Why wasn't King David executed for having Bathsheba's husband killed?

Question

It seems to me that this contradicts God's law that murderers should have capital punishment imposed upon them.

I am in favor of capital punishment on biblical grounds, but this exception seems to fly in the face of God's justice.

Answer 1

Good question, Kidd. At first glance, it does seem to fly in the face of God's justice.

According to the Mosaic law, the death penalty could not be carried out unless there were two witnesses to the capital crime. No one could be put to death at the mouth of one witness. See Deuteronomy 17:6, Deuteronomy 19:15 and Numbers 35:30. There were not two witnesses to what David did. The prophet Nathan was not a witness; it was God who told Nathan what happened and it was God who sent Nathan to David. Indeed, it was God who uncovered the whole reprehensible matter. So it is not like God was undermining his own sense of justice. Had he done so, he would not have brought the situation to light. As for Joab, the soldier who carried out David's order to put Uriah at the front of the troops, if he was a witness at all, he was only one.

Moreover, Israelite judges who applied the law were not authorized to pardon the sin of adultery or murder. Jehovah God, however, can read hearts and can extend forgiveness if he sees a basis for doing so. He read David's heart. And David was truly repentant.

We should not think, however, that David got away scott-free as the saying goes. He suffered terribly for his sins, beginning with the loss of his first son.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 2

If I knew God's mind, I'd be God. I don't and I'm not. But I can think of a few things here. First, 100% of all people die; the baby's fate is the fate of us all. Then, David truly repented his evil behavior. That, at least, is a good thing. Having married the widow Bathsheba, it certainly wouldn't have been right to dump her now. David wasn't entirely a paragon of virtue; his whole life shows that. But he did play an important part in God's plan. I've noticed in everyday life that the most evil and bizarre events can lead to amazing blessings. It goes to show that there is hope for anybody.

Answer 3

When David was young, Almighty God made a decision that David would become King.
What David did to Bathsheba and her husband was wrong, but David [ in Psalms] was very sorry, to God, for what he did. God did not approve of what he did, but did forgive him, and David became a forebear of Jesus. He was part of God;s "Master Plan"
We will never understand all of God's decisions, but they will always be perfect.
David's relationship with Bathsheba suffered because their child died, and David's other offspring had ongoing grief.
The whole situation is a good lesson to us.

Answer 4

First Husband Of Bathsheba

Answer 5

Bathsheba Husband

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why wasn't King David executed for having Bathsheba's husband killed?
It seems to me that this contradicts God's law that murderers should have capital punishment imposed upon them.

I am in favor of capital punishment on biblical grounds, but this exception seems to fly in the face of God's justice.

Answer 7

King David was always repenting.God forgave him. David did reap what he sowed.(What go's around comes's around) That is God's way.
I was a counselor and I can tell by his writings that he was a very troubled man. I would say that if he were to receive a diagnoses today.......he would be considered. bipolar.
I would not want the executioners job.I don't want murders freed but I would put them in solitary confinement for the rest of their natural life.

Answer 8

If all one wants is strict justice, then David should have hung high.
He deserved the death penalty.
He repented.
He spent a week fasting and begging forgiveness.
So, God had to decide:
Will I insist on strict justice, or allow this sincere repentance to influence matters?
Tough decision.
However, God made the decision.
You'll note David did not get off scot-free.
He had to choose 1 of 3 penalties.
Still, he should thank his lucky stars!

Answer 9

First, if I recall my Old Testament...and I am the first to admit that I may be mistaken but you can check it out if you like...I don't think that God said that people were to be killed for killing etc. if you are referring to the eye for an eye thing. As I recall, it said that God would take care of it...not that man was supposed to do it. Anyway, just a thought.

One more thought on capital punishment. I am against it because to many errors have been made. Our justice system is not good enough to take the chance of killing someone then saying oops later. It has happened on several occasions. I am instead for imprisonment for life...with no parole and no priviledges. I work in corrections, and for the most part our medium security facility is a walk in the park. TVs in the rooms, regular visits to gym and weight rooms, three reasonably square meals a day and work that I could do in fifteen minutes a day (and they even get a small amount of pay for it that they use to buy junk food with on the canteen) Super Maximum security facilites (where murderers should be) are not like that at all. They are in solitary confinement 23 out of 24 hours a day and have no outside contact with other inmates.

As to King David...In those days, the king could do what he liked. Kind of like a dictator of today. Not good from our viewpoint but it was the custom of the time.

Answer 10

David lies with Bathsheba, "the wife of Uriah the Hittite", and Bathsheba becomes pregnant. David sends for Uriah, who is with the Israelite army at the siege of Rabbah, that he might lie with her and so conceal the identity of the child's father. But Uriah refuses to do so while his companions are in the field of battle. David then sends Uriah back to Joab the commander with a message instructing him to abandon Uriah on the battlefield, "that he may be struck down, and die." And so David marries Bathsheba and she bears his child, "but the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."[17]

The prophet Nathan speaks out against David's sin, saying: "Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife." And although David repents, God kills the child as a punishment. ("And the Lord struck the child ... and it became sick ... [And] On the seventh day the child died.") David then leaves his lamentations, dresses himself, and eats. His servants ask why he lamented when the baby was alive, but leaves off when it is dead, and David replies: "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."[18]