And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

2 SAMUEL 3:15KJV
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2 Samuel 3:15 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 3:15 mean?

2 Samuel 3:15 describes the removal of Michal, Saul’s daughter, from the home of Phaltiel, the man she was married to. Ishbosheth, her brother, orders her return to David, her earlier husband. The verse shows that a decision made by powerful men changes the lives of the people involved.

Following David’s demand in verse 14, Ishbosheth sends for Michal and takes her from Phaltiel. The phrase “from her husband” makes clear that her return involves separation from a current marriage, not merely a change of residence.

Why 2 Samuel 3:15 matters

  • Michal had ties to both David and Saul’s family. David had married her earlier, but Saul later gave her to another man (1 Samuel 18:27; 25:44). Those ties help explain why her return mattered during the struggle over who would rule.

  • Phaltiel’s place in the story is more than a name. The next verse says he followed Michal, weeping, until he was told to go back. His grief makes the personal cost of the transfer visible.

  • Ishbosheth’s action follows a request made during negotiations involving Abner, Saul’s former army commander. Michal’s return therefore belongs to the larger contest between Ishbosheth’s and David’s sides, even though the verse describes the action in a few brief words.

Where else these words appear

“Phaltiel” Hebrew H6409 · used in 2 verses

  • Numbers 34:26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.

“Laish” Hebrew H3919 · used in 7 verses

  • Judges 18:7 Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
  • Judges 18:27 And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.
  • 1 Samuel 25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

“Ishbosheth” Hebrew H378 · used in 10 verses

  • 2 Samuel 2:8 But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
  • 2 Samuel 2:15 Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
  • 2 Samuel 4:5 And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.