1 Samuel 25 · a question people ask
What does the Bible say about David's wives here?
The chapter ends by listing them. Abigail "became his wife" (25:42). "David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they both became his wives" (25:43). And Michal, whom Saul had given David as wife (18:27), Saul "had given" to "Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim" (25:44). 1 Samuel reports these marriages without comment. Later chapters name Ahinoam and Abigail as "David’s two wives" (30:5; also 27:3), and in 2 Samuel David asks for Michal back: "Deliver me my wife Michal" (2 Samuel 3:14). The Law had said of Israel's king, "He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away" (Deuteronomy 17:17). In 1 Samuel 25 David is not yet king; the men of Judah anoint him "king over the house of Judah" in 2 Samuel 2:4. 1 Samuel doesn't set this law beside David's marriages, and says nothing for or against them.
The verses
“Abigail hurriedly arose and rode on a donkey with her five maids who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they both became his wives. Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.”
“David arose and went, he and his men, and killed two hundred men of the Philistines. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him Michal his daughter as wife.”
“David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.”
“David’s two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.”