like you I am sad, O Michal ... and like you doomed to love a man whom I despise." (Poem "Michal" in her book Flowers of Perhaps.)

Michal “And Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved David And she despised him in her heart”

Michal, distant sister, time’s thread has not been severed, time’s thorns in your sad vineyard have not prevailed. Still in my ear I hear the tinkling of your gold anklet, the stripes in your silk garment have not paled.

Often I have seen you standing by your small window pride and tenderness mingling in your eyes. Like you I am sad, O Michal, distant sister, and like you doomed to love a man whom I despise.

Or alternatively translated:

Michal Though years divide, we’re sisters yet; Your vineyard stands though weeds invade; Still tinkle anklet, amulet; Your red silk garment does not fade.

By a small window still you stand, Proud but a death within your eyes. My sister, I can understand – Who also love whom I despise. 1927, Israel Translated by Robert Friend

Use as a name

"Michal" had hardly ever been used as a name in pre-Zionist Jewish communities, but it was one of the Biblical names embraced by Zionism and is a very common female first name in contemporary Israel.

Notes