1. 1 Samuel 14:50 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How many wives did Saul have?

1 Samuel 14:50 (ESV)

50 And the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle.

While it is true that Saul had only one wife, he also had a concubine named Rizpah by whom he fathered two sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 21:11).1 His son Ishvi would later accuse Abner of having sex with Rizpah, an act that amounted to usurping the throne. As a result, Abner aligns himself with David and, as the one who controls the army, transfers the kingdom to David. One of David’s wives will also be called Ahinoam, but of Jezreel (1 Samuel 25:43).2