Alternative Views of Bathsheba in the David and Bathsheba Story

Review of the previous post

The previous post, post number 15 of 23, was the fifth post in a series of seven posts discussing the ramifications of Bathsheba’s actions as they relate to viewing her as a “victim”.

Preview of this post

This post, post number 16 of 23, is the sixth post in a series of seven posts discussing the ramifications of Bathsheba’s actions as they relate to viewing her as a “victim”.

Bathsheba was not a victim

(4) Bathsheba’s plan of action

(a) Bathsheba as a co-conspirator

David had a wondering eye, Bathsheba was an opportunist, a volatile mix indeed. David and Bathsheba probably knew each other from gatherings, dinners and parties since Bathsheba’s husband was a member of David’s army, whom David probably knew.

In this case, David would want to wait until Uriah was not around to make his move on Bathsheba. Therefore, David and Bathsheba could have devised a plan where Bathsheba would bathe where David would see her as a signal that the coast was clear. Clearly, under this view, the two of them were co-conspirators in the plan and in the episode. Certainly, under the co-conspirator view, Bathsheba was consulted by David.

Based on the text, it can be concluded that this part of the plan worked because the text relates that David and Bathsheba got together after the bathing scene.

(b) Bathsheba as the driving force

Bathsheba may have caught David’s eye at one of the gatherings or parties attended by the soldiers and their commander. She knew that David had his eye on her, so she made sure he got an eyeful by “bathing” where she knew David would be looking when she knew David would be looking. Under this view, Bathsheba might be considered as the driving force behind the episode.

Preview of the next post

The next post, post number 17 of 23, is the seventh post in a series of seven posts discussing the ramifications of Bathsheba’s actions as they relate to viewing her as a “victim”.