2 Samuel 6:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

NIV: And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

NASB: And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

CSB: And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death.

NLT: So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.

KJV: Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

NKJV: Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Michal is David's first wife. She fell in love with him early. Her father, King Saul, used her love to try to lure David into fighting the Philistines, hoping David would die in battle. That plan failed, and Saul's hatred and fear of David grew (1 Samuel 18:20–28). At one point, when Saul was set on killing David, Michal sent him away and created a decoy in his bed. By the time Saul's guards discovered Michal's trick, David was safely away (1 Samuel 19:11–17).

David and Michal didn't see each other again for many years. Saul gave Michal to another man who loved her dearly. Shortly before David became king of all Israel, he demanded Michal be returned (1 Samuel 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:14–16). A man who has the king's wife or concubine is a threat to the throne. By then, David had six other wives and six sons (2 Samuel 3:2–5).

In Jerusalem, David brought the ark of the covenant into the city and danced in celebration, wearing a linen ephod. Michal is disgusted with David's lack of propriety. David is angry with Michal's inability to recognize true worship. He jabs, reminding her that God chose him to rule, not her brothers. He is king, and he will continue to degrade himself in worship if he chooses (2 Samuel 6:16, 20–22).

Michal had spent at least some time with David early in their marriage. She lived with her second husband for years. It's possible she's been back with David for decades. But she's never had a child and she never will. Scripture doesn't give an explicit reason for her infertility. We don't know why she was barren before or why it continues. Some think God is judging her. Others believe David never had sex with her again. Others interpret her fate as natural fertility problems.

It's also possible that God prevented Michal from bearing a son with lineage from both Saul and David. Such a bloodline could challenge David's throne with broad support. David will eventually have nineteen sons by his various wives (1 Chronicles 3:1–8). Only one of his wives is Saul's daughter, but God picks Solomon, Bathsheba's son, to become king.

This incident is the last mention (1 Chronicles 15:29) of Michal in the Bible.

Second Samuel 6:20–23 records a spat between David and his first wife, Michal. Michal was King Saul's daughter. She fell in love with David and risked her life to protect him (1 Samuel 18:20–29; 19:11–17). When David left, Saul gave her to another; when David became king, he took her back (1 Samuel 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:12–16). She sees David's exuberant celebration of the ark's arrival in Jerusalem as shameless and unbecoming. David defends his joy and rejects her judgment. Michal never bears a child; there will be no son descended from both David and Saul to vie for the throne.

In 2 Samuel 6, David decides to bring the ark of God (Exodus 25:10–22) to Jerusalem. This includes an enormous crowd and a great procession. Unfortunately, he doesn't follow the Mosaic law, and a man dies for inappropriately touching the ark. David leaves the ark at a house for three months before trying again. Moving the symbol of God's presence into the nation's capital delights everyone except David's first wife, Michal. She is disgusted by David's undignified enthusiasm. The same events are noted in 1 Chronicles 13 and 15.

David has established himself as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5). In 2 Samuel 6, the ark of the covenant reaches Jerusalem. Since its first home in Shiloh, it's been captured by Philistines, sent back home, housed in Kiriath-jearim, carried with the army, and returned to Kiriath-jearim (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 4, 6; 7:1–2; 14:18). David first puts the ark on a cart, but the cart wobbles and God strikes dead the man who tries to save it. Eventually, Levites carry the ark to Jerusalem properly. Soon, David decides that God deserves a proper temple and asks if he can build one (2 Samuel 7).