In Chronicles, Michal is mentioned only in this verse. The Chronicler does not refer to her as David’s wife (1 Samuel 18:20–28), but on her being the daughter of Saul.
The reference to her is very short, but it is enough to indicate that she represented the same spirit as her father; she continues the negative attitude to the ark that characterized the days of Saul
(1 Chronicles 13:3; 1 Chronicles 10:13–14). She despised David for his dancing and celebrating,
and so Michal exemplifies the apostasy of her father’s house in contrast to the blessed faithfulness of David. But also, uniquely in Israel, she was out of sympathy with the great joy and concern over the ark. Typical of unfaith,
the isolation of Saul’s daughter was a further demonstration of the unfitness of Saul’s house to lead the people of God.1
It should be added, however, that this incident is followed up with more information in 2 Samuel 6:20–23, which the Chronicler omits from his account. The conversation between Michal and David recounted there indicates that her perceived impropriety of David’s actions in public, that is, his shameless uncovering of himself in front of the female servants, just like any vulgar fellow, had added to Michal's intense displeasure. It is not surprising, then, that the Chronicler, wanting to present an unblemished portrayal of David, omitted that part of the source text.2
Michal indeed loved David, but her relationship with him had been fraught with heartache and was seemingly doomed from the start (1 Samuel 17:25; 1 Samuel 18:18–30; 2 Samuel 3:13–16).3
This first occurrence in Chronicles of King David
(1 Chronicles 15:29) may well be intentional: unlike the house of Saul, David exemplifies God-honouring kingly leadership with uninhibited joyous celebration in making central in his kingdom the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the throne of God. David is now king instead of Saul. The moment the ark is brought into Jerusalem, David’s kingship is finally fully actualized
by the unity of king, ark, city, and people.4
29 And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.