There were three who fled from transgression and the Holy One blessed be He associated His name with them, and they are: Joseph, Yael, and Palti. Joseph, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “He established it as testimony for Joseph [Yehosef]” (Psalms 81:6). What is Yehosef?
The Lord [Yah] attests in [Joseph’s] regard that he did not touch Potiphar’s wife. Yael, from where is it derived? “Yael emerged to meet Sisera…and she covered him with the semikha” (Judges 4:18). What is “with the semikha”?
The Rabbis here20In the Land of Israel. say: With a cloak. The Rabbis there21In Babylon. say: With a tub. Reish Lakish said: We reviewed the entire Bible and did not encounter a utensil whose name is semikha. What is semikha?
It is: My name [shemi] is here [ko]; My name attests in her regard that that wicked one did not touch her. Palti, from where is it derived? One verse says: “But Saul had given Mikhal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti” (I Samuel 25:44), and one verse says: “Paltiel” (II Samuel 3:15). It calls him Palti and it calls him Paltiel.
Who married her? Palti. Who gave her back? Paltiel.22In the passage cited from II Samuel, David demanded that his wife Mikhal be returned to him, and she went from Paltiel back to David.
Rather, I attest in his regard that he did not touch David’s wife.23Palti is changed to Paltiel to indicate that God [El] attests to his innocence.