Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 12
God gave his commands (Exodus 20:1-17) for our benefit (Mark 2:27). By these wise instructions, he wants to protect us from many of the evil things that happen in the world (Psalm 19:7-11). If we neglect God’s commands, we suffer many unnecessary problems and difficulties.
Until now, David had lived under God’s special protection, although he seemed unaware of it. He had taken many wives, although that was against God’s law for Israel’s king (Deuteronomy 17:17). Still, there seemed to be few serious problems and arguments in his family. The Bible only mentions his troubles with Michal (3:13-16; 6:16-23).
That is not the usual situation in a large family where a man has many wives. Often, the wives are cruel to each other; or the children from different wives hate each other (Genesis 37:17-20; 1 Samuel 1:4-7). In the family of a rich or important man, his children may fight each other to establish their own importance (Judges 9:1-5).
However, David had enjoyed his life at home. He relaxed there and he felt comfortable with his wives and children (11:1-3).
David’s evil acts, and in particular, the murder of Uriah, changed that. David had introduced a terrible attitude into his family, as the history of his sons Amnon, Absalom and Adonijah proves. David was the first of his family who tried to gain benefits for himself by cruel and evil acts. Through the rest of his life, David suffered much as his sons followed the same kind of wrong behaviour.
Next part: Another man would take David's wives (2 Samuel 12:11)
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