“Elifelet the son of Achasbai
the son of the Ma‘akhati,
Eli‘am the son of Achitofel from Giloh,
Hetzrai from Karmel,
Pa‘arai the Arbi,
Yig’al the son of Natan of Tzovah,
Bani the Gadi,
Tzelek the ‘Amoni,
Nachrai the Be’eroti,
armor-bearer for Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah,
Ira the Yitri,
Garev the Yitri, and
Uriyah the Hitti .”
-2 Samuel 23:34-39
Alrighty, today we’re gonna finish up Chapter 23, and then from tomorrow, finally move into the last chapter of 2nd Samuel.
Boy, it’s been quite a journey, hasn’t it?
So let’s dive into the final list of names comprised of David’s war cabinet members.
We’re not gonna go into excruciating detail here.
However, three names stick out, and I want you to pay attention to them.
The first name is Eliam.
He was Bathsheba’s father.
The second name is Achitofel.
He was Bathsheba’s grandfather.
And the third name is Uriyah.
He was Bathsheba’s husband.
As you can see, every one of these names is connected to Bathsheba, the woman with whom David engaged in illicit sex with.
The very fact that these men are on the list speaks to their hero warrior status.
They were considered great men.
Yet, tragically, David could have cared less.
This sadly underscores just how depraved and selfish David really was.
That he would commit adultery with Eliam’s daughter and then have his son-in-law Uriyah killed for no other reason than that he wanted Bathsheba for himself.
This is a crucial point that should not be overlooked lightly.
Usually in the Bible, men taking multiple wives have more to do with the desire to establish political alliances rather than fulfilling one’s carnal desires.
However, that wasn’t the case with David taking Bathsheba.
In his case, this was pure lust taking control over his heart and soul.
His only desire was to satisfy his sexual thirst for the stunning Bathsheba.
If her husband, father, and grandfather became collateral damage, well, that was just tough luck as far as David was concerned.
This leads to our takeaway for today.
Unbridled sexual lust has destroyed more great men than all the wars, weapons, and invading armies in the world combined.
Eliam, Achitofel, and Uriyah were David’s closest advisors.
They were his MOST LOYAL commanders.
Yet, apparently, that meant nothing to him once lust invaded his heart, mind, and soul.
Ya feel me here?
Let those who have ears to hear, listen!
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Everyone who looks at a woman to lust
after her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.”
— Matthew 5:28
“Flee sexual immorality.
Every sin that a man commits
is outside the body,
but he who commits sexual immorality
sins against his own body.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:18
“Let us walk properly,
as in the day,
not in revelry and drunkenness,
not in sexual immorality and sensuality,
not in strife and jealousy.”
— Romans 13:13
“For this is the will of God:
your sanctification—
that you abstain from sexual immorality.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:3
“But sexual immorality and
all impurity or covetousness
must not even be named among you,
as is proper among saints.”
— Ephesians 5:3
“Each person is tempted
when he is lured
and enticed by his own desire.
Then desire when it has
conceived gives birth to sin,
and sin when it is fully
grown brings forth death.”
— James 1:14–15
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN 2ND SAMUEL CHAPTER 24
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