Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 19:16

And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was] an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ [hair] for his bolster.

16. There was an image, &c.] The teraphim was in the bed, and the quilt of goat’s hair at its head.

17 He said unto me, &c.] Michal adds another lie to screen herself from Saul’s anger. In this she was but following her father’s example ( 1Sa 19:6), and with more excuse. Compare the deceit practised by Rahab (Jos 2:4 ff.); by the woman at Bahurim (2Sa 17:20); and in modern times, by Grotius’ wife, who to save her husband represented the box in which he was concealed as a box of theological books. Scripture affirms the universal duty of Truth without any exception (Lev 19:11), nor can it he understood to sanction breaches of this general law by recording them without disapproval. It is left to the casuist to discuss whether any necessity is sufficient to justify a falsehood or an act of deception. See Whewell’s Elements of Morality, Chaps. 15, 16.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

And when the messengers were come in,…. To David’s house, and into the room where he was supposed to lie:

behold, [there was] an image in the bed to their great surprise; they expected to see David, but instead of him the teraphim, as in

1Sa 19:13; if they had been in the room before, and thought they had seen David in the bed, they might be the more surprised to find that it was only an image they saw:

with a pillow of goats’ [hair] for his bolster;

[See comments on 1Sa 19:13].

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

1Sa 19:16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, [there was] an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ [hair] for his bolster.

Ver. 16. Behold, there was an image. ] See 1Sa 19:13 . So have persecutors been frequently frustrated, as those that sought after Jeremiah and Baruch, Athanasius, Luther, and others whom the Lord hid till the storm was over.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

And when: It is highly probable that David, when supposed to be sick, was thought to be hid in the harem or chamber of Michal. “The harems,” says Deut. Lam. Motraye, “are sanctuaries, as sacred and inviolable, for persons pursed by justice for any crime, debt, etc., as the Roman Catholic churches in Italy, Spain, Portugal, etc.” Thus we find, that to effect his purpose, Saul sent messengers to Michal, but they treated her harem with too much respect to enter it at first; but being authorised by Saul, they entered even into her chamber; and during the delay occasioned by respect for the privacy of Michal, David escaped. 1Sa 19:16

Reciprocal: 2Ch 18:24 – into an inner chamber Psa 59:8 – Thou

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge