# Commentary on Samuel (passage on Michal's return)

- Author: [Ephrem the Syrian](https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/authors/ephrem-the-syrian/)
- Latin title: *Commentarius in libros Samuelis*
- Date: 4th century (if Ephrem's, before 373) (disputed)
- Source: Joseph Simeon Assemani, ed. and trans. (Latin), S. Ephraem Syri Opera omnia quae exstant, Graece, Syriace, Latine, Syriac series vol. 1 (Rome: Typographia Vaticana, 1737) (Latin translation: J. S. Assemani (1737), public domain)
- Note: Route 3: the Syriac original is not in hand in readable form; the source is Assemani's Latin translation (1737), translated by Claude with a note; the Latin is never shown.
- Translation: Claude, from the original text, unless a passage says otherwise; each passage below gives the translator
- Editions and translations: Robert Murray et al. on Ephrem's Syriac commentaries: no critical edition of these scholia is cited here
- Work page: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ephrem-commentarius-samuel/
- Passages: 1

## Commentary on 2 Samuel 3:12-16

- URL: https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/ephrem-commentarius-samuel/2-3-12/#p-2-3-12
- Source: Assemani 1737 1
- Translation: Translated by Claude from J. S. Assemani (Latin translation of the Syriac)'s Latin translation (1737) of the Syriac; neither is shown

Summary: On 2 Sam 3:12–16: David could take Michal back without breaking the law of Deut 24:4, because he had never divorced her, and her marriage to Paltiel was against her will.

### English translation (Claude)

"You shall not see my face unless you bring me Michal, the daughter of Saul." Abner resolved to carry out at once what he had threatened against Ishbosheth. So he sent messengers secretly and urged David to hasten to take the kingdom assigned to him by God's decree, promising that his help would not be lacking in such an undertaking. David laid on Abner the task of bringing Michal back, because he had not divorced her; therefore he was not breaking the law that forbids husbands to marry a divorced wife. Nor had Michal offended David by marrying Paltiel, for she did it against her will: she loved David, and her father bore it very ill; she had even, at the risk of her own life, freed her husband from his plots, and perhaps she had shown her goodwill toward him by other proofs as well. Therefore David believed it his duty to obtain her return at a time when he understood that he could, and indeed ought to, repay her merits with kindness.

### Scripture references

- 2 Sam 3:13: quotation, high confidence
- 2 Sam 3:12: allusion, high confidence
- 2 Sam 3:14: allusion, high confidence
- 2 Sam 3:15: allusion, high confidence
- Deut 24:4: allusion, high confidence
- 1 Sam 18:20: allusion, medium confidence
- 1 Sam 19:12: allusion, medium confidence
- 1 Sam 25:44: allusion, high confidence

### Translation notes

- Translated from Assemani's Latin version (Rome, 1737) of the Syriac commentary transmitted under Ephrem's name (route 3); the Latin is not shown. The attribution of this commentary to Ephrem is disputed.
- "The law that forbids husbands to marry a divorced wife": Deut 24:1–4, which forbids a man to take back the wife he divorced after she has married another.
- Michal's love for David and her saving him: 1 Sam 18:20; 19:11–17; her marriage to Paltiel: 1 Sam 25:44; her return: 2 Sam 3:13–16.

### Citation (SBL)

Ephrem, Comm. Sam. 2.3.12 (Assemani 1737 1; trans. Sophia Scriptura from the Latin of J. S. Assemani (Latin translation of the Syriac), 1737, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/ephrem-commentarius-samuel/2-3-12).