And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
Parallel translations
- WEB David took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
- BSB After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.
- NKJV And David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron. Also more sons and daughters were born to David.
- NASB Meanwhile David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
- NLT After moving from Hebron to Jerusalem, David married more concubines and wives, and they had more sons and daughters.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David takes more wives and concubines in Jerusalem, and more children are born to him. The note records a practice that, though common for kings, departed from God's design.
Overview
After moving to Jerusalem, David adds to his household with further wives and concubines, and his family grows. While accepted royal custom of the day, this multiplying of wives ran contrary to God's instruction for kings (Deuteronomy 17:17) and would sow seeds of future family strife. Scripture records David's success and his flaws honestly, reminding us that even God's chosen king needed grace and was not the perfect King to come.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 1 Chr 3:9These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
- Deut 17:17Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
- 2 Chr 13:21But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
- 1 Chr 14:3–7And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.
- Gen 25:5–6And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.
- 2 Chr 11:18–21And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 5:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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