In Matthew Jesus is often referred to as “son of David”. Our
New Testament starts out with “the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David,
the son of Abraham.” (Matt 1:1). David was considered a man after God’s own
heart (Acts 13:22, 1 Sam 13:14). He had beautiful eyes and a handsome
appearance (1 Samuel 16:12).
The story of David and Bathsheba is told in a way that
acknowledges David was in the wrong. He committed adultery by having sex with
another man’s wife. He then added to that sin by having the other man killed.
It would be hard to defend David here. In this case the Bible helps clarify
that David had done something wrong. The story clarifies that “what David had
done upset the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27). A
prophet is sent to help David recognize his sin. David repents of his sin “I
have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13 ). We are told that God forgives him, however,
the child conceived of this sin would die as a result.
The way this story is told, it is clear that adultery and murder
are very wrong.
However, the rest of David’s relationships are described without a hint that anything is wrong.
However, the rest of David’s relationships are described without a hint that anything is wrong.
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God gave David the wives of Saul. (2 Sam 12:8)
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David had at least 8 wives. 1 Chronicles 3:1-9
lists 7 wives as it lists David’s children by marriage. His first wife Michal
is missing from this count.
·
David also had at least 10 concubines or
mistresses (2 Samuel 15:16)
David may have also married a mother and her daughter. A
woman named Ahinoam is listed as first wife of Saul (I Samuel 14:50). David's
first wife is Michal, the daughter of Ahinoam. David also takes Saul's wives (2
Sam 12:8). A woman named Ahinoam is mentioned as a wife of David (1 Samuel
25:43). It is possible there are two women named Ahinoam. Either way we know
David took Saul's wives, and one of Saul's daughters.
David's concubines are mentioned in 2 Sam 15:13-17.
When fleeing from his son Absalom, David left 10 concubines behind. Absalom
then “went into” the concubines. When David regained his household he did not
“go into” the concubines, but put these 10 women away under guard to live the
rest of their lives as a “widow” (2 Sam 20:3).
David spent his last days with a young virgin in bed with
him. The story says David did not have sex with her. But for us today looking
back it is still an odd way for an old man to end his days. The story
emphasises that they searched the nation for a young beautiful girl to keep his
old body warm (1 King 1:1 – 4). I wonder
why they didn’t search for a large older widow with possibly more warmth to
give, and with less appearance of paedophilia.
Let’s go back to the verse that talks about Saul’s wives
being given to David. Notice it is
written as if God was the one giving these wives to David. What implications does this have? Would God
give David a harem of women if polygamy was wrong in that distant time and
place? 2 Samuel 12:8 reads:
I gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your arms. I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well!
Questions to consider:
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Do you think God should give someone a harem of women?
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Is there a hint that David thought it was wrong
to have many wives and mistresses?
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Did God later correct him?
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Did any prophets speak against it?
·
Did any Biblical author think this was wrong?
Continue Reading:
Start from the top:
- Recently Discovered Chapter of Deuteronomy
- Sexuality of: Heros of The Faith
- Biblical Marriage
- Porneia (Sexual Immorality???)
- Take a Old Testament Sexuality Survey Here
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