Killing The Children Of Unmarried Couples?

Q

A friend of a friend of mine sent her 5 year old to a sunday school. He came home in tears, because they were teaching on ” God killing the children of couples that were not married. I have never heard of such a thing. Is it true? The mother believes that it is somewhere in the old Testement. I do believe that the Lord wants these two people married, but, will he kill the children? Can you help me find this in the Holy Bible?

A

When King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband murdered so he could marry her, God informed David that the baby who resulted from their affair would become sick and would not survive. Seven days later the child died. (2 Samuel 11-12) This was more likely an application of the “life for a life” principle (Exodus 21:23) than a punishment for adultery .

But why this was being taught to a 5 year old, and why the teacher turned this specific situation into a general principle is beyond me. He or she could have taught them that even though David committed these terrible sins, he was forgiven as soon as he asked, the child went to be with God and was spared a life of illegitimacy, and David was reunited with him after he died. (2 Sam 12:23).