KNOWN AS A BATHING
BEAUTY TURNED QUEEN
2 Sam. 11 & 12;
1 Kings 1 & 2;
1 Chron. 3:5
IMAGINE: Being summoned by the King, causing your life and his, virtually, to be turned upside down.
It is recorded that Bathsheba came from a very prominent family in Israel. Her father Eliam and her first husband, Uriah, belonged to the Elite Palace Guard, called the Thirty. Her Grandfather served as the chief political advisor to King David. Her being identified with both her father and her husband indicates she was a respectable woman. Most time, a female of ill-repute would not be associated with a named male relative.
Eliam, also known as Ammiel, names his daughter Bathshua (1Chron. 3:5) meaning “daughter of my prosperity.” Her name was then changed to Bathsheba which means “daughter of an oath” or “daughter of the oath-bound covenant”, signifying the covenant made with Abraham.
It was not unusual for Israelites to change a name. The first name reflected the feelings of the parents at the time of birth. The name change would come as the person grew and would reflect their character, and relationship to Old Testament Law.
Her first husband, Uriah, was a Hittite by nationality but appears a second- generation Jew by religion. His name means “light of Jehovah.” It appears Bathsheba came from, and was living in, a strong Jewish environment.
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing – a very beautiful woman. So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he reported, “This is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
2 Samuel 11:2, 3
Since she was the granddaughter of his closest advisor, the daughter and wife of two of his top soldiers, why did he need to inquire as to who she was? One reason is, it was in the evening as darkness was approaching. The two may have possibly met before but because of required clothing her beauty may have not been exposed to the general public. Also, there would have been some distance between the King’s Palace and the surrounding homes.
Why would she bathe so publicly? It probably wasn’t so public. These houses had roofs with walls that came about waist high. The reason David could see her is the King’s home would be above the shallow walls thus not protecting her from his view. For safety reasons the King’s palace rose above all other living quarters.
Also, it was spring time when Kings marched out to war. (2 Sam. 11:1). With her husband on the battlefield, she would have had no way of knowing the King had remained and not been at war with his men. It is not recorded as to what her reaction was when David sent for her. When the messengers came with a royal summons, she may have felt powerless to refuse the King. She also may have thought he had news of her father or husband.
There is nothing to indicate she was intending to be seductive. This was not a bath for relaxing or cleanliness, as it is recorded she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness. The Bible portrays her as a young, respectable wife who was following the Jewish Law.
The Mikveh is a ritual bath designed for the Jewish rite of purification. It is composed of stationary, not flowing waters and must contain a certain percentage of water derived from a natural source such as a lake, an ocean, or rain. Jewish Law prescribes that women immerse themselves in the waters of the Mikveh following their monthly period.
Bathsheba, because of the meeting with David, becomes pregnant and sends word to him of her condition. It appears David had no further contact with her up to this point. David sends for Uriah to come home after receiving Bathsheba’s message. He tries to persuade Uriah to sleep with his wife even to the point of getting him drunk. Uriah is too loyal to his fellow warriors to indulge in any pleasures. David sends him back to the war front which assures he will be killed. It would appear, David sending for Uriah, that he intended for Bathsheba to remain in her marriage to him.
When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband Uriah had died, she mourned for him. When the time of mourning ended, David had her brought to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son.
2 Sam. 11:26, 27
Nowhere is it noted Bathsheba was aware of all David plotted where Uriah was concerned. This firstborn son of David and Bathsheba had an incurable disease at birth and thus lived only seven days. Because of David’s sin, the Lord, through Nathan the Prophet, had told David this son would die. David fasted and prayed and at the end of the seven days when he was told of the boy’s death he went to the Lord’s house and worshiped.
There is nothing to indicate that Bathsheba was not in agreement with all her husband was doing concerning their child. It is noteworthy that neither one blamed God or entertained any bitterness but accepted the discipline of the Lord. God does hold David, not Bathsheba, responsible for what has happened. (2 Sam. 12). No where in Scripture is she ever criticized.
After this, David comforts his wife and she gives birth to a second son who is named Solomon by his father and means “peaceful”. Nathan, the Prophet, gives him the name Jedidiah meaning “beloved by Jehovah”. Scripture states Solomon was loved by God. (2 Sam. 12:24).
Bathsheba has a third son whom she names Nathan. She names her third child after the man who had pronounced the death sentence of God on her firstborn son, indicating she had accepted the harsh punishment pronounced against her now husband, David. David and Bathsheba have two more sons, Shammua and Shobab.
After many years, David is now coming to the end of his life. Nathan, the Prophet, advises Bathsheba to go and tell David, his son Adonijah has set himself up as King. Following Nathan’s instruction, she informs David of this circumstance. David had sworn by the God of Israel that her son Solomon would succeed him on the throne. (1 Kings 1:29, 30). David commanded Solomon be immediately anointed and publicly announced as his successor. Shortly afterwards David dies.
Bathsheba had been one of King David’s many wives, but now she is the King’s only mother. She is the only person with the title of “Queen Mother” in Scripture. King Solomon had a throne brought for his mother, and she sat down at the right hand. (1 Kings 2:19).
Solomon seems to have a great deal of respect for his mother and gives her a place of honor in the palace. God seems to have a great deal of respect for her also, in that both the mother and step-father of Jesus are descendants of Bathsheba. Joseph is from the line of Solomon (Matt. 1:6, 16), and Nathan is the ancestor of Mary. (Luke 3:31).
As mentioned at the beginning, little is known of Bathsheba directly. She appears to be a faithful woman of Israel but sadly is known mostly by one sinful act, and that seemingly, not of her own making. A royal summons brought about a wretched entrance onto the world stage. But God finishes her journey by depicting her as an honorable woman in the lineage of our Lord and Savior.
This is a perfect example of not letting your past dictate your future. A better way to remember Bathsheba is she was a faithful mother and the favored wife of the “man after God’s own heart”. (Acts 13:22). Bathsheba shows us we do not have to be perfect or living in the best of circumstances. We just need to be, as it appears she was, and that is, a woman after God’s own heart.
Something to consider:
Sometimes the wrong choices
bring us to the right places.
BIBLICAL PEOPLE 