1-Samuel - 25:43



43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they both became his wives.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of 1-Samuel 25:43.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
Moreover David took also Achinoam of Jezrahel: and they were both of them his wives.
David had also taken Ahinoam of Jizreel; and they became, even both of them, his wives.
And Ahinoam hath David taken from Jezreel, and they are, even both of them, to him for wives;
And David had taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, to be his wife; these two were his wives.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

In the list of David's wives Ahinoam is mentioned first 2-Samuel 3:2; 1-Chronicles 3:1. But this may be only because her son was the first-born. David's now taking two wives was an indication of his growing power and importance as a chieftain. The number was increased to six when he reigned in Hebron 1-Chronicles 3:1, and still further when he became king of all Israel 2-Samuel 5:12-13. See 1-Samuel 1:2 note.
Of Jezreel - Not the well-known city of Samaria, which gave its name to the plain of Esdraelon, but a town of Judah, near Carmel (marginal reference).

David also took Ahinoam - Many think that this was his wife before he took Abigail; she is always mentioned first in the list of his wives, and she was the mother of his eldest son Ammon.
Of Jezreel - There were two places of this name; one in the tribe of Issachar, the other in the tribe of Judah.

And David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel,.... A city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:56; that is, he took her to wife, and as it seems before Abigail became his wife; see 2-Samuel 3:2,
and they were also both of them his wives; polygamy, though not agreeably to the law of nature, nor the law of God, was a custom which prevailed in those times, which good men gave into, though not to be commended for it.

The historian appends a few notices here concerning David's wives: "And David had taken Ahinoam from Jezreel; thus they also both became his wives." The expression "also" points to David's marriage with Michal, the daughter of Saul (1-Samuel 18:28). Jezreel is not the city of that name in the tribe of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), but the one in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:56).

*More commentary available at chapter level.


Discussion on 1-Samuel 25:43

User discussion of the verse.






*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.