Even though the Bible doesnt describe God or prophets outright condemning David for polygamy, it doesnt praise him for it either. He had a daughter named Michal, who King Saul had given him in exchange for killing 400 Philistines. (Actually, Saul promised David his older daughter Merab, hoping the Philistines would kill David. Thus, it also means that he was between 44-48 years old when he first encountered Bathsheba, who was 7-9 years old. Though He will not always reverse the consequences of our poor decisions, with genuine repentance we may return to Him. He only notices Bathsheba because hes home when hes supposed to be leading his troops. As king, his responsibility is to secure a peaceful nation. Comments containing URLs outside the family of Amazing Facts websites will not be approved. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306. 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. And David sent and inquired about the woman. 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? She loves traveling, reading, missions, art, and dessert. Why did God allow David to keep Bathsheba as his wife? Abigail wisely entreated David not to kill Nabal, and he had mercy. According to Jewish purity laws, a woman must wait seven days after her menses end before purifying herself ritually in a mikvah, a special immersion pool, so that she and her husband may resume sexual relations. It stands as a clear warning to every leader, every spouse, and every believer who loves God and feels secure in their own perspectives. A lack of integrity in one area always seeps into a lack of integrity in other areas. Related: Listen to our FREE Bible podcast,How to Study the Bible! As a result, David took up arms with 400 of his men to seek vengeance and completely wipe out Nabals family line by killing all males. 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. Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, one of David's first wives ( 1 Samuel 25:43 ). An inspiring passage from Scripture delivered to your inbox every day! That child died shortly after birth as a consequence of David's sin, which the prophet Nathan warned of (2 Samuel 12:14-23). The Holy Spirit is powerful enough to help you overcome trauma, guilt, or regret, but you might need professional help to navigate healing. 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. Eventually, Joab killed Absalom. In ( Deut 17:17 ), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. The baby has been born and at least nine months have passed, but David has not repented. Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important? 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. All of these theories have some evidence behind them and leave us with something to chew on. All in all, the Bible makes it clear that Davids polygamy created an enormous amount of pain. A shepherd, giant killer, folk hero, singer, songwriter, warrior, fugitive, exile, and eventually a king. We dont know. 2) The baby born from Davids sin would die; the death would show unbelieving nations that God did not approve of Davids sin. Even a heart like Davids can be deceitful and wicked. In 2020, Sue won a Selah Award for her nonfiction book Soulspeak: Praying Change into Unexpected Places. Davids background influenced him. Nathan prophesied that Davids sin (metaphorically, the sword) would never depart from his family. Women had little protection in the ancient world, although the Bible has always outlined rules for treating them justly. (1 John 1:9-10), David and Bathsheba's story is a traumatic one, but also one that God redeems. He gets distracted by power, fame, and success. Bathsheba, married David after he famously murdered her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 11). (2 Samuel 11:2-4) "David didn't invite Bathsheba. Today, its common to say that someone has fallen out of love, married the wrong person, found the right person, etc., but if either part of love affair is married to someone else, its wrong. Available atLifeAudio.com. Even knowing she was another man's wife, David . But power and money makes us feel like we deserve certain indulgences we might not have without a position of power. However, God's mercies are proven to be far more powerful than any sin or parental mistake(Deuteronomy 5:9-10). Through his messengers, David learned that she was Bathsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite, who had gone to battle for David. 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. Our flagship program features the most informative and inspiring messages from Pastor Doug and more. Their later marriage seems to have been close ( 2 Samuel 12:24) and loyal ( 1 Kings 1:28-31 ). A wife not covered in either list, Davids first wife, is mentioned in several stories about Davids exploit. The womens pagan backgrounds wooed Solomon away from truth and introduced Israel to idolatry. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. Paul Carter, in his TGC article 'Did King David Rape Bathsheba? While reading through this account, we inevitably stumble across the puzzling records of King Davids wives and concubines. 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. We dont know about five of his wives other than which sons they bore. 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. The stories and names of some of them have transcended more in history, while others have simply been mentioned without specifying the origin. God plainly told the Israelites when they selected a king, he was not to have multiple wives (Deuteronomy 17:17). Unfortunately for Adonijah, God had already chosen Solomon, Bathsheba's son, as David's successor. The earlier we can identify and address problematic habits and behavior in our children, the better. Given that context, David may have had so many partners because he was in an addictive cycle. Stephen Baker is a graduate of Mount Union University. Davids greatest attribute was being called a man after Gods own heart. While he pursued relationship with God, he at times neglected to guard it from his own sinful nature. Though David was both a good and bad father at times, he was never meant to be the perfect example to follow. Michal, however, did not bear David any children (2 Samuel 6:23). In 2020, he won First Prize for Best Feature Story in a regional contest by the Colorado Press Association Network. But after his sin, David thoroughly repented. Regarding Davids wives, we have a grim reminder of what happens when we neglect to live as God commands. Is it any wonder that Amnon, Absalom, and even Solomon would also be caught in sexual sin later in life? All rights reserved. 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. Each of his first six wives bore David a son, while Bathsheba bore him four sons. It was not David's best or brightest moment. 10. We can learn much from his mistakes. Although Nathan is the third son raised by David and Bathsheba, he is the fourth born to Bathsheba. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? Nathan little is known about Nathan, David's third son by Bathsheba; however, he is worth mentioning for his inclusion in Luke's account of the genealogy of Jesus as one of Jesus' ancestors via the line of David (Luke 3:31). ', quotes author Richard M. Davidson: "Just as intercourse between an adult and a minor, even a 'consenting' minor, is today termed 'statutory rape,' so the intercourse between David and his subject Bathsheba (even if Bathsheba, under the psychological pressure of one in power over her, acquiesced to the intercourse) is understood in biblical law, and so presented in this narrative, to be a case of rapewhat today we call 'power rape,' and the victimizer, not the victim, is held accountable."1. Altogether, scripture records that David had 19 sons by . Are they more prone to sexual sin than regular people? She was separated from her husband as a military wife, was taken advantage of by her king, grieved a murdered spouse, became pregnant with the king's baby, married the king becoming his fourth wife, and then lost her baby. The story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most dramatic accounts in the Old Testament. How much of Absalom's arrogance and ambition was born of David's passivity and neglect in dealing with Amnon? Doing the right thing, regardless of circumstances, is true righteousness. Abitalmarried David while he was in exile, and had a son named Shephatiah. The plan worked. 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. The sad story of David's wife Bathsheba is well-known (2 Samuel 11:1-17). 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. Nathan reminded David that his sin had removed Gods protection and blessing from his life. 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. His many wives resulted in many children with rivalries and unhealthy relationships with each other. Ahinoam married David while he was in exile from Saul, and had Davids firstborn son, Amnon. Why Was David Allowed to Take so Many Wives (and Who Were They)? Number, names and stories. What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Prophet Daniel? He talks to Uriah about the battle and sends him home so hell sleep with his wife and the affair will be hidden. Abigail was the second of Davids wives. Absolutely not! It is likely David had even more sons and daughters that the Bible does not record since we know he had several more unnamed wives and perhaps even more concubines through which he fathered children (1 Chronicles 3:9). We know Abigail was unusually wise, and nothing about how she related to David later in life. David retorted that he was celebrating before God, and that story concludes by saying Michael remained childless throughout her entire life (2 Sam 6:23). The first is that everything in the Bible is worth learning on some level. After Abigail told her husband that she saved him, Nabal had a heart attack and died. If God remained faithful to David in spite of his failings, we can rest assured He will remain faithful to us despite ours. Ahinoam: Introduced in 1 Samuel 25:43, Ahinoam is mostly mentioned alongside Abigail, since both wives accompanied David together while He fled Saul. One night in Jerusalem, King David was walking upon his rooftop when he spotted a beautiful woman bathing nearby ( 2 Samuel 11:2 ). Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. (Proverbs 11:14), Lean into God for forgiveness, comfort, and direction. "Bathsheba and David: Biblical Romance and Tragedy." As the Apostle Paul says, the Law served to reveal our sin and shut all people up under sin (Galatians 3:19-22). When David danced before the Ark of the Covenant as it entered Jerusalem, Michal rebuked him for his undignified behavior. David sent this letter to Joab by Uriah, who had no idea that he was carrying his own death sentence. 3) Davids actions would be repeated in his family for generations. Adonijah was later executed by his brother Solomon for his insurrection and failed attempts to steal the throne (1 Kings 1-2). Admittedly, its not always the most exciting part of the Bible to read, however it is incredibly important for understanding the historical accounts recorded. And later David lost yet another son, Adonijah. The story of David and Bathsheba is not a love story or at least it didn't start that way. 7. Suppose you make some terrible decision in your life that is irreversible. A total of nineteen sons are named here. Politicians, mega-pastors, coaches, professional athletes, corporate leaders. Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David as his wife ( 1 Samuel 18:20-27 ). Spread the Word using these free digital resources from the ministry, including plug-ins, banners, and more. 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. Thus, although Abishag was not Davids wife or concubine, her intimate connection with the king resulted in people using her as a pawn. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. 4 Things You May Not Know About Abraham in the Bible 20 Facts You May Not Know About Moses from the Bible Who Was Mary Magdalene in the Bible? 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. Please be patient. Understanding the latest news through a biblical lens. The infamous account of how she became Davids wife is found in 2 Samuel 11. Bathsheba was a daughter of Eliam and was probably of noble birth. When believers sin, they bring disgrace and contempt on Gods name; therefore, God punishes believers to bring them back into fellowship and to show the world that He does not excuse or accept sin. David's history suggests that he used many women to balance out his faults (lust, violence, and ego). That is not to say it is a good thing when we sin. He attends Faith Fellowship Church in East Rochester, OH where he has given multiple sermons and is discipled by pastor Chet Howes. There are several key places in the Bible that describe Davids wives. Worship with Pastor Dougs church each week, featuring beautiful music and life-changing Bible study. Some scholars have suggested he married some of these women for political reasonsas noted earlier, Maacah was the daughter of a king. 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? Davids family life was by far his biggest failure. 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. Fast access to all of Amazing Facts English and foreign-language Bible-based websites. David already had three wives before he married Bathsheba. Sue Schlesmanis an award-winning author, teacher, and church leader. ***Note: Based upon (2 Sam 12:8), some believe that after Saul died, David married his wives. God exercises His power in harmony with our free will (even our sinful decisions) to accomplish His divine purposes. If you have perpetrated crimes or taken advantage of others, you can confess your sins and change your habits. The true king of Israel, the messiah and the one who would sit on the eternal throne, would be an heir of King David (2 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 89:3-4; Psalms 132:11). He married 700 women of noble birth and took 300 concubines. 2 Samuel 5 says "David married more wives in Jerusalem.". 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. See how your gifts made a lasting difference recently. Abigail: Davids second wife, Abigail, is found in 1 Samuel 25 during the saga of Davids life when he fled King Saul. She gave birth to . David used several different women to balance out his faults. Free will is a tremendous gift given to us by God because it enables our actions to have meaning and purpose; however, we can abuse it to do unspeakable things in pursuit of our selfish ambitions. 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. He killed a lot of prisoners after battles. Article Images Copyright . As parents, sometimes we must rebuild and repair this foundation when cracks begin to form. Our sin nature gravitates toward selfishness and self-pleasure. And he executed plenty of criminals. 2 Samuel 11:1 records that the king sent his army out to wage war, but he himself stayed behind in Jerusalem. 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. We could refer to this rape as 'power rape,' meaning Bathsheba was not in a position to say no (even if she wanted to) when the king called for her and collected her with guards. Davids character influenced his childrens character. Some details may not have major stories attached, and not all of them have detailed themes or takeaways.

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