Yes, that struck me, too, when I first read her story. It's a really good point. Michal's deep unhappiness runs directly back to David's actions.

It's Saul's fault, not David's. It wasn't Saul's intent for them to be married anyway, he used her as bait to have David killed in battle. Then Saul tried to assassinate David while he was at home with Michal. He was forced to run for his life. Then he gave her to Phatiel to marry. Blaming David when God never did is absurd.

It's her father's fault, not David's.

I'm with you. The way I had been taught her story never added up, and I had (still have) such a heavy heart over her. Really grateful we can give her back her dignity.

@@GraceandPeaceJoanne Amen!

Only God knows what's on the heart of man. Don't let your emotions cause you to second guess God.

​@@KingofgraceSARA Thank you, AMEN! There is a reason David was never punished by God, and clearly it's because he was innocent. If anything David was held to a higher standard of accountability according to Jesus. ‭Luke 12:48 KJV‬ [48] But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

You and me both, I always wondered why the rest of her story was left untold in those Bible lessons. And agreed, David was certainly charismatic and heroic ... and he also was a complex person who did and said some really pretty bad things. His Psalms of repentance are (literally) his saving grace.

First, everyone has done bad things except Jesus. Second, there is no untold story. She simply got angry that he was celebrating with God with no shame. Her father caused all her problems except her reaction to him in the end. She was used as bait, and when David left after the assassination attempt he gave her to someone else. Neither is saying he's favoured by God, as if a blind eye was turned going to cut it.God judged David for multiple things, and there were prophets unafraid to speak the Word of God to him present through his reign. He did nothing wrong smh.

That’s what inspired me to research her story. It really is tragic, and I found as I thought more about what must have really happened, my heart broke for her too. Thank you for taking time to write a note.

It's sad what happened, but her father caused all the garbage until the end. She hated him just for celebrating after God protected him during the worst time of his life.

Thank you!!

Thank you for watching, and for your warm encouragement

@@GraceandPeaceJoanne I believe as women we can a learn a lot from Michal's story. When we're in relationships we tend to harbour pain and resentment towards our partners for certain things they have put us through but we often forget how the devil can use offence as a tool to cloud our judgement. Perhaps it was Michal's hurt and anger towards David that clouded her thinking and judgement and prevented her from celebrating such a great moment for all of Isreal. The ark of GOD returning home was beyond her and David's personal issues. We need to understand that there is a person and there is an anointed version of a person as a child of GOD. You have the flesh part of you and the spirit part of you. Her bone to pick was with (David the man) not *king David*. The person who danced before the ark of the Lord was King David in His appointed title, king David the worshipper of God, the man after GOD'S own heart. Not Michal's husband who had mistreated her and done her wrong. However, Michal was so deeply hurt, that she failed to separate the two and all she saw was her pain and spoke not against David but agaisnt the anointed of the Lord. This teaches us that no matter how wronged you might feel, you must never harbour offence in your heart. Whether you're right or wrong, you have no right to hold an offence because we have all fallen short of GOD'S grace."Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who've trespassed against us". Harbouring offence often leads us to act irrational and say things that we don't mean out of anger to hurt the people who have wronged us. It's not worth it! I pray every woman who has read this story will recieve mighty revelations from GOD each time they read this story. It is indeed a painful story but one we can all learn from especially as women. I personally think she was a strong woman, who loved fiercely 💛.

​@@plitheko He never mistreated her. He fled for his life and her father gave her away to another man AGAINST the law of Moses. This is why women are not allowed to teach the Word

@@calvinbrown5597 Which doctrine taught you that women shouldn't teach the word of GOD? You need deliverance!!! And don't try to "mansplain" the word of the GOD!

@@plitheko The doctrine of the God. It's a command from Lord Jesus through Paul, not my opinion. ‭1 Timothy 2:11-13 KJV‬ [11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve. ‭1 Corinthians 14:33-38 KJV‬ [33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. [34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. [35] And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. [36] What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? [37] If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. [38] But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Now I'm sure you know what speaking, silence, and teaching mean, so there's no way around it. Whoever told you it was acceptable, and did it in front of you was wrong. I have no personal problem with you or women in general, but anything of the sort is direct rebellion against Lord Jesus, and rebellion is just as bad as witchcraft. ‭1 Samuel 15:23 KJV‬ [23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.

Yes, her story is a sad one, preserved by God for us. God loved and remembered her just as the Lord loves and remembers you and me in our own stories.

I was also struck with how understanding ancient law makes so much of a biblical story make more sense. Often archaeologists discover these things and write papers for each other and scholars and us regular folk don't fi d out about it. So, I've been trying to pull up scholarly papers to find put all I can.

I’m confused to why it’s referred to as ‘ancient laws’ ? A consistent problem most of Christianity, seen over and over, is dismissing and discrediting Mosaic OT as ‘Jewish laws’ and ‘cultural’; yet since “knowledge of sin is the law” (Romans), how can one properly preach a Gospel message of repentance from sin, if people don’t know what sin is ? The foundation of all scripture: “Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, might and soul. This is the 1st and greatest commandment. The 2nd, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ In these two (Torah) commandments, all the laws and all the prophets hang” - Matthew 22:37 Messiah expands greater revelation of the commands, “These are the words that I a spoke to you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, the prophets and Psalms, of me (Christ) -Luke 24:44. The Gospels are filled with Torah truth, Messiahs NC is an expansion of the OC, including the epistles of John, Peter and Paul affirming again and again the importance of living Torah commandments (Salvation gives us life; the Torah teaches us how to live). (Explaining the divinity of the Mosaic Law in relation to Christs words) “Do you think that I am not judging you (Judeans) to the Father, the one who judged you is Moses. You didn’t believe in Him because if you did, then you would believe in me (Christ) for I am the one he has written about. If his writings you do not believe, how will you believe my words ? (If you don’t understand the expectations of God, how will you understand it’s fulfillment) - John 5:45 1 Corinthians 7:17: “the circumcisin is nothing and the uncircumcised is nothing, but, keeping the commandments of God.” NT law affirms OT law, as there are not 2 types of righteousness; It was propesized, “this is the covenant (NC) that I will make with the House of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my law (commandments) in their minds and write it on their hearts; I will be their God and they will be my people” -Jeremiah 31. There’s a relationship between the covenant and the Law, when we violate one, we violate another. Whenever the NT is recited, it always goes back to the OT. The OC is the same as the NC message- the love you manifest to God is the love you manifest to others. We are saved by Grace through the Gospel, however, the Torah is the blueprint on how to live as a result of salvation. When we internalize the commandments, we understand Gods expectations for our life and His character, “He that has my commandments and keeps them, loves me; and the one that loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will also love Him and will manifest myself to Him” -John 14:21 The Torah will be the constitution in the Millennial kingdom (Ezekiel) “Many people will say, Come let us go up to the Government of God, to the House of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways (Law of the Torah) and we will walk in his paths, out of Zion Will go forth the Law and from Jerusalem the word of the Lord..” - Isaiah 2:3

​@@blessisrael6455Sir, they are not talking about the law of Moses. She applied foreign, pagan nation laws to David's situation, which Israel is forbidden from doing

I'm so glad this was helpful!

Thank you so much! Grace and peace 💜

Michal's story is more complex than we often hear about, and tragic. God's blessing on your reading of Samuel

This did not convey the truth

Thank you very much! I appreciate you taking the time to write those words of encouragement. Hope you enjoy the rest of the site.

Thank you so much for that.

You have gotten to the heart of the matter. David's life story is of great encouragement to men and women alike. He did terrible things to people, but he ultimately came to realize the real devastation of his sins both to himself, others, and to God. He repented. It doesn't help us to gloss over David's terrible things and only make a hero out of him. I think if he were here today he'd be grieved about that. Instead, God told the whole story of his life (the good, the bad, and the ugly) so we could see the depth of God's love and mercy to each of us. Good insight! Grace and peace, Joanne

Michal was jealous that the maidservant's saw his nudity but for David, he was praising God.

Brother, you were right in the beginning. She said "how glorious was the king who acted like one of the vain fellows". She didn't feel he kept the right demeanor, neither did she see first hand everything God saved him from like the other wives to understand David's devotion, including from Saul himself. It doesn't help that Saul was her father, a man who cared more about Israel's opinion of him than God, and he conducted himself that way in front of Michal as the first king. He was her example of what a king should be. There were many misconceptions in this video. There is no need to "look from a woman's perspective" at the scriptures. God never gave women the authority to teach anyway, for this reason. The same thing happened with Eve in the Garden of Eden, she misconstrued the scriptures, and was deceived in her own words. She claimed God said if she touched the fruit she'd die. That's a lie, the Lord never said that. Adam was never deceived, he just went along with it knowing it was wrong. God never held David accountable because he didn't do anything wrong here, or do you second guess God's judgement because of this woman's analysis? Remember he was held accountable for everything with Bathsheba, and prophets were always on standby to testify against him, like Nathan and Gad. Neither did He mince His words. ‭2 Samuel 21:2 KJV‬ [2] And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) ‭1 Samuel 15:30 KJV‬ [30] Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. ‭Genesis 3:2-3 KJV‬ [2] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: [3] but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ‭1 Timothy 2:11-14 KJV‬ [11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve. [14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. I have a full breakdown on everything wrong as a separate comment on this video. Look through it and you'll see exactly what I mean. God gave you the right understanding in the beginning, just like Adam.

You and me both, but I couldn't quite put my finger on where the teaching was going astray of the text. So I had to take a deep dive of my own! Thanks for listening.

David didn't ignore anything. Her father used her as a pawn every chance he had. There were many assumptions and interpretations made that are incorrect. These "ancient laws" are from pagans, not Israel. God does not support mistreatment of wives. There are punishments when done so. ‭Malachi 2:13-16 KJV‬ [13] And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. [14] Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. [15] And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. [16] For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. God does not change. David was never held accountable because he didn't do anything wrong. God doesn't play favorites or use partiality in judgement. Neither of you are wiser or more righteous than God. Speaking against him when God didn't is absurd

That was how I saw her story too, once I began to study the details the Bible gives us. She is a deeply tragic figure, her life being at the mercy of the powerful men around her.

Beautiful!!!

It really is, isn't it. My mind was completely changed about Michal once I studied her story.

You have so much rich commentary and good insights, here. I think you're onto something with the possibility that David shut himself away from Michal at least partly because of Saul. The text doesn't say, but that is an astute understanding of human nature. Keep thinking deeply about the stories of women in scripture! Within their stories we find courage to hang onto the Lord as women today, especially when our circumstances echo those of ancient times. Grace and peace to you, sister in Christ, Joanne

Thank you for taking time to write, I appreciate that. Yes, the scripture records that King Saul demanded an explanation from Michal, and those are her words, "And Saul saith unto Michal, `Why thus hast thou deceived me -- that thou dost send away mine enemy, and he is escaped?' and Michal saith unto Saul, `He said unto me, Send me away: why do I put thee to death?'" (1 Samuel 19:17 Young's Literal Translation) It's an interesting remark, isn't it, from Michal. Was she engaging in a double deceit with the king (who was also her father)? The first deceit was to take "teraphim," some sort of images, in their bedroom, lug them over to their bed and cover them so as to appear that David was lying their under the blankets. Now, it seems, she is forwarding a second deceit, claiming David had threatened to kill her unless she permitted him to flee. It seems reasonable to assume that Saul may have thought that's what she was saying. And scholars through the centuries seem quick to make the woman the villain in biblical stories, so that's largely where they landed, too. Michal was lying, in the what of the moment, eager to say whatever it took to save herself from her mercurial and dangerous father, the king. But, let's imagine Michal as a tall, strong, passionate woman, like her father. Let's imagine her brainstorming with David. What would such a woman want to do? First, possibly, stand and fight. Gather the brothers of David's household, who were, we know, seasoned warriors, and all the other servants and hands there were, arm them, and fight the assault of Saul's messengers. Can you hear those words coming from David's lips sounding a little different? "Send me away, why do I (my presence here, fighting the king's messengers) put thee to death (place you in the certain danger of being killed)?" Or, possibly, we can see this tall, strong, and passionate woman suggesting they flee together to live as highwaymen in the wilderness, both on the lam. David's protest would now be about insisting she stay and let him leave, because that proposal would also put her life in danger. My point is, it is the "easy button," in the case of women's stories in Scripture, to assume the worst, and to assume the best about the men. But the truth about people in general is a lot more complicated. We've been trained to see Michal as a villain, rather than a tragic figure, and we've been trained to see David as a pure hero when he really wasn't. He had some big flaws. That makes him no less a man of God, no less a man after God's own heart. David loved big, and when it came to his own sons, he was willing to forgive the absolute worst in them, even their betrayal and hatred of him. David mourned with abject grief over his son Absalom, who had died in active, armed, military rebellion against David. That is definitely a God-sized heart! Seeing David's flaws, and seeing the nobility and tragedy of Michal bring their accounts back to reality.

You are not the only person who's asked for Tamar! Her story is heart-rending. I've actually begun my research on her, so stay tuned, a video on her is underway.

​@@GraceandPeaceJoanne The book written by Diana Diamont about Dinah is a masterpiece, it should also a story about Tamar, there few sources willing to discover more or talk more about this characters than just a mere mention .

There is nothing else other than what's in the Bible.

You bring up some great points about Michal mourning her father, and the loss of her previous husband, who loved her. I wish I had included those points in my own presentation, they're important. Yes, she was delivered several really rough blows in her life, all situations she had no control over. My heart goes out to her.

Yes, her story is a tragic one. I had never really studied her before I prepared for this video, and it really did break my heart, too.

Yes, David turns out to be a complex man. Loved and empowered by God, certainly, while also doing some pretty terrible things as well. In a way, we can be encouraged that God loves us and works through us, even in spite of our failings.

Thank you for taking time to write this response, I appreciate that. You are right, there was one surviving grandson from the house of Saul, Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, lame in both feet due to a childhood accident, who came to sit at King David's table, and he had one son named Mika, all accounted for in 2 Samuel 9. The name "Mika" shows up again in a number of genealogical records found in 1 Chronicles 9:15, Nehemiah 10:11, 17, and 22, as part of those who return to Judah after the Judahite exile. However, this Mika was of the tribe of Levi, and his famous forebear was Asaph, Director of Music some time during the Davidic era. However, Saul was of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Samuel 9:1-2), so this second appearance of the name "Mika" is definitely not Saul's great grandson. The passage you mention about Michal is found in 2 Samuel 6:16, describing Michal's emotion as she watch King David dance before the Ark of the Covenant as it was brought into Jerusalem. David surely danced with spiritual fervor and rejoicing, but because he had flung off his outer garments, Michal saw her husband, the King of Israel, dancing in what must have seemed to her in a provocative way which enraptured the women who were avidly watching the scene. The Hebrew word for Michal's feeling is 'baza' which means "to despise," to consider as "contemptible," "to disdain," or "to scorn," to regard as "vile" or "worthless." These specific definitions are important. "Hate" is too broad a category. Michal felt contempt for David, and I think the scene before her was simply a trigger for everything that had come to pass between her and David. The narrator chose his words carefully, and this final exchange between David and Michal leaves no doubt that David's feelings for Michal were no better than hers for him. The final line in 2 Samuel 6 is highly suggestive! However, you are absolutely right, whether David ever again "went in" to Michal is still a matter of conjecture, which I hoped to convey in my own retelling of Michal's tragic tale. The bottom line, however, is not conjecture. According to the Biblical record, the chronicle of Saul's descendents ends in the Davidic era. Grace and Peace, Joanne

Thank you for commenting. That's not a perspective I'm familiar with!

David wad a complex man, as are we all. There were plenty of things that he was entitled to do, as a kings

Sorry about that, didn't quote finish my thought before I hit send! The complexity of the man is often lost in the retelling of his story so that he comes across as only heroic and good. He himself knew he was not, and his humility in repentance is something to admire.

Yes, according to Samuel's account, Saul's family was from the tribe of a Benjamin, a Hebrew born and bred. (1 Samuel 9:1-2)

I think a lot of people pronounce her name that way. My one year of Hebrew is showing through in attempting to pronounce her name. Your name carries a fine legacy! After studying her story, I realized how noble Michal really was, and how tragic her life was, caught between the clash of royal dynasties.

How about Meekal?

That’s wrong though

It bothers me to, and I am convinced this has grieved God from the very beginning, from Genesis 3 onward. God's response in Genesis 6 to the ancient sins of those people was intense grief. The daughters of humankind were now being abused even by heavenly beings. Jesus reinstated women as the "ezer kenegdo" God always intended. For two thousand years, the Holy Spirit has been at work in women and men alike to live into our true destiny of equality and mutuality. But is it ever taking a long time to get there.

It's true life is often hard, and unfair. Thankfully, God is there to be a comforter during the hard parts, a strengthener to help us endure and persevere, and God has promised to right all wrongs one day. Not sure how! Or when. But that, in itself, is a great comfort, especially for people like Michal, who was not given much of a fair shake pretty much from the get-go.

Here are the scriptures to support my statements. ‭1 Samuel 25:44 KJV‬ [44] But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim. ‭Numbers 30:13 KJV‬ [13] Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void. ☝🏾The verse above applies to the woman's father as the authority only if she is unmarried, which she wasn't. This proves a husband's authority vs a father, backed by God. ‭1 Corinthians 14:34 KJV‬ [34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. ‭1 Samuel 22:16-17 KJV‬ [16] And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. [17] And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. ‭1 Samuel 14:44-45 KJV‬ [44] And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. [45] And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. ‭1 Samuel 25:13-14 KJV‬ [13] And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. [14] But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. ☝🏾 Once again "but" is used at verse 14, implying that Abigail was informed BEFORE David and his men marched toward the location. This is the same as the word "but" implying Saul getting Michal married before David wed Abigail. ‭1 Samuel 14:1 KJV‬ [1] Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father. ‭Leviticus 18:3-4 KJV‬ [3] After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. [4] Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. ‭1 Samuel 22:3-4 KJV‬ [3] And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. [4] And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold. ‭Deuteronomy 24:3-4 KJV‬ [3] And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; [4] her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. ‭2 Samuel 9:12-13 KJV‬ [12] And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth. [13] So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet. ‭Ecclesiastes 9:5 KJV‬ [5] For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. His reference☝🏾 to no reward means in this life, we should all know there are rewards waiting in the Kingdom of Heaven. ‭John 11:11-14 KJV‬ [11] These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. [12] Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. [13] Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. [14] Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. ‭Exodus 28:26-27 KJV‬ [26] And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward. [27] And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. ‭1 Samuel 30:7-8 KJV‬ [7] And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. [8] And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. ‭1 Samuel 15:28, 30 KJV‬ [28] And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. [30] Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. ‭2 Samuel 20:3 KJV‬ [3] And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.

Michal, without children, did not have a continuing claim on David’s property, and he being in exile, she effectively became “widowed.” Again, as I taught and cited, according to the custom and regional law of that day, she could not hold onto that estate without a child, but David would have left her there probably hoping she could manage it nonetheless. Doubtless neither of them knew how all this would play out, or whether she was even perhaps early with child. None of the rest of David’s large family appears to have helped her in any way. Agreed, David asked that his aging parents stay in Moab. But are you willing to say that all seven of David’s brothers had died, and there were, in fact, no kinsmen left in David’s extended family? Bringing up the regional law is an excellent point, not a terrible one. The laws of Moses covered many things, but they did not cover this exigency, and the final episode in Michal’s account, of being returned to David, points directly to this regional law and custom. Here are some papers to read on that: White, Ellen. "Michal the Misinterpreted." Journal for the Study of the Old Testament 31, no. 4 (2007): 451-464. Ben-Barak, Zafrira. “The Legal Background to the Restoration of Michal to David,” Telling Queen Michal’s Story: An Experiment in Comparative Interpretation, David J. A. Clines and Tamara Cohn Eskenazi, eds. Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991. I am not sure what your point is about Jonathan. 1 Samuel 19-20 makes it clear Jonathan was keeping his relationship with David a secret, at this point, and using subterfuge to both communicate with and meet with David. Your point about Michal needing to be escorted is duly noted. But David had not left the kingdom at that point. David already had another woman living with him as his wife, and then David summoned a high-profile widow to meet him and marry him where he was holding camp in Judah. David did not join with the Philistines until after these events. I certainly do know the passage in Deuteronomy about divorce, and have read the papers that discuss that law with regard to David’s situation. Now you have a chance to begin your study as well, with the two papers I give above. Your discussion of Saul’s lineage is important. Saul’s line ends with the disabled Mephibosheth and the childless Michal in David’s house. In other words, Saul’s name comes to an end in the house of his successor. There are other factors that point to this being God’s intended fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy-see 2 Samuel 21:1-14. Your assertion about what happens when we die is one way death is explained. Jesus also tells a story of a rich man who is anything but asleep in the afterlife as he gazes afar at the poor man in Abraham’s bosom whom he had treated poorly when they were both alive, Luke 16:23. A teraphim the size of a man would take a strong and probably tall person to maneuver single-handedly, as the text indicates. Several of the things Michal did in that story strike me as the actions of a strong, tall person. But, I agree, that is conjecture on my part. As to the ephod David was wearing, a plain undergarment without his kingly robes-or any robes at all, as was the custom of his day (to at least have one’s outer garment on) would have been considered indecent certainly for the role of king, and for anyone desiring to appear respectable. You make your own conjecture as to what Michal meant when she said “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!” 2 Samuel 6:20, NRSVUE. There is no indication people in that day wore fitted undergarments, which is surely why Leviticus carries particular instructions to priests concerning that. Wearing a thin shift over an otherwise naked body which is dancing carries suggestive undertones.

Your next statement is also conjecture. The only thing to notice from the text is that no other wife’s concern was recorded. Your final statement is again conjecture. To use your words, the scripture does not state why Michal had no children. Is it possible she was simply barren, having so far not conceived in either of her marriages? Or is it possible David did not share conjugal rights with her? Or is there some third possibility, such as miscarriages and stillborn infants? The narrator only states the end result. The seeds sown in this interchange between David and Michal play themselves out in David’s story down the road until he stepped over a line that God would not countenance. I stand by what I teach, there. “I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 2 Samuel 6:22-23, NRSVUE. You will notice it is the maids’ attention both Michal and David are talking about, not the eyes of all Israel, nor even all Judah. And to be exact, it is not that Saul “did not obey or properly honour the Lord” and David did do so that makes the difference. There were, in fact, plenty of times when David also “did not obey or properly honour the Lord.” The difference between Saul and David is that David repented and returned to the Lord. David did terrible, terrible things, and he knew it. But he repented, and God restored him. Saul just made excuses. Let’s not fall into the trap of idolizing heroes from the Bible. That takes glory from God and provides very unstable ground for good teaching. Instead, let us look for God’s glory and God’s goodness in the lives of those who serve God. Michal has been vilified for far too long in order to make David look good. That’s bad teaching. How David treated Michal is not good. How David treated women in general, for the most part, was not good. David was a rascal, and he had some serious flaws. But David also loved the Lord like few ever have, he humbled himself time and again before the Lord, and was restored every single time. That is good teaching, and provides the kind of hope and fortification of faith that you and I, real people who also love God and serve God, need.

First, the law of Moses stated plainly that it is FORBIDDEN to follow the ways of the pagans or their customs and laws. Therefore we know that doesn't apply.Every other nation worshipped idols, and therefore is pagan. I will put it again. Second, you posted a book written by a woman to support a point. The Bible is the only authority, the rest is unnecessary at best, and blatant lies at worst. Adding on to the scriptures is FORBIDDEN. It specifically said that Saul lost his position for disobedience, Samuel said so. Samuel tried to intervene for Saul, then God told Samuel that he rejected him SPECIFICALLY because he wasn't following/obeying him. Samuel once again reiterated this later when he was conjured by the witch of Endor, so yes, it was for disobedience. This is the same guy that had almost an entire city slaughtered for his own purposes, a city of priests. Neither did Samuel say his whole bloodline would die, he said his sons would die, which some of them did. If that was the Word of God then Saul would have ZERO descendants left, so you're wrong. I have the scriptures to confirm this. Additionally this was never mentioned by God or Samuel until this last talk, it was only said that David would rule, all Saul had to do was step aside, he forced God's hand. I mentioned the underwear to show that even hidden nudity is forbidden, I posted the verses showing that it is an outer garment in a previous comment. Not putting that again. Double check what I put if you wish. It is worn by those deemed worthy, originally the priests as a part of communion with God, I posted scriptures to prove that. Lastly, as for these papers and your "teachings", women being forbidden to teach. You and this author. It is a COMMANDMENT of Lord Jesus himself through Paul, meaning the making of this video, the book mentioned, and your comments "teaching" me or anyone else are outright rebellion against God. ‭Leviticus 18:3-4 KJV‬ [3] After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. [4] Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. ‭1 Samuel 15:18-25, 30-31 KJV‬ [18] And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. [19] Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? [20] And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. [21] But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. [22] And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to hearken than the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king. [24] And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. [25] Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. [30] Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. [31] So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD. ‭1 Samuel 28:15-19 KJV‬ [15] And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. [16] Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? [17] And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: [18] because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. [19] Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. ‭1 Samuel 31:2-6 KJV‬ [2] And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons. [3] And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. [4] Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. [5] And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. [6] So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. ‭Proverbs 30:6 KJV‬ [6] Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. ‭Deuteronomy 12:32 KJV‬ [32] What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. ‭1 Timothy 2:11-15 KJV‬ [11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. [12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. [13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve. [14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. [15] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. ‭1 Corinthians 14:34-37 KJV‬ [34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. [35] And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. [36] What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? [37] If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. I have posted the scriptures, and NO BEING IN EXISTENCE can deny the scriptures without being proven false. Even Satan knows to stop talking in that circumstance. I'm not idolizing anybody, I already stated how David was wrong about Bathsheba. Now you're falsely accusing me of idol worship. Smh. Neither try to say that this isn't "the church" so it doesn't matter. Christ said where 2 or 3 are gathered in his name, that is the church. The gathering of believers, nothing more, as there weren't always church buildings. ‭Matthew 18:20 KJV‬ [20] For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. I'm not replying to this specific sub thread anymore either. There's no point. I showed you how you have zero authority to teach anything about the Word. Heretic means someone refusing the correct teachings. Lord Jesus and his words reign supreme. ‭2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV‬ [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ‭Titus 3:9-11 KJV‬ [9] But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. [10] A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; [11] knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

don't believe me,,,,,then why was Benjamin given Jerusalem, the capital, and not Judah. Betrayal against the divine does not go well for those involved. Repent now and help uncover this truth so we can move back towards the promised land.

It is an interesting theory, though am uncertain where your evidence is coming from? Biblical texts are clear David was anointed by God, and Jesus affirms David's prophetic role in identifying Messiah, Jesus, the Son of David.

The ruler is chosen by God, we can see it in the success of their reign. They are chosen as the right hand of God. to do Gods bidding. This is the way. Look at Sauls success and the riches he brought to the Israelites, Look at Solomon. It isnt simply luck. Mans interference is the problem, mans jelousy, mans greed prevent this LIneage from reigning and serving their people.@@GraceandPeaceJoanne

I can imagine how uncomfortable it is to hear the perspective queen Michal had concerning David’s behavior while also trying to understand her perspective. We are uncomfortable today as well, unsettled, when an erstwhile beloved and highly respected leader - especially a spiritual leader - is accused of wrongdoing, and then we find out it is true. For many, the only way to cope, it seems, with that revelation is to simply refuse to believe it. But it is better to look truth straight in the eye. Truth is complex, truth, is full-orbed. David, in the end, did not shy away from the truth about himself, though he did in this story with his first wife. His behavior before the ark was in rapture of God, but his behavior with Michal was hard-hearted. His heart would continue to harden in other ways until he eventually brought devastation to his household. On,y then did he humble himself abjectly before the Lord. Psalm 51 is a record of that first humbling, but there would be more humbling to come. If we are to learn rightly from David’s life, then we must learn from his bad examples as well as his good. Rapture before God must be accompanied by humility and kindness in our relationships with others.

Learn wisdom, foolish men.

As a woman, let me just bless you for this truth. God bless you!

Thank you for weighing in, and you are certainly right about contempt. John M Gottman, PhD, begins his excellent book, “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert,” with a startling claim-that he can predict with 91% accuracy whether a couple will stay happily married or part ways. As you say, contempt is the leading killer of marriages, and something very difficult to pull out of once it has settled in. (I'm figuring you are well familiar with Dr. John and and his wife Dr. Julie Gottman's research) Watching David and Michal’s marriage unravel in the scriptures is a tragedy all its own. David's story is usually much more familiar to Bible readers. But Michal's story is also important. She dealt with the abandonment of her husband, remarriage to someone who must have loved and cared for her, but then the sudden dissolution of what appears to have been a happy marriage years later for political reasons by the man who had abandoned her. We are often quick to see David’s side, with the reminder that he was God’s chosen and anointed, that he had “a heart after God’s own heart,” and so on. By doing that, we gloss over David’s very real wrongdoing, and instead blame those who were victimized by his misdeeds. At one point in his own life story, David stopped those trying to defend him and owned completely all the really terrible calamities he had ultimately caused (2 Samuel 16:5-14) Powerful people have the potential to do great good, and by that same potential, great harm. David did both. So yes, the word the writer of 2 Samuel used to describe what Michal held in her heart is bāzâ, which translates as “despise, hold in contempt or scorn, consider despicable and vile.” It is a strong negative emotion. I imagine the seed was planted early, when Michal realized David had called other women in Judah to be his wives while she, his first wife, was left to fend for herself. Remember, she loved him. He broke her heart. I imagine there might have been a certain measure of healing for her, in her marriage with someone who seems to have loved and cared for her. But after those peaceful years, to have been forced back into marriage with David, who now had a harem of women he seems to have preferred, now not the queen of her domain, but one of a good many wives and concubines, having been relegated to a window to watch this man dance freely to the delighted gaze of the servant girls … it is not hard to understand how Michal’s heart would end up holding such despising. I think it was not one-sided. For as the scriptures say she despised David in her heart, the scriptures also describe a similar dismissal of her by David. He used her to help him escape, he abandoned her, then he appears to have used her again to gain the throne of all Israel. This certainly does not excuse her. What I hope, though, is that we can have compassion for her rather than cast her as a two-dimensional villain so that David can be seen in the two-dimensional light as hero. David was much more complex than that, with a dark side to him as well as light.

@@GraceandPeaceJoanne Godbless you and the great things you do. As leaders lets make sure we encourage our audience not to give place to the flesh but to practice Redemptive Love modelled by Jesus in Philippians 2 - when people do the wrong thing, we will do the Right thing !!

As a woman, let me just say Amen! You're spot on!

I have not heard that interpretation before. Where did you come across it?

@@GraceandPeaceJoanne in the book of Benjamin. Johnathan & David were also lovers.

I have not heard of that book. When I do my videos, I stay as close as I can to what the canon of scripture gives us.

@@GraceandPeaceJoanne Clearly the tribe of Benjamin is the gay ect. Tribe even by your limited research.Canon of scripture.