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David And Michal: What was her offence?
"David answered Michal: I rejoice before Yahveh who chose me over your father and over his entire household… as a
ruler over Israel… But Michal Saul’s daughter, had no child (by David) until the day of her death." II Samuel 6:21,23
The Holy Ark moved several times between its entry into the Holy Land and its arrival in Jerusalem. Under Joshua, the Israelites
brought the Tabernacle to Shiloh (Joshua 18:1) where it remained until the end of the period of the Judges. At that time,
when Eli the priest was also the main judge and Samuel was still a young man, the Israelites faced their fierce enemies,
the Philistines. During the period of Samson they were just beginning to rise as a military force within the region, but their
first full confrontation with the Israelites did not take place until the early days of Samuel. Thus, when Israel
was initially defeated in battle by the Philistines, they decided to take the Holy Ark with them into the next battle,
hoping it will bring them much needed victory, but instead, they lost both, the battle and the Ark.
The Philistines captured the Ark, but the Divine Presence within the Ark brought disease and destruction wherever
the Philistines took it - in Ashdod, Gath, and Ekron. Realizing that even they could not fight against the Elohim of Israel,
the Philistines allowed the Ark to find its own way back to its people. The Holy Ark found its resting place at
Kiryath Jearim, where it stayed for twenty years under the care of Eleazar, the son of Abinadab. (I Samuel 7:1-2)
David was finally ready to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, to set it up in the
Temple that he was planning to build there. By then, David was already seven years into his reign, but during those first
seven years he did not rule over all Israel, because the northern part of the country was still loyal to the late King Saul.
Only at the end of that period, their allegiance was transferred to David, who was finally in a position to establish Jerusalem
as a capital over the whole country.
The transfer of the Tabernacle, which should have been a happy occasion, was marred by tragedy. Uzzah drove
the cart on which the Ark was placed, while David and the people followed with music and dancing. When it seemed that the
oxen leading the cart were going to stumble, Uzzah touched the Ark to steady it, and died instantly, at the Hand of Yahveh
- all this because the Ark was transferred in the manner not prescribed by the Torah - It was to be carried
on the shoulders of the Levites, (Numbers 7:9) not on a wagon.
Fearfully, David stopped the procession and placed the Ark with a Levite named Obed-Edom. As the Ark proved
to be a blessing to its new host, David finally decided to transfer it to Jerusalem, with the appropriate sanctity,
devotion, and joy. King David celebrated the occasion in full, publicly dancing, with deep joy that the Ark was finally at
its true spiritual home. His wife, Michal, however, was most displeased. It was unbecoming of his royal dignity, so she
believed, that the king should be seen by 'common' people in such a 'foolish' state of ecstatic joy and devotion. She voiced
her disapproval and rejected David's answer that it was a privilege and not a disgrace to show his respect for Yahveh by public
joyful celebration.
After the joyous feasting and festivities were over, David was troubled when he compared his own luxurious home with Yahveh’s
humble Tabernacle, and expressed his desire to build a permanent Temple. Yahveh told Nathan the Prophet that this privilege
would only go to his successor. The reason ~ his hands shed blood and would not suit the building of The Temple. Nevertheless,
David was assured that his royal line would endure forever. His efforts in preparing the Temple are reflected in the Temple
being called after his name ~ the Tabernacle of David ~ in Psalms 30:1.
So why was Michal punished? What was her real offence?
King David explained what a great privilege it was for him to show his respect for Yahveh in those circumstances. In fact,
nowhere in scripture is he criticized for compromising the status of the monarchy as he danced and celebrated in public when
the Ark was brought into Jerusalem. Thus David had spoken Truth to Michal. She heard the argument for Truth but refused to
recognize it. She made up her mind to hold on to her first impressions, even when the truth was otherwise. This is the lesson
we can learn from this story.
The Torah requires us to search for the Truth and not to blindly hold on to pre-conceived notions and opinions.
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