He followed God and he taught others how to be good. While there, the prophet Nathan tells David in 2 Samuel 12:8: "I would give you twice as much over," which the rabbis interpret to mean that the number of David's existing wives could be tripled: from six to 18. The first was the baby that was the fruit of the sinful and murderous romance between him and Bathsheba. Rather, my argument is that there was nothing Biblically wrong or immoral about Muhammads marriage to Aisha and that it was common practice in virtually all cultures for people to marry young (usually by the onset of puberty). However, he did not further complicate or . He also gives 3 main reasons why it is not recommended to set a certain cutoff for basic rights, these being: This is more or less how medieval Islamic scholars dealt with the issue. Though this is said to be a prayer of Moses, who probably lived some 250 years before the reign of David, it still finds corroboration in the time of David, since Barzillai was 80 years old at the time of Absaloms revolt, and David himself lived for 70 years. In a previous article, I demonstrated that the Bible generally allowed marriage and sex at the onset of puberty (with the exception of Numbers 31:18 which seemingly allowed sex even before puberty). [72] Sometime after, probably 4 years (2 Samuel 15:7) after reconciling with his father David, Absalom began his rebellion. 1 Chronicles 14:3-5 (NASB), Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . But the inference is really not a probable one. The fact that David did not make Abishag his legal wife is explained as due to his refusal to exceed the traditional number of wives (18) allowed to a king (Sanh. [68] Similarly, Smiths Bible Dictionary states that he was approximately 32 years old and died around 1023 BCE (emphasis ours): a native of Giloh, was a privy councillor of David, whose wisdom was highly esteemed, though his name had an exactly opposite signification. And test the orphans [in their abilities] until they reach marriageable age. I believe that you have misunderstood my comment. King David's Wives and Marriages in the Bible - Learn Religions There is a strong possibility that this psalm was occasioned by the betrayal of Absalom and/or Ahithophel, [46] https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/psalms-55.html#13, Guide Whose counsel I highly prized, and constantly followed. another great academic article. When it came time to be paid, Nabal instead refused to pay . The norm that the ulama did come to consensus on was only a general guideline: they prohibited sexual intercourse for girls not able to undergo it, on the basis that otherwise sex could be physically harmful. These wives are Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, and their stories greatly influenced the history of Israel. 33. Bathsheba is one of only five women listed in the ancestry of Jesus Christ ( Matthew 1:6 ). [105] This agrees with Biblical standards as well. 1 Now Samuel died. Unfortunately, Adonijah did not stop scheming for long, and he had his eye on Abishag. Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. The next day 13 David called for him, and he ate and drank, and David got him drunk. David is also known because he played the harp and wrote psalms. But one of King Davids young men told Abigail what David had planned to do to her husband (v. 14-17). 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David. When you post, you agree to the terms and conditions of our comments policy. Then David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. Solomon granted him mercy (1 Kings 1:5-53). Why was Abigail still called "Nabal's wife" even after she married David? And my master Joab and my masters troops are camping in the open field. Uriah the Hittite and Eliam, being both of the kings guard (consisting of 37 officers), were intimate, and Uriah married the daughter of his brother officer (https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/fbd/a/ahithophel.html). Most, though not all, of the evidence for the age of marriage comes from outside the Bible (i.e., from outside scripture), which some Christians ignore because it is not inspired. Other commentators also explain the verse this way. 2 Samuel 11:1-2 tells us that one evening King David was walking on the roof of his house and saw Bathsheba bathing. That Ahithophel had then a married grand-daughter is less probable than that there were in Israel two Eliams.[81]. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him. [76] Moreover, he did not live in the time of David but more than 100 years after him. The Number, Location, and Mothers of David's Children. By the way, can you visit my website and comment below about what you think of my articles? 2 And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. Hebraicae, in loco), the father of Bath-sheba. Melanie has written many Bible study guides (available on Bible.org and her website me More. The child eventually died (2 Samuel 12:15-23). David was sinful because he had taken another mans wife, not that he had slept with a 7-year old. Cultural Christians: Can They Save America? As far as I am aware, this evidence has not been discussed before in Muslim-Christian debates, so it is completely new (though it is not a new discovery). In every time and season, there is an opportunity to share hope in Christ. But anyway, nice website! For example, King Saul, David's predecessor, offered both of his daughters at separate times as wives for David. 12 Then David told Uriah, Stay here one more day. Eliam. However, these were only some of David's many accomplishments. David is familiar to most people as a great hero in the Bible because of his confrontation with Goliath of Gath, a (giant) Philistine warrior. Now 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. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. As Jonathan Brown explains: the medieval ulama considered the point at which a girl was fit for intercourse to be too varied to be firmly legislated for. Jewish Women says that equating Eglah with Michal was the rabbis' way of bringing David's marriages into line with the requirements of Deuteronomy 17:17, a law of Torah which mandates that the king "shall not have many wives." He states that: an arbitrary age cutoff necessarily allows incompetent people to gain rights and privileges they probably shouldnt have.[101]. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. [1] In this follow-up article, I will present powerful evidence that will silence the rabid Christians who criticize Muhammads marriage to Aisha, inshaAllah. If you've already read my previous article, Uriah: Bathsheba's African Husband and David's Mighty Man, then you know that Bathsheba was originally married to a black man from the line of Ham. Thus, Bathsheba could have been around 12-14 years old at the time of the birth of Solomon, which means that she was around 10-12 years old at the time David first encountered her. When he realized that Absalom had not taken his advice on how to fight David, Ahithophel knew that the conspiracy against the king would fail. The following observations merit consideration: First, there is no parallel between the adulterous marriages being defended today and the relationship sustained by David and Bathsheba. Ahinoam: Bible | Jewish Women's Archive Bathsheba did not take a ritual bath when she was spied on. Where in the Bible Did David Marry Michal? The evidence in question comes from the infamous marriage of David and Bathsheba. Bathsheba would have been between 16 and 19, because she was doing the ritual bath outlined in Leviticus 15::19-30 for women who have their period already (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus+15%3A19-30&version=NIV). The oldest man in the Bible, after the patriarchs, was Jehoiada, who supposedly died at the age of 130 (2 Chronicles 24:15). The world was vastly different back then. However, that is, Perhaps Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite is different from Eliam, the father of Bathsheba.. Only a minority of scholarly sources questioned this attribution, but the reasons they provided were weak (see note #49). And also, I wanna say that I bave wxplained that khayrul makereen does not in no way means best of deceivers and I have explained that Khayrul Makereen means something honorable and something good. Furthermore, as stated, David himself was 70 years old at the time of his death. [60] Wesleys Explanatory Notes also suggests this interpretation but is rather vague. Remember that David did suffer terribly because of his sin with Bathsheba. He learns her name and the name of her husband, Uriah, a general in his army. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. In my view, we should leave it to the experts (e.g., physicians and psychologists) to determine what is an appropriate age for maturity, if there is one. Eliam, in turn, was the son of Ahitophel the Gilonite (2 Samuel 23:34). In fact, it was quite the opposite. They shall live as long as the Lord of life, the righteous Judge, has appointed, with whom the number of our months is; but he has determined to cut them off by an untimely death in the midst of their days., [58] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/tod/ps055.cfm?a=533023, A wicked man never lives out half his days; for either he is cut off before he hath lived half the course of nature, or he is cut off before he hath lived a quarter of the course of his desires; either he lives not half so long as he would; and therefore let him die when he will, his death is full of terror, trouble, and confusion, because he dies out of season. [71] After returning to Jerusalem, Absalom lived there for another 2 years. The world-renowned Amazing Facts Bible school will help you know Gods Word better than ever. Jeremiah 9:23-24. This is where Psalm 55 comes in. David's Marriages Played Pivotal Roles in His Life, Culture Club / Contributor / Hulton Archive / Getty Images. They will vociferously deny that Bathsheba was around 7 years old (or perhaps as old as 9) when she first encountered David and they will deny that she was the granddaughter of Ahithophel. The bottom line is that there is no evidence to support the claim that there were two Eliams. In this article. ESV - Are these prayers also meant to be interpreted allegorically? How old was Esther when she married King Ahasuerus? The story is a familiar one. Amid this numerical confusion, three of the many wives of David in the Bible stand out because their relationships provide significant insights into David's character. See how your gifts made a lasting difference recently. Bullingers Companion Bible Notes,[17] Gary H. Everetts Study Notes on the Holy Scriptures,[18] George Haydocks Catholic Bible Commentary,[19] the Jamiesson-Fausset-Brown Commentary,[20] John Trapps Complete Commentary,[21] Ironsides Notes on Selected Books,[22] L.M. Dig into the Word and become a Bible expert with Amazing Facts line of study Bibles and more. Nathan was a prophet of the Lord. In his commentary, Ibn Kathir stated that the age of marriage coincides with the age of puberty. This view was based on the Quran, which states regarding the orphans who have not reached the marriageable age (emphasis ours): And do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you, but provide for them with it and clothe them and speak to them words of appropriate kindness. Then she became Davids second wife. Moreover, according to the Fausset Dictionary, Ahijah the Pelonite was probably a corruption of text. Abigail - New World Encyclopedia The first was the baby that was the fruit of the sinful and murderous romance between him and Bathsheba. Limited polygamy (one man married to more than one woman) was permitted during this era of Israel's history. Is the curse the reason that snakes slither (Genesis 3:14)? Son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, and one of Davids heroes ( 2 Samuel 23:34 ). Who is the "US" God is referring to in Genesis 3:22? Now Michal, Sauls daughter, loved David. "But," we read, "to her husband Nabal she told nothing." 1 Sam. "But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. For centuries, this "bond of blood" concept -- the idea that rulers feel bound to the kingdoms ruled by their wives' relatives -- was often employed, and just as often violated. [12] Abigail and David's second wife, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, accompany David and his war band as they seek refuge in Philistine territory. Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar.. According to the decree of God, he might have lived the other half; but he has not done it., [57] https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhcw/psalms/55.htm, They are bloody and deceitful men (that is, the worst of men) and therefore shall not live out half their days, not half so long as men ordinarily live, and as they might have lived in a course of nature, and as they themselves expected to live. At this point in time Michal belonged to another man. [100] Perhaps most controversial is his refusal to assign a particular age to serve as a cutoff. you have contributed so much great eye opening articles making Muslims and Christians aware of such controversial subjects. [67] Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the average lifespan at the time was around 7080 years (note that this is a very generous assumption). And do not give the weak-minded your property, which Allah has made a means of sustenance for you, but provide for them with it and clothe them and speak to them words of appropriate kindness. [The Septuagint calls him Eliab. The name Eliam is only mentioned twice in the, But 1 Chronicles 11:36 gives the alternate name for Eliam, the son of Ahithophel as Ahijah the Pelonite, so he cannot be the same person as the father of Bathsheba!, Third, if Ahijah is an alternate name for Eliam, it still does not refute the claim that Eliam was the son of Ahithophel and the father of Bathsheba, simply because the Chronicler does not provide any additional information. 7 David's Wives: Michal, Abigail, Bathsheba - Oxford Academic Worship with Pastor Dougs church each week, featuring beautiful music and life-changing Bible study. In fact, Ahithophel is mentioned along with Hushai the Arkite in 1 Chronicles 27:33: Ahithophel was the kings counselor. But after a brief mourning period, David and Bathsheba had a second child by the name of Solomon: "And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him." - 2 Samuel 12:24. The only solution would be to assume that Ahithophel was mentioned in passing and was actually dead (the Chronicler states that Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada). There is simply no reason to make assume otherwise, other than to avoid the embarrassment of finding out Bathshebas true age. Featuring courses and local seminars on how to be a better witness in your community. The first time they are mentioned is in 2 Samuel 3:2-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-3 repeats the same information. The rabbis assert that when Merab died, Michal raised her sister's five children as if they were her own, so that Michal was acknowledged as their mother, though she was not married to Adriel, their father. And the woman, Bathsheba, is married. So, if Ahithophel was less than 40 years of age at the time of his death (let us conservatively assume he was 39 years old), and he was Bathshebas grandfather, then how old could Bathsheba have been around this time? When David heard the news, he sent for Bathsheba and married her. It is important to notice that in this passage the numbers refer to the sons born to David. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. However, I will add that seven years is noticeably young, even by the standards of the time. Click here to read it. Yet, this objection is based on some flawed premises: why is it assumed that Ahithophel needed to be older than David? One night in Jerusalem, King David was walking upon his rooftop when he spotted a beautiful woman bathing nearby ( 2 Samuel 11:2 ). David committed adultery with Bathsheba but she became pregnant, so he had her husband (Uriah the Hittite) killed, and Nathan the prophet confronted David:- Astle, Cynthia. The answer comes from Psalm 55:23 (emphasis ours): But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. The Story of King David in the Bible - Chabad.org But after his sin, David thoroughly repented. But Ahinoam could have been the wife he preferred. 1 Samuel 18:20 (NASB). While the Bible names seven women as David's spouses, it's possible that he had more, as well as multiple concubines who may have borne him unaccounted-for children. Comments made on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday may not be approved until the following Monday. If Solomon was 11 years old at the time of Ahithophels death (the non-conservative estimate), then Bathsheba would have been around 9 years old at the time of Solomons birth. (Psalm 44:9, 17). Michal, yet another trickster, challenges both the patriarchal and the monarchical establishment. Thus, Solomon was 911 years old at the time of his great-grandfathers death. Ironically, the evidence comes from the life of her grandfather Ahithophel, who happened to be Davids counselor (2 Samuel 15:12) and was involved in Absaloms conspiracy to overthrow David (this is a very important issue that we will consider later). But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; Of course, the statement is not intended for a universal law, and indeed was probably pointed especially at the bloody and deceitful men of whom the psalmist had been speaking. "The Many Wives of David in the Bible." And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabals widow. Michal and David: Michal Was King David's First Wife, Bathsheba, Mother of Solomon, Wife of King David, Biography of King Solomon: The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived, Abigail and David - Abigail Was King David's Wisest Wife. Hebr. However, this does not fit well due to the contradiction between Sauls age at the time of his death and Davids prophecy in Psalm 55:23. This cannot refer to Absalom. This brings us to the most crucial point of our academic journey of determining Ahithophels age. Its date and authorship must be left in the region of mere conjecture. And the claim that Allah is a moon God has been debunked many times. 25 . The last statement made at the end of Michals life is that she had no children. Spread the Word using these free digital resources from the ministry, including plug-ins, banners, and more. Romans 8:1 says, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Are you able to trust God to help you even through the consequences of sin? We strive to approve comments the day they are made, but please allow at least 24 hours for your comment to appear. The man said, She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.. He [David] now remembers that, at the heart of Absaloms rebellion, giving it direction and force, indeed making it possible, is Ahithophel., [33] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/spurgeon_charles/tod/ps055.cfm?a=533001, It would be idle to fix a time, and find an occasion for this Psalm with any dogmatism. [a]ll the expressions used in this verse would probably be applicable to Ahithophel, and to the intimacy between him and David., This was also the conclusion of the classical Jewish sources, such as the Targums and the Talmud, as explained in, But it was thou,. From his rooftop, David notices his attractive neighbor, Bathsheba, washing. David had four wives whose names we knowAhinoam, Abigail ( 2 Samuel 2:2 ), Eglah ( 2 Samuel 3:5 ), and Bathsheba ( 2 Samuel 11:27 )and possibly others such as Absalom's mother Maakah. [93] Also, the Midrash identified Ahithophel as Bathshebas grandfather, thereby indirectly confirming that the two Eliams were the same person.[94]. Abishag the Shunammite - Jewish Virtual Library To make matters worse, we need to allow at least 18 months (two pregnancies) between Davids first encounter with Bathsheba and Solomons birth (2 Samuel 11), which means that Bathsheba was around 79 years old at the time. He went with Absalom. Bullinger,[35] Thomas Cooke,[36] the Benson Commentary,[37] Clarkes Commentary,[38] John Trapp,[39] the Pulpit Commentary,[40] Hawkers Poor Mans Commentary,[41] the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary,[42] Keil and Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary,[43] the Lange Commentary on the Holy Scriptures,[44] the MacArthur Bible Commentary,[45] Wesleys Explanatory Notes,[46] and Whedons Commentary on the Bible,[47] also identify Ahithophel as the subject of the psalm. These include Adam Clarke. Sign up for your daily dose of spiritual insight and encouragement from Amazing Facts. Indeed, this is highly unlikely given that Barzillai the Gileadite, who was 80 years old at the time of the revolt and was a supporter of David, was not willing to cross the Jordan river with David to go to Jerusalem from Mahanaim after Absaloms defeat and death because he was too old.[65]. In an attempt to save her husband, she hurried to meet David, urging him to halt his plans. Listen to all of Amazing Facts audio programming whenever and wherever you go. Learn what the Bible teaches about each of his wives. The evidence in question comes from the infamous marriage of David and Bathsheba. 2 responses He hanged himself after realizing that the revolt would fail. This is not the Muslims problem because we do not believe in the Bible as a reliable source of information. And God not only forgave them, He even blessed their marriage with another child. I dont think Mohamad was saying he believes those things (?). 7 Bibliography. Why would the author of 2 Samuel have mentioned Eliam in passing on two different occasions and yet have meant them to be two different people and not clarify it, especially since Bathsheba was the daughter of one Eliam, whereas another Eliam was part of Davids elite military unit? That Ahitophel is the subject of Psalm 55:12-14; Psalm 55:20-21, is contrary to all we know of the history of the rebellion of Absalom (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/psalms/55.htm). 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Daniel 9:27. Abigail and Bathsheba: Two Wives Related Media Time: United Kingdom ~1000-900 B.C. Actually, God had no problem with it. See Proverbs 31:10, 30; 1 Peter 3:1-6, and any other verses you can find to support your answer. By the way, Im not a non-Muslim, but a Sunni Muslim and I apologize if I have by mistake made these allegations. 24 She fell at his feet and said: "Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. David's Early Life. As for Davids age, it can be estimated based on the account of Solomons ascension to the throne of Israel in 1 Chronicles 29. How Many Wives Did King David Have? - Grunge Absolutely not! Does 2 Samuel 12:8 mean God approved of Davids polygamy? Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. . Updated on May 07, 2019 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). These were born to David at Hebron. 1 Samuel 25:39-42 (NASB). 1 Samuel 18: 25 tells us that Saul asked for this strange request in the hope that David would be killed. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked about the welfare of Joab and the army and how the battle was going. Please be patient. All Rights Reserved. This illustrates that Ahithophel was probably a young man (Source: https://bibleatlas.org/giloh.htm). The other three wives figure prominently in the story of King David. The reality is that they were the most likely the same person. She was also the mother of King Solomon. [95] Holmans Bible Dictionary argues that the Chronicler may have confused the title of Helez the Paltite (2 Samuel 23:26) and that Ahijah the Pelonite was a textual corruption. Then Abigail returned home to a drunken husband who was holding a great feast. Im not a non-Muslim. Bathsheba, also spelled Bethsabee, in the Hebrew Bible (2 Samuel 11, 12; 1 Kings 1, 2), wife of Uriah the Hittite; she later became one of the wives of King David and the mother of King Solomon. He could have been as old as 11 years if we assume that the four years in 2 Samuel 15:7 refers to the time from Absaloms return from Geshur (2+3+2+4=11). 2 Samuel 5:13-16 and 1 Chronicles 14:3-5 reveal that King David took other wives and concubines. The report came back: Isnt this Eliams daughter Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 So David sent messengers to take her. 2 Samuel 12:24 is the only verse that refers to Bathsheba as Davids wife. Discover all the informative and inspiring books from the speaker and president of Amazing Facts. 9 However, Uriah slept at the palace entrance with all his masters servants. 1 Samuel 18:27 (NASB). According to the chronology of 2 Samuel 1315, two years had passed since Amnon had raped his half-sister Tamar (Absaloms sister),[70] when after killing Amnon, Absalom fled to Geshur, where he lived for 3 years. He identified Ahithophel in the commentary on verse 12: Ahithophels perfidy and villany troubled David more than all the rest., [40] https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/55.htm, the general sentiment of commentators has always been that Ahithophel is intended. It reads like a song of the time of Absalom and Ahithophel. So, how did King David and Abigail meet? Rather, by the onset of puberty, they were adults and were treated as such. Astle, Cynthia. It only criticizes the explanation of Ahithophels possible motive for helping Absalom (i.e., revenge for Davids sinful act with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite).

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