There is a dangerous assumption which accompanies many Bible readers and serves as the root of numerous stumbling blocks. Not exactly romantic. It may be shocking to suggest King David had sexual issues, but its not out of the question. He has contributed over 1,200 articles to various publications, including interviews for Christian Communicator and book reviews for The Evangelical Church Library Association. Given that context, David may have had so many partners because he was in an addictive cycle. And God not only forgave them, He even blessed their marriage with another child. The Bible even refers to him as a "man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Nathan (son of David) - Wikipedia How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? 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). 2 Samuel 12:10-12 . They are: David's remaining children that we know of were born in Jerusalem to unnamed wives. She and her husband Shane are launching a podcast called Stress Test: the heartbeat of healthy leadership in late April, 2023. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:20). In 2020, he won First Prize for Best Feature Story in a regional contest by the Colorado Press Association Network. He had planned the murder of his half-brother Amnon for years, allowing his hatred of Amnon to "boil" over past the point of no return. He also lost the respect of his people, and his reputation was permanently besmirched. She was originally the wife of Uriah the Hittite, a trusted soldier in David's army. 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. Then when David ascends to the throne of Israel, David orders Michal to be taken from her new husband and children and brought back to the palace, apparently out of spite. The Rabbis are concerned with the causes and harsh consequences of David's sin, but completely disregard Bathsheba's . Ahinoam: Introduced in 1 Samuel 25:43, Ahinoam is mostly mentioned alongside Abigail, since both wives accompanied David together while He fled Saul. 1), ***Note: Some believe that David was also married to Merab based upon (1 Sam 17:25), however (1 Sam 18:17-19)(2 Sam 21:8) appears to disprove this. 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). And God not only forgave them, He even blessed their marriage with another child. Who Were King David's Wives in the Bible - Names and Importance His first six sons, recorded in 2 Samuel 3:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-4, are: 1. According to the Bible, his first wife was Michal, the daughter of King Saul. David stopped grooming integrity. Amon treated Tamar as a used and unwanted outcast, a reputation she likely carried for the rest of her life. He talks to Uriah about the battle and sends him home so hell sleep with his wife and the affair will be hidden. (2 Samuel 11:2-4) "David didn't invite Bathsheba. Ahinoam of Jezreel(1 Chr 3:1)(2 Sam 3:2)(2 Sam 2:2) The Bible doesnt outright say which of Davids wives he favored the most, nor does it give us enough information to guess. 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. In (Deut 17:17), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, yet another wife of David. As a result, Bathsheba became pregnant with their illegitimate child and told David he was the father. Integrity guards your heart, mind, emotions, and actions. Solomon responded by having Adonijah killed (1 Kings 2:25). David asked Uriah why he didn't go home, and loyal Uriah replied that he wouldn't dream of having a conjugal visit when David's army at the front has no such opportunity. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. 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). He didn't woo her. The Bible doesn't mention the circumstances of David's marriage to Bathsheba, but it does mention that he had three wives before Bathsheba. Ahinoam married David while he was in exile from Saul, and had Davids firstborn son, Amnon. Our sins always affect future generations. Learn Religions. 2. Much like his son Solomon, David had lots of wives, but it created trouble and strife. Who Are King David's Children in the Bible? David tries again the next night, this time getting Uriah drunk. Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (or Maakah), the daughter of Talmar, King of Geshur, and wife of David.4. 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. Each of his first six wives bore David a son, while Bathsheba bore him four sons. By now David was old and feeble, and his oldest surviving son, Adonijah, attempted to usurp the throne before his father died. 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. Not only would God grant Solomon favor in the form of wisdom, riches, and long life (1 Kings 3), God would honor His promise to David by allowing Solomon to finish the construction of the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6). Wives Of David, Where FromVerses He did not set a godly example, and he did not call his children to live godly lives. Although the lists of his mighty men (2 Samuel 23:8-39 & 1 Chronicles 11:10-47) are given after David has become king, many of them may have been the loyal followers who stayed with him when he was fleeing King Saul.At the very least, they fought side by side with him. Why did God allow David to keep Bathsheba as his wife? Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Abitalmarried David while he was in exile, and had a son named Shephatiah. 1 Kings 1:4 says Abishag looked after the king and took care of him. Among other things, the fact David chose to have multiple wives proves he was a sinner. Hes angry hearing the story. Years later, Absalom became convinced he could do a better job as king than his seemingly passive father. 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. Like most of us, David must have grown tired of fighting spiritual and physical enemies. Solomon would repent and return his heart fully to God, going on to write many of the Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and the book of Ecclesiastes. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. The implication seems to be if Adonijah married a woman whod been on intimate terms with David, it would be like marrying one of Davids wives: a claim to power and succession. 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. As told in 2 Samuel 11-12, Bathsheba was married to Uriah, one of Davids mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39). David and Bathsheba Bible Story and 10 Important Lessons 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. Bathsheba: Theres no doubt Bathsheba is the most known among Davids wives. Adonijah as David neared the end of his life, Adonijah, David's fourth son by his wife Haggith, exalted himself as king. He lost four children. But Nathans prophecies still come true. Strengthen your walk with Christ with these life-changing devotionals from your friends at Amazing Facts. Davids laziness in rooting out lust overlaps into a laziness of calling and purpose. But Uriah is a man of integrity (he doesnt want to enjoy anything his fellow-soldiers cant enjoy), so he sleeps outside the palace. At first, David called Bathshebas husband, Uriah, away from the battle to give him a report of the army. 2 Samuel 12:8 Why did God give David the wives of - NeverThirsty He not only became the next king, but he was also blessed as an ancestor of the Messiah. David, as well as kings which followed (including his son Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines: 1 Kin 11:3 ), disobeyed . News reached Saul that his daughter, Michal, loved David. The plan worked. As Davids life shows, nothing good comes of pretending a sin doesnt exist. The list of wives married during his exile is repeated in 2 Samuel 3:2-5. Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, one of David's first wives (1 Samuel 25:43).2. Answer. Bathsheba had no rights. For the full story of David and Bathsheba please read 2 Samuel 11 and for the full story of Nathan confronting David and the consequences of David's actions read 2 Samuel 12. We learn more about Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, but not much about how David related to them over time. God exercises His power in harmony with our free will (even our sinful decisions) to accomplish His divine purposes. He gave them Solomon, whose name means "Peace.". ***Note: Based upon (2 Sam 12:8), some believe that after Saul died, David married his wives. Amazing Facts quarterly guide featuring news, articles, Bible answers, and more. Psalm 32 and 51 detail Davids journey to repentance. 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. The fact that Saul and David both had wives named Ahinoam is also is used to reach this conclusion. Early intervention, discipline, and instruction could mean the difference between life and death later on. Lets take a look at what the Bible tells us about them. The source for everything happening at Amazing Facts. The latest information on all of Pastor Dougs upcoming events. David slept with Bathsheba and arranged for Uriahs death when he discovered Bathsheba was pregnant (2 Samuel 11:14-27). After Bathsheba mourns for her deceased husband, David sends for and marries Bathsheba. Davids background influenced him. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. This is astonishing evidence of Gods grace and forgiveness. 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. This opened an even bigger door for Absalom to take matters into his own hands. But his pursuit of righteousness was a family trait. Suppose you make some terrible decision in your life that is irreversible. He asks someone who she is (Shes Bathsheba, married to Uriah, one of your elite fighting men). David's history suggests that he used many women to balance out his faults (lust, violence, and ego). See how your gifts made a lasting difference recently. In an ancient kingdom, a king could kill anyone who disobeyed him. In his old age, David could no longer stay warm in bed, so his advisors found a young virgin named Abishag to sleep in the same bed with David and provide warmth. In ( Deut 17:17 ), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. Financial missteps can impact families for generations. He killed a lot of prisoners after battles. The Bible routinely describes polygamy in a negative light, so it may be hard to understand why David, a man after Gods own heart, (1 Samuel 13:14) had multiple wives. David humbly refused and stated he was unworthy to be the kings son-in-law (1 Samuel 18:17-19). Years later, after Absalom killed his brother Amnon for what he did to Tamar, Absalom rebelled against David and forced him to flee Jerusalem. David was many things in life. The first was the baby that was the fruit of the sinful and murderous romance between him and Bathsheba. All 27 lessons of our popular Bible lesson series available at the click of your mouse. David then married Abigail, and she had a son named Daniel. Seek humility because its a proven weapon against the sins that come with power and prestige. David raped Bathsheba and sent her home. Absolutely not! In Davids old age, Adonijah declared himself king, and David had to quickly crown Solomon to clear matters up (1 King 1:5-52). All rights reserved. David sends for Bathshebas husband to come home to try to cover up his sin. It would have been a cruel act for David to put away Bathsheba after the death of her husband and baby through his influence. Get yours before supplies run out. Regardless of which one is correct, the fact remains David made a mistake having so many wives. Nathan ( Hebrew: , Modern: Natan, Tiberian: Nn) was the third of four sons born to King David and Bathsheba in Jerusalem. Depending on what Sunday School you attended, you might not know there were multiple wives. Bathsheba and David: Biblical Romance and Tragedy. What Can Galileo Teach Us about Science and Faith? The earlier we can identify and address problematic habits and behavior in our children, the better. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306. Article Images Copyright , 10 Things to Know about the Story of David and Bathsheba. Gods providence. Unfortunately, this is where David failed many of his other children. ), so he goes for a walk on the roof. Does it mean you cannot be forgiven or saved? Davids character influenced his childrens character. Even though the Bible doesnt describe God or prophets outright condemning David for polygamy, it doesnt praise him for it either. Her future child(ren) would be raised within a context of sexual misconduct, manipulation, competition, cover-up, and violence just as Nathan predicted. 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. Unfortunately for Adonijah, God had already chosen Solomon, Bathsheba's son, as David's successor. How many of them learned these bad habits from their father? God explicitly prohibited polygamy. He cant sleep (maybe because hes not fulfilling his purpose? 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. Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David as his wife ( 1 Samuel 18:20-27 ). This theory suggests Bathsheba did not say "no" to David, but neither did she say "yes.". But the king had no sexual relations with her. So, Abishag slept with the king, but not (if youll forgive the pun) in the Biblical sense.. David, (flourished c. 1000 bce), second ruler of the united kingdom of ancient Israel and Judah. will be automatically deleted and the invitation to participate revoked. 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 and Solomon would have grown up hearing the stories of Gods redemption of their family line through Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer. Next, David acquires Ahinoam as his wife, followed by Abigail, who impresses him with her wisdom and intelligence. Whereas Saul lacked sufficient self-confidence to lead the nation appropriately, David was ever sure of himself [an important component of true trust in Gd] yet knew to repent in an instant and keep his teshuvah alive . Comments that include name-calling, profanity, harassment, ridicule, etc. These were born to David at Hebron. In other words, she was not truly willing to sleep with him, but he was the king. 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. Because of Ruths choices, David, Solomon, Joseph, and Jesus came through her line. This plan failed as Uriah faithfully refused to even go home, lest he sleep with his wife. King David's Wives and Marriages in the Bible In all of Scripture, the life of David may be the most dramatic recorded. It would have been a cruel act for David to put away Bathsheba after the death of her husband and baby through his influence. David plotted to have Uriah killed. Some scholars have suggested he married some of these women for political reasonsas noted earlier, Maacah was the daughter of a king. Thus, although Abishag was not Davids wife or concubine, her intimate connection with the king resulted in people using her as a pawn. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. A guide for walking through all of Scripture in just a yearwith catch-up days built in. After David had moved his kingdom to Jerusalem, where he ruled for thirty-three years, he had four more children with Bathsheba. Heres the plot summary, and its spicy enough for any Netflix series: King David stays home when hes supposed to go to war. If God remained faithful to David in spite of his failings, we can rest assured He will remain faithful to us despite ours. 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. David was not a perfect father, but he was still a man after God's own heart who loved God and loved his children. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel. David has committed adultery and murder. Even knowing she was another man's wife, David . 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. The fact that an innocent child diesinstead of the guilty pairis troubling in light of what we know of God's . 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. Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital, another of David's wives.6. 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 lists sons that David had with seven women, six of which he married while living in exile in Hebron. Click here to read it. Haggith(1 Chr 3:2)(2 Sam 3:4) 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? (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), Guard your heart. The second is that their stories show us a side of David we often forget. As mentioned earlier, Adonijah then used the almost concubine status of Abishag to try and get closer to the throne. Eventually, Joab killed Absalom. David had many wives & concubines - Diana Leagh Matthews He is the writer of a special Scripture study/reflection addendum to Someplace to Be Somebody, authored by his wife, Lisa Loraine Baker (End Game Press Spring 2022). Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus? Judging from Solomon's later wisdom, which we read in the Proverbs, it seems David had succeeded in instructing and building a solid spiritual foundation for his son to stand upon (1 Kings 2). Article Images Copyright . 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. Adultery is still sin. 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. 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. He didn't lure her. God never did. A Case Study in Narrative Theology in Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 17/2 (Autumn 2006): 8195. But God blessed Bathsheba with her son Solomon who would become king after his father. How many of David's sons became lustful, greedy, and ambitious like their father? (2021, September 10). How many wives did David have before Bathsheba? This story shows that God can redeem us even after we have wandered far off the path. Our flagship program features the most informative and inspiring messages from Pastor Doug and more. Learn Religions, Sep. 10, 2021, learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306.