The day was beautiful, the sun bright and warm, the scent of flowers filled her senses after the dreary winter. With all the men off to war, she indulged herself with a bath on the roof. There was no one to see her. As she soaked, the ache of loneliness filled her. Would this be the time he didn’t come home? With every kiss, he promised to return to her loving arms. Worry subsided as the sun warmed her body.
Refreshed and dressed, there was a knock on the door with a summons from the King. Fearing the worse, she put on a brave front. She walked with her head held high as they escorted her to the King. She thought it was odd to be taken to his living quarters. Fighting tears, expecting to hear her husband is dead.
She stood before the King, a little intimidated, waiting for news of her husband. His words penetrated her mind as she realized they were alone and that David saw her on the roof. Why was he here when his men weren’t? So many things running through her mind at once. His intentions clear and refusal wasn’t an option.
She felt betrayed, violated, and shattered as she hid in her home, guilt and shame assaulted her. Running through every scenario, wondering what she should have done differently. Missing her period for the second month put a nail in her coffin. Bathsheba sent a note for the King’s eyes only… I’m pregnant.
The news of her husbands returned from the battle filled her with fear. How would she tell him? He would know the child was not his. Only he never came to see her. She wasn’t sure whether she should feel relieved or angry. David goes into protection mode, not for Bathsheba, but for himself. Instead of taking responsibility, he manipulates Uriah and when that doesn’t work; he set him up to die.
Bathsheba mourned her husband for thirty days. On day thirty-one, David summons her from her home and marries her. Taken from her home she now lived in a palace, but it was not a place of refuge. It was her cage. Trapped. Shunned. Unloved. Nowhere in the story does it say David loved her. She was one of many. Life would not have been easy with all the other wives. Catty women. Each vying for the attention of the King.
As her belly swelled with a child of the King, she learned the full story of what happened to Uriah. Everyone blamed her since they couldn’t or wouldn’t say anything to the King. She bore not only his child but also his shame.
After hours of pain, she is filled with joy and love as she holds her sweet innocent child. But the joy didn’t last as her son became deathly ill and died within a week. The agony of more loss overwhelmed her.
Even as David comforted her after their child died, it seemed as if he was comforting himself as his body longed for hers and he sought release. With no thought for her, only himself. Not yet purified. No time to mourn. He slept with her once again.
Every message I’ve heard on David and Bathsheba always focused on David, with a comment on why she was bathing on the roof. As if it was her fault for David’s lust. It was David who was not where he should have been. Yet, as I imagine what Bathsheba went through, how she bore David’s shame. Her child dying in her arms. Shunned by all. Suffering the consequences of another’s sins.
The Lord, the existing One saw Bathsheba, He filled her with peace and redeems all David stole from her with the birth of Solomon. He was her redemption and gift from the Lord.
Bathsheba’s story plays out in two chapters in II Samuel and it’s not a love story, it wasn’t mutual. This story is told from David’s perspective. To get to Bathsheba’s story, read between the lines. It’s what’s missing that tells more of the story.
The King abused his position to satisfy his lust. I can hear it now… she could have said no. No one says no to the King, especially a woman. David gave into his lust, taking the wife of another when he had several wives. Uriah wasn’t just any soldier, he was in David’s inner circle of thirty.
The man after God’s own heart was flawed.
God was not pleased with David. “But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the Lord.” 2 Samuel 11:17 NASB
In Hebrew, evil means bad, displeasing, injurious, wicked, to do an injury or hurt. Which is exactly what David did to Bathsheba. And she suffered the consequences of his lust. First her husband, then her child. She grieved alone as the child lay dying her in arms. Only after the child died did David come in to comfort her. And sleep with her. Again. Before she can mourn. Seriously. What was David thinking?
God did not abandon Bathsheba. She became pregnant again with Solomon. A child whom God loved. A child protected by God. The future King of Israel. The love God had for Solomon splashed over Bathsheba.
For thousands of years, we have maligned Bathsheba and blamed her for David’s sin. It was not her sin. She wasn’t at fault for David’s lust. They did not have an affair. David took what did not belong to him and murdered his friend and her husband to cover his sin.
David promised that he would make Solomon his successor. As far as we know Bathsheba didn’t interact with David until he was dying when she reminded David of his promise to make Solomon king.
David is a man after God’s heart, not because he lived a perfect life, but because when confronted, he acknowledged his sin and repented.
BeLoved, people have maligned you and held you accountable for your abuser’s sins.
It is not your sin. It is his.
Karen DeArmond Gardner
Not me! I have always blamed David, as did Nathan.
But I’ve never looked deeply at Bathsheba’s pain. This has been very instructive and I’m glad I read it.
No, my thoughts have always run to pity for Uriah. As one of the top five of David’s 30 picked men, he was the hero in this story, to me.
1.He was not even an Israelite, but was a Hittite.
2. He had voluntarily taken a vow never to retreat in battle.
3. When he was tempted to visit his wife, he refused, because his men were out fighting. He literally could not.
4. Even when plied by his king with alcohol, basically drunk, he did not bend.
5. He knew, when he was sent to the frontline, and then when retreat was sounded, he’d been set up. Still he kept his vow and wasted himself for his king.
And yet, for some reason, David was a man after God’s own heart.
Love your insight Katharine.
He was a man after God because he repented, though the consequences haunted him until he died.
I agree. Uriah is the hero in thus story.
This is really a great perspective. Thanks for shaking up my thoughts on the story!! 😂👍
Thank you, so glad I could shake your up your thoughts!
What a moving depiction of this familiar story told from the victim’s side. I have often wondered what she really thought of David after she learned he’d had her husband killed. How terrified she must have been to know what he was capable of doing. Her faith in God must have been monumentally, especially if you consider that some scholars believe she was Solomon’s inspiration for Proverbs 31. Excellent message, Karen. Thank you.
I believe that Proverbs 31: 2-9 are the words of Bathsheba. Verses 8 & 9 are telling: Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.
Thank you Lari for your kind words. Love you my friend.