{"id":60356,"date":"2019-07-31T11:31:10","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T08:31:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=60356"},"modified":"2023-02-23T12:47:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T10:47:43","slug":"bathsheba-takes-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/bathsheba-takes-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Bathsheba Takes Control"},"content":{"rendered":"
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While the story of David and Bathsheba is often analyzed to determine the exact nature and extent of <\/span>David\u2019s<\/span><\/i> sin \u2013 a sin that, in a sense, leads to the birth of the next great Jewish king \u2013 it is not just his story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exploring <\/span>her<\/span><\/i> story and <\/span>their <\/span><\/i>story, we find a woman who demonstrates increasing agency over her life and her child\u2019s future, and we find a relationship enriched (surprisingly) by communication and trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leaving aside for now the difficult question of Bathsheba\u2019s part in their initial encounter (see Ketubot 9a), at least after that fact we find that Bathsheba is not one to just sit back and accept whatever happens to her. She tells David immediately of her pregnancy, calling him to take responsibility for his behavior. One wonders whether she could have guessed <\/span>what<\/span><\/i> David would do about the news \u2013 but at the very least, we see that <\/span>she<\/span><\/i> acted.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the tragic death of that first child, their relationship deepens as David \u201cconsoled his wife Bathsheba\u201d (v. 24) \u2013 she is now properly his wife, and he begins to connect with her on an emotional level. According to a midrash quoted by Radak, Bathsheba asserts herself further at this point. Verse 24 continues with an apparent redundancy, \u201che went to her and lay with her\u201d; the midrash suggests \u201che went to her\u201d alludes to a separate step, a conversation of equals: she resisted his advances, until they talked and came to terms with the sin at the root of their relationship and their potential to develop something positive in its wake.<\/span><\/p>\n

This union then produced Solomon \u2013 the son David had been told would succeed his father as king and succeed in building the Temple (I Chronicles 22:9).<\/span><\/p>\n

And who determined this baby was to be the long-awaited Solomon? Tradition preserves two versions. In verse 24, the text is written \u201cand <\/span>he<\/b> named him Solomon,\u201d but we read \u201cand <\/span>she<\/b> named…\u201d Radak explains that both God and Bathsheba named the baby Solomon, together solidifying his destiny.<\/span><\/p>\n

When she later hears that destiny is being challenged, Bathsheba again calls the king to action. Although the prophet advised her what to say (\u201c<\/span>Did not<\/b> you swear\u2026 Solomon shall succeed me\u201d \u2013 v. 13), Bathsheba chooses her own words (beginning with the more assertive \u201cMy lord, you yourself swore\u2026\u201d \u2013 v. 17). And although Nathan follows to reinforce her arguments, King David ignores him and calls for Bathsheba to come near and hear his recommitment (v. 28).\u00a0 It was David\u2019s <\/span>eyes<\/b> that initially drew him to Bathsheba, and dishonesty that brought her to him \u2013 but by the end, David has <\/span>ears<\/b> only for Bathsheba, and the drive to retain her trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

The beginning of David\u2019s and Bathsheba\u2019s relationship was problematic at the time, it was difficult for the Talmudic sages to reconcile, and it is disturbing to the modern mind. But at the very least, we can appreciate how her actions helped develop their connection and ultimately ensured their son\u2019s future success.<\/span><\/p>\n

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