2 Samuel 5:13 Meaning: David's Many Wives
David took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and more sons and daughters were born to David.
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
And David taketh again concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after his coming from Hebron, and there are born again to David sons and daughters.
And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did David take more wives after God established him as king? 2 Samuel 5:13 reveals a troubling choice and a warning for success.
Context
David has finally reached the top. The years of running from Saul are over. The civil war with Ish-bosheth is done. The elders of Israel anoint him king over the whole nation. He captures Jerusalem, builds a palace with cedar from Tyre, and perceives that the Lord has established his kingdom. Everything is falling into place. Then comes this quiet, almost administrative verse: a list of additional wives and concubines, more children. The chapter records David's rise and then pauses on this choice. The timing matters, right when God's blessing is most visible, David makes a decision the Law explicitly warned against.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight here. The verb took (from laqach) is the same word used for taking a wife in marriage, but also for taking booty or taking hold of something you reach for. It is an act of acquisition, not of receiving. The word again (from od) means still, yet, more, it signals addition, an ongoing accumulation. And concubines (pilegesh) refers to secondary wives, women with fewer rights than a full wife but still part of the household. Together they paint a picture: David kept adding. He did not receive these marriages as gifts; he reached for them. The text does not say God gave them. It says David took them.
How Christians Read This Verse
Many older commentators, like Wesley and Clarke, read this verse as a clear failure, David multiplied wives in direct violation of Deuteronomy 17:17, and his heart would later suffer for it. The Cambridge Bible notes that this practice was normal for kings of the region, while Matthew Henry suggests David may have done it for political reasons, to secure alliances with powerful families. Other readers point out that the verse sits calmly between God's blessing and the Philistine wars, as if the narrator reports David's mistake without commentary. Across traditions, Christians agree that the act contradicts the Mosaic law, though they differ on how sternly to judge David here.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse as proof that polygamy was fine for David because God still blessed him. In fact, the Law of the King in Deuteronomy 17:17 explicitly forbids multiplying wives, warning that it will turn the king's heart away. The Chronicler's parallel account (1 Chronicles 14:3) omits the word 'concubines,' perhaps softening the record. David's later family disasters, Amnon's violence, Absalom's rebellion, are rooted in this pattern. This verse does not endorse polygamy; it shows how even a good king can drift into disobedience when success feels unaccountable.
Living This Out
You know that moment when everything is finally going well? The promotion came. The relationship is steady. Your faith feels strong. And then a quiet opportunity appears: something God has warned against, but it seems small, and you can justify it. This verse asks you to pause before you take what God did not give. David did not need more wives, he needed to trust the God who had just established him. What are you reaching for today that you do not need? Let the blessing you have be enough.
Main takeaway: Even a man after God's own heart can drift into disobedience when success makes restraint feel unnecessary.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King David already had a big family, but he kept adding more wives. God had said leaders should not do that. Even when we are winning, we need to follow God’s rules.
For ages 9, 12
David had just become king over all Israel, and God gave him a palace and many blessings. But instead of stopping to thank God, David decided to take more wives for himself. God had given a law that kings should not do that (Deuteronomy 17:17). This story shows that even when you are succeeding, you can still make mistakes if you stop listening to God's instructions. The best time to obey is when everything is going well.
Questions People Ask
Why did David take more wives if God forbade it?
David likely did it for political reasons, to form alliances with powerful families in Jerusalem and strengthen his new capital. But the Bible does not justify his choice. The narrator simply reports it, and other passages (like Deuteronomy 17:17) make clear it was a violation.
Does 2 Samuel 5:13 mean polygamy was okay in the Old Testament?
Not exactly. Many Old Testament figures practiced polygamy, but it was never God's original design (Genesis 2:24). The Law regulated it but did not endorse it, and Deuteronomy 17:17 specifically limited it for kings. The Bible presents these stories honestly without approving every action.
How does this verse relate to the list of David's children that follows?
The list of children in verses 14, 16 shows the result of David's choices. Among those children are Nathan and Solomon, Solomon would himself multiply wives disastrously (1 Kings 11). The family legacy of many wives brought conflict and heartache for generations.
Why is this verse included in the Bible if it shows David sinning?
The Bible does not hide the flaws of its heroes. This verse, placed right after God's blessing and before David's victories, shows that even a man after God's own heart could make poor choices. It serves as a warning and keeps the story honest.
What can I learn from this verse today?
Success can make you feel above the rules. When life is going well, you might be tempted to take things God has warned against. This verse invites you to stay grounded in God's word, especially when everything seems to be working in your favor.
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