2 Samuel 3:1-16

David’s Many Wives

Here we read of David’s many wives and the sons from these women.

Amnon - whom Absalom kills after Amnon rapes his sister Tamar

Daniel (here seen as Chileab), who possibly dies young as he’s never mentioned as a threat to throne of King David

Absalom who we come to read more about and leads an insurrection against David’s throne, notice here that we see the marriage was somewhat one of politic, as he was born from Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Gehur. And where is Geshur? In Syria, as spoken from Absalom’s own mouth in

Adonijah - who challenges King Solomon for the throne, as he knows he’s the next in line

Shephatiah - only mentioned here and

Ithream

Ithream - likewise, only mentioned here and

But notice with the final wife that Eglah is listed as “David’s wife” - yet the other are either just mentioned by name, or are referenced to a person that is likely known due to our narrative (such as Abigail) or to the reader at that time (such as Absalom).

Due to this additional annotation many have suggested that Eglah is actually Michal. Being the first wife of David she would be the one that would be the proper fit for this title.

Does this then contradict the passage in ?

2 Samuel 6:23 KJV 1900

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

2 Samuel 6:22–23 KJV 1900

And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

2 Samuel 6:23 KJV 1900

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Does it make sense that she would bear the last child of David while he abode on the throne in Hebron?

We know that she is reunited with David from a long absence due to his flight from King Saul here in the same chapter from verse 14.

2 Samuel 3:14–16 KJV 1900

And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines. And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish. And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

2 Samuel 3:14-

So why would Scripture mention Michal when it had previously mentioned Eglah beforehand if it was one and the same person?

If we do continue the theory on we do see that Michal is reunited with David while he is in Hebron, so it’s plausible they could have had a child in Hebron prior to him reigning over all of Israel.

However, what of the apparent contradiction to , doesn’t Michal die childless?

It depends on how you read the word “unto”, which others have interpreted to be “from”.

It does seem a little bizarre that they would connect the two together. No doubt when Michal was returned to David he would have known that she had been given to another man. It would have been prudent for him to hold Michal for a year, just in case she had been with child from Phaltiel.

(Notice also that this custom was used with Esther in the purification period of the young virgins who were to be espoused to Ahaseurus in - time is used just to check they aren’t pregnant)

One other difficulty with associating Eglah as Michal is that the name Eglah means “heifer, young cow”. And we know with our study in 2 Samuel so far that there are many name changes to reflect the current language of the day, for example, Chileab for Daniel. Eglah therefore denotes a young woman or girl and we know from our time line that Michal was likely older than David by close to a decade.

Lastly, knowing that Chronicles always provides the correct name for those in 2 Samuel when we read the parallel passage for Eglah we see her name repeated again:

1 Chronicles 3:3 KJV 1900

The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.

If Chronicles is to be consistent by providing the birth name, as we expected for Chileab:

1 Chronicles 3:1 KJV 1900

Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:

Then we’d likely also see this same consistency with Eglah, but referencing the correct name Michal if that were indeed the case.

If we then make the claim that Eglah is not Michal, why then is Michal not mentioned in this list?

For the very fact that she never gave birth to a son. The list here in are regarding sons of David, it’s not about the wives - although they had a very large portion in providing the son. We do not read of daughters here, even though we know David had them (eg. Tamar, Absalom’s sister).

But then why does Scripture mention that she is David’s wife when all others were his wife too, if she were not the first?

For the very fact that it makes the emphasis of David’s polygamy. While the passage is based on the sons, it also highlights the fact that these sons were not born from one wife - they were each born from different ones!

Insult of Abner

The other drama which unfolds in this passage is the increasing influence and power of Abner.

2 Samuel 3:6 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

2 Samuel

“Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul”

We saw previously in the last chapter how Abner had helped to install Ishbosheth back as ruler of the northern tribes, Israel, and likely through this time he was beginning to become more proud.

We see a hint of this pride when he is the one who initiates the challenge of a battle against Joab:

2 Samuel 2:14 KJV 1900

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

And Joab reminds Abner when he asks if this battle is to continue amongst the brethren of Israel:

2 Samuel 2:27 KJV 1900

And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

And now in chapter 3 we’re beginning to see this power used to usurp the authority of the king by Abner taking one of King Saul’s concubines, Rizpah.

Ishbosheth knows the issue of such an act and brings it to light:

2 Samuel 3:7 KJV 1900

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ish-bosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father’s concubine?

However, Abner’s reaction confirms for us how powerful he had become:

He now threatens to move Israel to side with David -

Ishbosheth is afraid of him -

2.

We see several times throughout Scripture the threat to someone’s throne based on the fact that a concubine is married off to someone else. Other examples include:

Absalom when he enters Jerusalem takes David’s concubines ()

Adonijah seeking possession of Abishag (who helped David have heat, ) and Solomon sees through the ploy and states

1 Kings 2:22 KJV 1900

And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.

And the request was so caustic that it even cost him his life:

1 Kings 2:

1 Kings 2:23–25 KJV 1900

Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life. Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day. And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.

So why is it a dangerous request?

Because it provided a connection to the throne. The concubine was a loose connection to the previous king, and therefore, by taking possession of something that was the king’s a claim could be made that they could rightfully take the throne.

In the case of Abner he was a cousin of King Saul and not an heir like Ishbosheth, but by taking a possession of King Saul’s his entitlement to the throne became more serious. It would be no different if he then took possession of the scepter, or the crown, or the throne (etc).

This is why Ishbosheth reacted quite strongly against Abner. He wasn’t dumb, he could see Abner increasing in power and all that remained was the throne. Abner resented his reaction, perhaps not thinking that Ishbosheth really knew what was happening, and because he was caught off-guard a little, he then determined to transfer all the weight of his influence and power to David’s side.

It just so happened that around this time, David also requested Michal his first wife, to possibly show loyalty to those of King Saul, and this could have been the catalyst that Abner then uses to stir the hearts of Israel to follow Israel, which we will see next in the subsequent passages.

2 Samuel 3:17–18 KJV 1900

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: Now then do it: for the Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.