David is one of the most well known characters in the Bible and is said to be a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:13-14). He began as the youngest son of Jesse and he spent his time in seclusion tending to the family sheep. It is apparent that he had been taught in the knowledge of the Lord and believed in his mighty strength and protective care. As a shepherd, he developed faith in the Lord and even fought off a bear and lion to protect his sheep. In his heart, he knew it was the Lord protecting him by equipping him with bravery, skill and complete trust.
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Seemingly out of nowhere the Prophet Samuel showed up to the house of Jesse with word that he would be anointing one of Jesse’s sons to be King of Israel. After passing on the first seven sons presented to him, Samuel seemed a little disappointed and confused and asked if there were any others? David was apparently not considered as a candidate by his father probably because of his young age. But when Samuel didn’t choose any of the older brothers, David was indeed summoned to appear. Sure enough, Samuel anointed David as king right then and there. However, it was done in secrecy while King Saul was currently reigning and David did not receive instructions from the Lord to make any attempt on his life and made one of his first command decisions that he would wait on the Lord to have his will on earth done.
Israel was regularly at war with the Philistines and David’s brothers who were older than 20, like all capable Israelite men, were enlisted in the army and were involved in a standoff with the Philistines. Young David brought some supplies to his brothers and heard Goliath taunting the Israelite army. Goliath was a giant and his size and commanding presence frightened all the soldiers. David, not even old enough to serve at the time, spoke up and volunteered to fight this giant. We know that David’s bravery rested on the power, presence and honor of the Lord which was at stake. He reasoned that since he overcame a lion and a bear with the Lord’s miraculous help, he could overcome a giant man the same way (1 Samuel 17:34-36). He was successful and from that day on, David gained popularity and recognition in all Israel.
King Saul had an issue that made him uneasy and unable to sleep well. David was a skilled musician and was enlisted to serve Saul by playing the harp for him as he relaxed. David humbly accepted this role with honor.
In time, David served in Saul’s army and became a leader who won many battles. Because of that, David’s popularity among the people grew and grew. Saul actually became jealous of David’s fame and was threatened by the potential of him taking his place (1 Samuel 18:6-8).
Saul’s psychological problems worsened and he tried to kill David on several occasions. David escaped each time but eventually he had no choice but to flee for his life. There were about 15 years from the time David was anointed until he actually assumed the role of King. Much of his story is told in 1st and 2nd Samuel and to a lesser extent in Kings and Chronicles. Of the 150 Psalms, David authored about half of them. From these sources we can learn a lot about the external circumstances and internal reflections of this special man, King David.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:8
David’s Personal Relationships
David developed and maintained one of the strongest friendships recorded in the Bible. Jonathan was Saul’s son and was the heir apparent to the throne of his father. However, David and Jonathan became good friends and allies and Jonathan recognized and acknowledged God’s anointing of David as king. Their bond was strong and Jonathan had no problem honoring God’s choice of David as King.
David also seemed to be well respected by the men he led in battle. He never was lacking capable men willing and able to fight and win battles. His military leadership and reputation must have been like a magnet to those who excelled in that lifestyle. The Mighty Men of David included an elite group of about 30 who were fierce warriors and loyal to their respected leader, David (1 Chronicles 11:10).
When it came to women, it was a different story for David. It began when King Saul offered his daughter to him to be his wife, but Saul attached a condition that would put David’s life at risk. He was required to kill 100 Philistines first. Saul hoped David would die trying and he wouldn’t have to compete with his popularity any longer. David accepted the condition and even doubled the ante, no problem. So upon completion of the requirement, he married Michal, Saul’s daughter. That successful accomplishment prompted Saul to have David put to death another way since his first plan didn’t work out. Michal loved David and she helped him escape (1 Samuel 19:11-17). Her father was furious and gave her to another man to be married to him instead.
So David was on the run and Michal was given to a different man. They married, but David eventually came back years later and claimed her back as his wife, likely without her input. Michal appears to have been used again as a pawn in politics of the day. The first time was when David had gained notoriety and was exceeding popularity among the people, even more than Saul. So Saul attempted to have David become part of the family and keep him close by offering his daughter to become David’s wife. But Saul waffled on his plan and Michal helped David escape. King Saul was probably mad at her and angry that David wasn’t killed so he forced Michal to marry another man even though she loved David. This was a public statement that David was out and this other guy was on the fast track to success within the kingdom. The fact that Michal didn’t like it was probably an added benefit to her father. It is likely that in his eyes, she deserved to be punished for her actions. Then years later when David was ready to assume the role as King after Saul’s death, he probably desired a way to win the acceptance of the people again. Taking Saul’s daughter as his wife a second time probably was an attempt to display his powerful status with the people. One of the last things we know about Michal is that she rebuffed her husband David for dancing half-naked in the streets during the procession of the Ark coming to Jerusalem. David shrugged off her concerns and defended his unabashed worship and enthusiasm. Then we are told that Michal remained childless which may be a subtle way of saying that they became estranged and didn’t have relations, or maybe even any relationship after that time (2 Samuel 6:20-23). Michal was the first of David’s eight wives that we know of and in addition to that he had at least 10 concubines, and possibly more of both.
| Wife of David | Children of David | Reference(s) |
| 1st, Michal She was the daughter of King Saul. | None. | 1 Samuel 18:27 2 Samuel 3:12-16 cf. 2 Samuel 6:20-23 |
| 2nd, Abigail She was the widow of Nabal. | 2nd Son: Kileab (aka Daniel). Nothing notable was recorded about this son. | 1 Samuel 25:39-42 2 Samuel 3:3, aka Daniel in 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 |
| 3rd, Ahinoam She married David while he was on the run from Saul’s death warrant. | 1st Son: Amnom. Later he was the one who raped his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13) and was killed by her full brother Absalom in revenge. | 1 Samuel 25:43 2 Samuel 3:2 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 |
| 4th, Maacah she was the daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur (during Davd’s exile). | 3rd Son: Absalom 1st and only recorded daughter: Tamar After Amnon raped his half sister Tamar, Absalom, her full brother, killed him. | 2 Samuel 3:3 2 Samuel 13:23-38 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 |
| 5th, Haggith She married David while he was in Hebron. | 4th Son: Adonijah. | 2 Samuel 3:4 1 Kings 1:9 1 Kings 2:23–25 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 |
| 6th, Abital She married David while he was in Hebron. | 5th Son: Shephatiah, nothing notable recorded. | 2 Samuel 3:4 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 |
| 7th, Eglah She married David while he was in Hebron. | 6th Son: Ithream nothing notable recorded. | 2 Samuel 3:5 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 |
| 8th, Bathsheba. David lusted after Bathsheba in Jerusalem, impregnated her and had her husband killed in battle. Their first son from the adulterous act died. They eventually married and had 4 other sons. | Unnamed son who died as an infant (the Jewish tradition was to wait until the 8th day to name a son as part of the circumcision ceremony). 7th named Son: Shimea 8th named Son: Shobab 9th named Son: Nathan (possibly named after the Prophet Nathan). 10th named Son: Solomon (aka Jedidiah) who reigned as King after David’s death. Note: 2 Samuel 12:24-25 describes Solomon as the 2nd born son while 1 Chronicles 3:5 appears to list him as the fourth named son. We can conclude that the list in Chronicles is not in the chronological birth order or that the reference in Samuel omitted the other (less important) sons. | 2 Samuel 12:24-25 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 |
| Abishag* (a beautiful virgin who merely slept in bed with David in his old age to keep him warm). Therefore she was not technically a wife or a concubine but rather a notable exception. | Solomon may have considered her a de facto wife or concubine to his father David and declined his brother’s request to have her in marriage (after David’s death). This was an attempt by Abdonijah to gain the throne. That request immediately cost Abdonijah his life as David ordered his execution. | 1 Kings 1:2-4 1 Kings 2:21-23 |
| At least 10 unnamed concubines that were left when David fled the palace. After the episode with Absalon on the rooftop, David provided for them as widows but did not have sexual relations with them. | 1 Chronicles 3:9 2 Samuel 20:3 | |
| Possibly many more unnamed wives, concubines and children. Only wives who bore sons seem to be recorded. | Other named sons of David: Ibhar Elishua Eliphelet Nogah Nepheg Japhia Elishama Eliada another Eliphelet | 1 Chronicles 3:4-91 Chronicles 14:3-5 2 Samuel 5:13-16 |
The Bible records that David had many wives and concubines. Solomon had more of both (Nehemiah 13:26). In the Old Testament, kings were told not to take many wives along with other commands that were sometimes ignored. We must remember that this was a very different time and culture to what we have become accustomed to in the 21st century. Also David was guilty of not only multiple wives and concubines, but also of not raising his children well, lust, adultery and murder! We, as members of the Church age, may not make the same mistakes as David and Solomon, taking on multiple wives, but we make other mistakes of great significance. It is comforting to see the recorded sins of God’s people and how God works out his plans in spite of our weaknesses and failures. The key to David’s fellowship with the Lord was not perfection or impeccable self control, but rather swift and sincere repentance. We can learn from the lessons from these Old Testament stories (Romans 15:4).
[Moses to the Israelites prior to their entrance to the Promised Land] When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.
When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
The Davidic Covenant
God promised David a royal lineage, a throne and a kingdom without end for any of them. God declared he may interrupt the actual reign of David’s sons if discipline for disobedience was necessary, but the perpetuity of the covenant would not be broken. Jesus was a descendant of David and will ultimately fulfill this covenant during the Millennial Kingdom. It is important to note that this covenant is not fulfilled by Christ reigning from his Father’s throne in heaven. It will be fulfilled literally with Christ bodily present in Jerusalem, on David’s Throne, after the Second Coming. Furthermore, David will be resurrected and serving as Prince over Jerusalem with Christ reigning as King of all the nations of the world.
“But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
“”Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’
“‘Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.’
“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
2 Samuel 7:4-16
“I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.
“If his sons forsake my law and do not follow my statutes, if they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands, I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with flogging; but I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness—and I will not lie to David—that his line will continue forever and his throne endure before me like the sun; it will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.’
Psalm 89:20-37
“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Acts 2:29-36
“’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’”
Jeremiah 23:5-6
“Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
“‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’”
Ezekiel 37:20-28
Application
David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). How can we strive to have a heart like God? One way to check is to look at the actions and choices in our lives.
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
Proverbs 27:19
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