Bathsheba Was King David's Most Famous Wife The fact she had no children could mean they became estranged. Sue Schlesmanis an award-winning author, teacher, and church leader. If you have perpetrated crimes or taken advantage of others, you can confess your sins and change your habits. (1 Samuel 13:14), Beware of power. David killed a lot of people in battle. God explicitly prohibited polygamy. Absalom killed Amnon his brother, and then Absalom was killed. Psalm 32 and 51 detail Davids journey to repentance. But David was foiled again; drunk though he was, honorable Uriah returned to the barracks and not to his wife. In the city of Jerusalem, David's eighth wife, Bathsheba, gave him four sons after the death of her first son. Featuring courses and local seminars on how to be a better witness in your community. 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. God restored David to intimate spiritual fellowship. David then married Abigail, and she had a son named Daniel. From that time forward, Michal despises David (2 Samuel 6:16). 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. While he walked around on the roof of his house, David spied the married woman, Bathsheba, bathing. Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, one of David's first wives (1 Samuel 25:43).2. Saul then promised David the eldest son . Bathsheba was King David's most famous and controversial wife, in part because their marriage came after an illicit extramarital affair at the height of David's reign over Judah and Israel (circa 1005965 BCE). Most of the sons mentioned from these womencaused much strife and grief in Davids family. She and her husband Shane are launching a podcast called Stress Test: the heartbeat of healthy leadership in late April, 2023. We dont know. Then Nathan reveals that the story is about Davids sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Following Amnon's murder, Absalom fled Jerusalem and did not return for another three years. As Davids life shows, nothing good comes of pretending a sin doesnt exist. https://www.learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306 (accessed May 2, 2023). How many wives did King David have? | GotQuestions.org "The third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream the son of David's wife Eglah. 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 lists sons that David had with seven women, six of which he married while living in exile in Hebron. 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). God never did. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. It is all too common for skeptics and mockers to cite such things in Scripture to devalue the moral integrity of the Bible and dismiss the possibility of Scripture being Gods Word. 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. The world-renowned Amazing Facts Bible school will help you know Gods Word better than ever. They are: -Japhia-Elishama-Eliada-Eliphelet-Tamar, the only daughter named amongst David's children. The Bible is clear that what David did was wrong and the Lord condemned him for his actions. Comments that include name-calling, profanity, harassment, ridicule, etc. David thought he pulled off this caper until the prophet Nathan came to visit in 2 Samuel 12. 2 Samuel 11:1 records that the king sent his army out to wage war, but he himself stayed behind in Jerusalem. Bathsheba, however, would go on to have three additional sons with David. He also lost the respect of his people, and his reputation was permanently besmirched. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. The slayer of giants, the hero of Israel, the man who pursued God with all his heart. She has authored a number of books on faith and religion. The stories and names of some of them have transcended more in history, while others have simply been mentioned without specifying the origin. 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). The first was the baby that was the fruit of the sinful and murderous romance between him and Bathsheba. Bathsheba in the Bible - character, marriage, and life lessons Repentance didnt reverse the effects of Davids sin. 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. David asked his servants about her and was told she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty . Bathsheba was David's last wife (at least the last one mentioned in the Bible) and probably his most famous. One night in Jerusalem, King David was walking upon his rooftop when he spotted a beautiful woman bathing nearby ( 2 Samuel 11:2 ). A total of nineteen sons are named here. Though David was both a good and bad father at times, he was never meant to be the perfect example to follow. Who Were David's Wives, and Why Should We Know Their Names? Nathan ( Hebrew: , Modern: Natan, Tiberian: Nn) was the third of four sons born to King David and Bathsheba in Jerusalem. How many of them learned these bad habits from their father? Uriah the Hittite - Wikipedia David's history suggests that he used many women to balance out his faults (lust, violence, and ego). Who Are King David's Children in the Bible? He only notices Bathsheba because hes home when hes supposed to be leading his troops. More importantly, God's mercy and promise to David remained true. David clearly struggled with this many times. Who are the sons of David mentioned in the Bible? Abigail of Carmel(1 Chr 3:1)(2 Sam 3:3)(2 Sam 2:2) 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. How much of Absalom's arrogance and ambition was born of David's passivity and neglect in dealing with Amnon? A beautiful woman, she became pregnant after David saw her bathing on a rooftop and had her brought to him. (2021, September 10). They are: David's remaining children that we know of were born in Jerusalem to unnamed wives. Why did David need Abishag to keep him warm when he had wives and Though David had (probably) eight wives and (probably) 10 concubines, King Solomon seemed to take things up a notch in a Biblical case of "hold my beer." According to 1 Kings 11, Solomon was recorded to have at least 700 wives (though the text itself only mentions those wives "of royal birth"), and at least 300 concubines. You can lean into Gods calling for your life and let him use your circumstances to create good. 9. It stands as a clear warning to every leader, every spouse, and every believer who loves God and feels secure in their own perspectives. Whether Bathsheba is guilty or not, is less important in the Bible than the guilt of the king himself: Nathan comes to David, not Bathsheba, to point out the error of his ways. And God not only forgave them, He even blessed their marriage with another child. The Brown commentary states "In this conduct David transgressed an express law, which forbade the king of Israel to multiply . Eglah(1 Chr 3:3)(2 Sam 3:5) Abigail: Davids second wife, Abigail, is found in 1 Samuel 25 during the saga of Davids life when he fled King Saul. 2 Samuel 12:8 Why did God give David the wives of - NeverThirsty 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? 2) The baby born from Davids sin would die; the death would show unbelieving nations that God did not approve of Davids sin. David, (flourished c. 1000 bce), second ruler of the united kingdom of ancient Israel and Judah. Answer. 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. 7 Bibliography. The David and Bathsheba Pericope Re-Examined, The Story of David and Bathsheba: A Different Approach, The Alleged Rape of Bathsheba: Some Observations on Ambiguity in Biblical Narrative. 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. He began making poor decisions in areas of his life where he didnt think it mattered. David had seven wives prior to Bathsheba. Abigail was the second of Davids wives. 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). When it came time to be paid, Nabal instead refused to pay . 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 an ancient kingdom, a king could kill anyone who disobeyed him. The Jesus Revolution Comes to Hollywood: Will Thousands Be Converted? Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. Obviously, David was secure enough on his throne that he no longer had a need to go to war to prove his military prowess; he could send his generals instead. At first, David called Bathshebas husband, Uriah, away from the battle to give him a report of the army. 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). He was a man after Gods own heart, but that doesnt mean he got everything right. 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. She loves traveling, reading, missions, art, and dessert. Michals husband Paltiel trails behind her, weeping (2 Samuel 3:13-17). Please reach out to a trusted pastor, counselor, therapist, or friend and share your struggles. First, 2 Samuel 11:711 describes how David tried to attribute Bathsheba's pregnancy to Uriah. 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. Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, one of David's first wives ( 1 Samuel 25:43 ). He did not set a godly example, and he did not call his children to live godly lives. Witness to friends and family with these powerhouse resources on a wide variety of biblical topics. Learn Religions, Sep. 10, 2021, learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306. Hes angry hearing the story. Davids laziness in rooting out lust overlaps into a laziness of calling and purpose. Are they more prone to sexual sin than regular people? You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel. 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. Comments made on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday may not be approved until the following Monday. Wives of King David How many wives did King David have? He founded the Judaean dynasty and united all the tribes of Israel under a single monarch. (Galatians 5:16-21), Biblical parenting is counter-cultural. Bathsheba | Description & Biblical Account | Britannica Unfortunately, this is where David failed many of his other children. We know Michal was devoted to David, enough to hide him from her own father. Worship with Pastor Dougs church each week, featuring beautiful music and life-changing Bible study. Her future child(ren) would be raised within a context of sexual misconduct, manipulation, competition, cover-up, and violence just as Nathan predicted. That child died shortly after birth as a consequence of David's sin, which the prophet Nathan warned of (2 Samuel 12:14-23). After Amnon raped Tamar, Absalom killed him (2 Samuel 13:23-38). 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. And he executed plenty of criminals. 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). What Makes Twila Paris a Great Christian Musician? Article copyright 2006 by Richard M. Davidson. Dig into the Word and become a Bible expert with Amazing Facts line of study Bibles and more. Eventually, Absalom was ousted and killed (2 Samuel 18), but the troubles continued. He cant sleep (maybe because hes not fulfilling his purpose? Understand Bible prophecy and more at these local events in your area. In ( Deut 17:17 ), God forbid kings from taking multiple wives. (Because Michal was childless [2 Sam 6:23], it appears that she helped raise her sister Merabs 5 sons [2 Sam 21:8 see KJV translation].). This plan failed as Uriah faithfully refused to even go home, lest he sleep with his wife. She finds out shes pregnant. Discover all the informative and inspiring books from the speaker and president of Amazing Facts. Seek humility because its a proven weapon against the sins that come with power and prestige. Bathsheba is the wife most people associate with David . 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). This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. 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. 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. Sauls hopes of David falling by the hand of the Philistines is once again thwarted because David killed 200 Philistines and gave double the agreed-upon dowry. He lost four children. 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). Many theologians believe that the Proverbs 31 woman, whom Solomon wrote about, was Davids great-grandmother Ruth (Ruth 4:21-22). They watched his lust, self-indulgence, cover-ups, and sexual liaisons. 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. King David's Wives and Marriages in the Bible Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (or Maakah), the daughter of Talmar, King of Geshur, and wife of David.4. Please do not comment in languages other than English. David, as well as kings which followed (including his son Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines: 1 Kin 11:3 ), disobeyed . Thus King David was relaxing on a palace balcony above the city when he spied a beautiful woman taking a bath. However, its not clear if they reconciled after she rebuked David. 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). The Shocking Truth About Bathsheba's Marriage to David in the Bible Available atLifeAudio.com. Lets take a look at what the Bible tells us about them. 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. He didn't trick her. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), Guard your heart. 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. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. A guide for walking through all of Scripture in just a yearwith catch-up days built in. Our children may inevitably adopt some of the bad habits and practices they learn from us. David had many wives and concubines. But after his sin, David thoroughly repented. How many wives did King David have? Your number, names and stories Haggith(1 Chr 3:2)(2 Sam 3:4) California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. David is an important figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Abital(1 Chr 3:3)(2 Sam 3:4) As the Apostle Paul says, the Law served to reveal our sin and shut all people up under sin (Galatians 3:19-22). 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. Solomon was known for his many foreign wives, who were able to turn his heart away from God to foreign gods (1 Kings 11). Even in light of Davids polygamy, we can trust God worked through all things for His glory. Confession and repentance not only makes our hearts whole again; it also resets our physical and emotional states. David loved the Lord and loved his children, but he too made mistakes, failed in many areas as a parent, and cried out to God for wisdom and forgiveness throughout his life. The sad story of David's wife Bathsheba is well-known (2 Samuel 11:1-17). Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important? 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. Ithream, whose mother was Eglah, yet another wife of David. 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. When you post, you agree to the terms and conditions of our comments policy. It would have been a cruel act for David to put away Bathsheba after the death of her husband and baby through his influence. 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. Does 2 Samuel 12:8 mean God approved of David's polygamy? How to Have Joy in Your Golden Years Despite These 10 Life California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Did Bathsheba Sin with David? | Desiring God When hes not writing stories and defending biblical truth, Joel is committed to helping young men find purpose in Christ and become fearless disciples and bold leaders in their homes, in the church, and in the world. Learning about Davids poor choices, and the results of those choices help us to understand he was more than the heroic figure we discover in Sunday School. He need only give 100 Philistine foreskins as dowry. He asks someone who she is (Shes Bathsheba, married to Uriah, one of your elite fighting men). An inspiring passage from Scripture delivered to your inbox every day! God always opens pathways to repentance and freedom for us and provides escape routes for every temptation we encounter (1 Corinthians 10:13) If we ignore those, God will provide conviction when we sin (1 John 1:9). Absolutely not! Please be patient. It's our job as parents to build a biblical foundation for our children, teaching them to know God and stand firm in the truth of God's Word early. The first is that everything in the Bible is worth learning on some level. Nathan (son of David) - Wikipedia How Many Wives Did King David Have and What Do We Know about Them? The infamous account of how she became Davids wife is found in 2 Samuel 11. As told in 2 Samuel 11-12, Bathsheba was married to Uriah, one of Davids mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39). Who Are King David's Children in the Bible? Their names are not recorded. And later David lost yet another son, Adonijah. Bathsheba: Midrash and Aggadah | Jewish Women's Archive ), so he goes for a walk on the roof. Abigail wisely entreated David not to kill Nabal, and he had mercy. Like most of us, David must have grown tired of fighting spiritual and physical enemies. When notified, Abigail hurried to intercede on behalf of her husband. 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). 12. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306. 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). Absalom Absalom, David's third son, or at least the third in line, was handsome, cunning, ambitious, and hot-tempered. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. (1 John 1:9-10), David and Bathsheba's story is a traumatic one, but also one that God redeems. Regardless of which one is correct, the fact remains David made a mistake having so many wives. 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 had no rights. Amnom would create much grief for David and the rest of the family when he molested his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13). 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. 2 Samuel 5 says "David married more wives in Jerusalem.". Gods providence. Davids culture accepted polygamy and sexual misconduct from men of power. Depending on what Sunday School you attended, you might not know there were multiple wives. We can learn much from his mistakes. David was an insignificant shepherd when God chose him. Did King David Rape Bathsheba? Each of his first six wives bore David a son, while Bathsheba bore him four sons. Eglah married David while he was in exile, and had a son named Ithream. After she was taken away from him, he married Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. Eglah married David while he was in exile, and had a son named Ithream. 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). 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. Among other things, the fact David chose to have multiple wives proves he was a sinner.

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