Question: II Samuel 3. Says that King David sent for his first wife, Michal years after she had been taken from him. Michal was returned to King David. At this time King David had 6 wives/concubines. My question is “when Michal returned did she resume her place as first wife, or did she go to the end of the line, so to speak”.

Answer: There was no “1st wife position.” There is no harem nor earned hierarchy amongst Jewish wives. Also, David, may have had six wives at the time, but as a Jewish king he was permitted 18 wives. Kings traditionally have many children as an internal defense mechanism. David eventually had the full compliment of 18 wives. Further, although Shaul (Saul) fostered acts that would not be good for David, including those with Michal, Michal was never officially married to another, which would be adultery, nor did she commit any adulterous acts.Regards, Eliahu Levenson