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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Samuel 6:23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_samuel/6-23.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/10/10_2Sa_06_23.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Samuel 6:23 - Michal's Contempt for David" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death." /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_samuel/6-22.htm" title="2 Samuel 6:22">◄</a> 2 Samuel 6:23 <a href="/2_samuel/7-1.htm" title="2 Samuel 7:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/2_samuel/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_samuel/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_samuel/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_samuel/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_samuel/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_samuel/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_samuel/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_samuel/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_samuel/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_samuel/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_samuel/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_samuel/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_samuel/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Saul&#8217s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_samuel/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_samuel/6.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Michal never had any children. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_samuel/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_samuel/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So Saul's daughter Michal was childless her entire life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_samuel/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Michal, Saul's daughter, never had any children. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_samuel/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />And Saul's daughter Michal bore no children from that day on until the day she died.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_samuel/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_samuel/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now Michal, Saul's daughter, had no children to the day of her death. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_samuel/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And Mikal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_samuel/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_samuel/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_samuel/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />As for Michal daughter of Saul, she had no child until the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_samuel/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> As to Michal daughter of Saul, she had no child till the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_samuel/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And to Michal, Saul's daughter, there was no child to her even to the day of her death.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_samuel/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Therefore Michol the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_samuel/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And so, there was no child born to Michal, the daughter of Saul, even to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_samuel/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Saul’s daughter Michal was childless to the day she died.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_samuel/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_samuel/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Therefore Malchel the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_samuel/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Malkel, daughter of Shaul, had no child until the day that she died <div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_samuel/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_samuel/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Melchol the daughter of Saul had no child till the day of her death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_samuel/6-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0ajZHUzMKw?start=1674" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_samuel/6.htm">Michal's Contempt for David</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.” <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/4324.htm" title="4324: ū·lə·mî·ḵal (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-proper-fs) -- Wife of David. Apparently the same as miykal; revulet; Mikal, Saul's daughter.">And Michal</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: baṯ- (N-fsc) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">the daughter</a> <a href="/hebrew/7586.htm" title="7586: šā·’ūl (N-proper-ms) -- Passive participle of sha'al; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites.">of Saul</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: hā·yāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">had</a> <a href="/hebrew/lāh (Prep:: 3fs) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō- (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">no</a> <a href="/hebrew/3206.htm" title="3206: yā·leḏ (N-ms) -- Child, son, boy, youth. From yalad; something born, i.e. A lad or offspring.">children</a> <a href="/hebrew/5704.htm" title="5704: ‘aḏ (Prep) -- As far as, even to, up to, until, while. Properly, the same as ad; as far as, whether of space or time or degree.">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/3117.htm" title="3117: yō·wm (N-msc) -- Day. From an unused root meaning to be hot; a day, whether literal, or figurative.">the day</a> <a href="/hebrew/4194.htm" title="4194: mō·w·ṯāh (N-msc:: 3fs) -- Death. From muwth; death; concretely, the dead, their place or state; figuratively, pestilence, ruin.">of her death.</a> </span><div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/1-5.htm">1 Samuel 1:5-6</a></span><br />But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved her even though the LORD had closed her womb. / Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival would provoke her viciously to taunt her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/2-20.htm">1 Samuel 2:20-21</a></span><br />And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would go home. / So the LORD attended to Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/30-1.htm">Genesis 30:1-2</a></span><br />When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/29-31.htm">Genesis 29:31</a></span><br />When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/16-1.htm">Genesis 16:1-2</a></span><br />Now Abram’s wife Sarai had borne him no children, but she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar. / So Sarai said to Abram, “Look now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go to my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/20-17.htm">Genesis 20:17-18</a></span><br />Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children— / for on account of Abraham’s wife Sarah, the LORD had completely closed all the wombs in Abimelech’s household.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/54-1.htm">Isaiah 54:1</a></span><br />“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/13-2.htm">Judges 13:2-3</a></span><br />Now there was a man from Zorah named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, whose wife was barren and had no children. / The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-7.htm">Luke 1:7</a></span><br />But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-25.htm">Luke 1:25</a></span><br />“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-36.htm">Luke 1:36-37</a></span><br />Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. / For no word from God will ever fail.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-58.htm">Luke 1:58</a></span><br />Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-11.htm">Hebrews 11:11</a></span><br />By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/4-27.htm">Galatians 4:27</a></span><br />For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/113-9.htm">Psalm 113:9</a></span><br />He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.</p><p class="hdg">Michal</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/1-6.htm">1 Samuel 1:6-8</a></b></br> And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/4-1.htm">Isaiah 4:1</a></b></br> And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/9-11.htm">Hosea 9:11</a></b></br> <i>As for</i> Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.</p><p class="hdg">unto the day</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/15-35.htm">1 Samuel 15:35</a></b></br> And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/22-14.htm">Isaiah 22:14</a></b></br> And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/matthew/1-25.htm">Matthew 1:25</a></b></br> And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/15-3.htm">Child</a> <a href="/2_samuel/5-14.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_samuel/6-20.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/2_samuel/6-7.htm">Death</a> <a href="/2_samuel/6-21.htm">Michal</a> <a href="/2_samuel/6-20.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/2_samuel/6-16.htm">Saul's</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_samuel/11-5.htm">Child</a> <a href="/2_samuel/7-6.htm">Children</a> <a href="/2_samuel/11-3.htm">Daughter</a> <a href="/2_samuel/8-2.htm">Death</a> <a href="/2_samuel/21-8.htm">Michal</a> <a href="/2_samuel/7-15.htm">Saul</a> <a href="/2_samuel/9-1.htm">Saul's</a><div class="vheading2">2 Samuel 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/6-1.htm">David fetches the ark from Kirjath Jearim on a new cart,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/6-6.htm">Uzzah is smitten at Perez Uzzah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/6-9.htm">God blesses Obed-Edom for the ark</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/6-12.htm">David brings the ark into Zion with sacrifices, and dances before it; </a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/6-16.htm">for which Michal despises him</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/6-17.htm">He places it in a tabernacle with great joy and feasting</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/6-20.htm">Michal, reproving David for his joy, is childless to her death</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/2_samuel/6.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>And Michal</b><br />Michal, the daughter of King Saul, is a significant figure in the narrative of David's rise to power. Her account is intertwined with the political and personal dynamics of the early monarchy in Israel. The Hebrew name "Michal" (מִיכַל) can be translated to mean "Who is like God?" This name may reflect the high expectations placed upon her as a royal daughter. Her life, however, is marked by tragedy and unfulfilled potential, serving as a poignant reminder of the personal costs of political alliances and conflicts.<p><b>the daughter of Saul</b><br />This phrase emphasizes Michal's lineage and her connection to the former king, Saul. Her identity as Saul's daughter is crucial in understanding her role and the tensions between the house of Saul and the house of David. Historically, royal daughters were often used as pawns in political alliances, and Michal's marriage to David was initially a strategic move by Saul. Her loyalty to her father and her complex relationship with David highlight the familial and political struggles of the time.<p><b>had no children</b><br />In the ancient Near Eastern context, having children, particularly sons, was of utmost importance for women, as it ensured the continuation of the family line and provided social security. The Hebrew phrase here, "לֹא־הָיָה לָהּ יָלֶד" (lo hayah lah yeled), underscores the completeness of her childlessness. This barrenness could be seen as a divine judgment or a consequence of her strained relationship with David, especially after she criticized him for his exuberant worship (<a href="/2_samuel/6-16.htm">2 Samuel 6:16-22</a>). It also signifies the end of Saul's lineage through her, as she bore no heirs to carry on his legacy.<p><b>to the day of her death</b><br />This phrase indicates the permanence of Michal's childlessness. It suggests a finality and a sense of closure to her story. The Hebrew "עַד־יֹום מוֹתָהּ" (ad yom motah) implies that her situation did not change throughout her life. This enduring state can be interpreted as a reflection of the brokenness in her relationship with David and the divine disfavor that may have rested upon her due to her actions. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of personal and spiritual choices in the biblical narrative.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_samuel/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(23) <span class= "bld">Had no child.</span>--The severest privation to an Oriental woman. It is quite possible that during Michal's long separation from David, while he was an outlaw, and she was married to Phaltiel (who was deeply attached to her, <a href="/2_samuel/3-16.htm" title="And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.">2Samuel 3:16</a>), they had become somewhat alienated from each other; and when the totally different spirit by which they were animated was brought out on this occasion, David determined to have no further intercourse with her.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_samuel/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Therefore Michal.</span> The Hebrew is, <span class="accented">and Michal had no child</span>, Michal's barrenness was long antecedent to this outburst of pride, and was not a punishment for it. It is noticed as a proof that the blessing of God did not rest upon her; and as such it was regarded by the people, and doubtless it lessened David's affection for her. We must not, however, suppose that he imposed upon her any punishment further than this verbal reproof. Nor does the interest lie in Michal's conduct, but in the glimpse which the narrative gives us of David's tender piety towards God, so exactly in agreement with the feelings which animate very many of the psalms. To unite with this a harsh bitterness to the woman who was his first love, who had so protected him in old time, and whom he had summoned back at the first opportunity because of his affection for her, is a thing abhorrent in itself, and contrary to David's character. His fault in domestic matters rather was that he was over fond, not that he was unfeeling. A little more sternness towards Amnon and Absalom would have saved him much sorrow. As for Michal, the story sets her before us as earing a great deal for David, and not much for Jehovah. She could not have approved of such a number of rivals in David's household, but she had not lost her love for him. And the narrative represents her as not having Jehovah's blessing in a matter so greatly thought of by Hebrew women, and as valuing too highly royal state, and forgetting that above the king was God. But she did David no great wrong, and received from him nothing worse than a scolding. In the parallel place (<a href="/1_chronicles/15-29.htm">1 Chronicles 15:29</a>) the matter is very lightly passed over; and the reason why it holds an important place in this book is that we have here a history of David's piety, of his sin and his punishment. In itself a slight matter, it yet makes us clearly understand the nature of David's feelings towards Jehovah. It is also most interesting in itself. For David is the type of a noble character under the influence of grace. Michal, too, is a noble character, but she lacked one thing, and that was "the one thing needful." The removal of the ark is a matter so important as to call for careful consideration. For the time it established two centres of worship - one with the ark at Zion, the other at Gibeon. The ark in Saul's days had been forgotten (<a href="/1_chronicles/13-3.htm">1 Chronicles 13:3</a>). It had long lain in the house of a simple Levite in the city of woods, and Saul's religious ideas were too feeble for him to be capable of undemanding the importance of establishing a national religion. Still, such as they were, they made him summon Ahiah, the grandson of Eli, to be his domestic priest (<a href="/1_samuel/14-3.htm">1 Samuel 14:3</a>); and subsequently he even set up at Nob the tabernacle with its table of shewbread, and other holy furniture, saved somehow from the ruin of Shiloh, with Ahimelech as high priest (<a href="/1_samuel/21-1.htm">1 Samuel 21:1</a>). But when in a fit of senseless jealousy he destroyed his own work, the nation was left for a time without an established religion. Gradually, however, this primary necessity for good government and national morality was supplied - how we know not; but we find a tabernacle at Gibeon, with the altar of burnt offerings, and the morning and evening sacrifice, and apparently the same service as that erewhile set up at Nob; only Zadok of the line of Eleazar is high priest (<a href="/1_chronicles/16-39.htm">1 Chronicles 16:39, 40</a>). He thus belonged to the senior line, while the last survivor of the race of Ithamar, Abiathar, Eli's great-grandson, was with David. Gibeon was in the centre of the tribe of Benjamin, some few miles from Jerusalem, with Nob lying halfway between; and probably Saul had permitted this restoration of Jehovah's worship at Gibeon, both because he half repented of his deed, and because the worship there was ministered by priests not allied to Ahimelech and Abiathar. But now the ark, which was Jehovah's throne, had been brought out of its obscurity, and solemnly placed in a tabernacle in Zion, with Abiathar, David's friend, the representative of the junior line, as high priest; and probably the only difference in the service was that David's psalms were sung to music at Zion, while the Mosaic ritual, with no additions, was closely followed at Gibeon. There was thus the spectacle of two high priests (<a href="/2_samuel/8-17.htm">2 Samuel 8:17</a>), and two rival services, and yet no thought of schism. Zadok had been one of those foremost in making David king of all Israel (<a href="/1_chronicles/12-28.htm">1 Chronicles 12:28</a>); he and Abiathar were the two who moved Judah to bring David back after Absalom's revolt (<a href="/2_samuel/19-11.htm">2 Samuel 19:11</a>). The whole matter had grown out of historical facts, and probably David always intended that Zion should absorb Gibeon, and be the one centre required by the Levitical Law. But he was content to wait. Had he acted otherwise a conflict would necessarily have arisen between the rival lines of the priesthood, and between Abiathar and Zadok, the two men who represented them, and who were both his true friends. We find even Solomon doing great honour to the tabernacle at Gibeon (<a href="/2_chronicles/1-3.htm">2 Chronicles 1:3</a>, etc.), but after the temple was built it passed away; and the race of Ithamar, weakened by the calamity at Shiloh, and still more by the cutting off of so many of its leading members at Nob, never recovered itself after Abiathar was set aside by Solomon for taking part with Adonijah. The line continued to exist, for members of it returned from Babylon (<a href="/ezra/8-2.htm">Ezra 8:2</a>); but though it produced a prophet, Jeremiah, it never again produced a high priest, and therefore only the line of Eleazar, to which Ezra himself belonged, is given in <a href="/1_chronicles/6.htm">1 Chronicles 6</a>. Thus Abiathar's misconduct and the growing fame of Jerusalem put an end to all fear of schism. We easily trace in the Psalms the increase of the nation's regard for Zion. In <a href="/psalms/24.htm">Psalm 24</a>, written probably by David to celebrate the entry of the ark thither, it is simply "the hill of Jehovah... his holy place." In <a href="/psalms/9.htm">Psalm 9</a>. it is "his dwelling," but in <a href="/psalms/20.htm">Psalm 20</a>. a higher note is struck. Zion is "the sanctuary" whence Jehovah sends "help" and "strength;" and in <a href="/psalms/48.htm">Psalm 48</a>, written at a later date, Zion is found installed in the very heart of the people's love. Thus the Divine blessing rested fully upon David's work. To Jehovah's worship he gave a grand and noble centre, which from his day has had no rival, unless it be in some respects Rome. The city of David's choice has been, and continues to this hour to be, the most holy spot upon earth alike to the Jew and to the Christian, though to the latter it is so because of David's Son. At Zion, moreover, David's spiritual addition to the Mosaic ritual has given the Church its best book of devotion and the brightest part of its services; forevery hymn sung to God's glory, and every instrument of music played in God's house, is but the continuance of the prophesying with harp, psaltery, and cymbal (<a href="/1_chronicles/25-1.htm">1 Chronicles 25:1</a>), first instituted by David, though, like all that was best in David personally and in his institutions, it grew out of Samuel's influence and the practices of his schools (<a href="/1_samuel/19-20.htm">1 Samuel 19:20</a>). Finally, the temple services were doing much to weld the discordant tribes into one nation, and would have succeeded in so doing but for the unhappy degeneracy of Solomon's latter years, and the obstinacy of his son. Yet even so, Jerusalem remains forever a memorial of the genius and piety of this extraordinary man, and the symbol of "Jerusalem the golden, the home of God's elect." <p> <p> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_samuel/6-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And Michal</span><br /><span class="heb">וּלְמִיכַל֙</span> <span class="translit">(ū·lə·mî·ḵal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4324.htm">Strong's 4324: </a> </span><span class="str2">Michal -- wife of David</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the daughter</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּת־</span> <span class="translit">(baṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Saul</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׁא֔וּל</span> <span class="translit">(šā·’ūl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7586.htm">Strong's 7586: </a> </span><span class="str2">Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had</span><br /><span class="heb">הָ֥יָה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">no</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹֽא־</span> <span class="translit">(lō-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">children</span><br /><span class="heb">יָ֑לֶד</span> <span class="translit">(yā·leḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3206.htm">Strong's 3206: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something born, a lad, offspring</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">עַ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(‘aḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5704.htm">Strong's 5704: </a> </span><span class="str2">As far as, even to, up to, until, while</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the day</span><br /><span class="heb">י֥וֹם</span> <span class="translit">(yō·wm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3117.htm">Strong's 3117: </a> </span><span class="str2">A day</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of her death.</span><br /><span class="heb">מוֹתָֽהּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(mō·w·ṯāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4194.htm">Strong's 4194: </a> </span><span class="str2">Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_samuel/6-23.htm">2 Samuel 6:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_samuel/6-23.htm">OT History: 2 Samuel 6:23 Michal the daughter of Saul had no (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_samuel/6-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 6:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 6:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_samuel/7-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 7:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 7:1" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>