2 Samuel 5:13

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And David {H1732} took {H3947} him more concubines {H6370} and wives {H802} out of Jerusalem {H3389}, after {H310} he was come {H935} from Hebron {H2275}: and there were yet sons {H1121} and daughters {H1323} born {H3205} to David {H1732}.

Complete Jewish Bible

David took for himself more concubines and wives in Yerushalayim after coming from Hevron, so that still more sons and daughters were born to David.

Berean Standard Bible

After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following his anointing as king over all Israel and the strategic conquest of Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 5:13 provides a concise but telling detail about King David's personal life: his expansion of his royal household through the acquisition of additional concubines and wives. This act, while culturally normative for ancient Near Eastern monarchs and a symbol of increasing power and status, subtly introduces a tension with divine law, foreshadowing future complexities and challenges within David's family and reign, even as God's sovereign plan for his dynasty continues to unfold.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed immediately after the momentous events of David's anointing as king over all twelve tribes of Israel at Hebron, signifying the unification of the kingdom ([2 Samuel 5:1-5](/2_samuel/5-1 "2 Samuel 5:1-5 - David Anointed King")). It also follows his decisive conquest of Jerusalem from the Jebusites, transforming it into the political and spiritual capital of his burgeoning kingdom ([2 Samuel 5:6-9](/2_samuel/5-6 "2 Samuel 5:6-9 - David Conquers Jerusalem")). The preceding verses describe David's military prowess and divine favor, establishing his reign. Verse 13 then shifts focus from public triumph to private life, revealing how David's personal choices aligned with or diverged from the expectations of a king in Israel, setting the stage for the narrative's subsequent exploration of his family dynamics and the consequences of his actions. The mention of "sons and daughters" born to him immediately after this expansion of his household emphasizes the tangible outcome of these marital choices, which will play a significant role in later chapters of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the practice of polygamy and the maintenance of a large harem were common among kings and powerful rulers. Such practices were not merely about personal desire but served crucial political, economic, and dynastic purposes. A large number of wives and concubines could signify a king's wealth, status, and ability to forge alliances through marriage. Furthermore, producing many sons was vital for securing the succession and ensuring the stability of the dynasty. David's actions in taking "more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem" reflect this prevalent cultural norm, indicating his full embrace of the trappings of kingship as understood in his era. However, this cultural practice stood in tension with specific Mosaic laws given to Israelite kings, particularly the prohibition against multiplying wives ([Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Deuteronomy 17:17 - Prohibition Against Multiplying Wives")). This tension highlights the complex interplay between societal norms and divine expectations within the biblical narrative.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes to several overarching themes in 2 Samuel and the broader Deuteronomistic History. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Kingship and its Responsibilities**, revealing how David, though chosen by God, navigated the complexities of leadership, sometimes conforming to regional customs rather than strict divine mandates. Secondly, it subtly introduces the theme of **Human Imperfection and its Consequences**, foreshadowing the later domestic strife and moral failures within David's family that stemmed, in part, from his expansive household and the rivalries it engendered, as seen in the tragic events involving Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom ([2 Samuel 13](/2_samuel/13 "2 Samuel 13 - Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom")). Thirdly, despite David's choices, the verse implicitly reinforces the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Covenant Faithfulness**. Even amidst the imperfections of human leaders, God remains committed to His covenant promises, particularly the establishment of David's dynasty ([2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant")). The narrative records David's actions without immediate explicit condemnation, allowing the subsequent events to demonstrate the long-term implications of choices made in deviation from God's ideal.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Took (Hebrew, _lāqaḥ'_):** This verb, commonly translated as "took," carries the sense of acquiring, taking possession of, or marrying. In this context, it signifies David's active decision and initiative in expanding his household. It's not a passive reception but an intentional act of acquisition, reflecting his royal prerogative and growing power. The repetition of this action ("took him *more* concubines and wives") emphasizes a deliberate and continued pattern of behavior.
* **Concubines (Hebrew, _pîlegeš'_):** A concubine was a secondary wife or a woman of lower status who lived with a man as his wife, often for the purpose of bearing children. While not having the full legal and social standing of a primary wife (_nashim_), her children were considered legitimate and could inherit, though often with different rights than those of primary wives. The inclusion of concubines alongside wives indicates the full scope of David's expanded household and the various levels of marital relationships within it, common for powerful rulers seeking to secure their lineage.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem":** This clause indicates a deliberate action by David to expand his marital household *after* establishing his capital in Jerusalem. The phrase "more concubines and wives" suggests that he already had a significant number (as noted in [2 Samuel 3:2-5](/2_samuel/3-2 "2 Samuel 3:2-5 - David's Wives in Hebron")), and this act represents a further increase. This was a common practice for ancient Near Eastern kings, symbolizing power, prestige, and the ability to produce many heirs, crucial for dynastic stability.
* **"after he was come from Hebron":** This temporal marker places the expansion of David's harem specifically after his move from Hebron, where he reigned for seven and a half years, to Jerusalem. It signifies a new phase in his reign, now as king over all Israel and residing in his newly conquered capital. This move to Jerusalem marked a significant consolidation of his power and the beginning of his unified kingdom, and his expanded household reflects this elevated status.
* **"and there were yet sons and daughters born to David":** This final clause highlights the direct consequence and primary purpose of acquiring more wives and concubines: the production of offspring. The phrase "yet sons and daughters" implies a continuation of his lineage, emphasizing the ongoing fulfillment of God's promise of a dynasty, even amidst David's imperfect choices. These children would later become key figures, for good or ill, in the unfolding narrative of David's reign and succession.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs **Narrative Detail**, providing a succinct but significant piece of information about David's personal life that contributes to the broader story. This detail serves as a subtle form of **Foreshadowing**, as the expansion of David's harem, while culturally accepted, stands in tension with divine commands for kings (Deuteronomy 17:17) and will later contribute to the internal strife and moral failings within his family (e.g., the stories of Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah). The author presents this information with an **Objective Tone**, simply stating the facts without immediate explicit judgment, allowing the subsequent narrative to reveal the long-term consequences of David's choices. This implicit commentary allows the reader to connect David's actions to later events, demonstrating how human decisions, even those of a "man after God's own heart," can have profound and sometimes negative repercussions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, while seemingly a simple statement of fact, carries significant theological weight. It highlights the tension between cultural norms and divine ideals, particularly concerning marriage and kingship. David's actions, while common for rulers of his time, subtly deviate from God's original design for marriage as a monogamous union ([Genesis 2:24](/genesis/2-24 "God's Design for Marriage")) and the specific prohibition for kings against multiplying wives, which was intended to prevent their hearts from turning away from God ([Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Prohibition for Kings")). The narrative does not explicitly condemn David here, but it records his choices, allowing the subsequent events of his life—marked by family strife, rebellion, and moral failings—to implicitly reveal the consequences of such deviations. This serves as a reminder that even God's chosen leaders are fallible and that human choices, even when culturally sanctioned, have spiritual and practical ramifications.

* [Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Deuteronomy 17:17 - King's Prohibition Against Multiplying Wives")
* [1 Kings 11:1-8](/1_kings/11-1 "1 Kings 11:1-8 - Solomon's Many Wives and Their Consequences")
* [Genesis 2:24](/genesis/2-24 "Genesis 2:24 - God's Original Design for Marriage")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Samuel 5:13 offers a profound opportunity for reflection on the nature of leadership, personal choices, and the long-term impact of our actions. David, a man chosen by God and blessed with immense success, still operated within the cultural frameworks of his time, even when those frameworks diverged from God's ideal. This verse challenges us to consider where our own lives might be shaped more by societal norms or personal desires than by divine wisdom. It reminds us that even seemingly minor deviations from God's design can have significant, often unforeseen, consequences, particularly within the family unit and for future generations. For believers today, it underscores the importance of seeking God's will in all areas of life, including marriage and family, and recognizing that true flourishing comes from aligning with His timeless principles, rather than merely conforming to cultural expectations or personal preferences. It also offers a sobering reminder that even those greatly used by God are imperfect and subject to the consequences of their choices, yet God's grace and sovereign plan can still prevail.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be conforming to cultural norms rather than God's revealed will?**
* **How do my personal choices, especially those related to family and relationships, reflect or diverge from God's design?**
* **What long-term consequences, positive or negative, might my current choices have on my family and future generations?**
* **How does David's example of imperfection, yet continued use by God, encourage or challenge my understanding of God's grace?**

### FAQ

**Was David's taking of multiple wives and concubines considered sinful by God?**

Answer: While the text of 2 Samuel 5:13 itself does not explicitly condemn David's actions, the practice of a king multiplying wives was explicitly prohibited in the Mosaic Law ([Deuteronomy 17:17](/deuteronomy/17-17 "Deuteronomy 17:17 - Prohibition for Kings")). This prohibition was given to prevent the king's heart from turning away from God and to avoid entanglements that could lead to idolatry or internal strife. Therefore, while culturally accepted in the ancient Near East, David's actions were a deviation from God's specific command for Israelite kings. The subsequent narrative in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings implicitly demonstrates the negative consequences of this practice within David's own family, including rivalries, rape, murder, and rebellion (e.g., [2 Samuel 13](/2_samuel/13 "2 Samuel 13 - Amnon and Absalom") and [2 Samuel 15](/2_samuel/15 "2 Samuel 15 - Absalom's Rebellion")), illustrating that such actions, though not always immediately punished, carried significant long-term spiritual and social repercussions.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Samuel 5:13, detailing David's expansion of his harem, stands in stark contrast to the perfect kingship of Jesus Christ. David, though a "man after God's own heart," was deeply flawed, and his multiplying of wives, while culturally normative, foreshadowed the internal strife and moral failings that would plague his family and kingdom. This highlights the need for a perfect King, one who would fully embody God's ideal. Jesus, the Son of David, is that King. He does not multiply wives for dynastic security or personal prestige; instead, He is presented as the Bridegroom with one Bride, the Church ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25-27 - Christ and the Church as Bride and Groom")). His kingdom is not built on human alliances or the proliferation of earthly heirs, but on spiritual regeneration and an eternal covenant ([Hebrews 8:6](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6 - A Superior Covenant")). Where David's choices led to family dysfunction and moral compromise, Christ's perfect obedience and self-sacrificial love establish a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit ([Romans 14:17](/romans/14-17 "Romans 14:17 - The Kingdom of God")). The limitations and imperfections of David's reign, including his personal choices regarding marriage, ultimately point to the superior, unblemished, and eternally secure reign of Christ, who perfectly fulfills God's design for humanity and kingship.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 3:9

[These were] all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.

Deuteronomy 17:17

Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.

2 Chronicles 11:18

And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, [and] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;

2 Chronicles 11:21

And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)

1 Chronicles 14:3

And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.

1 Chronicles 14:7

And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

2 Chronicles 13:21

But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.