Palti

Biblical Record

Palti appears twice in Scripture. 1 Samuel 25:44 records an event from the period when David was fleeing from Saul. Saul gave his daughter Michal, who had been David's wife, to "Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim" (KJV). The Bible says nothing further about the circumstances of this marriage or about Palti's character.

The events following Saul's death are recounted in 2 Samuel 3:13–16. When Abner, the commander of Saul's army, sought to negotiate with David, David made the return of Michal a condition of any agreement. David also sent messengers to Saul's son Ish-bosheth, demanding that his wife be restored to him. Ish-bosheth took Michal from her husband, "Phaltiel the son of Laish" (KJV). Paltiel followed his wife as far as Bahurim, weeping. When Abner said to him, "Go, return," he returned. This is the last mention of Palti in Scripture.

Others with the Same Name

• Palti, the spy from the tribe of Benjamin mentioned in Numbers 13:9, was the son of Raphu and is a different person (the twelve spies).
• Paltiel in Numbers 34:26, a leader of the tribe of Issachar, was the son of Azzan.
• In "Helez the Paltite" in 2 Samuel 23:26, the term "Paltite" derives from a place name.

Significance Within Scripture

The name Palti is understood to mean "my deliverance" or "rescue" in Hebrew, and Paltiel to mean "God delivers." Palti's story forms part of the struggle for the throne between the house of Saul and David. The image of Palti weeping as he follows his wife is often read as a portrait of an individual caught up in the political decisions of the powerful. The New Testament does not mention Palti.

Interpretations and Debates

• The question of David's remarriage: Deuteronomy 24:1–4 forbids a man to take back his former wife if, after their divorce, she has married another man. Interpreters differ on how this regulation bears on David's reclaiming of Michal. Some commentators hold that the regulation does not apply, since David never divorced Michal and Saul gave her away unilaterally. Others argue that David disregarded the spirit of the law for political ends (Divorce and Remarriage).
• Political motives: Many commentators read David's demand as an effort to regain his standing as son-in-law to the royal house of Saul and thereby strengthen the legitimacy of his kingship.
• Later traditions: Rabbinic tradition in the Talmud reportedly includes a story that Palti lived with Michal but never had marital relations with her. This is a later interpretation not found in the biblical text.

In the Korean Church

Palti is seldom the subject of a sermon in his own right. He is usually mentioned only briefly in sermons and Bible studies on the life of Michal or on David's rise to the throne. Both the Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version use the form "Baldi" (Palti) in 1 Samuel and "Baldiel" (Paltiel) in 2 Samuel.