Pastor John,
In this verse from 2Samuel, it speaks of Michal (Saul’s daughter who despised David for dancing before the LORD) bringing up children for Adriel the son of Barzillai. Would it have been customary for the king’s wife to do this? I was thinking maybe also David had mercy on Michal and allowed her to raise these children. Then I thought maybe that was part of the punishment from God for her hard heart and her pride. It would have been hard for her to have them given up for death after raising them.
Seems a little odd that she would raise children after being shunned for conceiving children.
Just wanted to see if you have any information or thoughts on this?
Beth
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Hi Beth,
Those children were Michal’s five sons that she had by Adriel during her years of separation from David, after Saul gave her to Adriel instead of David (1Sam. 18:19). She was not the king’s wife when she was given to Adriel. She was the wife of an outlaw, in King Saul’s eyes. Her marriage to David had been annulled, so to speak, by Saul, and she became Adriel’s wife. When David became king, he demanded that Michal be given back to him, and she was. later, he executed those five sons of Michal (2Sam. 21:1-9).
Pastor John