1 Samuel 19:14

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

1 Samuel 19:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 19:14

And when Saul sent messengers to take David
Either the same who in the morning inquired for David, or those staying longer than Saul expected, and fearing they were negligent or corrupted, he sent others: to whom

she said, he [is] sick;
and in bed, and cannot be spoke with; this lie she told through her affection to David, and to preserve his life; and this stratagem she devised to gain time, that while she was amusing the messengers with this tale of hers, before they could discover the truth of the matter David would be out of their reach; whereas, had she denied his being at home, or signified that he had made his escape, they would have immediately pursued after him, and he would have been in danger of being taken by them.

1 Samuel 19:14 In-Context

12 So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped.

13 Michal took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head and covered it with the clothes.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

15 Then Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him."

16 And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head.