King David and His Wives

 The Family of King David

A preacher friend asked advice from my husband about a sermon he planned to preach taken from Acts 13:22.  In this verse, God says, “I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.”

This young, inexperienced preacher said, “I need some humor in this sermon. King David had a palace full of wives and kids and he was a man after God’s own heart.  What if I said we guys should follow his example, and have a bunch of women at our command? You think that would bring the house down?”

My husband sagely replied, “If I ever said anything similar to that from a pulpit, Gay would jump up from the pew and lead the women out the back door—joke or no.”

From my corner where I listened, I joined the conversation. “You got that right.  That’s not a correct interpretation, nor is it comical. God’s plan has always been one wife for each man. David persisted in sin with multiple spouses and this caused him severe trauma.  When God said David was a man after his own heart, He meant something entirely different—it certainly wasn’t polygamy. “

The untrained minister decided he’d better omit the irresponsible joke from his sermon.  Wise choice.

I just finished reading Daughter of the King by authors Carlene Havel and Sharon Faucheux This powerful and historical novel is based on First and Second Samuel from the Old Testament.  Daughter of the King tells the Biblical story of King Saul’s youngest daughter, Michal.  The authors added imaginary conversations to factual events.  It's available in eBook, print, and audio.

Daughter of the King

Some literary license was taken, and as I read, every once in a while, I’d pause and say, “Huh? Is that right?” I often explored my Bible to see if the information was accurate or not—and thereby refreshed my memory of facts. Always a beneficial thing for a Bible student and one’s memory.

The authors wrote in the forward, “For believers, it is a serious undertaking to write a story based on the Holy Bible. We hope and pray we have done our work in an acceptable manner.  Scripture is truth.  Daughter of the King is fiction.”

The book begins with Michal married to Phaltel.  This man is actually her second husband.  You see, her father, King Saul was furious with his daughter for saving David’s life, and as punishment, he gave her to another man as wife. In Phaltel’s household, Michal receives abuse from his multiple wives.  This prepares her for her future in David’s palace.

When Michal returns to David after seven years of exile, she finds her father and family dead. At this time, David has added six wives, six sons and one daughter. Michal asks David if his wives love him. He replies, “Some more than others.”

David’s second wife, Abigail, befriends Michal and welcomes her into the women’s quarters. Michal is actually the senior wife, but she doesn’t assume her authority at this juncture.

David later takes additional concubines and wives, and more sons and daughters are born, but Michal remains barren. One of these wives is Bathsheba, mother of Solomon.

After Michal confronts David about his near nude dancing as he brings the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, she becomes a self-imposed outcast in the palace.  Her life dramatically improves when David brings Mephibosheth and his young son into the mansion. This nephew is her brother, Jonathan’s son.  David is determined to show kindness to anyone who remained alive in his best friend’s family.

Mephibosheth teaches Michal important lessons. When she tells her nephew that God hates her because she prayed for a son and was denied, Mephibosheth responds, “Ah, I see now. You have told Him, perhaps many times, how life should be arranged. Yet He fails to follow your instructions. Why would anyone pray to such a disobedient God?” 

Soon after this conversation, Absalom maneuvers troops to go against his father, King David.  From a cave, David says, “I have let being the king overshadow being a father. A husband. God’s forgiveness, and my family’s may ease the pain.  The human penalties must still be paid. I fear the sword will never leave my house.”

Daughter of the King ends in the middle of David’s story, but it finishes on a positive note. This is a powerful book, and I highly recommend it.  Available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and Prism Book Group, print or Ebook.  The first chapter is available at those sites.

Daughter of the King

My books are available at the same sites, but here's a quick Amazon link.

Gay N. Lewis