I’ve decided to include some of 2 Samuel 6’s highlights. (Read to the end of the post for some of my  commentary.)

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…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…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!

 And David said unto Michal, It was before theLord, 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. 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.

 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Ouch! You know what? Both were right. Both were wrong.I think both had valid, solid points.

A king, in Michal’s honest opinion, shouldn’t act that way. He wasn’t reflecting modesty on the exterior and perhaps he wasn’t really modest inside. David said he meant to praise the Lord. (A common tactic of David’s.)

This fight greatly affected both their lives and the rest of Israel’s future. I call 2 Samuel 6 “Michal’s Mistake and David’s Downfall.” Or more appropriately, “The Beginning of the End.”

Painting by Francesco Salviati