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King David is anything but "poor". How was she supposed to know that at the exact time she took her bath, King David had sleep problems?
Also, when King David asked his servant who the woman was, the servant replied: "she is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." So, King David chose to sin because he knew she was married to Uriah. He has no excuse.
Also, when King David asked his servant who the woman was, the servant replied: "she is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite." So, King David chose to sin because he knew she was married to Uriah. He has no excuse.
Also, look at what he does next. After he learns she's pregnant, he desperately tries to cover his sin by making Uriah have sex with her (so that Uriah thinks she is pregnant with him).
5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
6 So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.
So this is the first failed and pathetic attempt to make Uriah have sex with his wife. Note that King David also sends Uriah a gift. Yeah, like that could wash the sin away. Pfff...
10 David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?”
11Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,[a] and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”
12 Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.
The second attempt of King David to make Uriah make love to his wife is even more pathetic and also very desperate: he gets Uriah drunk.
But, like in the first case, it doesn't work.
And, in the end, we all know the monstrous crime that follows.
5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”
6 So David sent this word to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. 8 Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him. 9 But Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house.
So this is the first failed and pathetic attempt to make Uriah have sex with his wife. Note that King David also sends Uriah a gift. Yeah, like that could wash the sin away. Pfff...
10 David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” So he asked Uriah, “Haven’t you just come from a military campaign? Why didn’t you go home?”
11Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents,[a] and my commander Joab and my lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!”
12 Then David said to him, “Stay here one more day, and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. 13 At David’s invitation, he ate and drank with him, and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went out to sleep on his mat among his master’s servants; he did not go home.
The second attempt of King David to make Uriah make love to his wife is even more pathetic and also very desperate: he gets Uriah drunk.
But, like in the first case, it doesn't work.
And, in the end, we all know the monstrous crime that follows.
While in the Old Testament, men had several wives, even in that period sleeping with the wife of another man was considered sin, no matter who you were, a common man or king David.
I believe Bathsheba could have refused to sleep with the king and denounce him. Or maybe she was afraid? I don't know. The more I read into this story the less I believe she is innocent...but I admit I could be wrong.
I believe Bathsheba could have refused to sleep with the king and denounce him. Or maybe she was afraid? I don't know. The more I read into this story the less I believe she is innocent...but I admit I could be wrong.
A
Her son died, isn't that punishment enough?
Whether she was guilty or not, God forgave David of murder. I am sure He forgave her if adultery too.
Side note. Joseph adopted father of Jesus was a descendent of Solomon son of Bathsheba. While Mary mother of Jesus descended from Nathan, Solomon's elder half brother.
Whether she was guilty or not, God forgave David of murder. I am sure He forgave her if adultery too.
Side note. Joseph adopted father of Jesus was a descendent of Solomon son of Bathsheba. While Mary mother of Jesus descended from Nathan, Solomon's elder half brother.
V
Actually, it said David was on his roof and saw Bathsheba. It does not say Bathsheba was on a roof.
II Sam 11:2 "And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon."
It does not say that Bathsheba was nude. She could have been washing a portion of her body -- her arms -- her legs -- her feet. David was drawn away by his own lust.
II Sam 11:2 "And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon."
It does not say that Bathsheba was nude. She could have been washing a portion of her body -- her arms -- her legs -- her feet. David was drawn away by his own lust.
T
Why not? Both Bathsheba as King David were supposed to obey God's commandments...Only because someone is a king doesn't mean that he has a free pass to sin. Only because someone is a common woman doesn't mean she can't be righteous and obey and fear God.
I am not arguing with you or something.
I am not arguing with you or something.
V
Also, even the wife of a king did not have freedom to approach her husband unless he give her permission. I'm sure Bathsheba was overwhelmed with fear when she was brought to King David. And in fact, when David had her husband Uriah killed on the battlefront, II Sam 11:26 reads: "And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband."
Uriah was very devoted to the king. He refused to sleep in the comfort of his own home. He slept with the servants on the ground by the king's door. He felt that if other servants of the king were in tents and in fields, he should not have any luxuries either. Even after David got him drunk, Uriah still refused to go home and slept instead on the ground.
Uriah had an honorable heart and I'm sure he was a devoted husband, too. Bathsheba must have loved him dearly.
Uriah was very devoted to the king. He refused to sleep in the comfort of his own home. He slept with the servants on the ground by the king's door. He felt that if other servants of the king were in tents and in fields, he should not have any luxuries either. Even after David got him drunk, Uriah still refused to go home and slept instead on the ground.
Uriah had an honorable heart and I'm sure he was a devoted husband, too. Bathsheba must have loved him dearly.
V
I'm gonna throw one more thought in here. It wasn't like Bathsheba had this thrilling romantic relationship with King David once he took her as a wife. She was added to the rest of his wives. He also had oodles of concubines. Bathsheba no longer had the one-on-one intimacy she enjoyed with her former husband Uriah. She had to wait around to be summoned by the king, if he wanted her at all. How romantic is that?
Bathsheba lost her devoted husband, lost her baby boy and lost the one man/one wife intimacy she once had with Uriah.
Nathan confronts King David and revealed that God was displeased with him because he stole the "poor man's lamb". (Read II Samuel 12) Bathsheba was not blamed. But David was guilty of theft for stealing Uriah's wife and for murdering him. David's punishment was, "The sword shall never depart from your house." From that day forward David would know violence and bloodshed among his own family members.
I think the Lord showed great mercy and lovingkindness to Bathsheba for giving her Solomon for a son, the wisest man who ever lived.
Bathsheba lost her devoted husband, lost her baby boy and lost the one man/one wife intimacy she once had with Uriah.
Nathan confronts King David and revealed that God was displeased with him because he stole the "poor man's lamb". (Read II Samuel 12) Bathsheba was not blamed. But David was guilty of theft for stealing Uriah's wife and for murdering him. David's punishment was, "The sword shall never depart from your house." From that day forward David would know violence and bloodshed among his own family members.
I think the Lord showed great mercy and lovingkindness to Bathsheba for giving her Solomon for a son, the wisest man who ever lived.
I think if she was unmarried she wouldn't have had much of a choice, but given the fact that she was married and given the society in which they lived (a society where sleeping with another's man wife was considered a moral taboo) she could have denounce the king for his proposition and try to get help from the people (who know the righteousness of God). I mean, this is not a pagan people that is unfamiliar with the true God and with the ten commandments. Maybe the people would have revolted and help her. I don't know, I'm just assuming. If David was king over immoral pagans maybe they wouldn't have feel despise for the king, but we are talking about Hebrews here. And if I'm not mistaken, they would stone the adulterers. Maybe they wouldn't stone David (because as a king he has power) but he surely would have lost sympathy from the people (that's why he got in all this trouble to cover his actions, in order to save his image).
I don't know a lot about Hebrews. I work with what I know about them.
I don't know a lot about Hebrews. I work with what I know about them.
V
Both Bathsheba's husband Uriah and her father Eliam were men of valor and honor and were both in the top ranks of David's army. And the fact that Bathsheba is identified by her father and husband convey that she was a respectable woman, so she must have felt powerless against the king's whims.
What David did was equal to rape. For he sent Bathsheba home defiled when he was done with her. He never intended to marry her. He never thought his lust would catch up with him.
What David did was equal to rape. For he sent Bathsheba home defiled when he was done with her. He never intended to marry her. He never thought his lust would catch up with him.
T
Yes, this is very likely. She was a respected woman, but even a respected woman was generally considered far less than the average man on the street. So. Her word against the king's word? His word would win every time. Thank you for sharing though, because although I don't always agree with your posts, I do find that you have a lot of godly wisdom and many interesting thoughts to share. Bless you, sister.
A
Here's just some thoughts I'm having:
Later in the book of 2 Samuel when Tamar is raped by her half brother she is completely distraught and clothes herself in sackcloth.
It doesn't seem to indicate that Bathsheba goes through any similar mourning or distress which inclines me to believe she did not experience this as a helpless victim.
She may have loved Uriah, but at the same time women were often given in arranged marriages in that day so it's possible that she did not.
What I'm getting at is that I'm inclined to think Bathsheba may have wanted David as well. I'm not saying that makes what happened any less wrong but it does seem to make sense of how the situation plays out initially.
David was a man after Gods own heart. His sin was grievous but it's hard for me to see him as this controlling power abusing tyrant who forced himself on her given lack of details about how Bathsheba reacts.
Later in the book of 2 Samuel when Tamar is raped by her half brother she is completely distraught and clothes herself in sackcloth.
It doesn't seem to indicate that Bathsheba goes through any similar mourning or distress which inclines me to believe she did not experience this as a helpless victim.
She may have loved Uriah, but at the same time women were often given in arranged marriages in that day so it's possible that she did not.
What I'm getting at is that I'm inclined to think Bathsheba may have wanted David as well. I'm not saying that makes what happened any less wrong but it does seem to make sense of how the situation plays out initially.
David was a man after Gods own heart. His sin was grievous but it's hard for me to see him as this controlling power abusing tyrant who forced himself on her given lack of details about how Bathsheba reacts.
M
Reread the story--there is no point at all in the story that states that Bathsheba was on the roof. It says David was on the roof, whiling away his time in leisure while his army was off fighting his wars.
Also, recheck the parable told by Nathan the prophet when he came to confront David. Bathsheba is portrayed as an innocent lamb that was seized and devoured by the rich neighbor. Nowhere in the parable does it state that the lamb had wandered off of her property, or acted in any way that drew untoward attention to herself. Her husband is portrayed as one who loved her deeply and was betrayed by his neighbor.
You will see no place in Scripture where God places any of the blame on Bathsheba--He chastises David and says nothing of Bathsheba's fault.
Also, recheck the parable told by Nathan the prophet when he came to confront David. Bathsheba is portrayed as an innocent lamb that was seized and devoured by the rich neighbor. Nowhere in the parable does it state that the lamb had wandered off of her property, or acted in any way that drew untoward attention to herself. Her husband is portrayed as one who loved her deeply and was betrayed by his neighbor.
You will see no place in Scripture where God places any of the blame on Bathsheba--He chastises David and says nothing of Bathsheba's fault.