(א) וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֥וֹד דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־כׇּל־בָּח֥וּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃ (ב) וַיָּ֣קׇם ׀ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וְכׇל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ מִֽבַּעֲלֵ֖י יְהוּדָ֑ה לְהַעֲל֣וֹת מִשָּׁ֗ם אֵ֚ת אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֣א שֵׁ֗ם שֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת יֹשֵׁ֥ב הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים עָלָֽיו׃ (ג) וַיַּרְכִּ֜בוּ אֶת־אֲר֤וֹן הָאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־עֲגָלָ֣ה חֲדָשָׁ֔ה וַיִּ֨שָּׂאֻ֔הוּ מִבֵּ֥ית אֲבִינָדָ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וְעֻזָּ֣א וְאַחְי֗וֹ בְּנֵי֙ אֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב נֹהֲגִ֖ים אֶת־הָעֲגָלָ֥ה חֲדָשָֽׁה׃ (ד) וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֗הוּ מִבֵּ֤ית אֲבִֽינָדָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּגִּבְעָ֔ה עִ֖ם אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְאַחְי֕וֹ הֹלֵ֖ךְ לִפְנֵ֥י הָאָרֽוֹן׃ (ה) וְדָוִ֣ד ׀ וְכׇל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מְשַֽׂחֲקִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל עֲצֵ֣י בְרוֹשִׁ֑ים וּבְכִנֹּר֤וֹת וּבִנְבָלִים֙ וּבְתֻפִּ֔ים וּבִמְנַעַנְעִ֖ים וּֽבְצֶלְצֱלִֽים׃ (ו) וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־גֹּ֣רֶן נָכ֑וֹן וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח עֻזָּ֜ה אֶל־אֲר֤וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ וַיֹּ֣אחֶז בּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י שָֽׁמְט֖וּ הַבָּקָֽר׃ (ז) וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף יְהֹוָה֙ בְּעֻזָּ֔ה וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ שָׁ֛ם הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־הַשַּׁ֑ל וַיָּ֣מׇת שָׁ֔ם עִ֖ם אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ (ח) וַיִּ֣חַר לְדָוִ֔ד עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּרַ֧ץ יְהֹוָ֛ה פֶּ֖רֶץ בְּעֻזָּ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֞א לַמָּק֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ פֶּ֣רֶץ עֻזָּ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃ (ט) וַיִּרָ֥א דָוִ֛ד אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵ֛יךְ יָב֥וֹא אֵלַ֖י אֲר֥וֹן יְהֹוָֽה׃ (י) וְלֹא־אָבָ֣ה דָוִ֗ד לְהָסִ֥יר אֵלָ֛יו אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּטֵּ֣הוּ דָוִ֔ד בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־אֱדֹ֖ם הַגִּתִּֽי׃
(1) David again assembled all the picked men of Israel, thirty thousand strong. (2) Then David and all the troops that were with him set out from Baalim of Judah to bring up from there the Ark of God to which the Name was attached, the name LORD of Hosts Enthroned on the Cherubim. (3) They loaded the Ark of God onto a new cart and conveyed it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Abinadab’s sons, Uzza and Ahio, guided the new cart. (4) They conveyed it from Abinadab’s house on the hill, [Uzza walking] alongside-c the Ark of God and Ahio walking in front of the Ark. (5) Meanwhile, David and all the House of Israel danced before the LORD to [the sound of] all kinds of cypress wood [instruments],-e with lyres, harps, timbrels, sistrums, and cymbals. (6) But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out for the Ark of God and grasped it, for the oxen had stumbled. (7) The LORD was incensed at Uzzah. And God struck him down on the spot for his indiscretion,-g and he died there beside the Ark of God. (8) David was distressed because the LORD had inflicted a breach upon Uzzah; and that place was named Perez-uzzah, as it is still called. (9) David was afraid of the LORD that day; he said, “How can I let the Ark of the LORD come to me?” (10) So David would not bring the Ark of the LORD to his place in the City of David; instead, David diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
(יא) וַיֵּ֩שֶׁב֩ אֲר֨וֹן יְהֹוָ֜ה בֵּ֣ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם הַגִּתִּ֖י שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳדָשִׁ֑ים וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־כׇּל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (יב) וַיֻּגַּ֗ד לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִד֮ לֵאמֹר֒ בֵּרַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־בֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֤ד אֱדֹם֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וַיַּ֩עַל֩ אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים מִבֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם עִ֥יר דָּוִ֖ד בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃ (יג) וַיְהִ֗י כִּ֧י צָעֲד֛וּ נֹשְׂאֵ֥י אֲרוֹן־יְהֹוָ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֣ה צְעָדִ֑ים וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח שׁ֖וֹר וּמְרִֽיא׃ (יד) וְדָוִ֛ד מְכַרְכֵּ֥ר בְּכׇל־עֹ֖ז לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְדָוִ֕ד חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃ (טו) וְדָוִד֙ וְכׇל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַעֲלִ֖ים אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֑ה בִּתְרוּעָ֖ה וּבְק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃ (טז) וְהָיָה֙ אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֔ה בָּ֖א עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וּמִיכַ֨ל בַּת־שָׁא֜וּל נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה ׀ בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֗וֹן וַתֵּ֨רֶא אֶת־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִד֙ מְפַזֵּ֤ז וּמְכַרְכֵּר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וַתִּ֥בֶז ל֖וֹ בְּלִבָּֽהּ׃
(11) The Ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his whole household. (12) It was reported to King David: “The LORD has blessed Obed-edom’s house and all that belongs to him because of the Ark of God.” Thereupon David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David, amid rejoicing. (13) When the bearers of the Ark of the LORD had moved forward six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.-j (14) David whirled with all his might before the LORD; David was girt with a linen ephod. (15) Thus David and all the House of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouts and with blasts of the horn. (16) As the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him for it.
(יד) מכרכר בכל עוז - מרקד בכל כחו וכוונתו וי"ת משבח:
(1) "And David danced before HaShem with all his might" - Danced with all his strength and concentration. And Yontatan translated it as "praised."
Radak on 2 Samuel 6:16
And she despised him in her heart - When she saw him from the window, she despised him in her heart because she thought it was not honorable for the king to behave in the manner of the common people, even before the ark, and afterwards, when he went to his house, she said directly, "What was honored today..."
And she despised him in her heart - When she saw him from the window, she despised him in her heart because she thought it was not honorable for the king to behave in the manner of the common people, even before the ark, and afterwards, when he went to his house, she said directly, "What was honored today..."
Why is David dancing? Is his behavior befitting a King? Why does Michal think it is not?
The relationship between Michal and David: a recap
(כז) וַיָּ֨קׇם דָּוִ֜ד וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ ׀ ה֣וּא וַאֲנָשָׁ֗יו וַיַּ֣ךְ בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּים֮ מָאתַ֣יִם אִישׁ֒ וַיָּבֵ֤א דָוִד֙ אֶת־עׇרְלֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וַיְמַלְא֣וּם לַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לְהִתְחַתֵּ֖ן בַּמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ שָׁא֛וּל אֶת־מִיכַ֥ל בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ {ס} (כח) וַיַּ֤רְא שָׁאוּל֙ וַיֵּ֔דַע כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה עִם־דָּוִ֑ד וּמִיכַ֥ל בַּת־שָׁא֖וּל אֲהֵבַֽתְהוּ׃ (כט) וַיֹּ֣אסֶף שָׁא֗וּל לֵרֹ֛א מִפְּנֵ֥י דָוִ֖ד ע֑וֹד וַיְהִ֥י שָׁא֛וּל אֹיֵ֥ב אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ {פ}
(27) David went out with his men and killed two hundred Philistines; David brought their foreskins and they were counted out-b for the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage. (28) When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that Michal daughter of Saul loved him,-g (29) Saul grew still more afraid of David; and Saul was David’s enemy ever after.
Naomi Harris Rosenblatt, After the Apple
"Michal, King Saul's younger daughter, achieves a rare distinction. The Bible says, 'Now Michal daughter of Saul had fallen in love with David.' This is the only time the Bible notes that a woman has fallen in love. The wording 'Michal daughter of Saul' suggests that her feelings influence the choice of her husband because of her privileged position as princess, whereas with most marriages at that time, the woman's personal feelings were rarely taken into account. The Bible is mute, however, about David's feelings for Michal—either because he had not chosen to express them or because a commoner's feelings were not important. We are left with a vague impression that something is off balance in this relationship."
"Michal, King Saul's younger daughter, achieves a rare distinction. The Bible says, 'Now Michal daughter of Saul had fallen in love with David.' This is the only time the Bible notes that a woman has fallen in love. The wording 'Michal daughter of Saul' suggests that her feelings influence the choice of her husband because of her privileged position as princess, whereas with most marriages at that time, the woman's personal feelings were rarely taken into account. The Bible is mute, however, about David's feelings for Michal—either because he had not chosen to express them or because a commoner's feelings were not important. We are left with a vague impression that something is off balance in this relationship."
(יא) וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ שָׁא֨וּל מַלְאָכִ֜ים אֶל־בֵּ֤ית דָּוִד֙ לְשׇׁמְר֔וֹ וְלַהֲמִית֖וֹ בַּבֹּ֑קֶר וַתַּגֵּ֣ד לְדָוִ֗ד מִיכַ֤ל אִשְׁתּוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִם־אֵ֨ינְךָ֜ מְמַלֵּ֤ט אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֙ הַלַּ֔יְלָה מָחָ֖ר אַתָּ֥ה מוּמָֽת׃ (יב) וַתֹּ֧רֶד מִיכַ֛ל אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֑וֹן וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ וַיִּבְרַ֖ח וַיִּמָּלֵֽט׃ (יג) וַתִּקַּ֨ח מִיכַ֜ל אֶת־הַתְּרָפִ֗ים וַתָּ֙שֶׂם֙ אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֔ה וְאֵת֙ כְּבִ֣יר הָעִזִּ֔ים שָׂ֖מָה מְרַאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו וַתְּכַ֖ס בַּבָּֽגֶד׃ {ס} (יד) וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח שָׁא֛וּל מַלְאָכִ֖ים לָקַ֣חַת אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד וַתֹּ֖אמֶר חֹלֶ֥ה הֽוּא׃ {ס} (טו) וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח שָׁאוּל֙ אֶת־הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד לֵאמֹ֑ר הַעֲל֨וּ אֹת֧וֹ בַמִּטָּ֛ה אֵלַ֖י לַהֲמִתֽוֹ׃ (טז) וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַמַּלְאָכִ֔ים וְהִנֵּ֥ה הַתְּרָפִ֖ים אֶל־הַמִּטָּ֑ה וּכְבִ֥יר הָעִזִּ֖ים מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ {ס} (יז) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֜וּל אֶל־מִיכַ֗ל לָ֤מָּה כָּ֙כָה֙ רִמִּיתִ֔נִי וַתְּשַׁלְּחִ֥י אֶת־אֹיְבִ֖י וַיִּמָּלֵ֑ט וַתֹּ֤אמֶר מִיכַל֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל הוּא־אָמַ֥ר אֵלַ֛י שַׁלְּחִ֖נִי לָמָ֥ה אֲמִיתֵֽךְ׃
(11) Saul sent messengers to David’s home to keep watch on him and to kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal told him, “Unless you run for your life tonight, you will be killed tomorrow.” (12) Michal let David down from the window and he escaped and fled. (13) Michal then took the household idol, laid it on the bed, and covered it with a cloth; and at its head she put a net of goat’s hair. (14) Saul sent messengers to seize David; but she said, “He is sick.” (15) Saul, however, sent back the messengers to see David for themselves. “Bring him up to me in the bed,” he ordered, “that he may be put to death.” (16) When the messengers came, they found the household idol in the bed, with the net of goat’s hair at its head. (17) Saul said to Michal, “Why did you play that trick on me and let my enemy get away safely?” “Because,” Michal answered Saul, “he said to me: ‘Help me get away or I’ll kill you.’”
Back to the text
(יז) וַיָּבִ֜אוּ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיַּצִּ֤גוּ אֹתוֹ֙ בִּמְקוֹמ֔וֹ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָאֹ֔הֶל אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָטָה־ל֖וֹ דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּ֨עַל דָּוִ֥ד עֹל֛וֹת לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃ (יח) וַיְכַ֣ל דָּוִ֔ד מֵהַעֲל֥וֹת הָעוֹלָ֖ה וְהַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם בְּשֵׁ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃ (יט) וַיְחַלֵּ֨ק לְכׇל־הָעָ֜ם לְכׇל־הֲמ֣וֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ לְמֵאִ֣ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁה֒ לְאִ֗ישׁ חַלַּ֥ת לֶ֙חֶם֙ אַחַ֔ת וְאֶשְׁפָּ֣ר אֶחָ֔ד וַאֲשִׁישָׁ֖ה אֶחָ֑ת וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ (כ) וַיָּ֥שׇׁב דָּוִ֖ד לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־בֵּית֑וֹ {ס} וַתֵּצֵ֞א מִיכַ֤ל בַּת־שָׁאוּל֙ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֔ד וַתֹּ֗אמֶר מַה־נִּכְבַּ֨ד הַיּ֜וֹם מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִגְלָ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ לְעֵינֵי֙ אַמְה֣וֹת עֲבָדָ֔יו כְּהִגָּל֥וֹת נִגְל֖וֹת אַחַ֥ד הָרֵקִֽים׃
(17) They brought in the Ark of the LORD and set it up in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. (18) When David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. (19) And he distributed among all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.-f Then all the people left for their homes.
(20) David went home to greet his household. And Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “Didn’t the king of Israel do himself honor today—exposing himself today in the sight of the slavegirls of his subjects, as one of the riffraff might expose himself!”
(20) David went home to greet his household. And Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “Didn’t the king of Israel do himself honor today—exposing himself today in the sight of the slavegirls of his subjects, as one of the riffraff might expose himself!”
Michal's words to David are sarcastic.
(כא) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִד֮ אֶל־מִיכַל֒ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּחַר־בִּ֤י מֵֽאָבִיךְ֙ וּמִכׇּל־בֵּית֔וֹ לְצַוֺּ֨ת אֹתִ֥י נָגִ֛יד עַל־עַ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשִׂחַקְתִּ֖י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ (כב) וּנְקַלֹּ֤תִי עוֹד֙ מִזֹּ֔את וְהָיִ֥יתִי שָׁפָ֖ל בְּעֵינָ֑י וְעִם־הָֽאֲמָהוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְתְּ עִמָּ֖ם אִכָּבֵֽדָה׃
(21) David answered Michal, “It was before the LORD who chose me instead of your father and all his family and appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel! I will dance before the LORD (22) and dishonor myself even more, and be low in my own-k esteem; but among the slavegirls that you speak of I will be honored.”
(כג) וּלְמִיכַל֙ בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל לֹא־הָ֥יָה לָ֖הּ יָ֑לֶד עַ֖ד י֥וֹם מוֹתָֽהּ׃ {פ}
(23) So to her dying day Michal daughter of Saul had no children.
ומי הוו למיכל בני והכתיב (שמואל ב ו, כג) ולמיכל בת שאול לא היה לה ולד עד יום מותה... דכתיב (שמואל ב ו, טז) ומיכל בת שאול נשקפה בעד החלון ותרא את המלך דוד מפזז ומכרכר לפני ה' ותבז ואמר רב יהודה ואיתימא רב יוסף שקלתה מיכל למיטרפסה.
And did Michal ever have children? And it is written, "And Michal, the daughter of Saul, did not have a child until the day of her death." [...] as it is written, "And Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked out through the window, and she saw King David leaping and dancing before Hashem, and she despised..." And Rav Yehuda said (and some say it was Rav Yosef) that Michal received her due [for despising David].
Rabbi Julie Wolkoff, The Women's Haftarah Commentary
...the verse itself is not pejorative. It does not say that Michal is being punished. It merely makes a statement of fact—Michal never had children. How we choose to view her childlessness is up to us.... One of the significant characteristics of Michal is that the text regularly seeks to place her in a definable role based on who she is in relationship to the men in her life. Michal’s name occurs eighteen times in the Bible: Ten times she is described as “the daughter of Saul,” twice as “David’s wife,” and once as both. There are only five instances in which one of these phrases is not appended to her name, yet in each of those cases it is clear which relationship role she plays. Despite all this, the text fails to decisively connect her to either man. The most telling example is found in I Samuel 25:44 where we read that Saul has given “his daughter Michal, David’s wife” to another man. Michal is both “Saul’s daughter” and “David’s wife.” She cannot be neatly placed into either category.
...the verse itself is not pejorative. It does not say that Michal is being punished. It merely makes a statement of fact—Michal never had children. How we choose to view her childlessness is up to us.... One of the significant characteristics of Michal is that the text regularly seeks to place her in a definable role based on who she is in relationship to the men in her life. Michal’s name occurs eighteen times in the Bible: Ten times she is described as “the daughter of Saul,” twice as “David’s wife,” and once as both. There are only five instances in which one of these phrases is not appended to her name, yet in each of those cases it is clear which relationship role she plays. Despite all this, the text fails to decisively connect her to either man. The most telling example is found in I Samuel 25:44 where we read that Saul has given “his daughter Michal, David’s wife” to another man. Michal is both “Saul’s daughter” and “David’s wife.” She cannot be neatly placed into either category.
(ח) וַיִּקַּ֣ח הַמֶּ֡לֶךְ אֶת־שְׁ֠נֵ֠י בְּנֵ֨י רִצְפָּ֤ה בַת־אַיָּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָלְדָ֣ה לְשָׁא֔וּל אֶת־אַרְמֹנִ֖י וְאֶת־מְפִבֹ֑שֶׁת וְאֶת־חֲמֵ֗שֶׁת בְּנֵי֙ מִיכַ֣ל בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֛ה לְעַדְרִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־בַּרְזִלַּ֖י הַמְּחֹלָתִֽי׃
(8) Instead, the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons that Rizpah daughter of Aiah bore to Saul, and the five sons that Meirav (Michal's sister) daughter of Saul bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite,
ור' יהושע בן קרחה נמי הכתיב את חמשת בני מיכל בת שאול אמר לך רבי יהושע וכי מיכל ילדה והלא מירב ילדה מירב ילדה ומיכל גידלה לפיכך נקראו על שמה ללמדך שכל המגדל יתום בתוך ביתו מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו ילדו:
The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa as well, isn’t it written: “And the five sons of Michal, daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel” (II Samuel 21:8). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa could have said to you to understand it this way: And did Michal give birth to these children? But didn’t Merab give birth to them for Adriel? Rather, Merab gave birth to them and died, and Michal raised them in her house. Therefore, the children were called by her name, to teach you that with regard to anyone who raises an orphan in his house, the verse ascribes him credit as if he gave birth to him.
Jerusalem Talmud Eruvin 10:1
Anyone who is obliged to study Torah is obliged for tefillin, and women who are not obliged to study Torah are not obliged for tefillin. They objected, but did not Michal, the daughter of Saul, wear tefillin, and did not the wife of Jonah make the pilgrimage to the Temple, and the Sages did not object?
Anyone who is obliged to study Torah is obliged for tefillin, and women who are not obliged to study Torah are not obliged for tefillin. They objected, but did not Michal, the daughter of Saul, wear tefillin, and did not the wife of Jonah make the pilgrimage to the Temple, and the Sages did not object?
Talmud Bavli, Eruvin 96a
it was taught in a baraita: Michal, daughter of Kushi, King Saul, would don phylacteries, and the Sages did not protest against her behavior, as she was permitted to do so...
it was taught in a baraita: Michal, daughter of Kushi, King Saul, would don phylacteries, and the Sages did not protest against her behavior, as she was permitted to do so...
Rabbi Julie Wolkoff, The Women's Haftarah Commentary
When we look at the wider context of Michal’s life, it does not seem a tragedy at all. We see a woman who is not confined by people’s expectations but rather self-defined. She loves the man she marries even as the text makes it clear that her father would have preferred anyone other than David. She saves David’s life through lies and trickery at the expense of her relationship with her father. Although given to a second man in marriage, she returns to David, apparently untouched. She has a vision of how a king should act and she stands by her belief, even though it means the end of her marriage. Rather than living the barren life implied by the words she “had no child until her dying day,” she has a life filled with family and productivity. Should we pity Michal? It is easy to look back on our lives and say what we should have done. It is more difficult to say the right thing, or make the right move at the moment. Michal does a remarkable job dealing with the circumstances life hands her. She does not become bitter about roles that do not fit her. Instead, she moves forward, and creates herself anew as an adoptive mother and a teacher to future generations. She is not constrained by a tradition that does not allow women to use tefillin. She makes the choice to wear them, and the texts support her choice.
When we look at the wider context of Michal’s life, it does not seem a tragedy at all. We see a woman who is not confined by people’s expectations but rather self-defined. She loves the man she marries even as the text makes it clear that her father would have preferred anyone other than David. She saves David’s life through lies and trickery at the expense of her relationship with her father. Although given to a second man in marriage, she returns to David, apparently untouched. She has a vision of how a king should act and she stands by her belief, even though it means the end of her marriage. Rather than living the barren life implied by the words she “had no child until her dying day,” she has a life filled with family and productivity. Should we pity Michal? It is easy to look back on our lives and say what we should have done. It is more difficult to say the right thing, or make the right move at the moment. Michal does a remarkable job dealing with the circumstances life hands her. She does not become bitter about roles that do not fit her. Instead, she moves forward, and creates herself anew as an adoptive mother and a teacher to future generations. She is not constrained by a tradition that does not allow women to use tefillin. She makes the choice to wear them, and the texts support her choice.