דברי הימים א, פרק ג׳, פסוק ג׳

The conclusion of the royal birth records from King David's time in the city of Hebron highlights the final two of six sons born during this period. The fifth son, Shephatiah, was born to Abital, and the sixth, Ithream, was born to Eglah.

The identity of Eglah carries a deeper history, as tradition identifies her as Michal, the daughter of King Saul. She became known by this distinct name either because she cried out like a young calf during intense labor pains, or as a term of endearment showing how beloved she was to David [רש״י].

Identifying this mother as Michal presents a historical challenge, as other records state that Michal remained childless until the day of her death. The resolution lies in the timeline of events. Michal did indeed give birth to Ithream, but she was later punished with barrenness after she showed contempt for David as he danced and celebrated before God. Her childlessness began only from that day forward, meaning she had no additional children after this event [רד״ק].

A final detail in the royal record specifically designates Eglah as David's wife. Since all the previously mentioned women were also married to him, this distinction stands out. One perspective suggests that this highlights Michal's unique position as David's very first wife [רד״ק], while another view maintains that it emphasizes his deep affection for her [רש״י]. A different approach proposes that the status of wife was not mentioned to single her out at all. Instead, it applies retroactively to the entire group of women, confirming that each one held the full status of a wife rather than that of a concubine [מצודת דוד].