Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 25:43
David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
43. took ] Had taken, before his marriage with Abigail. Ahinoam stands first in the list of his wives in 2Sa 3:2.
of Jezreel ] A city in the mountains of Judah near Carmel and Juttah. See Jos 15:55-56.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
In the list of Davids wives Ahinoam is mentioned first 2Sa 3:2; 1Ch 3:1. But this may be only because her son was the first-born. Davids 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 1Ch 3:1, and still further when he became king of all Israel 2Sa 5:12-13. See 1Sa 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).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 43. 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel,…. A city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:56; that is, he took her to wife, and as it seems before Abigail became his wife; see 2Sa 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(43) David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel.Jezreel is not the city in Issachar (Jos. 19:18), but a town in the southern part of Canaan, situate in the hill country of Judah, near Maon. The fatal results of this disastrous and unhappy Oriental custom of polygamy, as time went on, showed themselves in King Davids householda plentiful crop of intrigues, crimes, and murders in the royal palace were the sad fruits of his yielding to the miserable practice, which has ever been one of the curses of the East.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
43. Ahinoam Who also shared his fortunes, and was the mother of his eldest son, Amnon. 2Sa 3:2.
Of Jezreel Not the Jezreel of Central Palestine, which fell to the tribe of Issachar, (Jos 19:18,) but a city somewhere in the vicinity of Carmel and Maon. Jos 15:56. Its site has not been identified with any modern town.
Both of them his wives see note on 1Sa 1:2.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 25:43. David also took Ahinoam Ahinoam is always mentioned as first of the wives of David. See chap. 1Sa 27:3 1Sa 30:5, &c. And, therefore, it is supposed, that he was married to her before he took Abigail. Polygamy was a practice too prevalent in those ages, even under the dark Jewish dispensation; and David, probably, hoped to strengthen his interest in his own tribe by this double alliance, especially when he apprehended that it must be considerably weakened in that of Benjamin, by Michal’s being taken away from him, 1Sa 25:44. For Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, a Benjamite; which Saul did to take away all his pretensions to the crown from that alliance.
Remarks on the Character of Samuel.
How singular was the character and piety of Samuel! Devoted to God from the womb, and worthy to be so! Early dedicated to the Divinity, and hallowed by his influence! Descended from prophets, himself a greater prophet. The peculiar service of God constituted the early business of his life; nor was it ever interrupted by any thing but the service of his country.
The Scriptures are certainly the solace of life; but the pleasure of perusing them is always heightened when they demonstrate their own veracity. No man, guided by nature only, in the vigour of life, and in the age of ambition and avarice, forced by no danger, urged by no guilt, and pressed by no infirmity of mind or body, ever yet, voluntarily, and of his own choice, resigned the supreme power, secluded his sons from the succession, and elected two strangers to it, in succession, neither of whom he had ever seen before. Samuel did all this; and therefore, when the Scriptures assure us that he did it by the divine command, we cannot help believing them: the narration carries with it its own irresistible evidence.
Happy Samuel! Exalted to supreme power without ambition; exerting it without oppression or avarice; and resigning it without reluctance, when his God commanded! Retiring (rare felicity!) with undiminished dignity, or, to speak more justly, with added honour, from the concurrent and universal testimony of his country to his equity and incorruption! Oh, that all princes would so use their power, or so resign it! Illustrious in the splendor of authority, and yet more so in the shade of a cell; so far from envying his successor to the supreme power, he pitied and prayed for him! He had raised him by the divine favour, but could not restore him.
It would be hard to decide which was happiest, his life, or his death. He lived to the noblest of purposes, the glory of God, and the good of his country; he died full of years and honours, universally lamented and desired. Such was Samuel! Such always were, and always will be, those, whose duty is their delight, and whose God is their glory!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Sa 25:43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
Ver. 43. And they were also both of them his wives. ] Polygamy was a sin of ignorance in the ancients, who either knew not, or understood not that prohibition in Lev 18:18 . See Trapp on “ Lev 18:18 “ See the like continuance in an error of life unreformed, Neh 9:17 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jezreel: Jos 15:56, 2Sa 3:2
both: Gen 2:24, Mat 19:5, Mat 19:8
his wives: 1Sa 27:3, 1Sa 30:5, 2Sa 5:13-16
Reciprocal: 2Sa 2:2 – General 1Ch 3:1 – Ahinoam