9. An evil spirit from the LORD was on Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.

10. Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he stuck the spear into the wall. David fled, and escaped that night.

11. Saul sent messengers to David's house, to watch him, and to kill him in the morning. MICHAL, David's wife, told him, saying, "If you don't save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

12. So MICHAL let David down through the window. He went away, fled, and escaped.

13. MICHAL took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with clothes.

14. When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick."

15. Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him."

16. When the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats' hair at its head.

17. Saul said to MICHAL, "Why have you deceived me thus, and let my enemy go, so that he is escaped?"MICHAL answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?'"