Fortson's Biblical Biographies

Bathsheba is one of the most prominent and complex female figures in the Old Testament, forever linked to the infamous Biblical narrative involving King David. Initially married to Uriah the Hittite, a loyal and honorable soldier, her story is one of desire, power, betrayal, and consequence found primarily in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings.

The dramatic account begins with David, from his palace rooftop in Jerusalem, spotting Bathsheba bathing and becoming captivated by her beauty. His subsequent actions of summoning her, sleeping with her, and arranging for her husband Uriah to be killed in battle to cover the resulting pregnancy; are central to her history and David's fall from divine favor.

Despite the circumstances of her union with David, Bathsheba’s narrative arc transcends mere scandal. Following Uriah's death and the loss of her first child with David, she becomes a pivotal player in the royal court, evolving from a subject of the king's lust to a powerful queen mother. In her later life, she allies with the prophet Nathan to ensure her son, Solomon, is placed on the throne, skillfully navigating the political intrigue of succession. Her ultimate position as the mother of the wise King Solomon, and her inclusion in the genealogy of Christ in the New Testament, solidifies her unexpected but enduring legacy within Biblical history.