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2 Samuel 5 · a question people ask

Wasn't the king told not to take many wives?

In the text

Deuteronomy's law for a king says, "He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away" (Deuteronomy 17:17). Now king over Israel (5:3), David "took more concubines and wives for himself out of Jerusalem, after he had come from Hebron" (5:13), and the chapter names the sons born to him there (5:14-16). 2 Samuel 5 reports this without comment. It doesn't set the law beside it, and says nothing for or against it.

The verses

“He shall not multiply wives to himself, that his heart not turn away. He shall not greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.”
Deuteronomy 17:17 · World English Bible
“So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel.”
2 Samuel 5:3 · World English Bible
“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. These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.”
2 Samuel 5:13-16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5: The stronghold of Zion

Zion is named for the first time in the Bible here (5:7), and among the sons born to David in it is Nathan (5:14), the son Luke's list of Jesus' ancestors runs through: "the son of Nathan, the son of David" (Luke 3:31).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions