Day 13 Continued....

David took on more concubines and wives and had 11 more sons and daughters:

Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

He went to Baalah to recover the chest of God, which was called by the Name God of the Angel Armies who was enthroned over the pair of angels on the chest. On their journey back, an ox stumbled and Uzzah reached out and grabbed the chest. God blazed in anger and struck him dead because he profaned the chest. David got angry at God because of His deadly outburst, but grew fearful of God and moved the chest to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for 3 months. God prospered Obed and his entire household. Wanting God's blessings, David set out to retrieve the chest. When Michal saw David parading the chest in the streets, singing and dancing, her heart was filled with scorn. She referred to David as a burlesque dancer, exposing himself to servants. David replied, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!" Michal was barren for the rest of her life.

David took control of the Philistines and Moabites. He defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah and killed 22,000 Arameans. Toi of Hamath gave him many gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.

Remember in my last post how I wasn't sure why Jonathan's son was mentioned?? Well here's the rest of his story. David asked Ziba if there was anyone left in Saul's family. He said Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, with the lame feet was living at the home of Makir in Lo Debar. Mephibosheth was sent for and David returned to him all the properties that belonged to his grandpa and told him to take all his meal's at the king's table. All who were part of Ziba's household were servants to Mephibosheth.

The Ammonite king died and David sent his condolences to his son, Hanun. However, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun that David was just trying to snoop and size up the city so he could take it over. Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half their beards, cut their robes half way up their butts, and sent them packing. David sent someone to the humiliated men and told them to stay in Jericho until their beards grew out.

David woke from his nap and took a walk on the roof of his palace. He saw a beautiful woman bathing and was told her name was Bathsheba, wife to Uriah the Hittite. David sent for her and had sex with her during her time of purification after her period. She returned home but sent word to David that she was pregnant. Ain't that a kick in the head! Joab sent Uriah to David and he asked for battle news. It was suggested to him to go home, take a bath, and get some rest. I'm speculating that David wanted Uriah to go home and have sex with his wife so that they could say it was his baby instead of David's. Uriah didn't go home that night. Instead, he slept amongst David's servants at the palace entrance. His response to David asking why he didn't return home was, "The chest of God is out there with the soldiers of Israel and Judah in tents. My master, Joab and his servants are roughing it out in the fields. So, how can I go home and eat and drink and enjoy my wife. On your life I'll not do it!" The next day David got Uriah drunk but he slept with the servants again. Joab received a letter from David asking him to put Uriah on the front lines of battle because he knew he would die. Joab's messenger reported to David that the enemy was too much for them and advanced on them in the open field and the fighting was pushed back to the city gate. Eighteen of the soldiers died. Angry with Joab, David referred to the story of Abimelech dying because a woman dropped a millstone on him from the wall. The messenger then casually mentioned Uriah was one of the soldiers that died. David says, "Oh, I see. Tell Joab don't trouble yourself over this. War kills-sometimes one, sometimes another-you never know who's next." Bathsheba grieved over Uriah. David sent for her and she had a son.

Ok let's recap. David has tons of wives and concubines to choose from. Does he REALLY need to hit that with Bathsheba? I mean c'mon man! I wonder what was going through his head. David realized Uriah wasn't some schmuck but a loyal soldier. He knew he did something wrong and then tried to cover it up by having Bathsheba's husband killed. Isn't this what Saul was trying to do with David earlier? Saul wanted the Philistines to take care of killing David so he'd be in the clear.