Alternative Views of Bathsheba in the David and Bathsheba Story

Preview of this post

This post, post number 1 of 23, is the first post in the series the story of David and Bathsheba as it might be viewed through the lens of modern society.

Introduction

1. Background

Could it be possible that David consulted with Bathsheba prior to and during this episode?

This theory can be further tested by analyzing the story of David and Bathsheba.

If Bathsheba actively contributes to the scheme where she and David first “meet,” then do away with Bathsheba’s husband and then marry, she would fit the mold of women painted by the essays in this book of being consulted and, perhaps, taking proactive steps in furtherance of the plan of action being related in the Bible. On the other hand, if Bathsheba was truly a victim, then she would not fit such a mold and the exception might bring the theory into question.

Therefore, it will be instructive to examine Bathsheba’s role in the David/Bathsheba episode through a lens of whether or not Bathsheba was an active participant or was a victim. The posts in this series will present this examination. In fact, these posts will examine Bathsheba’s role from the standpoint of Bathsheba as a victim, Bathsheba as a co-conspirator and finally Bathsheba as actually being the driving force. It will be interesting to observe that David’s role will be the inverse of Bathsheba’s role: David will be the driving force when Bathsheba is the victim; David will be a co-conspirator when Bathsheba is a co-conspirator, and David might even be considered as being the victim when Bathsheba is the driving force. Yet another view has both David and Bathsheba being victims.

Preview of the next post.

The next post, post number 2 of 23, provides a definition of the term “victim”.