1 Samuel 25:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives.

NIV: David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives.

NASB: David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives.

CSB: David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and the two of them became his wives.

NLT: David also married Ahinoam from Jezreel, making both of them his wives.

KJV: David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.

NKJV: David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives.

First Samuel 25:43–44 gives an update on David's wives. David first married Saul's daughter Michal. After David escaped Saul, Saul married her off to someone else. When David is king, he'll take her back (1 Samuel 18:27; 19:11–17; 2 Samuel 3:15–17). David married Abigail after her husband dies (1 Samuel 25:39–42). For unknown reasons, he almost immediately takes a second wife, Ahinoam. God had warned kings not to take "many" wives since their primary loyalty must be to God (Deuteronomy 17:17). Eventually, David will take further wives (2 Samuel 11) and concubines (2 Samuel 16:22), leading to tragedy.

David learns to give grace to people other than King Saul. Samuel dies, and Saul temporarily leaves David alone. David and his men protect the shepherds of the foolish Nabal. When Nabal refuses to reward David, David vows revenge on him and all his male servants. Nabal's wife, Abigail, rushes to David with food and a warning that David shouldn't carry the shame of killing Nabal and the servants when he becomes king. David listens, Nabal dies, and David marries Abigail. Soon the truce will end, and David will meet Saul one last time (1 Samuel 26).

David spared Saul's life, and the grateful king gives David some peace (1 Samuel 24). God has protected David numerous times from having to fight Saul. When a wealthy fool insults David, only the fool's wife, Abigail, keeps David from destroying the entire estate. Once again, God has kept David from needless bloodshed. Saul will later break the truce, but David still refuses to kill his enemy (1 Samuel 26). When David is ready to battle Saul, God prevents it (1 Samuel 29).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.

Accessed 10/17/2025 7:45:35 AM