Shmuel Alef 19:14

14 And when Sha’ul sent malachim to capture Dovid, she said, He is choleh (ill).

Shmuel Alef 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.

Shmuel Alef 19:14 In-Context

12 So Michal let Dovid down through the chalon; and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13 And Michal took the terafim, and laid it in the mittah, and put a piece of woven goat’s hair at its head, and covered it with beged (cloth, garment).

14 And when Sha’ul sent malachim to capture Dovid, she said, He is choleh (ill).

15 And Sha’ul sent the malachim back to see Dovid, saying [to them], Bring him up to me in the mittah (bed), to have him slain.

16 And when the malachim were come in, hinei, there was the terafim in the mittah, with a piece of woven goats’ hair at its head.