David Sends for Bathsheba
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Biblical Reference: 2 Samuel 11:1-5

Context and Background:
The account of David sending for Bathsheba is a pivotal narrative in the life of King David, the second king of Israel, and is found in the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel. This event occurs during a time of relative peace and prosperity in David's reign, following his military successes and the establishment of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Israel.

Narrative Summary:
In the spring, the time when kings typically go out to war, David remains in Jerusalem while his army, led by Joab, besieges the Ammonite city of Rabbah. One evening, David rises from his bed and walks on the roof of his palace. From this vantage point, he sees a beautiful woman bathing. This woman is Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty men.

Overcome by desire, David sends messengers to inquire about her and subsequently sends for her. Bathsheba comes to him, and David lies with her. She later sends word to David that she is pregnant, setting off a chain of events that will have profound consequences for David, his family, and the nation of Israel.

Key Themes and Theological Insights:

1. The Nature of Sin:
The narrative highlights the insidious nature of sin, beginning with a seemingly innocuous glance that leads to covetousness, adultery, and eventually a series of grievous sins. David's actions demonstrate how even a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) can fall into sin when he lets his guard down.

2. The Abuse of Power:
David's decision to send for Bathsheba underscores the potential for abuse of power. As king, David had the authority to summon Bathsheba, but his misuse of this power for personal gratification reveals the moral dangers inherent in unchecked authority.

3. Consequences of Sin:
The immediate consequence of David's sin is Bathsheba's pregnancy, but the repercussions extend far beyond this. David's attempt to cover up his sin leads to further transgressions, including the orchestrated death of Uriah. The narrative foreshadows the turmoil and tragedy that will later afflict David's household, as prophesied by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:10-12).

4. God's Sovereignty and Grace:
Despite David's grievous sin, the overarching narrative of Scripture reveals God's sovereignty and grace. David's repentance, as recorded in Psalm 51, and God's continued covenant with him point to the possibility of redemption and restoration. This account ultimately serves as a reminder of God's mercy and the hope of forgiveness for those who genuinely repent.

Biblical Quotations:
2 Samuel 11:2-4 : "One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, 'This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.' Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness. Then she returned home."

Historical and Cultural Context:
In ancient Israel, the king was expected to lead his troops into battle, yet David's decision to remain in Jerusalem marks a departure from this norm. The narrative's setting on the palace roof is significant, as it symbolizes David's elevated status and the isolation that can accompany power. Bathsheba's ritual purification indicates her adherence to the Mosaic Law, highlighting the contrast between her observance of the law and David's transgression.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:
The account of David and Bathsheba serves as a cautionary tale about the moral and ethical responsibilities of leadership. It underscores the importance of accountability and the dangers of yielding to temptation. David's failure to exercise self-control and his subsequent attempts to conceal his sin illustrate the destructive nature of sin and the necessity of repentance and seeking God's forgiveness.
Subtopics

David

David: A Prophetic Name for Christ

David: After Three Months, David Brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem With Dancing and Great Joy

David: Anointed King Over all Israel, After Reigning Over Judah at Hebron for Seven Years and Six Months

David: Assembles Thirty-Thousand Men to Escort the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem With Music and Thanksgiving

David: Consigns Seven Sons of Saul to the Gibeonites to be Killed to Atone for Saul's Persecution of the Gibeonites

David: David Rebukes the Priests for not Showing Loyalty Amid the Complaints of the People Against Him

David: Desires to Build a Temple, is Forbidden, But Receives God's Promise That his Seed should Reign Forever

David: King of Israel

David: King of Israel is Chastised With Grievous Affliction on Account of his Crime

David: King of Israel is Defrauded of Merab, and Given Michal to Marry

David: King of Israel is Rebuked by the Prophet Nathan

David: King of Israel is Refused Permission to Accompany the Philistines to Battle Against the Israelites

David: King of Israel: A Shepherd

David: King of Israel: Abner Revolts from Ish-Bosheth, and Joins David, But is Killed by Joab

David: King of Israel: About This Time Writes

David: King of Israel: Absalom's Defeat and Death

David: King of Israel: Absalom's Return

David: King of Israel: Absalom's Usurpation

David: King of Israel: Adonijah Usurps the Sceptre; Solomon Appointed to the Throne

David: King of Israel: After Living for One Year and Four Months at Ziklag

David: King of Israel: Age of, at Death

David: King of Israel: Amasa is Killed

David: King of Israel: Ammonites Defeated and Tortured

David: King of Israel: Amnon's Crime, his Murder by Absalom, and Absalom's Flight

David: King of Israel: Anointed King, While a Youth, by the Prophet Samuel, and Inspired

David: King of Israel: At Hebron

David: King of Israel: At Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: At This Time Probably Writes

David: King of Israel: At This Time, Probably, David Composes

David: King of Israel: At This Time, Probably, David Writes

David: King of Israel: Barzillai Rewarded

David: King of Israel: Builds a Palace

David: King of Israel: Buries Saul's Bones, and the Bones of his Sons

David: King of Israel: Chosen of God

David: King of Israel: Chronicles of, Written by Samuel, Nathan, and Gad

David: King of Israel: Civil and Military officers of

David: King of Israel: Commits Adultery With Bath-Sheba

David: King of Israel: Conducts a Campaign Against, and Defeats the Philistines

David: King of Israel: Conducts an Expedition Against Amalekites, Misstates the Facts to Achish

David: King of Israel: Conquers the Philistines, Moabites, and Syria

David: King of Israel: Covenants With Saul

David: King of Israel: Crosses the Jordan River

David: King of Israel: David As Musician

David: King of Israel: David As Poet

David: King of Israel: David As Prophet

David: King of Israel: David Goes to Hebron, and is Anointed King by Judah

David: King of Israel: David is Terrified, and Leaves the Ark at the House of Obed-Edom

David: King of Israel: David Wages War Against and Defeats Ish-Bosheth

David: King of Israel: David's Flight from Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: Death and Burial of Saul and his Sons

David: King of Israel: Death of

David: King of Israel: Death of his Infant Son (Born from Bath-Sheba)

David: King of Israel: Defeats the Philistines

David: King of Israel: Delivers his Charge to Solomon

David: King of Israel: Demands the Restoration of Michal, his Wife

David: King of Israel: Descendants of

David: King of Israel: Described to Saul

David: King of Israel: Detailed As Armor-Bearer and Musician at Saul's Court

David: King of Israel: Devoutness of

David: King of Israel: Discreetness of

David: King of Israel: Escapes by Way of Nob, where he Obtains Shewbread and Goliath's Sword from Abimelech

David: King of Israel: Escapes to Gath

David: King of Israel: Fame of

David: King of Israel: Flees to Achish and Lives in Ziklag

David: King of Israel: Friendship of, With Hiram, King of Tyre

David: King of Israel: Genealogy of

David: King of Israel: Goes to En-Gedi

David: King of Israel: Goes to the Wilderness of Ziph, is Betrayed to Saul

David: King of Israel: He Probably Writes, at This Time

David: King of Israel: Interpretation and Fulfillment of This Prophecy

David: King of Israel: Ish-Bosheth, Son of Saul, Crowned

David: King of Israel: Jesus Called Son of

David: King of Israel: Jonathan Intercedes For

David: King of Israel: Judah Accused by the Ten Tribes of Stealing Him Away

David: King of Israel: Justice in the Administration of

David: King of Israel: Kills a Lion and a Bear

David: King of Israel: Kills Goliath

David: King of Israel: Kills the Murderer of Saul

David: King of Israel: Lamentation Over Saul

David: King of Israel: Laments the Death of Absalom

David: King of Israel: Last Words of

David: King of Israel: Length of Reign, Forty Years

David: King of Israel: Lists of his Heroes, and of Their Exploits

David: King of Israel: Lives in the Wilderness of Ziph, Has Opportunity to Kill Saul, But Only Takes his Spear

David: King of Israel: Makes Amasa General

David: King of Israel: Makes Conquest of Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: Makes Second Covenant With Jonathan

David: King of Israel: Marries Abishag

David: King of Israel: Marries Nabal's Widow, Abigail, and Ahinoam

David: King of Israel: Meekness of

David: King of Israel: Mephibosheth Begs for the King's Favor

David: King of Israel: Merciful

David: King of Israel: Michal Rebukes Him for his Religious Enthusiasm

David: King of Israel: Offers Sacrifice, Distributes Gifts, and Blesses the People

David: King of Israel: Organized the Tabernacle Service

David: King of Israel: Philistines Make War Against, and are Defeated by Him

David: King of Israel: Popularity and Discreetness of

David: King of Israel: Probably Composes

David: King of Israel: Probably Writes

David: King of Israel: Probably Writes Psalms Eleven at This Period of his Life

David: King of Israel: Prophecies Concerning Him and his Kingdom

David: King of Israel: Prospered of God

David: King of Israel: Punishes Ish-Bosheth's Murderers

David: King of Israel: Rebuked by Joab

David: King of Israel: Recruits an Army of Insurgents, Goes to Moab, Returns to Hareth

David: King of Israel: Refrains from Killing Saul

David: King of Israel: Repents of his Crime and Confesses his Guilt

David: King of Israel: Rescues the People of Ziklag, Who had been Captured by the Amalekites

David: King of Israel: Returns to Jerusalem

David: King of Israel: Returns, and Jonathan Makes Covenant With Him

David: King of Israel: Saul Attempts to Kill Him

David: King of Israel: Saul is Diverted from Pursuit of

David: King of Israel: Saul's Jealousy of

David: King of Israel: Saves Keilah

David: King of Israel: Sends Commissioners With a Message of Sympathy to Hanun, Son of the King of Ammon

David: King of Israel: Sepulchre of

David: King of Israel: Sheba's Conspiracy Against David, and his Death

David: King of Israel: Shimei Begs for Clemency

David: King of Israel: Shimei Curses Him

David: King of Israel: Solomon is Born To

David: King of Israel: Takes Bath-Sheba to be his Wife

David: King of Israel: Takes the Military Strength of Israel Without Divine Authority, and is Reproved

David: King of Israel: The List of Men Who Join Him

David: King of Israel: The List of Those Who Join Him at Hebron

David: King of Israel: The Love of Jonathan For

David: King of Israel: Treats Mephibosheth, the Lame Son of Saul, With Great Kindness

David: King of Israel: Type of Christ

David: King of Israel: Uzzah is Struck Down when he Attempts to Steady the Ark of the Covenant

David: King of Israel: Wickedly Causes the Death of Uriah

David: King of Israel: Wives of

David: King of Israel: Writes

David: King of Israel: Writes a Psalm on the Betrayal

Epic: David's War Song

Iconoclasm: Destroyed by David

Magnanimity: David to Saul

Nepotism of David

Related Terms

Nephusim (1 Occurrence)

Nepthalim (2 Occurrences)

David Sees Bathsheba
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