80. SAUL'S WIVES AND DAVID

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 27, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 17.

80. SAUL'S WIVES AND DAVID.

In what sense did the Lord give David Saul's wives (2 Sam. 12:7)? Can it be construed in a bad sense?

It was a customary right, according to the code of morals of oriental kings, that to the reigning monarch belonged the wives and concubines of the one whom he succeeded. This custom, while not of itself right (compare with Matt. 19:7-8), gave David all of Saul's wives and concubines, and should have prevented him from taking the wife of Uriah, who had but one. David would better do the immoral wrong allowed by the custom of nations around him than to do as he had done with Uriah. But one wife was all that God designed that a king should have. Deut. 17:17. David's wives brought diversity and jealousy among his sons.