how many wives did he have?

I don't know. Why?

always interesting to consider the character of anyone whom you are looking to for guidance.

Um, ok.

i'm named after the guy.

Neat.

not so much. he was an asshole by all accounts.

And this precludes something...?

lots of things

Do you have anything to say at all?

only that he was a warmongering, polygamous adulterer who had his son killed, and that taking his word as any kind of gospel must require a superhuman suspension of disbelief.

Ah yes, the vices of royal life are plenty.

i'm just jealous.

There seems to be some confusing regarding his son. The story as we have it is that David was at war with his own son, who attempted to usurp the throne. The story is that David ordered his men not to kill his son, but they did anyway, and this sent David into fits of sorrow. The lesson of the story becomes clear when David's own men ask David why he would weep so strongly over a traitorous son, when so many of his good friends and top men, who were like his sons, received little if any consideration. It is actually a quite powerful statement of military brotherhood.