Did David have wives before or after his partnership with Jonathan?

by Bonita
(St Clair, MO)

Rick Brentlinger Answers -

Excellent question Bonita! The Bible shows David and Jonathan meeting when David was a teenager, approximately 15 years to 20 years old, 1 Samuel 17:33,56.

The Hebrew words King Saul uses to describe David are, na`ar, נער, from 1 Samuel 17:33 and `elem, עלם from 1 Samuel 17:56.

Depending on context, na`ar can describe a baby boy up to a young adult male. Because David was a teenager old enough to care for his father's sheep and to fight and kill a lion and a bear, the Hebrew word, na`ar, in this usage, means a teenage young man.

`elem describes a teenager who has reached puberty, 1 Samuel 17:56. David was old enough to travel by himself, taking food to his brothers who served in Saul's army. And he was considered old enough to fight Goliath. This makes him between 15 to 20 years old in 1 Samuel 17.

There is nothing in the Bible which indicates that Jonathan or David was married at the time they met, 1 Samuel 18:1-3. Both were young men, with Crown Prince Jonathan being perhaps a few years older than David.

David's Many Wives,
2 Samuel 3:3ff.

"And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;

And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron." - 2 Samuel 3:2-5.

King David's wives also included Princess Michal, King Saul's daughter, 2 Samuel 3:13-14,

Bath-Sheba, 2 Samuel 11:27,

plus King Saul's wives, who were given to David by God to be his wives, 2 Samuel 12:7-8,

plus David's concubines, 2 Samuel 19:5.