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DAVID’S WOMEN. II Samuel 3:1-5. 11/22/20. #5.
1 Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 2 Sons were born to David in Hebron: His firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; 3 his second, [a]Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite; the third, Absalom the son of Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur; 4 the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; 5 and the sixth, Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.
- Long war
- Much of biblical history is just a summary
- Many details in lives of biblical characters are not recorded (we just have tidbits of pertinent events)
- Some people we do not even have their names (Manoah’s wife, Mrs. Naaman’s slave girl, the I Kings 13 prophet, Jonathan’s armor bearer…)
- A summary statement: long war between house of Saul & house of David
- Even though Israel had a larger population, Judah piled up victories due to God’s blessing on them
- David slowly gained the upper hand
- God did not allow David to take all at once
- Israel began to understand that God was with David & not Ishbosheth
- Much of biblical history is just a summary
- The original order
- What became the norm was not the original divine plan
- God’s order in Genesis 1-2
- Mankind was to have dominion over the earth (resources, plants, animals, & sea life)
- Adam was to tend the garden, but was given freedom of movement & action
- Adam had only one restriction: not to eat from one tree
- Adam was given a wife & instructions that each man was to cling to his one wife
- When these norms were broken after the fall, chaos, death, destruction, & lust for forbidden things resulted
- Multiple wives
- Starting with Lamech, men began to take more than 1 wife
- Polygamy made move complicated an already complex dynamic in human relationships
- Abraham & Hagar, Jacob marrying 2 sisters, Elkanah’s 2 wives, Solomon’s wives…all became issues that led to snares
- Six of David’s seven wives are listed here (Michal is still with Palti in Israel)
- Ahinoam apparently was David’s favorite wife since she is usually listed first
- Abigail was the wise widow of Nabol, who had interceded to spare the lives of her family
- Maacah was a princess (often political marriages were arranged to form alliances)
- Several observations about multiple wives:
- Adding more wives does not solve the lust issue in men (David kept adding more wives)
- Even with 7 beautiful wives, David went after Uriah’s wife (lust does not end at the marriage altar)
- Opportunistic illicit affairs catch even the most vigilant off-guard if they do not stay alert
- It only takes a moment to fall
- Always praying & being on guard
- Multiple wives lead to multiple problems: Hannah’s conflict, David’s family, Solomon’s wives turn him
- Starting with Lamech, men began to take more than 1 wife
- Doing it God’s way
- When God’s principles are compromise, there is loss
- Stay focus on purity; choose to honor spouse; keep self away from compromising situations; be diligent always
- Ephesians 6:11-18 all of life is spiritual warfare