David

The kingship of David described in 2 Samuel 2 is just as exciting and dramatic as his period running away from King Saul. With Samuel's original blessing, David becomes the first king of Judah, but immediately launches into a seven-year civil war with King Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, that does not end until Saul's son is assassinated in his bed by two Benjamites, the last tribe of Judah and descendants of Jacob the Patriarch.

Expecting a great reward like the previously mentioned Amalakite, they bring Ish-Bosheth's head to David who immediately executes them for their despicable and criminal activity, saying, “Wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed” (v. 2 Samuel 4:11). He has the men killed, cuts off their feet and hands, and hangs their bodies in shameful display. Later, he buries Ish-Bosheth's head, properly and respectfully in Abner's tomb (Abner was Saul's cousin and commander-in-chief of his army).

With Ish-Bosheth dead, David is offered the crown by the elders of Israel, and 2 Samuel 5:4 records, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.” He then conquers Jerusalem - Zion - to which he soon also brings the ark of the covenant. David has hopes to build God's temple in Jerusalem, but that David's offspring will be the one to “build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (v. 7:13).

The next few chapters detail and discuss the tremendous victories for David against the Philistines, the Geshurites, the Gezites, the Jebusites, and the Amalekites. 2 Samuel also shares of his marital problems with Saul's daughter Michal, who “when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart” (v. 6:16). It is therefore not too surprising that King David, one of the most virtuous men in the Bible, forgets his place, his responsibilities to God and to his subjects, and starts a love affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite - one of his Mighty Warriors

David & Bathsheba

While relaxing at the palace, King David happens to see beautiful Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and future mother of King Solomon (c. 990–931 BCE), bathing upon her roof and the temptation is too tempting for him. 2 Samuel 11:4 records, “Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her (now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness). Then she went back home.” Unfortunately for the pair, Bathsheba becomes pregnant with David's child.

The situation is delicate, at best. Although feminists claim that David forced Bathsheba, and traditionalists claim that Bathsheba seduced David, the truth is more one of mutual culpability except, perhaps, that as king and the model for the Law of God, David had a higher obligation to protect and not exploit Bathsheba. The text does not lay the blame on any one person (somewhat like the Fall in Genesis); however, as bad as things are for the adulterous couple, it is only going to get worse

The Prophet Nathan

In his desperation, though, King David forgot that God sees and knows everything. So, God sends the Prophet Nathan, the Prophet Samuel's successor, to deliver a “rhetorical” message of treachery, which makes David burn with anger against the rich man who steals the poor man's one little lamb. David steps into the trap the Lord has laid for him and states, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity” (2 Samuel 12:5).

Nathan immediately pronounces judgment upon David, crying out, “You are the man!” (v. 12:7). Not only was David an adulterer, he also was a murderer and an ungrateful king who abused his position to please his loins and protect his renown. Therefore, Nathan prophesies that David would experience perpetual consequences of warfare within and without his kingdom, and that he would suffer public humiliation because he tried to cover up his horrific sins.

David's response is quite un-Saul-like, though. He humbly replies, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan then informs him that his sins are forgiven, but their child of sin is going to die. David pleads for his son's life, and when the boy becomes ill, David fasts, prays, and deprives himself of sleep, trying to get God to change his mind, but God does not according to the biblical text.

On the seventh day, the son dies, and David's response is amazing. Rather than be bitter or hate God, David got up and “he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped” (v. 12:20). The passage also records that “David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon” (v. 12:24)

Imam Reza (pbuh) in response to Ibn Jahm who asked about the origin of the story of Uriah's wife, said: In the time of David (pbuh) if a man dies or is killed, his wife must remain without a husband forever; But God wanted this false tradition to be abolished, and David (pbuh) was the first to be obliged to act against it. Accordingly, when Uriah was killed naturally in battle, David (pbuh) was obliged by divine command to marry his wife. Because it was difficult for people to accept such a thing, the ground was prepared for these words and hadiths.