In this context the verb took means “took as his wife” and may therefore be translated “married” (Good News Translation). The form of the verb seems to indicate that this marriage had taken place before David met Abigail. For this reason a number of modern versions translate using the pluperfect verb form “had [also] married” (so Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible). But the Hebrew may be understood either way.

Ahino-am is probably not to be identified with the woman of the same name who was Saul’s wife (14.50). Jezreel was a village in the territory of Judah, near Maon and Carmel (see verse 2 and also Josh 15.55-56).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .