We often hear about the patriarchs, the kings, the prophets... but what about their wives? Take David, for example. We know him as the shepherd boy who slew Goliath, the king who united Israel. But let's pull back the curtain and glimpse into his personal life, particularly his relationship with his wife, Michal.
Michal, the daughter of Saul, is quite a fascinating figure. The Bible tells us David had six wives, and Michal is included on that list, sometimes referred to endearingly as Eglah, meaning "Calfkin." Isn't that sweet? According to Ginzberg’s Legends of the Jews, Michal wasn't just physically beautiful, she was the epitome of a loving and devoted wife.
Think about it: she risked her life to save David from her own father, Saul, who, let's face it, wasn't always playing with a full deck. And get this: Saul, in his madness, tried to force her into a marriage with another man, claiming he had legally annulled her union with David. Can you imagine the position that put her in? To avoid enraging her father, who was both her king and… well, her crazy dad… she went along with a mock marriage. Talk about loyalty!
But Michal's goodness extended beyond her love for David. The text tells us she showed extraordinary kindness to the orphan children of her sister Merab. So much so, that the Bible (2 Samuel 21:8) speaks of the "five sons of Michal, whom she bore to Adriel." Now, here’s a little clarification: Adriel was actually her brother-in-law, not her husband. Michal raised these children as if they were her own. She took on the role of caregiver and mother to them. It's a beautiful example of chesed, loving-kindness, isn't it?
And Michal wasn't just kind and beautiful; she was pious, too. Despite being exempt from certain religious obligations as a woman, she took it upon herself to observe the commandment of wearing tefillin, phylacteries – those small leather boxes containing scriptural passages worn during prayer.
But… (and there's always a "but," isn't there?)… despite all these virtues, Michal faced severe consequences. The story goes that she criticized David for his lack of dignity when he was celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant. She saw him dancing and rejoicing, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically for her taste, and she scorned him for it. "How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!" (2 Samuel 6:20). According to the narrative, this display of pride and judgment was not looked upon favorably.
The punishment? She remained childless for a long time, and when she finally conceived, she died in childbirth. A tragic end for a woman who seemed to have it all.
So, what are we to make of Michal's story? Was she a victim of circumstance, caught between a jealous father and a husband destined for greatness? Was her piety overshadowed by a moment of pride? Or is there a deeper lesson here about the complexities of faith, duty, and the roles we play in each other's lives? Perhaps Michal's tale is a reminder that even the most virtuous among us are still flawed, and that even small actions can have significant consequences. It's a story that invites us to reflect on our own judgments, our own loyalties, and the sometimes-unforeseen repercussions of our choices.