Bathsheba

The Story

In a story from the Hebrew Bible, King David is out on the flat roof of his palace, when he sees a beautiful woman from a nearby house undressing and bathing herself.

Passions excited, David, ever attracted by lovely women, enquires after her, and learns that she is Bathsheba, wife of Uriah.

David nevertheless covets her, sends for her, makes love to her and impregnates her.

Then, once he learns of Bathsheba’s condition, David, in an effort to conceal his sin, summons Uriah home from the army (with whom he is on campaign) in the hope that Uriah will make love to his wife and believe the child belongs to him.

Uriah, however, is unwilling break ranks in order to return home from battle and chooses to remain with the palace troops.

Since David fails in his efforts to convince Uriah to have sex with Bathsheba, his next resort is to have Uriah sent to the front lines where he is sure to be killed.

That job neatly completed, David marries Bathsheba.

David's action is deemed displeasing to the Lord, who sends Nathan the prophet to reprove him. The king immediately confesses his sin and repents, however his first child dies immediately upon birth which David accepts as just punishment.