How does David's action in 2 Samuel 5:13 compare to Deuteronomy 17:17? Setting the Scene • Israel has just crowned David king over the entire nation (2 Samuel 5:1–5). • God had long beforehand set specific guidelines for any future king (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). What David Did—2 Samuel 5:13 “After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.” • David expands an already sizable household (cf. 2 Samuel 3:2-5). • These additional marriages occur immediately after his rise to full national power. God’s Standard—Deuteronomy 17:17 “He must not take many wives for himself, lest his heart go astray; he must not accumulate for himself large amounts of silver and gold.” • The command targets Israel’s kings in particular. • The purpose is clearly stated: to guard the king’s heart from wandering away from the LORD. Point-by-Point Comparison • Number of wives – Deuteronomy: “must not take many.” – David: “took more concubines and wives,” adding to the total he already had. • Heart danger – Deuteronomy: multiplying wives will “lead his heart astray.” – David: later episodes reveal divided affections and family turmoil (2 Samuel 11:1-4; 13:1-22). • Obedience vs. deviation – The Mosaic directive is crystal clear and timeless. – David’s choice represents a departure from that directive, even though he is otherwise “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). Consequences Seen in David’s Life • Moral vulnerability—Bathsheba episode (2 Samuel 11). • Domestic chaos—Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom (2 Samuel 13–18). • National instability—succession disputes between sons (1 Kings 1:5-10). • Prophetic rebuke—Nathan’s words, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7-12). Takeaways for Today • God’s commands apply equally to great leaders and ordinary believers; prominence offers no exemption. • Small compromises at the point of desire can sow seeds of far-reaching consequences (James 1:14-15). • Scripture’s candor about David’s failure underscores both the reliability of the biblical record and the necessity of full obedience to God’s revealed will. |
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