1 Samuel 19:13

And Michal took an image, and laid [it] in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' [hair] for his bolster, and covered [it] with a cloth.

And Michal {H4324} took {H3947} an image {H8655}, and laid {H7760} it in the bed {H4296}, and put {H7760} a pillow {H3523} of goats {H5795}' hair for his bolster {H4763}, and covered {H3680} it with a cloth {H899}.

Mikhal took the household idol, laid it on the bed, put a goat's-hair quilt at its head and covered it with a cloth.

Then Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed, placed some goat hair on its head, and covered it with a garment.

And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair at the head thereof, and covered it with the clothes.

Commentary

1 Samuel 19:13 recounts a pivotal moment in David's life, detailing how his wife, Michal, cleverly orchestrated his escape from the murderous intent of her father, King Saul.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of King Saul's escalating paranoia and jealousy towards David. After David's triumphant return from battle, Saul's hatred intensified to the point of sending messengers to David's house to kill him. Michal, Saul's own daughter and David's wife, overheard her father's plot. This act of deception was a desperate measure to buy David time to flee, showcasing her immediate loyalty to her husband over her father. David's precarious situation is further highlighted in 1 Samuel 19:12, where he is lowered from a window to escape.

Key Themes

  • Loyalty and Deception: Michal's actions demonstrate a profound loyalty to David, even if it meant deceiving her own father. Her quick thinking and strategic use of an "image" (teraphim) and goats' hair underscore her commitment to protecting her husband's life.
  • Divine Providence: While Michal's ingenuity is evident, the narrative implicitly points to God's hand in protecting David, who was God's chosen future king. This incident is one of many instances where David's life is preserved from Saul's relentless pursuit, often through unexpected means.
  • Human Ingenuity in Crisis: The verse highlights Michal's cleverness in creating a convincing decoy. The specific details—a dummy in the bed, a "pillow of goats' hair" to simulate a person's head or beard, and a covering cloth—reveal a resourceful mind working under immense pressure.

Linguistic Insights

The term translated as "image" in the King James Version is the Hebrew word teraphim. These were household idols or cultic objects, possibly used for divination or as family heirlooms. Their presence in David's home, or at least Michal's access to one, is a point of scholarly discussion, suggesting either a lingering practice of idol worship, or simply that Michal used whatever was at hand to create a realistic decoy. The use of teraphim is also seen in Genesis 31:19. The "goats' hair" (Hebrew: segor izzim) would have been coarse and possibly resembled human hair or a beard, adding to the illusion that a sick David was lying in the bed.

Practical Application and Reflection

This passage offers several insights for believers today:

  • Resourcefulness in Adversity: Michal's quick thinking reminds us that God can use human ingenuity, even in seemingly desperate situations, to achieve His purposes. While her method involved deception, the underlying principle is to act decisively when facing threats.
  • The Cost of Loyalty: Michal chose loyalty to her husband over her allegiance to her father, a choice that likely had long-term consequences for her relationship with Saul. This can prompt reflection on our own loyalties and the sacrifices they may demand.
  • God's Protection: Ultimately, this event is another testament to God's unwavering protection over His chosen servants. Just as God protected David from Saul's wrath, believers can trust in God's sovereign care in their own lives, even when facing formidable challenges. This echoes themes found in many of David's psalms, such as Psalm 59.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 31:19

    And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's.

  • Judges 18:14

    ¶ Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

  • Judges 18:17

    And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, [and] came in thither, [and] took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men [that were] appointed with weapons of war.

  • Hosea 3:4

    For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim:

  • Judges 17:5

    And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.
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