David tries again the next night, this time getting Uriah drunk. David refused to discipline Amnon, so Tamars brother Absalom killed Amnon in revenge and fled to escape punishment (2 Samuel 13). Joel Ryanis an author, writing professor, and contributing writer for Salem Web Network and Lifeway. Because of King Saul's sin, which is recorded in 1 Samuel 15:10-23, Saul lost the kingdom given to him by God. The newKing Solomonvalued his mother's help so much that he had a second throne installed for her so that she became his closest adviser until her death. 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. While reading through this account, we inevitably stumble across the puzzling records of King Davids wives and concubines. Since the Bible doesnt give us many details about Davids wives, and many of the details we get are so sad, its easy to wonder why we should study their story. As mentioned earlier, Adonijah then used the almost concubine status of Abishag to try and get closer to the throne. Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus? Bathsheba is portrayed by the midrash as a modest woman who carefully observed the laws of family purity, but who found herself, without any conscious action on her part, in an adulterous affair with the king. The names of the eight wives of King David were: Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacha, Haggith, Abital, Egla and Bathsheba . David thought he pulled off this caper until the prophet Nathan came to visit in 2 Samuel 12. Astle, Cynthia. Helping you get the most out of your Sabbath School quarterly every week. Rather, God works through the effects of our sin to bring about His purposes, though He still abhors our sinful actions. Though several of David's most loyal followers, including Joab and Abiathar, threw their support behind Adonijah, David turned to Nathan (the prophet), Benaiah (the mighty man), and Zadok (the priest) to establish Solomon as the rightful king of Israel. David's history suggests that he used many women to balance out his faults (lust, violence, and ego). The Bible records at least twenty named children born to David and his many wives, though it is possible he had even more than those listed. As king, his responsibility is to secure a peaceful nation. Astle, Cynthia. We must all be actively aware of the battle for our hearts (1 Peter 5:8-10) and respond accordingly, with the power of the Holy Spirit. A shepherd, giant killer, folk hero, singer, songwriter, warrior, fugitive, exile, and eventually a king. Because of Ruths choices, David, Solomon, Joseph, and Jesus came through her line. If you ever find yourself as a victim or a victimizer, please remember that Gods love is everlasting, and he is full of grace and mercy. 1 Kings 1:4 says Abishag looked after the king and took care of him. Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (or Maakah), the daughter of Talmar, King of Geshur, and wife of David.4. Nathan calmly told the king: "You are the man," meaning that God had revealed to the prophet the truth of David's adultery, deceit, and murder of Uriah. So David sends Uriah back to the front with a note for Joab, the general, to put Uriah in an exposed position where hell be killedto make sure by pulling the other troops back and leaving him stranded. Ahinoam: Introduced in 1 Samuel 25:43, Ahinoam is mostly mentioned alongside Abigail, since both wives accompanied David together while He fled Saul. Remember that David did suffer terribly because of his sin with Bathsheba. We can learn much from his mistakes. Before David took the throne, he used his power to serve others, perhaps most notably the defenseless cities of Keilah and Ziklag (1 Samuel 23:1-14; 30:1-31), but with Bathsheba he abused his power first to serve his lust, and then to preserve his reputation. In 2020, Sue won a Selah Award for her nonfiction book Soulspeak: Praying Change into Unexpected Places. Many theologians believe that the Proverbs 31 woman, whom Solomon wrote about, was Davids great-grandmother Ruth (Ruth 4:21-22). (Exodus 20:14, 17), Integrity isnt natural. 3. Three of these wives, Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, are prominent in Scripture, but the other 5 are mentioned only in the verses given in the chart. Seek humility because its a proven weapon against the sins that come with power and prestige. The story of Bathsheba and David has proved so enduring that religious commentators still debate the quality . To consummate his insurrection, Absalom slept with his father's concubines in public for everyone to see (2 Samuel 16:20-23). The Bible is clear that what David did was wrong and the Lord condemned him for his actions. Later, Saul takes Michal away from David and marries her to another man, Paltiel. He did not set a godly example, and he did not call his children to live godly lives. ***Note: Based upon (2 Sam 12:8), some believe that after Saul died, David married his wives. She was given by the hand of her treacherous father Saul the first king of Israelwhile he lingered on the throne in his fallen state. His first six sons, recorded in 2 Samuel 3:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-4, are: 1. And David did repent before the Lord. 10 Things You Need to Know about the Number 666, 10 Books of the Bible You Should Read Again and Again, 10 Most Encouraging Bible Verses That Will Uplift Your Heart and Soul, 5 Things That Hurt Relationships with Grandkids, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life Losses, 4 Things You Should Know about Big George Foreman, 8 Ways You Are Belittling Your Husband and What God Says about It, Maybe Money Can Buy Happiness, but Not Joy. At first, David called Bathshebas husband, Uriah, away from the battle to give him a report of the army. The prophet Nathan rebuked David, and Bathshebas child died. Article Images Copyright . Instead, God gave David a second son (Solomon) later onand this son becomes the next king of Israel (leap-frogging over his older brothers from other marriages). Ahinoam was the mother of Amnon, who raped his half-sister Tamar. He wasnt in love with her from what the text reveals. According to the Bible, his first wife was Michal, the daughter of King Saul. After Bathsheba mourns for her deceased husband, David sends for and marries Bathsheba. And later David lost yet another son, Adonijah. What Makes Twila Paris a Great Christian Musician? When it came time to be paid, Nabal instead refused to pay David and his men. In (Deut 17:17), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. He recalled Uriah from the front, supposedly to give him a report on the battle, and then told him to take some leave and visit his wife. 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. While reading through this account, we inevitably stumble across the puzzling records ofKing Davids wives and concubines. Uriah still wont go home. But David was foiled again; drunk though he was, honorable Uriah returned to the barracks and not to his wife. Chileab (or Daniel), whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, who David married after the death her husband (1 Samuel 25).3. Even Solomon was not exempt from Davids sin. Article copyright 2006 by Richard M. Davidson. Confession and repentance not only makes our hearts whole again; it also resets our physical and emotional states. To establish his authority as the new king, Absalom took ten of his fathers concubines and slept with them in public (2 Samuel 16:15-23). If God remained faithful to David in spite of his failings, we can rest assured He will remain faithful to us despite ours. (2 Samuel 12:11-12) Although David fasted and prayed for a week for his baby to survive, God did not answer his request. He killed a lot of prisoners after battles. Did King David Rape Bathsheba? Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, yet another wife of David. When David danced before the Ark of the Covenant as it entered Jerusalem, Michal rebuked him for his undignified behavior. However, the love, discipline, instruction, and example set by godly parents can make all the difference in the lives of our children, and there's a lot we can learn from David's own parental trials and failures. Years later, Absalom became convinced he could do a better job as king than his seemingly passive father. Stephen Baker is a graduate of Mount Union University. Amnon David's oldest son grew up to be a selfish, licentious young man who was consumed with lust for his virgin half-sister Tamar. David, like all other human beings, was not a robot. And God not only forgave them, He even blessed their marriage with another child. However, these lists only mention the wives that David had sons with, and the 1 Chronicles list ends with these were the sons of David, not including his sons born to concubines (1 Chronicles 3:9). Sadly, that judgment included the death of David and Bathsheba's infant son (verse 14). Had David intervened and been more active in guiding and correcting his children's sin and bad behavior early, he might have saved the lives of Amnon, Absalom, and even Adonijah, whose ambition and lust for power had gone unchecked for most of his life. Although she seems passive at the beginning of her relationship with David, Bathsheba becameKing David's active support at the end of his life, as she secured David's throne for their son, Solomon, who was destined to become a wise, if flawed, ruler of Israel. He has contributed over 1,200 articles to various publications, including interviews for Christian Communicator and book reviews for The Evangelical Church Library Association. 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). You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel. Don't forget to listen to Bible Answers Live onSirius XM Family Talk 131this Sunday at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT.Find more ways to listen here! 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). Davids history suggests that he used many women to balance out his faults (lust, violence, and ego). 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. Doing the right thing, regardless of circumstances, is true righteousness. With malintent, Saul initially tried to give his first daughter, Merab, to David in marriage to put David in peril by the hand of the Philistines. Access dozens of Amazing Facts topical Scripture books from Pastor Doug and others. 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. Among other things, the fact David chose to have multiple wives proves he was a sinner. Integrity guards your heart, mind, emotions, and actions. Bathsheba and David: Biblical Romance and Tragedy. We strive to approve comments the day they are made, but please allow at least 24 hours for your comment to appear. As told in 2 Samuel 11-12, Bathsheba was married to Uriah, one of Davids mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39). By failing to provide justice for his daughter, David not only failed Tamar, but he also failed Amnon, whose sin had gone unpunished. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. Maacah, whose father Talmai was king of Geshur, married David while he was in exile and her children included a son named Absalom and a daughter named Tamar. Suppose you make some terrible decision in your life that is irreversible. She finds out shes pregnant. Despite Joab's action, Uriah and other officers were killed. Who Were David's Wives, and Why Should We Know Their Names? We know Abigail was unusually wise, and nothing about how she related to David later in life. Abigail of Carmel(1 Chr 3:1)(2 Sam 3:3)(2 Sam 2:2) Comments made on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday may not be approved until the following Monday. That is not to say it is a good thing when we sin. The baby has been born and at least nine months have passed, but David has not repented. He cant sleep (maybe because hes not fulfilling his purpose? Tamar After Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar, the Bible tells us that he "hated her with a very great hatred; for the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her now throw this woman out of my presence, and lock the door behind her" (2 Samuel 13:15,17). All in all, the Bible makes it clear that Davids polygamy created an enormous amount of pain. However, nothing in the Bible is accidental, it is all God-breathed and useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He won King Saul's daughter . God in His grace restored David back to a healthy spiritual relationship with Him. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), Guard your heart. Adultery is still sin. David was not a perfect father, but he was still a man after God's own heart who loved God and loved his children. Absalom was later killed by David's commander Joab, against David's wishes (2 Samuel 18). Consumed with lust for power, Saul sought to destroy David because Gods favor rested on him, and David was deemed a contender for the throne (1 Samuel 18:12-16). Regardless of which one is correct, the fact remains David made a mistake having so many wives. See how your gifts made a lasting difference recently. Abital(1 Chr 3:3)(2 Sam 3:4) However, most scholars believe there were two ladies named Ahinoam. The best evidence pointing to this is that Davids wife Ahinoam is always referred to as Ahinoam of Jezreel (1 Sam 25:43) or Ahinoam the Jezreelitess (1 Sam 27:3)(1 Sam 30:5)(2 Sam 2:2)(2 Sam 3:2)(1 Chr 3:1), while Sauls wife Ahinoam is referred to as the daughter of Ahimazz (1 Sam 14:50). He married 700 women of noble birth and took 300 concubines. How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life 4 Things You May Not Know About Abraham in the Bible, 20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Still, we dont know if David named Solomon his successor because he favored Bathsheba, because God favored Solomon, or to compensate for everything Bathsheba had suffered. 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. Macaah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur(1 Chr 3:2)(2 Sam 3:3) She has authored a number of books on faith and religion. Absolutely not! 2 Samuel 12:10-12 . Solomon responded by having Adonijah killed (1 Kings 2:25). This theory suggests Bathsheba did not say "no" to David, but neither did she say "yes.". Some details may not have major stories attached, and not all of them have detailed themes or takeaways. He only notices Bathsheba because hes home when hes supposed to be leading his troops. God gave David many opportunities to resist temptation. I dont think so. David had eight named wives, others unnamed, and an unknown number of concubines. Unfortunately, bad habits can be learned and passed on to our children if not challenged or corrected early. We don't know if David dealt with Amnon's sin following Tamar's rape, but there's not much evidence in the Bible to confirm that he did much of anything. As Old Testament characters go, King David is probably the most famous. They are: -Japhia-Elishama-Eliada-Eliphelet-Tamar, the only daughter named amongst David's children. In an ancient kingdom, a king could kill anyone who disobeyed him. 7 Bibliography. While David did some great and wise things, he didnt always do the right thing. He sends for her and has sexual relations with her, knowing it's wrong. Keep in mind, he stayed on his face for seven days in genuine contrition and grief for his sinsbegging God for mercy. He also lost the respect of his people, and his reputation was permanently besmirched. Regarding Davids wives, we have a grim reminder of what happens when we neglect to live as God commands. Who Were David's Wives, and Why Should We Know Their Names? The story of David and Bathsheba is told in 2 Samuel 11 and 12, set against the backdrop of David's war against the Ammonites, a tribe from a region east of the Dead Sea that is now part of present-day Jordan. David killed a lot of people in battle. 2 Samuel 11:1 records that the king sent his army out to wage war, but he himself stayed behind in Jerusalem. Cynthia B. Astle is an award-winning journalist who covered religion for 25 years. 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. They are all mentioned in 2 Samuel 3:2-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-3. Discover all the informative and inspiring books from the speaker and president of Amazing Facts. David stopped grooming integrity. They watched his lust, self-indulgence, cover-ups, and sexual liaisons. David had many wives and concubines. He founded the Judaean dynasty and united all the tribes of Israel under a single monarch. How Many Wives Did King David Have and What Do We Know about Them? (Proverbs 11:14), Lean into God for forgiveness, comfort, and direction. This son died seven days after his birth (2 Samuel 12:16-23), and it is possible that he is not included in this list. So, based on what we know, David had at least eight wives, and we learn in 2 Samuel that he had at least ten concubines. 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. Bad decisions have lasting consequences. Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital, another of David's wives.6. Nathan ( Hebrew: , Modern: Natan, Tiberian: Nn) was the third of four sons born to King David and Bathsheba in Jerusalem. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Eglah married David while he was in exile, and had a son named Ithream. Even though David had committed sins worthy of execution, said Nathan, God instead exacted judgment upon David and Bathsheba's newborn son, who subsequently died. Learn Religions, Sep. 10, 2021, learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306. Even knowing she was another man's wife, David . Davids family life was by far his biggest failure.
