Edifier du Jour: 2 Samuel 3:1-5(NIV)

1 The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

2 Sons were born to David in Hebron:
       His firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

3 his second, Kileab the son of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel;
       the third, Absalom the son of Maacah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;
       the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah.
       These were born to David in Hebron.

We normally associate Solomon as the multi-wife guy, but David's doing a good job of looking like a old-school Mormon role model here. Six sons, six wives, not counting Michal (Saul's daughter) and well before Bathsheba (she shows up in chapter 11).

Can you say "Palace politics", boys and girls? I thought you could.

Abigail is mentioned earlier as a good example of hospitality, but Maacah sounds like trouble even when she doesn't remind you of George Allen; she's the daughter of a foreign king, one who might not be the best God-fearing lady. Even if you didn't know that Absalom would grow up to lead a rebellion against his dad, his pedigree would lead you to think that he'd be the one to keep a very close eye on.