Michal’s scheme

Next, Saul plotted to send assassins to David’s house. These assassins were ordered to watch David and kill him in the morning. If they attacked during the night, there was a risk of killing the wrong person and or allowing David to escape in darkness. At that time, Saul’s daughter Michal was David’s wife. It was she who took action. (1) She advised David, who had returned home, to flee immediately. She probably was informed by someone from the palace or by her brother Jonathan about her father Saul’s plan to assassinate David by sending assassins. (2) She let David down through the window, allowing him to escape. This method resembles the way Rahab, a harlot of Jericho, helped the spies of Israel escape in the Book of Joshua. (3) Next, she laid a household idol (teraphim) on the bed and placed a quilt of goats’ hair as its head, to make it look like David was sick and lying in bed. Teraphim were idols though as household gods. This belonged to Michal. If David had known about it, he likely would not have allowed it in their home. This actually indicates that Saul’s household had not entirely rid itself of idol worship.

Michal’s defense

Michal bought time for David, but eventually, the deception was discovered. When confronted by her father Saul about why she had deceived him and let his enemy escape, Michal responded, “He said to me, ‘Let me go! Why should I put you to death?’” In other words, she claimed that David, out of fear, had threatened to kill her and she had no choice but to let him go. Let’s note the difference between Jonathan and Michal. Jonathan straightforwardly advised his father that David had done no wrong. However, Michal made David a villain to protect herself. While it was good that she saved David, she later tarnished his character. We, too, might have this weakness. Are you boldly confessing that you are a Christian at all times? Twisting the truth in order to save yourself is indeed shameful.