Bible Dictionaries
Michal

Holman Bible Dictionary

(mi' kuhl) Personal name meaning, “who is like El (God)?,” a variant form of Micah, “who is like Yah?” and abbreviated form of Michael. King Saul's younger daughter (1 Samuel 14:49 ) given to David in marriage for the price of one hundred dead Philistines (1 Samuel 18:20-29 ). (Saul may have thought David would be killed in the attempt). The king continued to set traps for David, but on one occasion Michal helped her husband escape (1 Samuel 19:11-17 ). For revenge, Saul gave her to Phaltiel (1 Samuel 25:44 ). Following Saul's death at Gilboa, David made a treaty with Abner, Saul's general. One of the points of the pact was that Michal would be returned to David, much to Paltiel's regret (2 Samuel 3:14-16 ). David's dancing before the ark of the covenant as he brought the sacred box to Jerusalem enraged Michal, who criticized the king to his face. As punishment Michal was never allowed to bear children (2 Samuel 6:16-23; compare 2 Samuel 21:8 ).