שמואל ב, פרק י״ב, פסוק ח׳

A powerful message is delivered to the king, reminding him of the immense kindnesses and royal authority already bestowed upon him. The prophet emphasizes that every measure of his status and wealth was a direct gift from God, and even greater abundance was available to him had he only asked.

As part of this divine gift, David inherited the entire household of his predecessor, King Saul [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. There are different perspectives on what it meant for him to receive the former king's wives. One approach explains that Saul's wives were not actually married to David; rather, they were simply placed under his royal control and protection [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another view suggests this refers specifically to Saul's daughter, Michal, who was already David's wife [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Drawing from the Jerusalem Talmud, another tradition notes that David also married Rizpah, Saul's concubine [מצודת דוד]. A related midrashic discussion explores who exactly is included in this group. While one version suggests a puzzling reference to Rizpah, Abigail, and Bathsheba, the more accepted and logical reading is that it refers to Saul's daughters, Merab and Michal, along with Rizpah [חומת אנך].

Furthermore, being granted the house of Israel and Judah meant that David was given the freedom to choose wives from the entire nation as he saw fit [מלבי״ם]. The prophet notes that if this vast power and greatness were somehow insufficient [מצודת דוד], or if David felt he did not have enough wives [ביאור שטיינזלץ], God would have gladly provided more [רש״י] if he had only made the request [מצודת דוד]. The Sages derive from this that David was legally permitted to take up to a total of eighteen wives [מלבי״ם]. In fact, the promise of adding to his household indicates a doubling effect, meaning God was willing to give him twice the amount of wealth and wives that he already possessed [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון].