SEV Biblia, Chapter 19:13
Tomó luego Mical una estatua, y la puso sobre la cama, y le acomodó por cabecera una almohada de pelos de cabra, y la cubrió con una ropa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:13
Verse 13. Michal took an image] µyprth ta eth hatteraphim, the teraphim. The Hebrew word appears to mean any kind of image, in any kind of form, as a representative of some reality. Here it must have been something in the human form; because it was intended to represent a man lying in bed indisposed. A pillow of goats' hair] Perhaps she formed the appearance of a sick man's head muffled up by this pillow or bag of goats' hair. So I think the original might be understood. The goats' hair was merely accidental; unless we could suppose that it was designed to represent the hair of David's head, which is not improbable.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. And Michal took an image , etc.] Or “teraphim”, as the word is; which, if the same with those that Rachel stole from her father, they seem to be of the same sort with the penates or household gods of the Heathens, which were privately kept by Michal; for, had David known of them, he would not have suffered them to have been in his house. Aben Ezra supposes they were images made in the form of men under such a constellation, a sort of talismans, to receive the heavenly influences, and which being consulted, foretold things to come; and R. Isaiah is of opinion, that Michal chose and placed these in the bed, that her father might conclude, when he should hear of them, that David had found them; and by thus means know that his intention was to kill him, and therefore fled; but to consult such images was very far from David, and without it he knew Saul’s intention. Abarbinel makes mention of several sorts of teraphim, some for idolatry, some to draw down the heavenly influences, some to know the time of the day, a sort of dials; some were made after the form of a man known, and like him in his form and features; and women, he says, used to have the forms or statues of their husbands, that they might have them continually before them, because of the great love they had to them; and of this sort he supposes were the teraphim of Michal, and which is approved of by Abendana; and that this image had the likeness of an human face is very probable, or it could not have so well answered her purpose: and laid [it] in the bed ; where David used to lie, that it might seem to be he himself; and put a pillow of goats’ [hair] for his bolster ; she took the finest of the goats’ hair, which she had in the house, women being used to spin in those days, even great personages, and put it into a pillow, and made a bolster of it, and put it under the head or block of the image, which would sink it, being soft, and so look like a sick man, whose face could not easily be discerned; though some think this goats’ hair was put about the head of the image, to make it look the more like an human head; goats’ hair being very much like human hair f396 , and of different colours, and such a colour might be chosen as was most like David’s, (see Song of Solomon 4:1); the Targum interprets it, a bottle of goats skins, that is, a leathern bottle or bag made of goats skins, such as they used to put wine into; hence the conceit in the Midrash f397 , that a bottle of wine was put instead of David: but the pillow or bolster had the form of a leathern bag or bottle; the Septuagint version is very odd, “and put the liver of goats at his head;” and so Josephus says f398 ; and it is observed f399 , that the liver of a goat will move a long time after it is taken out, and so make a show of the palpitation of the heart: but then this was put, not within the bed, but at the head of the image: and covered [it] with a cloth ; to keep her sick husband warm, as she would have it understood.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-24 - Michal's stratagem to gain time till David got to a distance wa allowable, but her falsehood had not even the plea of necessity to excuse it, and manifests that she was not influenced by the same spiri of piety which had dictated Jonathan's language to Saul. In flying to Samuel, David made God his refuge. Samuel, as a prophet, was best able to advise him what to do in this day of distress. He met with littl rest or satisfaction in Saul's court, therefore went to seek it is Samuel's church. What little pleasure is to be had in this world, thos have who live a life of communion with God; to that David returned in the time of trouble. So impatient was Saul after David's blood, s restless against him, that although baffled by one providence afte another, he could not see that David was under the special protectio of God. And when God will take this way to protect David, even Sau prophesies. Many have great gifts, yet no grace; they may prophesy in Christ's name, yet are disowned by him. Let us daily seek for renewin grace, which shall be in us as a well of water springing up int everlasting life. Let us cleave to truth and holiness with full purpos of heart. In every danger and trouble, let us seek protection, comfort and direction in God's ordinances __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ותקח 3947 מיכל 4324 את 853 התרפים 8655 ותשׂם 7760 אל 413 המטה 4296 ואת 853 כביר 3523 העזים 5795 שׂמה 7760 מראשׁתיו 4763 ותכס 3680 בבגד׃ 899
