1 Samuel 19:14

14 When Saul's men came to get David, Michal told them that he was 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 She let him down from a window, and he ran away and escaped.

13 Then she took the household idol, laid it on the bed, put a pillow made of goats' hair at its head, and put a cover over it.

14 When Saul's men came to get David, Michal told them that he was sick.

15 But Saul sent them back to see David for themselves. He ordered them, "Carry him here in his bed, and I will kill him."

16 They went inside and found the household idol in the bed and the goats' hair pillow at its head.