Bible Dictionary
Ahinoam
Ahinoam was the name of Saul’s wife and of a Jezreelite woman who became David’s wife and the mother of Amnon.
Definition
Ahinoam is the name of two women: the daughter of Ahimaaz and wife of Saul, and a woman from Jezreel who became David’s wife and mother of Amnon.
Biblical Usage
Saul’s wife Ahinoam was the mother of his children in the royal household. David’s Ahinoam was his wife during the period before his reign at Hebron and was the mother of his first son, Amnon.
Historical Background
The name means “my brother is pleasantness,” “brother of pleasantness,” or “brother of grace.” David’s Ahinoam is repeatedly mentioned with Abigail, another of his wives.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Brother of pleasantness = pleasant. (1.) The daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of Saul (1 Sam. 14:50). (2.) A Jezreelitess, the first wife of David (1 Sam. 25:43; 27:3). She was the mother of Amnon (2 Sam. 3:2). (See 1 Sam. 30:5, 18; 2 Sam. 2:2.)
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(brother of grace, i.e. gracious).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-hi-no'-am, a-hin'-o-am ('achino`am, "my brother is pleasantness"):</p><p>(1) Daughter of Ahimaaz, and wife of King Saul (1Sa 14:50).</p><p>(2) The woman from Jezreel whom David married after Saul gave Michal to another husband. She and Abigail, the widow of Nabal, seem to have been David's only wives prior to the beginning of his reign in Hebron. His marriage to Abigail is mentioned first, with some details, followed by the statement, easily to be understood in the pluperfect, that he had previously married Ahinoam (1Sa 25:39-44). Three times they are mentioned together, Ahinoam always first (1Sa 27:3; 30:5; 2Sa 2:2), and Ahinoam is the mother of David's first son and Abigail of his second (2Sa 3:2; 1Ch 3:1). Ahinoam's son was Amnon. The record really represents David's polygamy as a series of bids for political influence; the names of Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah suggest that the method was not finally a success.</p><p>Willis J. Beecher</p>