David felt that it was the service of God which Michal had despised and dishonored, and he sternly answered: "It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor." To David's rebuke was added that of the Lord: because of her pride and arrogance, Michal "had no child unto the day of her death."

David følte, at Mikal havde foragtet gudstjenesten, og svarede alvorligt: "For Herrens åsyn vil jeg lege, så sandt Herren lever, som udvalgte mig frem for din fader og hele hans hus, så han satte mig til fyrste over Herrens folk Israel; jeg vil lege for Herrens åsyn, selv om jeg derved nedværdiges og synker endnu dybere i dine øjne; men hos trælkvinderne, du talte om, skal jeg vinde ære!" Herren understregede den irettesættelse, som David gav Mikal. Der står om den stolte og hovmodige kvinde, at hun "fik til sin dødedag intet barn".