A daughter of King Saul and wife of David, and later the wife of Palti.
About Michal
Michal was the younger daughter of King (1 Samuel 14:49). She fell in love with David after he defeated Goliath (18:20). Saul, who was jealous of David, first offered his older daughter, Merab, to David. But David turned down the offer. When Saul found out that Michal loved David, he offered her instead. Saul told David he could marry Michal if he killed 100 Philistines and brought back proof. Saul hoped David would die trying to meet this demand
David met Saul’s demand and killed 200 Philistines. Then he married Michal. But this made Saul even more jealous. He planned to have David killed. When Michal heard about the plan, she helped David escape(1 Samuel 19:8–17). While David was away, Saul gave Michal to another man named Palti as a wife (25:44).
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Saul (Son of Kish), Ahinoam
- Partners 2
- David, Palti (1 Samuel 25:44)
- Siblings 5
- Jonathan, Abinadab (Son of Saul), Malchi-shua, Merab, Ish-bosheth
- Half-siblings 2
- Armoni, Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 21:8)
- Niece/Nephew
- Mephibosheth
Key References
Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.
All Scripture References (16)
1 Samuel (9)
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. His two daughters were named Merab (his firstborn) and Michal (his younger daughter).
Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when this was reported to Saul, it pleased him.
David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage.
When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,
Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”
So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped.
Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.
And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!” Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’”
But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
2 Samuel (6)
“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.”
Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.
When David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”
But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,
And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
1 Chronicles (1)
As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.