What was Davids punishment?

Answer 1

During David's early life, G-d withdrew his favour from Saul, the king of the Israelites, and sent the prophet Samuel to find a new king from among the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem. After Samuel had seen seven of the sons and found them all lacking, he asked if there were any more sons. "There is still the youngest one, but he is tending the sheep," said Jesse.

When David is brought before the prophet, G-d said: "Rise and anoint him, for he is the one" (1 Samuel 12). Chosen by G-d, David enjoys divine protection which allows him to perform impressive tasks, such as slaying Goliath - an experienced and expert warrior who, according to ancient Masoretic text, was nine feet and six inches (290cm) tall (though other sources, notably the Dead Sea Scrolls, put him at six feet seven inches, or 200cm - either way, a very large and fearsome man). Saul - who remained king until David grew older - made him the leader of the Israelite army and he soon proved to be skilled in battle, so much so that Saul became jealous and feared he would be usurped by the younger man so be plotted to have him killed. However, he was warned of the plot by Saul's son Jonathon and fled into the wilderness to escape persecution - this was David's punishment.

During his time in the wilderness, david gathered together a group of followers and together they fought for the oppressed, becoming heroes to them. When Saul was killed in battle (along with Jonathon), David went to Hebron, a city in what we now know as the West Bank. There he was made king of Judah and, once Saul's other son Ish-Boseth was killed in battle, king of all Israel.

Answer 2

The adulterine child born to Bath-sheba soon died, even though David fasted and mourned over the sick child for seven days. (2Sa 12:15-23) Then David's firstborn son Amnon raped his own half sister Tamar, and he was subsequently murdered by her brother, to the grief of his father. (2Sa 13:1-33) Later, Absalom, the third and beloved son of David, not only attempted to usurp the throne but openly despised and publicly disgraced his father by having relations with David's concubines. (2Sa 15:1-16:22) Finally, the humiliation reached its peak when civil war plunged the country into a struggle of son against father, ending in Absalom's death, contrary to the wishes of David and much to his grief. (2Sa 17:1-18:33)
The adulterine child born to Bath-sheba soon died, even though David fasted and mourned over the sick child for seven days. (2Samuel 12:15-23) Then David's firstborn son Amnon raped his own half sister Tamar, and he was subsequently murdered by her brother, to the grief of his father. (2Samuel 13:1-33) Later, Absalom, the third and beloved son of David, not only attempted to usurp the throne but openly despised and publicly disgraced his father by having relations with David's concubines. (2Samuel 15:1-16:22) Finally, the humiliation reached its peak when civil war plunged the country into a struggle of son against father, ending in Absalom's death, contrary to the wishes of David and much to his grief. (2Samuel 17:1-18:33)

Answer 3

David appeared to commit adultery but was not technically culpable, since the cuckolded man deserved to die, was sentenced to die, and had actually divorced his wife with whom David slept (Talmud, Shabbat 56a).Nonetheless, the circumstances were considered a blemish in David's otherwise perfect record of righteousness, and God punished him by taking the life of one of his sons; and two other sons (Absalom and Adonijah) rebelled against David's rule and ended up killed.