Bathsheba is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, primarily known for her role in the life of King David and as the mother of King Solomon. Her account is primarily found in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.

Background and Family

Bathsheba was the daughter of Eliam (2 Samuel 11:3), and she was married to Uriah the Hittite, a soldier in King David's army. Her lineage is notable, as her father Eliam was one of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:34), and her grandfather Ahithophel was a counselor to David (2 Samuel 15:12).

Encounter with King David

Bathsheba's life took a dramatic turn when King David saw her bathing from the roof of his palace. Captivated by her beauty, David sent for her and committed adultery with her, despite knowing she was married to Uriah (2 Samuel 11:2-4). This act led to Bathsheba becoming pregnant.

In an attempt to conceal his sin, David summoned Uriah from the battlefield, hoping he would go home to his wife and thus provide a cover for the pregnancy. However, Uriah, demonstrating loyalty to his fellow soldiers, refused to enjoy the comforts of home while the army was in the field (2 Samuel 11:6-13). Consequently, David orchestrated Uriah's death by placing him in the front lines of battle (2 Samuel 11:14-17).

Marriage to David and the Birth of Solomon

After Uriah's death, Bathsheba became David's wife and bore him a son. However, the child conceived in adultery died shortly after birth as a consequence of David's sin, as pronounced by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:14-18). Despite this tragedy, Bathsheba later gave birth to Solomon, who would become one of Israel's greatest kings (2 Samuel 12:24).

Role as Queen Mother

Bathsheba's influence extended into the reign of her son Solomon. She is depicted as a respected figure in the royal court. In 1 Kings 1, Bathsheba played a crucial role in ensuring Solomon's succession to the throne, reminding David of his promise that Solomon would be king (1 Kings 1:11-31). Her position as queen mother granted her a place of honor and authority, as seen when Solomon bowed to her and provided her a throne at his right hand (1 Kings 2:19).

Legacy and Significance

Bathsheba is listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, referred to as "the wife of Uriah" (Matthew 1:6), highlighting her enduring legacy in the biblical narrative. Her account is a complex tapestry of sin, redemption, and the sovereignty of God in using flawed individuals to fulfill His divine purposes. Bathsheba's life illustrates themes of repentance, grace, and the fulfillment of God's promises through the Davidic line, culminating in the birth of the Messiah.Bathsheba

the seventh daughter; the daughter of satiety

Daughter of the oath, or of seven, called also Bath-shu'a (1 Chronicles 3:5), was the daughter of Eliam (2 Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5), and wife of Uriah the Hittite. David committed adultery with her (2 Samuel 11:4, 5; Psalm 51:1). The child born in adultery died (2 Samuel 12:15-19). After her husband was slain (11:15) she was married to David (11:27), and became the mother of Solomon (12:24; 1 Kings 1:11; 2:13). She took a prominent part in securing the succession of Solomon to the throne (1 Kings 1:11, 16-21). BATH-SHEBA

bath-she'-ba, bath'-she-ba (bath-shebha`, "the seventh daughter," or "the daughter of an oath," also called Bathshua bath-shua`, "the daughter of opulence" (1 Chronicles 3:5); the Septuagint however reads Bersabee everywhere; compare BATHSHUA; HPN, 65, 67, 77, 206 for Bath-sheba, and 67, 69, note 3, for Bathshua): Bath-sheba was the daughter of Eliam (2 Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel (1 Chronicles 3:5); both names have the same meaning. She was the beautiful wife of Uriah the Hittite, and because of her beauty was forced by David to commit adultery (2 Samuel 11:2 Psalm 51). Her husband Uriah was treacherously killed by the order of David (2 Samuel 11:6). After the death of her husband David made her his wife and she lived with him in the palace (2 Samuel 11:27). Four sons sprang from this marriage (2 Samuel 5:14 1 Chronicles 3:5), after the first child, the adulterine, had died (2 Samuel 12:14). With the help of the prophet Nathan she renders futile the usurpation of Adonijah and craftily secures the throne for her son Solomon (1 Kings 1:11). Later Adonijah succeeds in deceiving Bath-sheba, but his plan is frustrated by the king (1 Kings 2:13). According to Jewish tradition, Proverbs 31 is written by Solomon in memory of his mother. In the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 16) Bath-sheba is mentioned as the former wife of Uriah and the mother of Solomon by David.

See ADONIJAH; AMMIEL; BATHSHUA; DAVID; ELIAM; NATHAN; SOLOMON.

A. L. Breslich

3774. Ourias -- Uriah, a Hittite
... of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Ourias Phonetic Spelling: (oo-ree'-as)
Short Definition: Uriah Definition: Uriah, husband of Bathsheba the mother ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3774.htm - 6k

4672. Solomon -- Solomon, a son of David and king of Isr.
... Masculine Transliteration: Solomon Phonetic Spelling: (sol-om-one') Short Definition:
Solomon Definition: Solomon, son of David King of Israel, and Bathsheba. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4672.htm - 6k

1339. Bath-sheba -- perhaps "daughter of oath," the mother of ...
... perhaps "daughter of oath," the mother of Solomon. Transliteration: Bath-sheba
Phonetic Spelling: (bath-sheh'-bah) Short Definition: Bathsheba. ...
/hebrew/1339.htm - 6k

How David Fell in Love with Bathsheba, and Slew Her Husband Uriah ...
... From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David. CHAPTER 7. How David Fell In Love
With Bathsheba, And Slew Her Husband Uriah, For Which He Is Reproved By Nathan. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how david fell.htm

How Solomon Became the Ruler of Israel
... Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, "Have you not heard that
Adonijah has been made ruler without David our lord knowing it? ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how solomon became the ruler.htm

That David Made Great Preparations for the House of God; and That ...
... This matter was told by Nathan the prophet to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, that
Adonijah was king, and that David knew nothing of it; and he advised her to ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 14 that david made.htm

David Appointing Solomon
... Nathan, alarmed at the prospect of such a successor, had arranged with Bathsheba
that she should go to David and ask his public confirmation of his promise to ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/david appointing solomon.htm

David's Sin.
... David. After her mourning was ended, Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, became
the wife of David, but the Lord was displeased with David. ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxiv davids sin.htm

How Solomon, when He had Received the Kingdom Took Off His
... 2. But Adonijah, who, while his father was living, attempted to gain possession
of the government, came to the king's mother Bathsheba, and saluted her with ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how solomon when.htm

A Rich Man who was a Thief
... And David sent to ask about the woman; and some one said, "Is not this Bathsheba,
the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" Then David sent messengers to bring her; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a rich man who was.htm

David's Cry for Pardon
... hath made to pass from thee the iniquity of thy sin.' Immediately, as would appear
from the narrative, that very same day, the child of Bathsheba and David was ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/davids cry for pardon.htm

Adonijah
... from his father we may assume that Adonijah inherited a tendency to ambition and
self-conceit such as Absalom inherited from the union of David with Bathsheba. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/adonijah.htm

The Tears of the Penitent.
... Bathsheba's willing complicity, her punctilious observance of ceremonial propriety
while she is trampling under foot her holiest obligations; the fatal ...
/.../maclaren/the life of david/xiii the tears of the penitent.htm

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)
...Bathsheba (14 Occurrences). ... One said, "Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of
Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" (WEB KJV DBY NAS NIV). ...
/b/bathsheba.htm - 14k

Ahithophel (17 Occurrences)
... Some hold that he was the grandfather of Bathsheba, and make much of this in forming
their estimates of him. Does the evidence sustain this view? ...
/a/ahithophel.htm - 16k

Eliam (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary God's people. (1.) The father of Bathsheba, the wife of
Uriah (2 Samuel 11:3). In 1 Chronicles 3:5 his name is Ammiel. ...
/e/eliam.htm - 7k

Abishag (5 Occurrences)
... 15). After David's death Adonijah persuaded Bathsheba, Solomon's mother,
to entreat the king to permit him to marry Abishag. Solomon ...
/a/abishag.htm - 10k

Adonijah (28 Occurrences)
... king. But Nathan and Bathsheba induced David to give orders that Solomon
should at once be proclaimed and admitted to the throne. ...
/a/adonijah.htm - 22k

Uriah (33 Occurrences)
... The Lord is my light. (1.) A Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba, whom David first
seduced, and then after Uriah's death married. ... (see BATHSHEBA; DAVID.). ...
/u/uriah.htm - 22k

Nathan (42 Occurrences)
... David made for the building of the temple (2 Samuel 7:2, 3, 17), and next appears
as the reprover of David on account of his sin with Bathsheba (12:1-14). ...
/n/nathan.htm - 29k

Ammiel (6 Occurrences)
... (3.) The father of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and afterwards of David
(1 Chronicles 3:5). He is called Eliam in 2 Samuel 11:3. ...
/a/ammiel.htm - 10k

Haggith (5 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 1:11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying,
"Haven't you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn ...
/h/haggith.htm - 9k

Obeisance (45 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Kings 1:16 Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance to the king. The king
said, "What would you like?" (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/o/obeisance.htm - 22k

Did David rape Bathsheba? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of David and Bathsheba? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Uriah the Hittite? | GotQuestions.org

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