The reference to David’s wives is interesting. On the one hand it affirms that David took his whole family with him to Hebron; he was settling in Judah for good.1 It also connects him with Jacob, who also had two wives that he brought with him back to Israel (Genesis 35:1–29). This suggests that David would build Israel like Jacob, and that his family would also be characterized by strife.2 The fact that their names are highlighted might also point to David as the legitimate successor of Saul.3 Ahinoam was the name of one of Saul’s wives (1 Samuel 14:50), and Abigail was married to Nabal, a man who acted like Saul (1 Samuel 25:1–44).
2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.