Alternative Views of Bathsheba in the David and Bathsheba Story

Review of the previous post

The previous post, post number 19 of 23, presented a conclusion regarding whether or not Bathsheba was a victim.

Preview of this post

This post, post number 20 of 23, discusses the thought that both David and Bathsheba were victims.

1. Both David and Bathsheba were victims

Yet another view has both David and Bathsheba being victims of Nathan’s plotting. Viewing the events reported in 1 Kings 1:6-53, it appears that Nathan and Bathsheba conspired together to seat Bathsheba’s son, Solomon, on David’s throne to succeed David. David had several other sons, including Adonihah, who were in line to succeed him, yet Nathan chose Solomon to back. Why Solomon rather than one of the others? Also, reviewing the events of the David and Bathsheba story seems to indicate that Nathan exerted his power over David to humble him. Once David humbled himself, he was in Nathan’s power. Could Nathan have orchestrated the Bathsheba incident knowing David had a roving eye in order to tempt David into a situation for which he would need repentance? Once David transgressed with Bathsheba, David was in Nathan’s power. Furthermore, Bathsheba would also be in Nathan’s debt because she would have been advanced from being merely a military wife to queen. Still further, Solomon would also owe Nathan a debt since he would not be king without Nathan’s influence. Could Nathan have organized all the events of the entire episode, as well as the episodes that followed, for his own advancement? After all, viewed in this manner, Nathan was a kingmaker par excellence: he controlled David, his queen, and his successor.

Preview of the next post

The next post, post number 21 of 23, discusses how both David and Bathsheba paid a price for the transgression.