You are strongly recommended to add to your library the excellent revised edition of Harper's Bible Dictionary titled, The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition [book review], edited by Paul J. Achtemeier, with the Society of Biblical Literature (NY: Harper Collins, 1996). It is currently the best one-volume Bible dictionary in English, and it is available at Border's Books, Christian Science Reading Rooms, http://www.borders.com, or http://www.christianbook.com.

Ahinoam (Heb., ‘good is my brother,’ or ‘my brother (God) is good’).

1. The daughter of Ahimaaz who became King Saul’s wife (1 Sam. 14:50). She was the mother of Jonathan, Ishvi, Malchishua, Merab, and Michael (1 Sam. 14:49).

2. A native of Jezreel of south Judah, who was married to David, and who was the mother of his eldest son, Amnon (2 Sam. 3:2; 1 Chron. 3:1).

David and his wives.

It should be noted that marriage was often a tool used to consolidate political power and alliances.

The following are the wives of David that are mentioned in the Bible. Based upon the number of his children, David possibly had additional wives and/or concubines. (See 2Sa 5:14; 1Ch 3:5-9; 1Ch 14:4-7)

1. Michal (1Sa 18:20-29; 19:9-17; 25:44; 2Sa 3:12-16; 6:12-23), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/michal.htm
2. Ahinoam (1Sa 25:43; 30:5,18), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/ahinoam.htm
3. Abigail (1Sa 25:1-42; 30:5,18), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/abigail.htm
4. Maacah (1Ch 3:2), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/maacah.htm
5. Haggith (1Ch 3:2), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/haggith.htm
6. Abital (1Ch 3:3), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/abital.htm
7. Eglah (1Ch 3:3), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/eglah.htm
8. Bathsheba / Bath-shua (2Sa 11:1-12:25; 1Ki 1:11-31; 1Ki 2:13-25; 1Ch 3:5; Psa 51), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/bathsheba.htm

• See also 2Sa 11 and 12 at http://www.bibletexts.com/verses/v-2sa.htm