2 Samuel 21:8

“But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, etc.] Saul’s concubine, (<100307>2 Samuel 3:7); whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; of whom we read nowhere else; after the name of the latter, it is probable, Jonathan’s son was called, before mentioned: and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; Michal had no children to the day of her death, nor was she the wife of Adriel, but Merab her sister, (<091819>1 Samuel 18:19); wherefore these sons were not whom she “bare”, as the word used signifies, but, as we rightly render it, whom she “brought up” or educated, so the Targum, her sister being…”

“the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel--Merab, Michal's sister, was the wife of Adriel; but Michal adopted and brought up the boys under her care.”

“Rizpah - See the marginal reference. A foreign origin was possibly the cause of the selection of Rizpah’s sons as victims. Sons of Michal - An obvious error for “Merab” (1 Samuel 18:19 note). return to 'Top of Page'”

“21:8 Armoni and Mephibosheth were Saul’s only two remaining sons. • Saul’s daughter Merab: See NLT note; the NLT follows the Greek here because Michal remained childless (6:22-23). Also, Merab was married to Adriel (1 Sam 18:19), whereas Michal’s other husband was Palti (2 Sam 3:15). • Barzillai from Meholah (cp. 1 Sam 18:19) should not be confused with Barzillai of Gilead (2 Sam 19:31).”

“Rizpah: Sa2 3:7 and the five sons: This Adriel did not marry Michal, Saul's younger daughter, but Merab, Sa1 18:19; Michael being married to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore (yaledah), not brought up, as falsely rendered, five sons to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts, however, have Merab, instead of Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; and the Chaldee renders the passage thus: "And the five sons of Merab which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up, which she brought forth to Adriel the son of Barzillai." Michal: or, Michal's sister, Sa1 18:19 brought up for: Heb. bare to 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 21:9”