According to the Bible, his first wife was Michal, the daughter of King Saul. We can learn much from his mistakes. 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. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? He also lost the respect of his people, and his reputation was permanently besmirched. When it came time to be paid, Nabal instead refused to pay David and his men. 2 Samuel 11:1 records that the king sent his army out to wage war, but he himself stayed behind in Jerusalem. Saul reneged and gave him Michal instead because she was infatuated with David and Saul thought he could use her to get to David (1 Samuel 18:17-20). A beautiful woman, she became pregnant after David saw her bathing on a rooftop and had her brought to him. What Makes Twila Paris a Great Christian Musician? At first, David called Bathshebas husband, Uriah, away from the battle to give him a report of the army. 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. As a result, Bathsheba became pregnant with their illegitimate child and told David he was the father. David has committed adultery and murder. Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. However, after Solomon became king, Adonijah used Bathsheba to ask Solomon a favor: he wanted Abishags hand in marriage (1 Kings 2:13-23). Sadly, that judgment included the death of David and Bathsheba's infant son (verse 14). 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. 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. As mentioned earlier, Adonijah then used the almost concubine status of Abishag to try and get closer to the throne. 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. 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. We dont know about five of his wives other than which sons they bore. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. To consummate his insurrection, Absalom slept with his father's concubines in public for everyone to see (2 Samuel 16:20-23). Confession and repentance not only makes our hearts whole again; it also resets our physical and emotional states. The prophet Nathan rebuked David, and Bathshebas child died. In the springtime, when all kings ride out to war, David neglected his responsibilities as king and sent Joab, the commander of his army, to fight in his stead. The gifts had previously been given to King Saul. Similarly, sin and bad character can set the example for our children to learn from and imitate. 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. However, no matter how faithful or righteous David may have been, David's children and descendants were responsible for their actions and accountable to God for their choices, not David's (Deuteronomy 24:16). Solomon replied, you might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! (1 Kings 2:22). No matter how active we are in our children's lives, our children grow up and must one day choose for themselves whether they will serve the Lord or go their own way. Absolutely not! 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! Bathsheba had no rights. Copyright JesusAlive.cc All rights reserved, (1 Sam 18:20-27)(1 Sam 19:11-17)(1 Sam 25:44)(2 Sam 3:13-14), Macaah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur. Keep in mind, he stayed on his face for seven days in genuine contrition and grief for his sinsbegging God for mercy. Cynthia B. Astle is an award-winning journalist who covered religion for 25 years. Answer. Davids passages of confession and repentance are some of the most-read and most encouraging Psalms in Scripture. Wives Of David, Where FromVerses Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, one of David's first wives (1 Samuel 25:43).2. 3) Davids actions would be repeated in his family for generations. Regarding Davids wives, we have a grim reminder of what happens when we neglect to live as God commands. Unfortunately, this is where David failed many of his other children. David offered his services to a man named Nabal, Abigail's husband before David. Consequently, Bathsheba and David had sex at one of the best possible moments for her to conceivewhich she did, with tragic results. (Ephesians 6:10-18). Later she and David had a second son, Solomon, who God favored (2 Samuel 12:25). Bathsheba, married David after he famously murdered her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 11). You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. (Galatians 5:16-21), Biblical parenting is counter-cultural. Bathsheba mourned the death of her husband and David took her as his wife after her time of mourning. It is told in the book of 2 Samuel 11. And later David lost yet another son, Adonijah. Learn Religions, Sep. 10, 2021, learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306. But his pursuit of righteousness was a family trait. Amazing Facts quarterly guide featuring news, articles, Bible answers, and more. Nathan predicts the babys death and that violence and abuse will continue in Davids family. Understanding the latest news through a biblical lens. 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). When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. For example, Bathsheba bore Solomon to David, and he was part of Jesus genealogy (Matthew 1:6-7). But Uriah didn't go home; he stayed within the palace barracks. 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. When he heard this, David took Abigail as his wife. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Rather, God works through the effects of our sin to bring about His purposes, though He still abhors our sinful actions. David, as well as kings which followed (including his son Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines: 1 Kin 11:3 ), disobeyed . All of these theories have some evidence behind them and leave us with something to chew on. David and Solomon would have grown up hearing the stories of Gods redemption of their family line through Boaz, the kinsman-redeemer. Click here to read it. The baby has been born and at least nine months have passed, but David has not repented. (Actually, Saul promised David his older daughter Merab, hoping the Philistines would kill David. David killed a lot of people in battle. In his arrogance and lust for power, Absalom eventually turned the hearts of the people against his father and later succeeded in taking the throne of Israel, plunging the nation into a civil war (2 Samuel 15). We learn more about Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, but not much about how David related to them over time. 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. Absalom was later killed by David's commander Joab, against David's wishes (2 Samuel 18). The account is given for our instruction and encouragement. Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important? God restored David to intimate spiritual fellowship. According to 1 Kings 1:11, the prophet Nathan urged Bathsheba to tell David that Adonijah was preparing to take the throne by force. Bathshebawas Davids last wife (at least the last one mentioned in the Bible) and probably his most famous. The heart can fool any of us and destroy the best of us (Jeremiah 17:9). Cover 98.5 percent of the UK with Bible truth now! The Bible also mentions a woman who was not strictly a wife or a concubine, but close enough that it became a problem. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul mentions the edifying nature of the entire Old Testament stating, For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scripture we might have hope (Romans 15:4). The list of wives married during his exile is repeated in 2 Samuel 3:2-5. Each of his first six wives bore David a son, while Bathsheba bore him four sons. Even a heart like Davids can be deceitful and wicked. 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. As told in 2 . Bathsheba was David's last wife (at least the last one mentioned in the Bible) and probably his most famous. He sends for her and has sexual relations with her, knowing it's wrong. Even knowing she was another man's wife, David . Doing the right thing, regardless of circumstances, is true righteousness. 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. 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. Find out more about his work here. Davids confession in 2 Samuel 12:13 is beautiful and simple: I have sinned against the Lord. First and foremost, our sin is always against God, so its his forgiveness we must seek first. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Unfortunately, neglect and sins of omission in parenting have lasting consequences in the lives of our children, who we are called to instruct, discipline, and lovingly reprove (Ephesians 6:4). Enraged by his brother's actions, Absalom, the son of Maacah and full brother of Tamar, murdered his half-brother Amnon in revenge (2 Samuel 13). God makes the ultimate mockery of sin by taking our wicked decisions and using them for His good purposes (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). David tries again the next night, this time getting Uriah drunk. David thought he pulled off this caper until the prophet Nathan came to visit in 2 Samuel 12. The first was the baby that was the fruit of the sinful and murderous romance between him and Bathsheba. Did she resist, beg, or comply? Given that context, David may have had so many partners because he was in an addictive cycle. Suppose you make some terrible decision in your life that is irreversible. We only know that David could do whatever he wanted to do. She has authored a number of books on faith and religion. The biblical text implies that this ritual purification was the bath that David saw Bathsheba taking. I dont think so. The stories and names of some of them have transcended more in history, while others have simply been mentioned without specifying the origin. Adultery is still sin. How many of them learned these bad habits from their father? When it comes to Gods children, Scripture places much emphasis on the importance of making good decisions (Joshua 24:14-15; 1 Corinthians 10:13). 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.. In (Deut 17:17), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. Abigail: Davids second wife, Abigail, is found in 1 Samuel 25 during the saga of Davids life when he fled King Saul. 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. Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus? Sue is agented withKaren Neumair atCredo Communications. They are: David's remaining children that we know of were born in Jerusalem to unnamed wives. Even so, it wasnt too late to ask for forgiveness and return to intimacy with the Father. Also, we find hope. Amazing Facts is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization, Download AF Radio App for iPhone or Android. Like most of us, David must have grown tired of fighting spiritual and physical enemies. He wasnt in love with her from what the text reveals. 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. (1 John 1:9-10), David and Bathsheba's story is a traumatic one, but also one that God redeems. The second is that their stories show us a side of David we often forget. They are all mentioned in 2 Samuel 3:2-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-3. (1 Samuel 13:14), Beware of power. Comments made on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday may not be approved until the following Monday. David offered his services to a man named Nabal, Abigails husband before David. There are a variety of reasons to learn about them, with two particularly clear ones. Following is a list of the wives of David that we know the names of, along with where they were from, and Bible verses that mention them. 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. However, its not clear if they reconciled after she rebuked David. How many wives did David have before Bathsheba? David was an insignificant shepherd when God chose him. We strive to approve comments the day they are made, but please allow at least 24 hours for your comment to appear. ***Note: Based upon (2 Sam 12:8), some believe that after Saul died, David married his wives. The infamous account of how she became Davids wife is found in 2 Samuel 11. 2 Samuel 12:10-12 . Integrity guards your heart, mind, emotions, and actions. David repents and worships. https://www.learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306 (accessed May 2, 2023). 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. 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). While Uriah was away at war, David saw Bathsheba bathing in her courtyard one night; she was beautiful, and David lusted after her. Thus, although Abishag was not Davids wife or concubine, her intimate connection with the king resulted in people using her as a pawn. 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. Abigail: David's second wife, Abigail, is found in 1 Samuel 25 during the saga of David's life when he fled King Saul. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? 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). Repentance didnt reverse the effects of Davids sin. Our children may inevitably adopt some of the bad habits and practices they learn from us. Incongruence happens when we ignore or disobey Gods laws. By failing to provide justice for his daughter, David not only failed Tamar, but he also failed Amnon, whose sin had gone unpunished. (Proverbs 11:14), Lean into God for forgiveness, comfort, and direction. We know Abigail was unusually wise, and nothing about how she related to David later in life. David plotted to have Uriah killed. Not exactly romantic. He had a daughter named Michal, who King Saul had given him in exchange for killing 400 Philistines. In fact, this would fulfill a prophecy Nathan gave when he rebuked David for his infidelity: someone in his household would rebel against him, someone who would shame David by sleeping with Davids wives in public (2 Samuel 12:11-12). (Exodus 20:14, 17), Integrity isnt natural. Bathsheba was a victim who suffered from multiple life-changing traumas in the same year. 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. God forgave Davidand usof any and all confessed sin. And David did repent before the Lord. The Bible even refers to him as a "man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). What Makes Makoto Fujimura a Great Christian Artist? 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. If you have a Bible question for Pastor Doug Batchelor or the Amazing Facts Bible answer team, please submit it by clicking here. These were born to David in Hebron" (2 Samuel 3:2-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-3). 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. Saul then promised David the eldest son . 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). 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. If Christians are not ready, they will get blind-sided by such objections and may even suffer doubt of their own faith. Not long after Bathsheba and David committed adultery, Bathsheba sent a message to David telling him she was pregnant. If so, the sons of David with his wives would total at least 20. A wife not covered in either list, Davids first wife, is mentioned in several stories about Davids exploit. He gets distracted by power, fame, and success. Who Were David's Wives, and Why Should We Know Their Names? All 27 lessons of our popular Bible lesson series available at the click of your mouse. Comments containing telephone numbers or email addresses will not be approved. 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. 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. (2 Samuel 12:11-12) Although David fasted and prayed for a week for his baby to survive, God did not answer his request. 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. 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. Discover all the informative and inspiring books from the speaker and president of Amazing Facts. 2 Samuel 5 says "David married more wives in Jerusalem.". However, while we may see David as a legend and hero of the faith, we must also remember that he was just as much a son, a brother, a husband, and a father as he was a king or a warrior. The womens pagan backgrounds wooed Solomon away from truth and introduced Israel to idolatry. 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. Abigail was the second of Davids wives. Eventually, all of his decisions were made poorly. 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. Bathsheba: Theres no doubt Bathsheba is the most known among Davids wives. 2) The baby born from Davids sin would die; the death would show unbelieving nations that God did not approve of Davids sin. Regardless of which one is correct, the fact remains David made a mistake having so many wives. In rebellion against his father, Absalom mounted a coup against David and briefly took the kingdom (2 Samuel 15-17). Article Images Copyright , 10 Things to Know about the Story of David and Bathsheba. He attends Faith Fellowship Church in East Rochester, OH where he has given multiple sermons and is discipled by pastor Chet Howes. Chileab (or Daniel), whose mother was Abigail, the widow of Nabal, who David married after the death her husband (1 Samuel 25).3. And David sent and inquired about the woman. David's history suggests that he used many women to balance out his faults (lust, violence, and ego). Abigail of Carmel(1 Chr 3:1)(2 Sam 3:3)(2 Sam 2:2) Michals husband Paltiel trails behind her, weeping (2 Samuel 3:13-17). He only notices Bathsheba because hes home when hes supposed to be leading his troops. In brokering peace and power for Israel among neighboring nations, Solomon acquired 1000 women. Other wives gave birth to nine more sons. But power and money makes us feel like we deserve certain indulgences we might not have without a position of power. 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. Again, with sinister motives, Saul told David he could still become his son-in-law by marrying Michal. Thus, it also means that he was between 44-48 years old when he first encountered Bathsheba, who was 7-9 years old. A Case Study in Narrative Theology in Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 17/2 (Autumn 2006): 8195. But after his sin, David thoroughly repented. We know that David promised Bathsheba her son Solomon would succeed him and that she warned him that Adonijah was trying to usurp the throne (1 Kings 1:17). However, nothing in the Bible is accidental, it is all God-breathed and useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17). His first six sons, recorded in 2 Samuel 3:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-4, are: 1. Sue is a top-contributor to Salem Web Network radio ministry and Crosswalk.com. Their names are not recorded. Much like his son Solomon, David had lots of wives, but it created trouble and strife. After Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom killed him (2 Samuel 13:23-38). Bad decisions have lasting consequences. 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. Let the demise of Absalom, Amnon, and Adonijah be our warning. Chileab (or Daniel . (2021, September 10). However, God's mercies are proven to be far more powerful than any sin or parental mistake(Deuteronomy 5:9-10). Bible Answer: 2 Samuel 12:8 does not record God's approval of polygamy but God's gift of the possessions that He gave David. 1 Chronicles 3:1-4 states that King David's first seven wives gave him six children, while they lived in Hebron. Comments containing URLs outside the family of Amazing Facts websites will not be approved. This is done to give Uriah the opportunity to go home and sleep with his wife so that he can pass as the father of Bathshebas child. David asked his servants about her and was told she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty . That example would come through his descendent, Jesus Christ, in whom David's broken, imperfect family would be redeemed, and all people could be forgiven, restored, and redeemed. The story of Bathsheba and David has proved so enduring that religious commentators still debate the quality of the sin involvedand its plot has been borrowed for countless romance novels, movies, and daytime dramas. (2 Samuel 11:2-4) "David didn't invite Bathsheba. Abital(1 Chr 3:3)(2 Sam 3:4) Bathsheba, however, would go on to have three additional sons with David. 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. Michal(1 Sam 18:20-27)(1 Sam 19:11-17)(1 Sam 25:44)(2 Sam 3:13-14) So, they were at least on speaking terms later in life. 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.
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