MICHAEL (Hebrew Mikhäl: “who is mighty?” [?]; “the Almighty” [?]; “who is like God?” [?]). — Saul (v.), younger than her sister Merob. DAVIDE (v.), to whom Merob had been promised as the prize for slaying Goliath (cf. 1 Sam 17:25), was denied her hand, he accepted Michael as his wife on condition of paying Saul the dangerous dowry of two hundred foreskins of Philistines slain (ibid. 18:17-29).
Michael loved David ardently and rescued him from Saul’s deadly pursuit by lowering him through a window; moreover, to delay pursuit, she contrived to make him appear bedridden with illness (ibid. 19:11-17). In revenge Saul then gave her in marriage to a certain Paltiel (ibid. 25:44). Later, when David had become king in Hebron, she was restored to him (ibid. 3:12-16), though she seems not to have been as devoted as before. She is seen hurling bitter sarcasm at David for dancing before the ark during its transfer to Jerusalem (ibid. 6:16-22).
She died childless (ibid. 6:23). Perhaps her barrenness, which made her inferior to the king’s other wives, greatly contributed to her irritable and sullen disposition.