Eglah עֶגְלָה
David's wife and mother of Ithream
Who is Eglah in the Bible?
Eglah was one of King David's wives and the mother of his son Ithream, born during David's reign in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:5, 1 Chronicles 3:3). She is mentioned among David's wives who bore him sons while he ruled over Judah for seven years and six months before becoming king over all Israel. Unlike other wives listed alongside her, such as Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, and Haggith, Eglah receives no additional biographical details or descriptive background in the biblical account. Her significance lies in being part of the royal lineage of David and in producing an heir during the formative years of his kingship in Hebron.
Biography
Eglah is mentioned in 2Sa.3.5 and 1Ch.3.3 as one of King David's wives. She is specifically identified as the mother of David's son Ithream, who was born to David while he was reigning in Hebron.
The context of these passages is the listing of David's sons born to him in Hebron, where he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months before becoming king over all Israel (2Sa.5.5). Eglah is mentioned alongside David's other wives, such as Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, and Haggith, each of whom bore him a son during this period.
Interestingly, Eglah is the only one of David's wives mentioned in this list who is not given a descriptive title or background information. The other wives are identified as the daughter of a king or the widow of a notable figure, but Eglah is simply mentioned by name.
Some scholars suggest that Eglah may have been another name for Michal, David's first wife and the daughter of King Saul. However, this is not stated explicitly in the text, and there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory.
Apart from being listed as the mother of Ithream, no further information is provided about Eglah in the biblical text. Her mention in these genealogies serves to highlight David's family structure and the sons born to him during his reign in Hebron.
Family
In Scripture
2 biblical books2 Samuel 1 verse
- 2 Samuel 3:5
"and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:3
"the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital; and the sixth was Ithream by his wife Eglah."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֶגְלָה |