David’s Wives and Sons (and Tamar) John R. Neal, Sr. OT9316A Text – 1 & 2 Samuel Spring 2014 2 Contents I. Abbreviations …………………………………………………………. ii-iii II. Charts ………………………………………………………………… iv-v III. David‟s Wives ……………………………………………………….. 1-22 A. Introduction ……………………………………………………….. 1-2 B. Literary Structure of David Narrative …………………………….. 3-4 C. Royal Women in ANE ……………………………………………. 4-13 1. Role of Women/Wives in Royal Court ………………………….. 4-7 2. Who Are the Royal Women of the Hebrew Bible ……………….. 7-9 3. Use of Title ……………………………………………….. 9-11 4. Mother of … Wife of … Daughter of ……………………………. 12-13 D. David and His Household ………………………………………… 13-23 1. David: Husband and Father ……………………………………… 13-14 2. David‟s Wives ……………………………………………………. 14-21 3. David‟s Children …………………………………………………. 22-24 IV. Conclusion ………………………………………………………….. 24-25 V. Bibliography ……………………………………………………….... 26-27 i Abbreviations Abbreviations of Old Testament Books1 Book Abbreviation Genesis Gen. Exodus Exod. Leviticus Lev. Numbers Num. Deuteronomy Deut. Joshua Josh. Judges Judg. Ruth Ruth 1 Samuel 1 Sam. 2 Samuel 2 Sam. 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 1 Chron. 2 Chronicles 2 Chron. Ezra Ezra Nehemiah Neh. Esther Esth. Job Job Psalms Ps. Proverbs Prov. Ecclesiastes Eccles. Song of Solomon Song Isaiah Isa. Jeremiah Jer. Lamentations Lam. Ezekiel Ezek. Daniel Dan. Hosea Hos. Joel Joel Amos Amos Obadiah Obad. 1Don Meredith, Supplement to Turabian 8th Edition (Memphis: Harding School of Theology, 2013). www.hst.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Turabian-400-BW.pdf. Accessed March 24, 2014. ii Jonah Jon. Micah Mic. Nahum Nah. Habakkuk Hab. Zephaniah Zeph. Haggai Hag. Zechariah Zech. Malachi Mal. iii David’s Wives and Sons (and daughters) #1 – Michal #2 Ahinoham #3 Abigail #4 Macaah #5 Haggith #6 Abital (Saul‟s daughter) No children Amnon Daniel/Chileab Absolam (1 Adonijah (1 Shephati (1 Chron 3:2) Chron 3:2) Chron 3:3) (1 Chron 3:1) (2 Sam 3:2-5) Tamar (only daughter) #9 Other Wives #7 Eglath or #8 Bathsheba #10 Abishag – concubine to Eglah *Ibhar keep David warm (1 Kgs 1- Ithream (1 *Elishua or *Unnamed Adonijah asked Chron 3:3) baby Elishama for her after David‟s death & *Shimea or *Bleeida or Solomon put him Shammua Eliada to death) *Shobab *Eliphelet or *Nathan Elpelet *Solomon *Other sons and daughters (2 Sam 5:14; 1 Chron 3:5) (2 Sam 5:14; 1 Chron 3:6-8; 14:4-7) iv www.googleimages/davefam v vi David’s Wives and Sons (and Tamar) Introduction In 2 Sam. 5:13, the inspired writer tells us about the number of wives that King David took into his royal family. “And David took again concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he entered from Hebron, and they were born again to David sons and daughters.”2 David had a total of nine different named wives and/or concubines plus a tenth category of an undetermined number of wives and concubines. Let us examine each of these wives individually. First, we read of Michal, daughter of Saul (1 Sam. 18:27). They had no children between them. Second is Ahinoham (1 Sam. 25:43), who gave birth to his son Amnon (1 Chron. 3:1). Third is his wife Abigail, the widow of Nabal (1 Sam. 25:42) who gave birth to a Daniel (1 Chr. 3:1) or Chileab (2 Sam. 3:2-5). Fourth is his wife Maacah (1 Chron. 3:2), who is the mother of Absalom (1 Chr. 3:2) and his only named daughter Tamar. Fifth is his wife Haggith (1 Chron. 3:2) who is the mother of Adonijah (1 Chron. 3:2). Sixth is his wife Abital (1 Chron. 3:3), mother of Shephatiah (1 Chron. 3:3). Seventh is his wife Eglath or Eglah (1 Chr. 3:3), who gave birth to Ithream (1 Chron. 3:3). Eighth is probably his most famous wife, Bathsheba or Bath- shua (1 Chron. 3:5), who gave birth to Shimea/Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon (2 Sam. 5:14; 1 Chron. 3:5). There is a ninth group or category of “other wives and concubines” who gave birth to Ibhar, Elishua/Elishama, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beelida/Eliada, 2K. Elliger and W. Rudolph, Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensia. (Stuttgart, Germany: German Bible Society, 1987), 512. Translation mine. 1 Eliphelet/Elpelet, and also “others” (2 Sam. 5:14; 1 Chron. 3:6-8; 14:4-7).3 The tenth wife is his concubine Abishag, who was given to David to keep him warm in his old age (1 Kings 1). He had no children by her, but Adonijah asked for her hand after his father‟s death and was killed by Solomon.4 According to 2 Sam. 3:2-5 and 1 Chron. 3:1-4, there were six sons born to David at Hebron: Amnon, Chileab/Daniel, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, and Ithream. There were thirteen named sons born to David at Jerusalem, and fourteen if the baby who dies from the sexual union between David and Bathsheba is not included in this list. According to 2 Sam. 5:14; 1 Chron. 3:5-9; 14:4-7 the ones born at Jerusalem are: Shammua/Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua/Elishama, Eliphelet/Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishma, Sliada/Beeliada, and Eliphelet.5 How are we to understand all of these wives and sons of David? Is this all about a man‟s desire as king to have as many sexual unions as he can acquire? Is there more to the narrative than a king having sexual relations with ten plus wives and concubines? The purpose of this paper will be to look at the literary structure of David as king in relation to his home life (as father, husband, his wives and children). Second, this paper will examine the role of the royal women/wives in the Ancient Near Eastern setting. Third, we will examine some of the nuances going on in the David and Bathsehba narrative. Finally, there will be some concluding remarks about David and how he serves as a paradigm for Solomon‟s later amassing 1000 wives and concubines. These kings of Israel must be viewed in the light of their counterparts in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Hittite kings. 3J.M. Myers, “David,” in The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, A-D, Ed. George Arthur Buttrick (New York/Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1962): 772. 4Ibid. 5Ibid. 2 .