Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
2 Samuel 5:13-16
David's Own Continuing Fruitfulness (2 Samuel 5:13).
A further indication of YHWH's hand on David was the fact that he was so fruitful and had so many sons and daughters. This was on top of the sons who had previously been born to him in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:2).
Analysis.
a And David took for himself more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron (2 Samuel 5:13).
b And there were yet sons and daughters born to David (2 Samuel 5:14).
b And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:15 a).
a Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet (2 Samuel 5:15 a).
Note that in ‘a' David had many concubines and wives, and in the parallel many children. In ‘b' sons and daughters were born to David, and in the parallel the names of those sons and daughters are to be given.
‘ And David took for himself more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron, and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.'
David not only received assistance with the building of his grand palace, but also obtained even more concubines and wives than he had already (2 Samuel 3:2). That was seen in those days as an indication of a great king. He would, of course, necessarily have taken over Saul's and Ish-bosheth's concubines. (For them to have been made free to marry outside could have been politically dangerous). It is unusual for the concubines to be mentioned before the wives, and that may well have been because they were the royal concubines. Less likely is the idea that it may have been because they were for pleasure and childbearing only, while wives were often treaty wives, married in order to seal a treaty with someone important. But what was seen as important was that he continued to have many children. YHWH was giving him his quiver full (Psalms 127:5).
Multiplying wives was in fact going against YHWH's Law (Deuteronomy 17:17), and living in a palace of cedar would one day be an indication of a feckless king if it was not accompanied by reigning in righteousness (Jeremiah 22:14). In both cases the danger was that the king would therefore take his eyes off YHWH and obedience to His will. Perhaps the thought here is that YHWH knew that David would not succumb to such temptation. Or perhaps we are being reminded that God accepts that his people will not always be perfect in every way, and does continue to bless them if their sin is ‘unawares'. David may well not have given these questions consideration, or may never have had them drawn to his attention. And the necessity for taking over Saul's concubines clearly added to the pressure, (he really had no alternative), while by taking treaty wives he was simply following a regular practise recognised as a regular one for kings. In the circumstances of the time it was generally expected, and even necessary, to seal treaties in this way. The wives were seen as guarantees of the genuineness of the treaties, and as uniting the two houses. But the reason why he is not rebuked is presumably because David did not allow them to divert him from God's will (unlike Solomon. This latter fact reminds us that he had unconsciously by his failure bequeathed a problem to his son. How carefully in our actions we should consider what ‘legacy' we might pass on to our children).
‘ And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.'
The names of the children born to him in Jerusalem are now given. These are additional to the six sons born in Hebron. Their quantity indicated that YHWH was pleased with him.