how many wives did david have before bathsheba how many wives did david have before bathsheba

Why did God allow David to keep Bathsheba as his wife? (2021, September 10). 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. 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. 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. An inspiring passage from Scripture delivered to your inbox every day! God forgave Davidand usof any and all confessed sin. As described in 1 Samuel 25, she was first married to a wealthy man named Nabal who treated David cheaply. Since David died when he was 70 years old, it means that he was 50 years old when Bathsheba (9-11 years old) gave birth to Solomon. How many wives did David have before Bathsheba? He married 700 women of noble birth and took 300 concubines. He began making poor decisions in areas of his life where he didnt think it mattered. 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? He cant sleep (maybe because hes not fulfilling his purpose? 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.. 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). "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. Later she and David had a second son, Solomon, who God favored (2 Samuel 12:25). 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. She begged for forgiveness and gave David a handsome number of supplies, thus staying Davids hand from taking vengeance by his own hand. He had the capacity to make choices which either adhered to Gods Word or blatantly disobeyed it. The prophet Nathan rebuked David, and Bathshebas child died. 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. This is one of the most glorious and mind-blowing truths Scripture reveals about our Lord. (1 Samuel 13:14), Beware of power. God explicitly prohibited polygamy. Instead of owning up to the liaison and making restitution, David took an even more sinful approach to the crisis. Repentance didnt reverse the effects of Davids sin. Adonijah as David neared the end of his life, Adonijah, David's fourth son by his wife Haggith, exalted himself as king. The latest information on all of Pastor Dougs upcoming events. Absalom, whose mother was Maacah (or Maakah), the daughter of Talmar, King of Geshur, and wife of David.4. (James 4:4-10), Reach out for help. This is astonishing evidence of Gods grace and forgiveness. Worship with Pastor Dougs church each week, featuring beautiful music and life-changing Bible study. And later David lost yet another son, Adonijah. Article Images Copyright . Regarding Davids wives, we have a grim reminder of what happens when we neglect to live as God commands. 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). Cynthia B. Astle is an award-winning journalist who covered religion for 25 years. According to 1 Kings 1:11, the prophet Nathan urged Bathsheba to tell David that Adonijah was preparing to take the throne by force. Although Nathan is the third son raised by David and Bathsheba, he is the fourth born to Bathsheba. The infamous account of how she became Davids wife is found in 2 Samuel 11. He sends for her and has sexual relations with her, knowing it's wrong. In an ancient kingdom, a king could kill anyone who disobeyed him. But David was foiled again; drunk though he was, honorable Uriah returned to the barracks and not to his wife. He also lost the respect of his people, and his reputation was permanently besmirched. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight. 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. 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. Even though the Bible doesnt describe God or prophets outright condemning David for polygamy, it doesnt praise him for it either. (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].). All rights reserved. A guide for walking through all of Scripture in just a yearwith catch-up days built in. Thus, it also means that he was between 44-48 years old when he first encountered Bathsheba, who was 7-9 years old. 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). What Makes Makoto Fujimura a Great Christian Artist? Confession and repentance not only makes our hearts whole again; it also resets our physical and emotional states. 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. The Bible doesnt outright say which of Davids wives he favored the most, nor does it give us enough information to guess. 2 Samuel 11:1 records that the king sent his army out to wage war, but he himself stayed behind in Jerusalem. Bathsheba and David's Adultery Led Him to Greater Sins. Gods providence. The Bible tells us that Bathsheba gave birth to a child following her adulterous affair with David. 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. 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. Like many things in life, we are all impacted by the choices and behavior of our parents. Nathan predicts the babys death and that violence and abuse will continue in Davids family. Davids laziness in rooting out lust overlaps into a laziness of calling and purpose. Nathan told the powerful king a tale of a poor shepherd whose lamb was stolen by a rich man. 7 Bibliography. We learn more about Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, but not much about how David related to them over time. Bathsheba was disposable to David until a pregnancy threatened to expose his actions (rape and then murder) before the nation. Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David as his wife (1 Samuel 18:20-27). 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) The baby born from Davids sin would die; the death would show unbelieving nations that God did not approve of Davids sin. Bathsheba is the wife most people associate with David . A beautiful woman, she became pregnant after David saw her bathing on a rooftop and had her brought to him. Seek humility because its a proven weapon against the sins that come with power and prestige. We know Michal was devoted to David, enough to hide him from her own father. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Consequently, Bathsheba and David had sex at one of the best possible moments for her to conceivewhich she did, with tragic results. When you post, you agree to the terms and conditions of our comments policy. 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. However, after Solomon became king, Adonijah used Bathsheba to ask Solomon a favor: he wanted Abishags hand in marriage (1 Kings 2:13-23). Nothing encourages and inspires a child to follow God like a parent who walks with the Lord. 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). Absalom killed Amnon his brother, and then Absalom was killed. David raped Bathsheba and sent her home. Updated on May 07, 2019. This theory suggests Bathsheba did not say "no" to David, but neither did she say "yes.". Sadly, that judgment included the death of David and Bathsheba's infant son (verse 14). Comments containing telephone numbers or email addresses will not be approved. His first six sons, recorded in 2 Samuel 3:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-4, are: 1. 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). (Exodus 20:14, 17), Integrity isnt natural. But Uriah didn't go home; he stayed within the palace barracks. 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. Regardless of which one is correct, the fact remains David made a mistake having so many wives. As he took note of her beauty, David abused his authority as King and forced her to lie with him. 2. Ahinoam was the mother of Amnon, who raped his half-sister Tamar. Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam of Jezreel, one of David's first wives ( 1 Samuel 25:43 ). What Does the Bible Tell Us about the Prophet Daniel? David refused to discipline Amnon, so Tamars brother Absalom killed Amnon in revenge and fled to escape punishment (2 Samuel 13). Rather, God works through the effects of our sin to bring about His purposes, though He still abhors our sinful actions. Nathan ( Hebrew: , Modern: Natan, Tiberian: Nn) was the third of four sons born to King David and Bathsheba in Jerusalem. Access to our entire media library in one easy-to-use and easy-to-search location. By now David was old and feeble, and his oldest surviving son, Adonijah, attempted to usurp the throne before his father died. Later Absalom tried to usurp David. 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. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), Guard your heart. Though David was both a good and bad father at times, he was never meant to be the perfect example to follow. In addition to Davids free will to stop his adulterous and murderous actions at any point, God also sent Nathan to confront David and remind him that God demanded his obedience. 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. The Bible doesn't mention the circumstances of David's marriage to Bathsheba, but it does mention that he had three wives before Bathsheba. Even a heart like Davids can be deceitful and wicked. 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). It would have been a cruel act for David to put away Bathsheba after the death of her husband and baby through his influence. And God not only forgave them, He even blessed their marriage with another child. Amon treated Tamar as a used and unwanted outcast, a reputation she likely carried for the rest of her life. Stephen Baker is a graduate of Mount Union University. Abigail: David's second wife, Abigail, is found in 1 Samuel 25 during the saga of David's life when he fled King Saul. He did not set a godly example, and he did not call his children to live godly lives. Bathshebawas Davids last wife (at least the last one mentioned in the Bible) and probably his most famous. They are: -Japhia-Elishama-Eliada-Eliphelet-Tamar, the only daughter named amongst David's children. If God remained faithful to David in spite of his failings, we can rest assured He will remain faithful to us despite ours. 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. David asked his servants about her and was told she was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty . He won King Saul's daughter . As Davids life shows, nothing good comes of pretending a sin doesnt exist. From that time forward, Michal despises David (2 Samuel 6:16). 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. David had many wives and concubines. Eglah married David while he was in exile, and had a son named Ithream. He gave them Solomon, whose name means "Peace.". Abitalmarried David while he was in exile, and had a son named Shephatiah. God plainly told the Israelites when they selected a king, he was not to have multiple wives (Deuteronomy 17:17). He sees a beautiful woman bathing in the next house. Psalm 32 and 51 detail Davids journey to repentance. Sources:TheGospelCoalition.org, 'Did King David Rape Bathsheba? David clearly struggled with this many times. He won King Sauls daughter Michal for killing 400 Philistines and cutting off their foreskins. Similarly, sin and bad character can set the example for our children to learn from and imitate. After David had moved his kingdom to Jerusalem, where he ruled for thirty-three years, he had four more children with Bathsheba. If Christians are not ready, they will get blind-sided by such objections and may even suffer doubt of their own faith. Some of David's children did; many did not. The story of David and Bathsheba is one of the most dramatic accounts in the Old Testament. Special insight and inspiration straight from the presidents desk. To consummate his insurrection, Absalom slept with his father's concubines in public for everyone to see (2 Samuel 16:20-23). Our sins always affect future generations. Did she resist, beg, or comply? Adultery is still sin. What happened in the lives of David's children is mostly unknown; however, several of his sons, and one daughter, in particular, grew up to play a major role in David's later years and the future of Israel. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself" (Ezekiel 18:20). This story is a classic example of a powerful man and a powerless woman. Haggith(1 Chr 3:2)(2 Sam 3:4) Years later, Absalom became convinced he could do a better job as king than his seemingly passive father. David already had three wives before he married Bathsheba. As king, his responsibility is to secure a peaceful nation. By failing to provide justice for his daughter, David not only failed Tamar, but he also failed Amnon, whose sin had gone unpunished. 2. Each of his first six wives bore David a son, while Bathsheba bore him four sons. How Can I Recognize and Understand the Holy Spirit Better? Much like his son Solomon, David had lots of wives, but it created trouble and strife. Because of King Saul's sin, which is recorded in 1 Samuel 15:10-23, Saul lost the kingdom given to him by God. Davids background influenced him. 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. All of these theories have some evidence behind them and leave us with something to chew on. 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. He had a daughter named Michal, who King Saul had given him in exchange for killing 400 Philistines. They watched his lust, self-indulgence, cover-ups, and sexual liaisons. Notes:1. (Galatians 5:16-21), Biblical parenting is counter-cultural. God gave David many opportunities to resist temptation. The heart can fool any of us and destroy the best of us (Jeremiah 17:9). Davids character influenced his childrens character. As told in 2 . 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 1005-965 BCE). He not only became the next king, but he was also blessed as an ancestor of the Messiah. 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. Their later marriage seems to have been close ( 2 Samuel 12:24) and loyal ( 1 Kings 1:28-31 ). The story of David and Bathsheba is not a love story or at least it didn't start that way. Bathsheba(2 Sam ch.11 ch.12)(1 Kin ch. We know that David married many more wives other than the seven listed by name. [1] He was a younger brother of Shammuah (sometimes referred to as Shammua or Shimea), Shobab, and Solomon. Eventually, all of his decisions were made poorly. Get yours before supplies run out. In 2020, he won First Prize for Best Feature Story in a regional contest by the Colorado Press Association Network. Let the demise of Absalom, Amnon, and Adonijah be our warning. He founded the Judaean dynasty and united all the tribes of Israel under a single monarch. Abigail wisely entreated David not to kill Nabal, and he had mercy. David plotted to have Uriah killed. It is likely David had even more sons and daughters that the Bible does not record since we know he had several more unnamed wives and perhaps even more concubines through which he fathered children (1 Chronicles 3:9). Lets take a look at what the Bible tells us about them. The fact that an innocent child diesinstead of the guilty pairis troubling in light of what we know of God's . Wives Of David, Where FromVerses Like most of us, David must have grown tired of fighting spiritual and physical enemies. He has contributed over 1,200 articles to various publications, including interviews for Christian Communicator and book reviews for The Evangelical Church Library Association. You read that correctly, God recorded Davids polygamous lifestyle for our instruction and encouragement. Learn how your faithful giving helped thousands know Christ this last year. After she was taken away from him, he married Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah. The fact that Saul and David both had wives named Ahinoam is also is used to reach this conclusion. 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. Bathsheba: Theres no doubt Bathsheba is the most known among Davids wives. He didn't woo her. The Jesus Revolution Comes to Hollywood: Will Thousands Be Converted? To that total we would add all the unnamed sons of his concubines. As mentioned earlier, Adonijah then used the almost concubine status of Abishag to try and get closer to the throne. 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. David, as well as kings which followed (including his son Solomon who had 700 wives and 300 concubines: 1 Kin 11:3), disobeyed this command. In all of Scripture, the life of David may be the most dramatic recorded. "Bathsheba and David: Biblical Romance and Tragedy." Heres the plot summary, and its spicy enough for any Netflix series: King David stays home when hes supposed to go to war. Many Christians purposefully neglect studying the Mosaic Law. As Old Testament characters go, King David is probably the most famous. Who Was Isaiah & Why Was He Important? Bathsheba, Mother of Solomon, Wife of King David, David and Goliath Bible Story Study Guide, Battle of Jericho Bible Story Study Guide, Meet Absalom, Rebellious Son of King David, Was It Rape? 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. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. Learn Religions, Sep. 10, 2021, learnreligions.com/bathsheba-king-davids-most-famous-wife-117306. Even though God favored his second son with Bathsheba, this doesnt mean that God wanted their relationship to happen. Amazing Facts is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization, Download AF Radio App for iPhone or Android. Comments containing URLs outside the family of Amazing Facts websites will not be approved. David then married Abigail, and she had a son named Daniel. 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. David offered his services to a man named Nabal, Abigail's husband before David. If so, the sons of David with his wives would total at least 20. Amazing Facts 24/7 television station featuring the best in Bible study streamed lived and on-demand. Davids children repeated his sins. 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. She gave birth to . If you have a Bible question for Pastor Doug Batchelor or the Amazing Facts Bible answer team, please submit it by clicking here. Then God gave the kingdom and all of its possessions . When he heard this, David took Abigail as his wife. It may be shocking to suggest King David had sexual issues, but its not out of the question. 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). When David danced before the Ark of the Covenant as it entered Jerusalem, Michal rebuked him for his undignified behavior. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. 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. Bad decisions have lasting consequences. The Rabbis are concerned with the causes and harsh consequences of David's sin, but completely disregard Bathsheba's . Cover 98.5 percent of the UK with Bible truth now! Sue Schlesmanis an award-winning author, teacher, and church leader. The sad story of David's wife Bathsheba is well-known (2 Samuel 11:1-17). Twenty-eight generations later, Jesus was born as Davids descendant. David was a fallible human being who made poor choices as well as good ones and had to face those actions consequences. Nathan told David a few scary consequences of his sin: 1) His secret sin would be made public. 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. His first six sons, recorded in 2 Samuel 3:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-4, are: 1. Solomon replied, you might as well ask me to give him the kingdom! (1 Kings 2:22). He wasnt in love with her from what the text reveals. Understand Bible prophecy and more at these local events in your area. Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital, another of David's wives.6. Who Were the 12 Disciples of Jesus? 1 Chronicles 3:1-4 states that King David's first seven wives gave him six children, while they lived in Hebron. Chileab (or Daniel . 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. A total of nineteen sons are named here. Dig into the Word and become a Bible expert with Amazing Facts line of study Bibles and more. Comments made on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday may not be approved until the following Monday. A warrior, David becomes king to establish and lead Israel as a God-fearing nation, unlike the surrounding nations. 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. When it came time to be paid, Nabal instead refused to pay David and his men. 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. It would have been a cruel act for David to put away Bathsheba after the death of her husband and baby through his influence. The account is given for our instruction and encouragement. Uriah still wont go home. Even so, it wasnt too late to ask for forgiveness and return to intimacy with the Father. Sue is a top-contributor to Salem Web Network radio ministry and Crosswalk.com. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul. Solomon responded by having Adonijah killed (1 Kings 2:25). However, most scholars believe there were two ladies named Ahinoam. The best evidence pointing to this is that Davids wife Ahinoam is always referred to as Ahinoam of Jezreel (1 Sam 25:43) or Ahinoam the Jezreelitess (1 Sam 27:3)(1 Sam 30:5)(2 Sam 2:2)(2 Sam 3:2)(1 Chr 3:1), while Sauls wife Ahinoam is referred to as the daughter of Ahimazz (1 Sam 14:50). 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's mighty men were a group of his best thirty-seven fighters (later expanded to around eighty). What Can Galileo Teach Us about Science and Faith? 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. As told in 2 Samuel 11-12, Bathsheba was married to Uriah, one of Davids mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39). 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. You can lean into Gods calling for your life and let him use your circumstances to create good. Politicians, mega-pastors, coaches, professional athletes, corporate leaders. Abigail of Carmel(1 Chr 3:1)(2 Sam 3:3)(2 Sam 2:2) However, we don't know how many more. Absalom was later killed by David's commander Joab, against David's wishes (2 Samuel 18). David has committed adultery and murder. This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Astle, Cynthia. We can learn much from his mistakes. Is it any wonder that Amnon, Absalom, and even Solomon would also be caught in sexual sin later in life? His son Solomon expanded the empire that David built. Even if Bathsheba played a part, scriptures deem David's sin in their affair to be greater for two reasons. 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. Michal(1 Sam 18:20-27)(1 Sam 19:11-17)(1 Sam 25:44)(2 Sam 3:13-14) God exercises His power in harmony with our free will (even our sinful decisions) to accomplish His divine purposes. Given that context, David may have had so many partners because he was in an addictive cycle. This trend continued through the succession of Israel's kings. Bathsheba told her aged husband that only their son Solomon remained loyal, so the king named Solomon his co-regent. Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. We are told the names of some of his wives in the verses below,however, it says in (2 Sam 5:13) that when David got to Jerusalem he took more wives. We are not given the names of these women. David sends for Bathshebas husband to come home to try to cover up his sin. Suppose you make some terrible decision in your life that is irreversible. 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. Astle, Cynthia. Learn Religions. However, God's mercies are proven to be far more powerful than any sin or parental mistake(Deuteronomy 5:9-10). 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.