How many wives did King David have?

       King David had seven recorded wives in the Bible; six of these are listed in II Samuel: Abital, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maach, Haggith, and Eglah. Bath-sheba, David's seventh and last official wife had a particularly infamous beginning that most people know about. All seven of his wives were alive during King David's marriages to each of them because at that time, many Israelites practiced polygamy. Many people believe that King David had eight wives because Michal was called by two names. Her nickname given to her by David when she was still a child was in fact, Eglah.

1. Michal - was daughter of King Saul, David's first wife and one of two daughters belonging to King Saul. Her nickname was Eglah which is an affectionate term for "calf." She had no children of her own, but raised the five sons of her sister, Merab, after her sister's death in childbirth.
   
2. Abital - was wife to David, mother of Shephatiah, who was born in Hebron.
   
3. Ahinoam - a Jezreelitess, who was David's second wife and mother to Amnon.
   
4. Abigail - was the widow of the drunkard Nabal. She has Chileab (also called Daniel) with King David.
   
5. Maach - was the mother of Tamar and Absalom, wife to David. Also known as Maachah.
   
6. Haggith - mother to Adonijah. More about Haggith.
   
7. Bath-sheba - was the mother to future king, Solomon.

       King David also had many concubines and one of those that was given to him in his old age was called Abishag. Edith Deen says that sometimes she is listed as a wife to King David. However, the confusion about the number of King David's wives is primarily based upon the fact that Michal is called by two different names in I and II Samuel, not because this former concubine was considered a wife to David.