Biblical God Threatens to Punish David by Having Men Commit Adultery with His Wives in Broad Daylight!

by

Bassam Zawadi

 

The second book of Samuel basically talks about how God rebukes David for his sin (2 Samuel 11:2-26). Indeed, David does deserve a rebuking if he did commit this crime (Muslims don't believe he did). However, what shocked me was when I read the following verses: 

2 Samuel 12:11-12

¹¹ "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.' " 

God is basically saying that He would take David's wives to those who are 'close to David.' Some commentaries defined this as possibly referring to David's neighbors or friends: 

and I will take thy wives before thine eyes; which is so expressed, because it was done in his lifetime, and he knowing it, but not able to hinder it, though he did not, strictly speaking, see it with his eyes:

and give [them] unto thy neighbour; or friend, meaning his son Absalom, as they were: (John Gill's Exposition to the Bible, Commentary on 2 Samuel 12:11, Source) 

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give [them] unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun (The Geneva Study Bible, Commentary on 2 Samuel 12:11, Source)  

So God is threatening David by having his wives commit adultery with his neighbors or friends, which is something that basically goes against two of the Ten Commandments: 

Exodus 20:14

You shall not commit adultery. 

This threat especially goes against this Commandment: 

Exodus 20:17

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." 

Even though David later repented and the punishment was not carried out, how on earth could God have made such a threat? One might argue that it was done to put David to shame and make him think about the consequences of his actions. However, this is no Godly way of doing it. God could have simply rebuked him by threatening to punish him in hell, taking his kingdom away, etc. God can't threaten to commit a sin or violate His own law, especially when God wants to punish innocents (David's wives) for doing absolutely nothing wrong. It makes no sense. It is not appropriate for such Holiness to utter such a statement.

 

 

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