how many wives did david have before bathsheba
We dont know. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), Guard your heart. 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. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? 3) Davids actions would be repeated in his family for generations. God removes Davids guilt and shame, but God does not remove the natural consequences that Davids sinful patterns produced. (1 Samuel 13:14), Beware of power. Uriah still wont go home. Admittedly, its not always the most exciting part of the Bible to read, however it is incredibly important for understanding the historical accounts recorded. If God remained faithful to David in spite of his failings, we can rest assured He will remain faithful to us despite ours. What Makes Makoto Fujimura a Great Christian Artist? We know that David married many more wives other than the seven listed by name. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? 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. In (Deut 17:17), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. Though David was both a good and bad father at times, he was never meant to be the perfect example to follow. As parents, sometimes we must rebuild and repair this foundation when cracks begin to form. No other account in the Bible so vividly captures the heart-wrenching struggle of a sinful man who earnestly sought after the Lord yet failed to measure up. Their names are not recorded. David had many wives and concubines. Regardless of which one is correct, the fact remains David made a mistake having so many wives. While Uriah was away at war, David saw Bathsheba bathing in her courtyard one night; she was beautiful, and David lusted after her. 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. 12. 2) The baby born from Davids sin would die; the death would show unbelieving nations that God did not approve of Davids sin. Solomon replied, you might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! (1 Kings 2:22). He sends for her and has sexual relations with her, knowing it's wrong. The world-renowned Amazing Facts Bible school will help you know Gods Word better than ever. 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). The Bible doesnt outright say which of Davids wives he favored the most, nor does it give us enough information to guess. Understand Bible prophecy and more at these local events in your area. Instead of owning up to the liaison and making restitution, David took an even more sinful approach to the crisis. Our sins always affect future generations. Related: Listen to our FREE Bible podcast,How to Study the Bible! 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. This doesn't count the concubines he had (2 Samuel 5:13). 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. 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. His first six sons, recorded in 2 Samuel 3:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-4, are: 1. She begged for forgiveness and gave David a handsome number of supplies, thus staying Davids hand from taking vengeance by his own hand. He did not set a godly example, and he did not call his children to live godly lives. 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. Depending on the length of a woman's period, this seven-day injunction before purification virtually guarantees that a woman will most likely be ovulating, or close to ovulating when she resumes having sex. Even in light of Davids polygamy, we can trust God worked through all things for His glory. This opened an even bigger door for Absalom to take matters into his own hands. Also, we find hope. It doesnt matter how hard we try to thwart Gods plans; He will always accomplish exactly what He intends. 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. Psalm 32 relays how Davids sin and restoration affected him physically, psychologically, and spiritually. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan confronts David concerning his sin with Bathsheba and pronounces a judgment against David. The biblical text implies that this ritual purification was the bath that David saw Bathsheba taking. He sees a beautiful woman bathing in the next house. 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. David plotted to have Uriah killed. As told in 2 . 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. He also lost the respect of his people, and his reputation was permanently besmirched. Updated on May 07, 2019. 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). Our children may inevitably adopt some of the bad habits and practices they learn from us. Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus? I dont think so. Here are the eight wives: Michalwas Davids original wife, Sauls daughter whom David won by killing 100 Philistines (1 Samuel 18:24-27). After this, the Lord struck Nabal and took his life. 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. Absalom Absalom, David's third son, or at least the third in line, was handsome, cunning, ambitious, and hot-tempered. Strengthen your walk with Christ with these life-changing devotionals from your friends at Amazing Facts. 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. The Bible is clear that what David did was wrong and the Lord condemned him for his actions. All 27 lessons of our popular Bible lesson series available at the click of your mouse. Some scholars have suggested he married some of these women for political reasonsas noted earlier, Maacah was the daughter of a king. The latest information on all of Pastor Dougs upcoming events. Regarding Davids wives, we have a grim reminder of what happens when we neglect to live as God commands. Confession and repentance not only makes our hearts whole again; it also resets our physical and emotional states. It may be shocking to suggest King David had sexual issues, but its not out of the question. The fact she had no children could mean they became estranged. Though He will not always reverse the consequences of our poor decisions, with genuine repentance we may return to Him. Solomon responded by having Adonijah killed (1 Kings 2:25). Stephen Baker is a graduate of Mount Union University. Because of Ruths choices, David, Solomon, Joseph, and Jesus came through her line. (Galatians 5:16-21), Biblical parenting is counter-cultural. Learn Religions. The gifts had previously been given to King Saul. Abigail was the second of Davids wives. A beautiful woman, she became pregnant after David saw her bathing on a rooftop and had her brought to him. 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. Even so, it wasnt too late to ask for forgiveness and return to intimacy with the Father. 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). Haggithmarried David while he was in exile, and had a son named Adonijah. 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 . 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. God calls us to holiness, not convenience. David asked his servants about her and was told she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty . Cover 98.5 percent of the UK with Bible truth now! Amazing Facts quarterly guide featuring news, articles, Bible answers, and more. 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. And David did repent before the Lord. 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 son died seven days after his birth (2 Samuel 12:16-23), and it is possible that he is not included in this list. Sue has a BA in Creative Writing and a Masters in Theology and Culture. In ( Deut 17:17 ), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. Get yours before supplies run out. The slayer of giants, the hero of Israel, the man who pursued God with all his heart. But David was foiled again; drunk though he was, honorable Uriah returned to the barracks and not to his wife. God in His grace restored David back to a healthy spiritual relationship with Him. This is often seen as the cop-out answer anytime the question of why God allows evil in the world comes up. Adonijah as David neared the end of his life, Adonijah, David's fourth son by his wife Haggith, exalted himself as king. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? Please be patient. There are a variety of reasons to learn about them, with two particularly clear ones. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:20). We only know that David could do whatever he wanted to do. Astle, Cynthia. Bathsheba, married David after he famously murdered her husband Uriah (2 Samuel 11). Please reach out to a trusted pastor, counselor, therapist, or friend and share your struggles. Why Was David Allowed to Take so Many Wives (and Who Were They)? David consoled Bathsheba by getting her pregnant again, this time with a son the named Solomon. For example, Bathsheba bore Solomon to David, and he was part of Jesus genealogy (Matthew 1:6-7). You can lean into Gods calling for your life and let him use your circumstances to create good. Parenting is never easy, and it really doesn't get easier or cheaper by the dozen, as the saying goes. 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). The womens pagan backgrounds wooed Solomon away from truth and introduced Israel to idolatry. This is astonishing evidence of Gods grace and forgiveness. Comments containing URLs outside the family of Amazing Facts websites will not be approved.