2 Samuel 5:13

DAVID MULTIPLIED HIS WIVES AND CONCUBINES

"And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David. And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada,, and Eliphelet."

Note that the daughters were not even named. The status of women was quite low in that society, and women today should indeed thank the Lord Jesus Christ who alone elevated womankind to their rightful importance and eminence. One of David's daughters, Tamar, was raped by her half-brother and was avenged in his murder by her brother Absalom.

"Shammua" (2 Samuel 5:13). This is the name that heads the list of the twelve spies sent out by Moses into Canaan (Numbers 13:1).

Speaking of David's many wives and concubines, DeHoff wrote that, "This was one of the mistakes that David made."[17] However, this was far more serious than a `mistake.' It was a gross and ridiculous sin! Yes, it was sanctioned in the lives of kings and other mighty men in ancient times, but it was still dreadfully wrong. Willis has this to say:

"In violation of Deuteronomy 17:17, David multiplied wives and concubines in Jerusalem. In addition to the six in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2-5) and Michal (2 Samuel 3:14-16), we must add those mentioned here ... Apparently, he had fifteen or twenty wives and concubines, opening up the way for Solomon to take seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines."[18]

It is of interest that 1 Chronicles 3:5 says that the first four sons mentioned here were born to Bathshua, the daughter of Ammiel, evidently the same as Bathsheba, since Solomon is among the four. Keil concluded that, "David had nineteen sons, six of whom were born in Hebron, and thirteen of whom were born in Jerusalem."[19]