Did Michal, Daughter of Saul, Have Children?
Hello Mike,
2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
2Sa 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
I was wondering if there could be any explanation for the discrepancy concerning the above two verses conveying on the one hand that Michal had no children in 2Sa 6:23 but on the other hand 2Sa 21:8 goes on to say that she had five sons. As always, your thoughtful answer would be much appreciated.
Kind Regards.
YBIC,
M____
Hi M____,
Thank you for your question concerning this apparent contradiction in scripture. Here again are those two verses:
2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
2Sa 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
As is pointed out below “”Had no child unto the day of her death” may mean simply “had no child henceforward.” Here is the sequence of events:
1Sa 25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
This Isa 1 Samuel, which ends with the death of King Saul after giving David’s wife, Michal, to another man.
Several years later, in 2 Samuel, we are told David demanded his wife back, but this was after running from Saul for several years and then finally being established as the king.
2Sa 3:12 And Abner [King Saul’s captain of the host] sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
2Sa 3:13 And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul’s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
2Sa 3:14 And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
2Sa 3:15 And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
After being established as the king of all of Israel, David sends to Shiloh, and after making some very serious mistakes in the handling of the ark of God, He finally brings the ark into Jerusalem. It is at this joyous time that King David dances before the ark, and Michal despises her husband and accuses him of exposing himself to the women of Jerusalem. It is at this point that we read:
2Sa 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
2Sa 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
2Sa 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
2Sa 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
2Sa 6:19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
2Sa 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
2Sa 6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
2Sa 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
It is much later that we encounter this story where Michal is said to have “brought up five sons” of her older sister Merab. It is these five sons of Merab, who Michal had “brought up”, who are delivered to the Gibeonites to be hanged. It is obvious that “Adriel, the son of Barzillai” had five sons by Merab, who had apparently died before King David demanded to have Michal back. These were not Michal’s sons at all but were the sons of her sister who she “had brought up for Adreil the son of Barzallai the Meholathite [ Michal’s brother in law].
These children were all born while David was hiding from King Saul.
“… and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:”
We know this to be the case because of these verses which tell us of how popular David was with all Israel after he killed Goliath. But they also tell us that King Saul’s daughter Merab, was promised to David, before she was given to Adriel, by whom the five sons in question were born.
1Sa 18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.
1Sa 18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
1Sa 18:18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?
1Sa 18:19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.
1Sa 18:20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.
1Sa 18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.
So the statement that “Michal had no children” is obviously to be understood as being children of her own, not the children of her sister and brother in law who we are told Michal had “brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:” her brother in law, whose wife, Michal’s sister, Merab, had apparently died.
There are several scriptures just like this one which are always resolved when it is realized that there are many facts surrounding the alleged discrepancy, which must be made known in order to see what is the Truth. But there are time when the Hebrew letters involved are so similar that a sleight scribal error can completely change the name or object under consideration.
Here is what ‘Alleged Discrepancies of The Bible’ has to say about these two verses:
“Michal’s sons, 2Sa 21:8 and 2Sa 6:23 (“Had no child unto the day of her death” may mean simply “had no child henceforward.” Ewald and DeWette say, with the greatest probability, that Michal, in the first passage, is a copyist’s mistake for Merab).”
There are human scribal errors in the copying of the Bible, but no such error ever takes away from “the sum of God’s Word”.
Psa 119:160 The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth for ever.
I hope this helps you to see that Michal had been taken by her father, King Saul, and given to another man and that the children mentioned had been born to Merab and Adriel, Michal’s sister and brother in law, and were called Michal’s children only because she had “brought them up for Adriel” her brother in law.
Above all, I pray this all serves to demonstrate that the Word of God is always, in its sum, to be our rock, and all men are to be considered liars when they dare to, in any way, belittle or contradict the sum of God’s Word.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike
Other related posts
- You Shall Receive Power Part 2 (May 28, 2009)
- Wife of Isaiah and A Type and Shadow (April 25, 2008)
- Why We Are Hated of All Men? (April 7, 2008)
- Why Was Drinking Blood Taboo? (January 25, 2009)
- Why The Spiritually Blind Cannot See? (November 23, 2009)
- Why The Hardened Heart? (November 4, 2004)
- Why No Church Says What You Say? (July 21, 2005)
- Why Guard The Tree Of Life (May 13, 2011)
- Why Did God Command Israel to Kill Infants? (August 26, 2010)
- Why Christ Drove Out The Money Changers (December 16, 2010)
- Why Better For Judas if He Had Never Been Born? (November 24, 2011)
- Who Will See That They Have Pierced Christ? (September 7, 2010)
- Who Walks Up And Down Among The Stones Of Fire? (November 18, 2009)
- Who Walks To And Fro In The Earth? (November 18, 2009)
- Who Should We Hate Spiritually? (October 5, 2010)
- Who Is Zion? (November 18, 2009)
- Who Did King David Call Lord? (August 18, 2010)
- Who Crucified Christ? (November 12, 2008)
- Who Can Eat Of The Sin Offering? (October 15, 2008)
- Who Are the Poor? (May 4, 2012)
- Where Should I Start In Studying Revelation? (September 29, 2010)
- When is Wisdom Not Found in the Land of the Living? (May 13, 2011)
- When Did Christ Ever Sacrifice To Baalim? (July 24, 2007)
- What is the Soul? (August 6, 2009)
- What is the Glory of God? (October 20, 2006)
- What The Tabernacle Foreshadows (July 18, 2007)
- What Is Aionios Life? (August 3, 2007)
- What Does Endure to the End Mean? (November 12, 2010)
- What Becomes Of Our Flesh? Part 2 (March 28, 2009)
- Were Moses And Elias With Christ On The Mount? (July 11, 2005)
- Welcome (April 11, 2009)
- We Can Bind and Loose Things In Heaven? (May 13, 2011)
- Waters As Chastening Judgment (May 2, 2008)
- Was The Sabbath Observed From The Creation? (October 20, 2006)
- Was Man Made Upright? (September 30, 2008)
- Voting As A Christian And Never Die (October 28, 2010)
- Understanding The Bible (October 9, 2010)
- Types of The Mark of The Beast (October 8, 2007)
- Types And Shadows Of The New Testament (June 16, 2009)
- To Turn From The Holy Commandment (October 3, 2004)
- To Resist Or Not To Resist (June 13, 2010)
- To Be Ordained (August 4, 2008)
- Their Worm Dieth Not (July 18, 2007)
- The World Means Babylon The Church (October 28, 2004)
- The Word Keep (October 20, 2006)
- The Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil (March 23, 2008)
- The Time of Jacob's Trouble (August 21, 2009)
- The Teaching of Rain and Archers (June 20, 2004)
- The Sum Of Thy Word (September 21, 2011)
- The Spiritual Meaning Of Words (July 15, 2008)
- The Son of Perdition (June 17, 2008)
- The Scriptures Have Opened Up (October 3, 2008)
- The Real Meaning of In the Beginning (August 23, 2011)
- The Parting of His Raiment (July 25, 2007)
- The Parents of The Man Healed of Blindness (September 4, 2008)
- The Names Jacob And Israel And Judah (July 1, 2009)
- The Meaning Of Hated Of All Men (June 29, 2010)
- The Marriage Supper Furnished With Guests (July 6, 2006)
- The Mark of the Beast 2008 (June 25, 2008)
- The Mark Of The Beast 2005 (April 20, 2005)
- The Head of Christ Is God (November 16, 2006)
- The Greek Word For Drag (March 28, 2010)
- The First Tabernacle Have To Be Destroyed? (June 6, 2009)
- The Fatted Calf (June 10, 2007)
- The Father Ever Speak To The Disciples? (September 18, 2008)
- The Fate of Sodom (September 21, 2007)
- The Fast I have Chosen (August 1, 2007)
- The Fallen Angels (July 25, 2007)
- The Faith Of Christ (June 25, 2008)
- The Evil That is Mythical Creatures (August 4, 2012)
- The Eternal God (December 14, 2009)
- The Established Church Being Blinded (March 18, 2009)
- The Days Ordained For Us (November 6, 2008)
- The Canon of Scripture 2005 (March 12, 2005)
- The Blessings of a Healthy Family (May 13, 2011)
- Taking Up Arms (July 6, 2006)
- Suicide And The First Resurrection (April 18, 2010)
- Suffer Little Children To Come To Christ (May 3, 2010)
- Studying The Bible (July 9, 2006)
- Strong Delusion (November 30, 2008)
- Spiritually Eating and Drinking with the Drunken (May 13, 2011)
- Spiritual with Spiritual (July 14, 2007)
- Spiritual Significance of Picking the Snake up by the Tail (July 31, 2011)
- Spiritual Significance Of Ananias And Sapphira (November 26, 2009)
- Spiritual Sacrifices (April 11, 2007)
- Spiritual Meaning Of Words (October 5, 2005)
- Spiritual Drunkenness (December 4, 2009)
- Sovereignty and Giving An Account (July 21, 2005)
- Sovereignty And Held Accountable (June 10, 2007)
- Significance Of Herbs (June 25, 2009)
- Show Us Plainly of The Father (April 13, 2008)
- Should A Christian Fast? Study (June 12, 2007)
- Should A Christian Fast? (April 20, 2005)
- Short Sighted Christians and Healings or Miracles (July 13, 2006)
- Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God (May 28, 2009)
- Science In The Life Of The Believer (March 25, 2010)
- Satan Is Cast Out of Heaven? (October 12, 2006)
- Response Of Andrew And Peter To Christs Call (June 19, 2009)
- Providing and Relying On God To Provide (October 3, 2004)
- Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem (November 26, 2009)
- Possess Ye Your Souls (October 26, 2010)
- Plead With Your Mother (April 30, 2010)
- Overcoming The Wicked One (July 10, 2008)
- Our Heavenly War (October 5, 2005)
- Offering of Cain Was Not Accepted (November 14, 2004)
- No Perfect Translations Of The Bible (October 20, 2004)
- Neither Had Received His Mark (February 24, 2008)
- Need To Repent and For What (May 16, 2007)
- Names In Scripture (October 6, 2008)
- Nadab And Abihubr (September 18, 2008)
- Much Learning Does Make Us Seem Mad (May 4, 2010)
- More About The Lords Supper (October 20, 2006)
- Message of the Book of Jonah? (September 22, 2011)
- Melchisedec (October 17, 2010)
- Meaning Of Names Being Changed? (May 13, 2011)
- Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone (April 24, 2007)
- Man Shall Live By Every Word of God? (May 13, 2007)
- Lying Signs and Wonders (April 25, 2008)
- Let Us Be Making Man (November 18, 2009)
- Let Not Judah Offend (October 23, 2010)
- Leaving Babylon and Being Part of Christ's Body (June 12, 2007)
- Knowing The Voice of The True Shepherd (April 25, 2007)
- Keeping the Book of Revelation (October 20, 2011)
- Karma In The Bible (April 2, 2008)
- Jephthah and the Grafting In (February 26, 2009)
- Israel and Strangers (February 13, 2010)
- Is the Bible God's Total Reliable Truth? (June 22, 2009)
- Is There A Law of Circularity? (January 8, 2006)
- Is There A Gap Between Genesis 1:1 and 2 (November 25, 2007)
- Is The Son Of Man A Worm? (September 1, 2008)
- Is The Garden of Eden A Mere Parable? (July 14, 2010)
- Is The Bible The Only Word Of God? (April 6, 2008)
- Is Melchisadek Really a Priest of God? (June 24, 2011)
- Is Evil Good? (June 29, 2011)
- Instruction Upon Thy Bed (March 28, 2008)
- Initial Email Exchange Explaining Split (April 19, 2007)
- I Am That Woman! (May 13, 2011)
- I Am Crucified With Christ (May 3, 2008)
- How to Scripturally Study the Bible? (July 6, 2006)
- How To Use the Wigram Concordances? (March 10, 2006)
- How Do We Live By Every Word of God - Part 1 and Part 2 (March 14, 2010)
- How Can Scripture Be Trusted? (January 31, 2010)
- How Can God Kill And Still Love? (April 21, 2009)
- His Knowledge Of Who We Are? (August 12, 2009)
- His Anger and His Mercy (September 27, 2010)
- Hem of His Garment (April 3, 2009)
- He Shall Suffer Loss (July 29, 2004)
- He Left The Linen Cloth (July 18, 2007)
- Have We All Worshiped the Beast (August 16, 2011)
- Hated of Men Like Christ (August 1, 2010)
- Hated By Versus Peace With All Men (June 15, 2010)
- Handkerchiefs and Aprons (April 24, 2007)
- Grounds For Divorce (July 24, 2007)
- Gods Word As A Two Edged Sword (June 22, 2009)
- Gods True Name (November 18, 2009)
- Gods Left Hand (August 5, 2010)
- God So Loved The World (March 28, 2005)
- Generational Curses (October 20, 2004)
- From Whence Are His Elect? (September 10, 2007)
- Four Aspects About His Word (April 11, 2009)
- For Ever Ends (March 18, 2009)
- First Fruits To Babylon For Their Good (May 2, 2009)
- Faith By Hearing (June 23, 2008)
- El Olawm (February 10, 2008)
- Eating Locusts And Honey (March 1, 2010)
- E_Sword Wigrams And The Holy Spirit (February 25, 2009)
- Drinking His Blood (September 27, 2007)
- Does God Take Pleasure In Us, His Creation? (June 17, 2007)
- Does Calling Christ The Lord Prove A Trinity? (December 11, 2009)
- Do We Hate His Words While In Babylon? (July 14, 2010)
- Do I Contradict Myself? (July 23, 2007)
- Discerning Scriptures (April 2, 2009)
- Did Paul Say World Without End? (May 13, 2011)
- Did Michal, Daughter of Saul, Have Children? (May 13, 2011)
- Did Joseph Slander His Brothers? (August 4, 2012)
- Did Jephthah Commit Human Sacrifice? (October 12, 2010)
- Did God Make Man Upright? (June 19, 2008)
- Did Enoch And Elijah See Death? (December 22, 2004)
- Did Christ Teach Self Mutilation? (January 30, 2010)
- Did Christ Pick Corn on the Sabbath? (September 15, 2011)
- Definition of a True Christian (March 30, 2009)
- Death Hell And Eternity (January 24, 2009)
- Days of Creation and The Seventh Day (November 11, 2007)
- David And Bathsheba Not Stoned (July 10, 2008)
- Cutting Off The Hand Of The Wife (January 15, 2010)
- Cutting Off Her Hand (May 17, 2010)
- Crying and Mark of Eze 9_5_7 (October 5, 2011)
- Crooked Serpent represent Babylon? (March 30, 2009)
- Confessing Our Sins (January 3, 2009)
- Communicate With The Dead? (March 30, 2009)
- Christ and Melchisedec (May 3, 2008)
- Christ Having To Die (March 6, 2008)
- Choosing Evil And Dutch Translation Of Site (February 10, 2009)
- Chaste Conversation (June 20, 2008)
- Can Women Preach? (October 11, 2006)
- Can We Live Sinless Lives? (March 27, 2007)
- Can We Live By Every Word Of God? (September 5, 2011)
- Can We Know The Truth? (October 10, 2008)
- Can We Change God's Mind? (June 12, 2008)
- Can A Person Really Talk To Dead People? (December 28, 2009)
- Can A Christian Make A Graven Image? (June 23, 2009)
- Burning And The Book Of Life (June 12, 2005)
- Born Again_Gestation Mystery Solved! (July 10, 2008)
- Being Tempted Versus Being Tested (October 30, 2008)
- Being Sin Versus Sinning (October 17, 2008)
- Because He Could Swear By No Greater (August 30, 2007)
- Beast Accountability For Human Lifeblood? (December 15, 2010)
- Are We All Failures? (November 18, 2009)
- Are We All Blasphemers? (November 18, 2009)
- Are We A Sweet Savor Offering? (January 25, 2010)
- Are We A Sin Offering Like Christ? (May 5, 2008)
- Are Unbelievers Already Justified? (March 9, 2010)
- Are There Two Israels? (November 15, 2008)
- Are There Prophecies Only For The End Times? (March 26, 2009)
- Are The Writings of Paul More Important? (July 6, 2006)
- Are The Two Adams Both Trees? (November 1, 2010)
- Are The Seraphim Evil Spirits? (June 3, 2009)
- Are The Preparations of The Heart Really From Man? (October 21, 2010)
- Are The Book And The Books The Same? (December 21, 2009)
- Are Prayer Tongues Scriptural? (January 24, 2010)
- Are Parts of The Law Still To Be Kept? (August 20, 2007)
- Are Enoch And Elijah In Heaven? (October 11, 2010)
- Are Baby Dedications Scriptural? (December 18, 2009)
- Are Animals Resurrected? (October 29, 2008)
- Are All Things Really Ours? (July 18, 2010)
- Another Jesus and Another Gospel (May 17, 2008)
- And the Word Was God (September 1, 2010)
- An Infidel and Envy Versus Jealously (November 27, 2007)
- An Attitude of Gratitude (September 25, 2007)
- Amazed And Thankful (September 6, 2010)