Sunday, November 10, 2024
“So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite” (2 Samuel 2:2 KJV).
Why did David have two wives? Did the LORD endorse such polygamy?
Though David’s first wife Michal was married off to another man, David demanded she be returned to him after the Philistines slew King Saul in battle (see 1 Samuel 31:1-13 and 2 Samuel 3:13-16). David was anointed Israel’s new monarch, Saul’s successor, in 2 Samuel chapter 5—which corresponds to Jesus Christ’s Millennial Reign in the ages to come. In dozens upon dozens of ways, David symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ. As touching today’s Scripture, both men are married to one woman, then to two women, before the relationship to the original woman is restored.
Let us tie it all together now in one succinct narrative. David’s marriage to Michal was dissolved due to sin; she was taken from him and given to another man. Likewise, the LORD’S nation (Israel) was stolen from Him and given to another man (heathen gods or pagan idols). David subsequently married two women, Ahinoam and Abigail, and Michal later rejoined him once he became king. After David’s idolatrous son Solomon died, Israel was divided into two kingdoms or two nations, Israel and Judah (two women or wives). Yet, the New Covenant will reconcile Israel and Judah to each other, and reunite them to the Lord Jesus Christ (JEHOVAH God). In that day of His Second Coming, He will reign as their King—and there will be one wife, one nation, one kingdom (Michal’s return), serving one God (no more idols).
We can see how sin complicates life, whether short-term or long-term. Again, polygamy or polyandry was never God’s intention, but we live in a fallen world. David’s marital situations were not easy or justifiable, yet the Holy Spirit placed them into the record of Scripture forever to illustrate how the LORD God would have a similar relationship with Israel: one wife (one kingdom/nation), then two wives (divided kingdoms/nations), with the original wife finally returning (united kingdom/nation). In fact, in various ways David is most unlike Christ too, for, as his influence grew, King David kept multiplying wives as per eastern custom (2 Samuel 5:12,13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9). Again, the Bible tells the truth—even about its heroes!
333 Words of Grace 