However, nothing in the Bible is accidental, it is all God-breathed and useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As king, his responsibility is to secure a peaceful nation. This was done in accordance with the Mosaic law which gave instruction on how soldiers were to keep themselves pure during the time of war. This trend continued through the succession of Israel's kings. Repentance didnt reverse the effects of Davids sin. Paul Carter, in his TGC article 'Did King David Rape Bathsheba? This theory suggests Bathsheba did not say "no" to David, but neither did she say "yes.". Special insight and inspiration straight from the presidents desk. Davids solution to cover up the scandal was to send Uriah to the front lines of battle and have all other troops draw back from Uriahs position to ensure the enemy killed him. Following Amnon's murder, Absalom fled Jerusalem and did not return for another three years. To that total we would add all the unnamed sons of his concubines. Nathan (son of David) - Wikipedia David then married Abigail, and she had a son named Daniel. She begged for forgiveness and gave David a handsome number of supplies, thus staying Davids hand from taking vengeance by his own hand. Abital(1 Chr 3:3)(2 Sam 3:4) God restored David to intimate spiritual fellowship. The sad story of David's wife Bathsheba is well-known (2 Samuel 11:1-17). There are several key places in the Bible that describe Davids wives. Haggith(1 Chr 3:2)(2 Sam 3:4) Did she resist, beg, or comply? What happened in the lives of David's children is mostly unknown; however, several of his sons, and one daughter, in particular, grew up to play a major role in David's later years and the future of Israel. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. If we count the son who died in infancy after having been conceived through David's adulterous relationship with Bathsheba ( 2 Samuel 12:16-23 ), David . In (Deut 17:17), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. In addition to Davids free will to stop his adulterous and murderous actions at any point, God also sent Nathan to confront David and remind him that God demanded his obedience. Seek humility because its a proven weapon against the sins that come with power and prestige. Bathsheba, also spelled Bethsabee, in the Hebrew Bible (2 Samuel 11, 12; 1 Kings 1, 2), wife of Uriah the Hittite; she later became one of the wives of King David and the mother of King Solomon. will be automatically deleted and the invitation to participate revoked. Its more of an example of God taking a sinful situation and working some good from it, much as Joseph getting thrown into prison led to him meeting the Pharaoh (Genesis 41). Related: Listen to our FREE Bible podcast,How to Study the Bible! He founded the Judaean dynasty and united all the tribes of Israel under a single monarch. Next, described in 2 Samuel 12 and 13, David invited Uriah for dinner and got him drunk, figuring that intoxication will arouse Uriah's desire for Bathsheba. 3 Surprising Reasons to Be Like Doubting Thomas, 4 Reasons Why We Have a Hard Time Talking about Loneliness. Solomon as David's life on earth came to an end, God chose Solomon, Bathsheba's fourth son, to succeed David as king of Israel. These were born to David at Hebron. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? He killed a lot of prisoners after battles. Among other things, the fact David chose to have multiple wives proves he was a sinner. Listen to our episode on David right now: G. Connor Salter is a writer and editor, with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing from Taylor University. The heart can fool any of us and destroy the best of us (Jeremiah 17:9). Ahinoam was the mother of Amnon, who raped his half-sister Tamar. Bathsheba told her aged husband that only their son Solomon remained loyal, so the king named Solomon his co-regent. The lesson here is that David often took a more passive approach to discipline his children, allowing their base emotions, sin, and selfish ambitions to go unchallenged and grow into reckless, even deadly behavior. David was married to Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacha, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah during the 7-1/2 years he reigned in Hebron as king of Judah. Although feminist biblical interpretation contends that Bathsheba was a victim of David, other scholars find a clue to Bathsheba's complicity among King David's wives in 2 Samuel 4:11. One night in Jerusalem, King David was walking upon his rooftop when he spotted a beautiful woman bathing nearby ( 2 Samuel 11:2 ). Why did God allow David to keep Bathsheba as his wife? By failing to provide justice for his daughter, David not only failed Tamar, but he also failed Amnon, whose sin had gone unpunished. In fact, the Bibles narrative makes it clear Davids marriage choices created big problems. Twenty-eight generations later, Jesus was born as Davids descendant. While we talk a lot about his heroic might, we dont talk much about Davids wives. He married 700 women of noble birth and took 300 concubines. When it came time to be paid, Nabal instead refused to pay David and his men. Its the false assumption Scripture condones all behavior recorded in the historical narratives of the Bible, especially if Gods disapproval is not explicitly expressed in the immediate context of the behaviors in question. How many wives did King David have in the Bible? - JesusAlive.cc We know that David's first children were born in Hebron, where David was made king following the death of Saul (2 Samuel 2:1-4, 1 Chronicles 3:4). Adultery is still sin. From that time forward, Michal despises David (2 Samuel 6:16). Chileab (or Daniel . And God not only forgave them, He even blessed their marriage with another child. He sees a beautiful woman bathing in the next house. This is one of the most glorious and mind-blowing truths Scripture reveals about our Lord. Suppose you make some terrible decision in your life that is irreversible. 2 Samuel 5 says "David married more wives in Jerusalem.". In all of Scripture, the life of David may be the most dramatic recorded. The latest information on all of Pastor Dougs upcoming events. This is astonishing evidence of Gods grace and forgiveness. Apart from the last point given in the previous section, Christians should know the accounts given of these women to strengthen their witness for Christ. "The third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah. David had seven wives prior to Bathsheba. (1 Samuel 13:14), Beware of power. Fast access to all of Amazing Facts English and foreign-language Bible-based websites. However, after Solomon became king, Adonijah used Bathsheba to ask Solomon a favor: he wanted Abishags hand in marriage (1 Kings 2:13-23). A warrior, David becomes king to establish and lead Israel as a God-fearing nation, unlike the surrounding nations. ***Note: Based upon (2 Sam 12:8), some believe that after Saul died, David married his wives. David repents and worships. Does 2 Samuel 12:8 mean God approved of David's polygamy? 1 Chronicles 3:1-4 states that King David's first seven wives gave him six children, while they lived in Hebron. How Many Wives Did King David Have? - Grunge Sue Schlesmanis an award-winning author, teacher, and church leader. Comments that include name-calling, profanity, harassment, ridicule, etc. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? There is a dangerous assumption which accompanies many Bible readers and serves as the root of numerous stumbling blocks. As mentioned earlier, Adonijah then used the almost concubine status of Abishag to try and get closer to the throne. The world-renowned Amazing Facts Bible school will help you know Gods Word better than ever. He not only became the next king, but he was also blessed as an ancestor of the Messiah. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Abigail of Carmel(1 Chr 3:1)(2 Sam 3:3)(2 Sam 2:2) Worship with Pastor Dougs church each week, featuring beautiful music and life-changing Bible study. Products that will appeal to the young and young at heart. David is an important figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. She finds out shes pregnant. David humbly refused and stated he was unworthy to be the kings son-in-law (1 Samuel 18:17-19). As the Apostle Paul says, the Law served to reveal our sin and shut all people up under sin (Galatians 3:19-22). Why did God allow David to keep Bathsheba as his wife? Unfortunately, this is where David failed many of his other children. Sure enough, Joab put Uriah on the front lines when David's army attacksRabbathafter a long siege, although Joab didn't withdraw the army as David instructed. Bathsheba, Mother of Solomon, Wife of King David, David and Goliath Bible Story Study Guide, Battle of Jericho Bible Story Study Guide, Meet Absalom, Rebellious Son of King David, Was It Rape? Bathshebawas Davids last wife (at least the last one mentioned in the Bible) and probably his most famous. Pastor and therapist Ted Roberts gives an interesting theory in his book Pure Desire and other resources: David may have been stuck in a cycle of sexual bondage. Like many men struggling with pornography or sexual issues, David had a harsh relationship with his father, who called David his youngest son, using a Hebrew word that also means unimportant. Men with sexual issues also have illicit behavior they try to hide (David hid his affair with Bathsheba), and pass on their dysfunctional behavior to their children without ever confronting the problem (Amnon rapes his half-sister, David got angry but did nothing about it). Given that Biblical genealogies are not always definitive (sometimes they just mention notable family members or the notable offspring), there could be wives the Bible doesnt mention. They watched his lust, self-indulgence, cover-ups, and sexual liaisons. Davids family life was by far his biggest failure. David killed a lot of people in battle. As Davids life shows, nothing good comes of pretending a sin doesnt exist. He had the capacity to make choices which either adhered to Gods Word or blatantly disobeyed it. Consequently, Bathsheba and David had sex at one of the best possible moments for her to conceivewhich she did, with tragic results. David and Bathsheba Bible Story and 10 Important Lessons He gave them Solomon, whose name means Peace. He not only became the next king, but he was also blessed as an ancestor of the Messiah. In addition, David had an unknown number of concubines. (1 Chr 3:9)(2 Sam 5:13)(2 Sam 16:21-22)(2 Sam 20:3 tells us he had at least 10). Though David had (probably) eight wives and (probably) 10 concubines, King Solomon seemed to take things up a notch in a Biblical case of "hold my beer." According to 1 Kings 11, Solomon was recorded to have at least 700 wives (though the text itself only mentions those wives "of royal birth"), and at least 300 concubines. Gods Word is perfect, but if we dont take the time to understand what it actually means, the world will propagate its false understandings and leave us speechless. This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Prophet Daniel? David - passionate poet and in love, lyrical singer, courageous in battle and completely Gd-fearing, yet humble and willing to take responsibility and admit his mistakes. Who was King David's favorite wife? - remodelormove.com 10. David enjoys a beautiful relationship with God after his sin, writing many more Psalms of worship and thanksgiving. David and Solomon would have grown up hearing the stories of Gods redemption of their family line through Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer. David stopped grooming integrity. When David asked about Bathsheba and found out she was married to one of his soldiers, he sent for her anyway, raped her, and then sent her back home. In other words, she was not truly willing to sleep with him, but he was the king. David was an insignificant shepherd when God chose him. Uriah still wont go home. She has authored a number of books on faith and religion. Comments containing telephone numbers or email addresses will not be approved. Bathsheba and David's Adultery Led Him to Greater Sins. After Bathsheba mourns for her deceased husband, David sends for and marries Bathsheba. They are: -Japhia-Elishama-Eliada-Eliphelet-Tamar, the only daughter named amongst David's children. But who were David's children exactly, who did they grow up to be, and how were their lives shaped by their complicated and sometimes troubled relationship with their famous father? The Bible tells us that Amnon lured his sister to his chambers one night under false pretenses and proceeded to rape her. Astle, Cynthia. The names of the eight wives of King David were: Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacha, Haggith, Abital, Egla and Bathsheba . All in all, the Bible makes it clear that Davids polygamy created an enormous amount of pain. Then Nathan reveals that the story is about Davids sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. The Bible states he had many wives, but never adds anything like and this was accorded to him as wisdom which would imply God approved. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Clearly, a liaison with her would violate the seventh commandment against adultery, and a king of Israel was supposed to be a religious leader as well as a political leader. Even a heart like Davids can be deceitful and wicked. 2 Samuel 3:2-5 (NASB) Therefore, it appears that either 1) David never married Saul's wives, 2) the wives of Saul became David's wives or concubines since 2 Samuel 5:13-16 and 1 Chronicles 3:9 tells us that David had other wives and concubines or 3) David only cared for Saul's wives since they were . 1. The David and Bathsheba story involved the ironic and subtle juxtapositions comparing Uriah who was supremely faithful to his king and comrades to David who is not faithful to either but allowed his lust to blind him to his sin.