2 Samuel 11 Wandering Eye

It’s time for kings to go to war. David stays home and falls prey to a wandering eye. That ‘eye’ creates even more trouble.

David didn’t wait long to renew the conflict with Ammon. Joab has taken all the fighting men of Israel and David’s might men to besiege the capital city. But David stays home. We don’t know why. We do know that David’s staying home didn’t end in a good result.

There is no knowing how complicit Bathsheba was in this encounter with David. She may have been a willing participant. She may have felt she could not refuse the king. She may have changed her level of participation/willingness along the way too. For my story, she is a bit of a ‘flirty’ woman to begin with. But I do have the encounter on the rooftop to be innocent on her side. Let’s join the story and see where it takes us.

♥ ♦ ♥

Bathsheba has always known she possesses exceptional beauty. It is nothing that she earned on her own but she works to maintain it. She also likes to turn heads, not that she has ever acted on the looks she receives. She is a married woman, after all. And her husband is one of king David’s mighty men of valor. Her status as the wife of such an important man helps to keep her tendency to seek out opportunities to turn heads in check.

But her beauty and enjoyment of turning heads has created a wedge between her and many of the women in Jerusalem. They think she is after their husbands. Nothing she does, including bragging on her own husband, can convince them otherwise. She does her best to avoid contact with those who hold her in contempt.

Her trips to the well are timed when she will have the least number of women to deal with. Her marketing is done with a servant in tow, to decrease her own need for interaction. But her monthly cleansing ritual makes it hard to maintain a distance from the other women.

This ritual requires her to go to the communal woman’s bath and spend time observing the process of cleaning from her impurity. Last month she had the misfortune of spending half of her time over hearing the ‘whispered’ comments of several other women.

“Even the great Bathsheba bleeds like the rest of us.”

“I bet even her flow is ‘beautiful’ and could turn heads.”

“One day her ‘beauty’ will be her undoing.”

“One day she won’t have that beauty any more. She will be like the rest of us ordinary wives.”

“Her husband’s head might turn his head then.”

These comments pierce her but she refused to give those making them the satisfaction of seeing her pain. She finished her ritual, gathered her belongings and quickly left.

It is time for her ritual bath again. She can’t face dealing with the comments of the women. But neither can she skip this requirement of the Law. God would surely punish her by closing her womb if she did.

“This day is too beautiful to be spoiled by ugliness. I will see to my needs in the comfort of my own home” decides Bathsheba. To prepare for her bath she has her servant lay clean clothing on a stool on the roof of her home near the cistern for rain water. Anything she touches will be ‘unclean’ until evening or until washed. She brings her cup with her to dip the water with and a rag for washing.

Bathing is usually done in the evening, just prior to the beginning of a new day. Bathsheba doesn’t wait because she wants to beat the chill that is sure to settle on Jerusalem with the setting of the sun. Using the rain water that has been collecting will already make this bath cold enough.

Bathsheba kneels by the cistern and begins by ladling water over her hair. She uses a cake of hyssop soap, wets it and works it between her hands until she has a nice lather. This she works into her hair. When her hair is thoroughly saturated with lather, she dips her cup and pours water over her head until it runs clean.

This process soaks the top of her tunic. She opens the front of her tunic and slips her arms from it. She let it rest at her waist. She then wets the rag and applies hyssop soap to it. She uses this to wash her face, neck, breasts and arms. She stays on her knees and faces the wall as she washes. Her roof’s parapet protects her from view from the street. She is grateful for the privacy it offers.

Bathsheba’s final task is her lower body. She has to rise from her knees to free herself the rest of the way from her tunic but she stays doubled over to remain hidden by the protective wall surrounding her roof. Using her same cloth and hyssop soap, she cleans her lower torso and legs. She pays special attention to the areas of her womanhood. This bath wouldn’t be complete without this care.

When she was finishs soaping her entire body, she ladles water over herself from her shoulders down. She cups her hands and brings water to her face to clean the hyssop from her face and neck. She sits for a few minutes enjoying the sun on her back as she allows it and the breeze to dry the water from her skin. Finally clean and dry, she retrieves her fresh tunic from the stool near her and carefully works her body into it.

This was a most enjoyable bath, even if she had to ensure she did not rise beyond the height of her parapet. Bathsheba gathers her soiled clothing, rags, soap and cup and brings them into the house. She then returns to the roof with her combs to work through her hair. The sun on her back had been so warm during her bath that she wants to soak up even more of it.

As Bathsheba works with her combs she catches movement out of the corner of her eye. It came from above her. She looks in the direction of the movement and notices a figure on the king’s roof as it turned to leave. Her breath catches in her throat as she realizes that her bathing spot was within full view from the king’s roof. Her hands tremble at the thought of being observed during such a private time. The king’s palace is some distance away but she is able to see that someone had been standing at the wall. For how long she didn’t know.

On the roof of the palace of the king, someone had been watching. The watcher didn’t start out with the intent to invade Bathsheba’s private moment. He had merely been looking about the city; his city. The watcher was the king himself.

David is bored. He is a man of action but he had decided not to join in the action this spring. He initially felt that he should spend some time on matters of state, instead of placing himself in the throes of battle. But as the days and weeks marched on, so did his unrest. He had decided to walk on his roof after rising from an unproductive rest.

Looking over his city he sees children playing in the streets, shoppers moving about the market, animals being led through town, and all other manner of daily life. Something on a rooftop a distance away catches his attention. It is a woman kneeling on the far side of her roof and working something through her hair. After watching for a few moments David realized she is washing her hair. Not a totally unprecedented sight but certainly in an unusual location. David shrugs his mental shoulders at the sight and begins scanning his city again.

As his eyes scan the city, his mind went back to the rooftop. Soon his eyes joi his mind. David looks again, expecting the woman to have completed washing her hair and to be combing it out now. Instead, he sees the exposed olive skin of her shoulders and back. His breath catches as he watched her movements. As she scrubs with her rag or works her cake of soap, he can see the swell of her breast from the side. He knows he should look away, but it was if he is bound with chains and he can’t move his eyes even a hairs breadth.

David continues spell bound as the woman rises from the ground and slips her tunic below her waist and finally lets it fall from her body. He feels a stirring deep within his loins as he continues to watch her smooth skin being released from her clothing. When she returnes to her seated position, she doesn’t face David nor did she fully face away from him in his vantage point. She is angled toward the cistern which afforded David a splendid view of the side of her face as well as all her other ‘assets’.

David steps back just a little from the edge of his roof so that he will not alert her to his presence. But he remains watching until she rises and gathers her belongings and goes into her home. Her beauty and the sensuality of her movements so grips him that he feels driven to possess her.

David is thrilled when she returns to the roof. He calls to his servant, Abket, to join him on his roof. With a nod in her direction David asked, “Do you know who that woman is?”

Abket moves to the edge of the parapet for a better look at whom David is inquiring about. “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (2 Samuel 11: 3b).

David nods understanding.

“Have you further need of me my king?”

“No. You may go.”

Abket leave the roof. David also retreats from the rooftop and returns to his couch. The memories of Bathsheba play themselves out in his mind as he reclines awaiting the evening meal.

Even the sumptuous meal can not drive thoughts of Bathsheba from David’s mind. He also wrestles with the knowledge that she is the wife of one of his mighty men; a man who has fought valiantly by his side for MANY years.

Thoughts of Bathsheba appear in David’s dreams; the few that he could catch when he was able to sleep. By morning his mind is made up. As Abket attends him with his morning rituals, David speaks.

“I would have an audience with her.”

Abket had watched his master’s movements since being summoned to the roof. He knew of the “her” of which David spoke even without him calling her by name. “Do you desire me to fetch her my king?”

“No. I would send a messenger for this task. Please have one attend me in the throne room.”

Abket bows and quickly finds David’s messenger. “The king has need of your services.”

The messenger finds David sitting on his throne. Bowing, he says, “You sent for me my king.”

“Yes. Take a message to Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Tell her that her king requires her presence.”

“Shall I tell her of the purpose behind the summons?”

“You may say it is an urgent personal matter.”

“As you command my king.”

The messenger knows the location of the house of Uriah the Hittite. He is one of David’s mighty men of valor. It takes no time at all for him to arrive at the door. He calls out from the gate and Bathsheba’s servant comes to his call.

“My lord the king has a message for your mistress. Please bring her to me.”

“May I tell her of the nature of the message?”

“The king said to say that it is ‘an urgent personal matter’.”

“I will inform her immediately.”

A few moments later Bathsheba appears at the gate. Her face is white with fear. Could it be news of her husband’s death?

“My lord the king requires your presence on an urgent personal matter.”

“I will accompany you” replies Bathsheba as she wraps her cloak around her shoulders.

The two set off for the palace. They make their way directly to David’s throne room. “Uriah the Hittites wife, Bathsheba, my king” announces the messenger.

Bathsheba bows in respect before her king.

“Leave us” David commands the messenger. David had already emptied the throne room of all his other servants before their arrival.

Bathsheba waits to be addressed. Her hands itch to wrestle with one another in anxiety but she stills them through sheer force of will. David smiles to himself as he watches her. “She has strength as well as beauty” he thinks. Finally, he addresses her. “I have a personal need that only you can fill.”

Bathsheba has no idea what David’s ‘need’ might be, but as his subject, she will endeavor to meet her king’s needs. “It is my pleasure to serve my king in whatever way I can.” She also assumes that since it is a need that ‘only she can fill’ his summons does not speak of the death of her husband. This brings a measure of relief to her as she awaits her king’s command.

David stands and moves toward her. She stands absolutely still. He circles her slowly, taking in every inch of her. David stops in front of her with but a few hands breadths separating them. He reaches out and gently strokes her cheek with his index finger.

Bathsheba’s breath catches at the familiarity of her king. His hand is calloused as a warrior’s should be but it is also very gentle. It has been some time since she was touched in such a manner, and she finds herself longing for a repeat gesture. David tips her chin up with is index finger until their eyes meet.

“I watched you yesterday” whispers David.

Bathsheba’s face flushes but she refuses to look away. She had felt eyes on her but she thought it was just her imagination. “Did the site of me offend you, my king?”

“Not at all. It is all I could think of from that moment on.”

Bathsheba is familiar with the attentions of men, because of her beauty, but none have been so bold as her king at this moment. A slight smile plays at the edges of her mouth. David releases her chin and circles her once again. As he circles her, she stands a little taller, ensuring that her chest is full and straining against her tunic.

David faces her once again. “Do you understand the nature of my need now?”

“I believe I do. It is the nature of a man and woman, is it not?”

“It is. Does this please you?”

“It does my king.”

“You will be taken to a room near my chambers. I will join you there.”

David steps away and summons Abket with a bell.

“See that Bathsheba is given a quiet place to rest. She has need of refreshing.”

Abket bows and leads Bathsheba from David’s throne room. David has kingdom business he needs to attend to before he can go to Bathsheba. Banishing thoughts of her waiting for him is impossible so he rushes his tasks as much as possible.

While Bathsheba waits she explores the room given to her. There is a table laid with perfumes and cosmetics. She wonders if David desires for her to use them. She is confident in her beauty so forgoes the cosmetics but samples the perfumes until she finds one she feels fits her. She anoints herself with it while she waits.

David finally joins her in the privacy of the room he has prepared. He had Abket lay the items out for her while they were meeting in his throne room. He hadn’t been certain she would join him but he was hopeful.

David is gentle with her as they share a night of passion that both participated fully in. Morning finds them still in one another’s arms.

“Have the king’s needs been met” chides Bathsheba.

“Those of the past have, but I fear future ones are on the horizon” answers David. “Stay with me again tonight. I would bathe you myself, as I watched you doing on your roof.”

Bathsheba smiles and snuggles into David’s chest. “Your wish is my command.”

Bathsheba and David spent many nights together, thoroughly enjoying one another’s company. Finally, David’s need are satisfied and he dismissed her to her home. Only David’s closest servants even knew of her presence in the palace.

David returned to the matters of the kingdom, once Bathsheba has left. It is as if the spell he had been under has finally broken. The memories of that stolen evening still bring with it a thrill, but it didn’t dominate his thoughts.

Three weeks have passed since their parting when David receives a letter delivered by Bathsheba’s maid. His guard had announced her and brought her into the throne room. She gives the guard the letter from her mistress and he put it in David’s hands. David sits staring at the words contains in it.

“I am pregnant.”

Nothing more is written. These words are enough. They have brought David’s world to a halt. Shaking himself from his thoughts he addresses Bathsheba’s servant. “Inform your mistress that I have received her letter.”

“Is there any reply you wish to send her my king?”

“No. That is all.”

Bathsheba’s maid and the guard leave the throne room. David turned to Abket. “Bring me a messenger. The swiftest you can find.”

When the messenger arrives, he finds David waiting with a scroll he has personally penned and sealed with his signet ring. “Take this to Joab at once.”

The messenger set off with all due haste. He reachs Joab within a day. Once being admitted into camp by the sentry, the messenger is taken directly to Joab. “The king has an urgent message for you, my lord.”

Joab takes the message from his hands and breaks the seal. “Send me Uriah the Hittite” is the command it contains. Joab is puzzled by the words but he will obey just the same.

“Bring Uriah the Hittite to me” Joab commands.

Uriah appears at Joab’s tent. “You sent for me?”

“Yes. I am sending you to the king. He has asked to see you.”

“Does he say why?”

“No he does not. Only that you are to go to him.”

“I will leave right away.”

“We will be here when you return. Good speed my friend.”

“May the Lord continue to show His favor to you in my absence.”

The two men part ways. Uriah returns with David’s messenger and Joab turns his attentions back to the battle field.

Uriah and the messenger make good time returning to Jerusalem. There is little conversation as their haste consumes their attention and their breath. Upon reaching Jerusalem Uriah goes directly to the palace and announces himself to David’s guard. “I am Uriah the Hittite. The king has sent for me.”

The guard smiles at Uriah’s formality. He certainly knows who Uriah is without the introduction. “I will announce you at once.”

The guard disappears inside the throne room then re-emerges and motions Uriah to follow him. Uriah makes his way towards David’s throne and then stops to bow deeply.

“Uriah my friend. Welcome home.”

“You sent for me my king.”

“Indeed, I did. I want to know how goes the battle and how fares Joab; my commander.”

Uriah is confused by the fact that he was called to bring word of the battle, when any soldier could have been tasked with such a duty. But his is not to question his king so he dismisses his confusion and reports to his king. “We are besieging the city of Rabbah. They have held fast for now, but with the Lord’s hand we will take them. Joab commands the troops with distinction. It is an honor to serve under his leadership.”

“Thank you for that report. It is pleasing to hear that the battle goes well, even in my absence.”

“Your presence would certainly be welcomed my king but your troops are showing themselves strong while you are about the business of the king.”

“Well said my friend. ‘Go down to your house and wash your feet’ (2 Samuel 11: 8b)” instructs David.

Uriah leaves the palace. As he was leaving, Abket passed a loaf of fresh bread, aged cheese and a portion of meat to him. “A present from the king for you.”

Uriah is pleased with the gifts. As it is getting on towards the evening meal, Uriah decides to share his good fortune with the king’s servants. He joins the group at the door of the king’s house. “I bring gifts from the king” he says as he holds the treats aloft.

Those gathered there settled down for a good meal and great stories. Uriah’s tales of the front lines are the main topic of conversation. Uriah shares these well into the night. He has no intentions of going home. Not with his comrades still on the field of battle.

Uriah was observed from the moment he entered Jerusalem by one of David’s most loyal servants. Abket had tasked this man with this job himself. When morning came the servant brought word to Abket, who brings word to David of Uriah’s activities during the night.

“Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house. He did not go to his own home.”

David was shocked and displeased by this news. He was certain that Uriah would go home and lay with his wife. He could then pass the child off as Uriah’s instead of his own. He paces his chambers, thinking of what to do next. “Have Uriah appear before me in my throne room.”

Abket goes off to summon Uriah to the king, while David settled himself on his throne.

Uriah stands before David. “It has been told to me that you did not go down to your house. ‘Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?’ (2 Samuel 11: 10b).”

“The Ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field. Shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing” (2 Samuel 11: 11).

David can see the determination in Uriah’s face. He must think of another way to accomplish his task. “Well said my friend. ‘Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back’ (2 Samuel 11:12). Dine with me at my table this evening. Share some of the stories you shared last night. I would enjoy hearing them.”

Uriah smiles, “I would be glad to share them with you, my king. They are stories of great deeds of your finest men.”

Uriah helps in the garrison during the day, while he waits to dine with king. Before dinner, David instructs Abket to keep Uriah’s goblet full. “He is to never lack drink, while at table or while sharing his stories.”

David’s table is full. He has all the soldiers who had remained in Jerusalem, save the guards of the night, join them. They would clamor for Uriah’s stories long into the evening. David makes certain to press for more throughout the evening. This keeps Uriah always parched and reaching for his overflowing goblet. By the time the guests begin leaving for the night, Uriah is most assuredly drunk. David feels certain that he will stagger home into the arms of his wife.

David retires with a smile on his face. He is certain his worries are over. Abket’s handpicked servant follows Uriah again.

When morning dawns, Abket’s man reports once again that Uriah had slept with the servants instead of going to his house. Abket brings this news to David upon waking. David paces the floor once again. There was no way Uriah will lay with his wife until the battle is over. And by that time, it would be too late to claim the child is Uriah’s. Uriah would return to Jerusalem to an obviously pregnant wife and know that she had sinned. He had every right to have her stoned at that point. A consequence David could not bear. His only other option is to remove Uriah from the equation and claim her as his own. He could then say the child was conceived after he had taken her following Uriah’s death.

This decision does not sit easily on David’s mind, but it is the only one he can think of. But he has to act fast. He will also have to take someone else into his confidence, who has the ability to make Uriah’s death a surety. He needs Joab.

Joab has already shown himself to be a cunning and ruthless man. David has no doubt he can use that cunning to his own benefit. Quickly he put pen to parchment and writes a letter to Joab. “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die” (2 Samuel 11: 15). David quickly seals it with his signet ring and summons Uriah to him.

“I send you, my faithful servant, on your way back to Joab just as promised. Take this letter to him for me. It will save me sending another messenger.”

“As you wish my king” answers Uriah. With these words he tucks the letter in his belt and sets off to rejoin the battle. David watches him leave, knowing this will be the last time he will see his old comrade.

Uriah arrives back in camp by nightfall. He brings David’s letter to Joab. Joab dismisses Uriah and tells him to get some rest. He waits until he was alone to read David’s words. The words penned draw a cold smile from Joab. “So, the king wants me to remove a problem for him. This knowledge may serve me well one day.”

The next morning, when battle lines were being formed, Joab assigns Uriah to an especially well protected area of the city. That area has valiant men protecting it. Uriah will certainly fall under their hand. Several others will fall beside him, but that is the price of seeing to David’s command.

Just as predicted, the fighting is fierce where Uriah stand. He gives his best effort but the power of those defending the city overwhelm him and he falls by the sword. By the end of the day’s skirmish several of David’s servants join him in death.

“We must send word to the king of his servants’ death” instructs Joab to one of his runners. “He needs to know of this battle. ‘When you have finished telling all the news about the fighting to the king, then, if the king’s anger rises, and if he says to you, “Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the walls? Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?” then you shall say, “Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also”’ (2 Samuel 11:19b-21).”

The messenger sets off immediately with news for the king. When he arrives in Jerusalem he is shown directly to David’s throne room. David wastes no time in pleasantries.

“You bring news from the front?”

“I do my king. ‘The men gained an advantage over us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall. Some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also’ (2 Samuel 11:23-24).”

David’s heart is torn. Part of him wants to leap for joy that his problem is finally nearing its conclusion. The other part of him mourns for the loss of his friend and valiant soldier. Before the guilt can rise in his own heart, David addresses the messenger. “Thus shall you say to Joab, ‘Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen you attack against the city and overthrow it.’ And encourage him” (2 Samuel 11: 25).

The messenger bows and prepares to leave. As he nears the door David calls him back for one more task. “Bring word to Uriah’s widow. She should hear it from your lips as you speak for Joab, his commander.”

Bathsheba had been staying in seclusion since sending her message to David. A week has passed before a knock sounded at the gate. Her servant goes to answer it. She quickly returns and tells Bathsheba that a messenger from Joab waits for her at the gate. Bathsheba pulls on her cloak and both women hurry to the gate.

“My good woman, I have been sent with news from Joab, the king’s commander and the king. I regret to inform you that your husband Uriah was killed in battle. He fought valiantly but he was overcome by archers.”

Bathsheba lets out a mournful wail and her maid supports her before she collapses in the garden. She helps her back into the house and sets her gently onto her cushion. She then returns to the gate to dismiss the messenger.

He is more than happy to be done with this task. It is never easy on the family of the fallen. He is looking forward to returning to battle where things are as he would expect them, and where he knows he can be of some use.

Bathsheba had heard that Uriah was in Jerusalem just days ago. She had waited patiently for him to come to her but he never did. Now she is a widow who is with child, not of her husband’s doing. She has no idea how she is going to resolve this issue. She prayed the king would make matters right, but she has heard nothing from him since informing him of her condition. For now though, she needed to mourn for her husband.

The month of mourning passes slowly for Bathsheba. Partly because she stays secluded to hide her pregnancy and partly because of the uncertainty of her future. Each day brings with it the fear of discovery of her sin. The whole city now knew of Uriah’s final visit and how he had slept on the doorstep of the king’s house. His faithfulness to his fellow soldiers was as famous as his name. She would give her own life if she could prevent tarnishing his.

David waited and mourned in secret. He also anticipats the day Bathsheba’s mourning will be complete. He has kept his distance, so as not to arouse suspicion. He plans to take her as his wife, as soon as the required period has passed.

The days were finally complete. David calls for his messenger. “Go to the house of Uriah the Hittite and say to his widow that the king would honor Uriah by taking his widow as his own.”

The messenger was pleased with his king’s kindness to Uriah and his widow. He quickly makes his way to her gate and begins knocking. Bathsheba’s servant meets him at the gate.

“The king would see the widow of Uriah the Hittite.”

“May I tell her of the purpose of his summons?”

“He wishes to honor her husband.”

The servant quickly tells Bathsheba that the king wishes to see her to honor her husband. Bathsheba rises, wraps her cloak around herself and makes her way to the gate where the messenger waits.

As soon as she steps before him, he delivers the full message from his king. “The king wishes to honor Uriah the Hittite by taking his widow as his own.”

Bathsheba’s hand flies to her mouth. “He will protect me” she thinks. She nods her head in agreement and opens the gate. She steps through it and leaves her widowhood, and hopefully her shame behind. The only thing she brings with her to the home of the king is her servant.

(to be continued)

I cannot imagine being in Bathsheba’s shoes! David ignored his responsibility, as far as she could tell, until she became a widow. I wonder if David ever told her that he had arranged Uriah’s death. That would have been quite the conversation.

Bathsheba appears to have gained favored wife status in David’s home. Or at least she would occupy that place in the future. She was even able to come to David when he is near death and ‘ask’ that he keep his word about making Solomon king. And we know that David came to her again and again. Otherwise there would be no Solomon. I wonder how she felt, exchanging one home for another.

Father God, I’m VERY grateful for the life You have given me. I cannot imagine being allowed NO choice in my future, the way the women in the bible lived. I’m too strong willed of a person. I would surely get into BIG trouble.

Thank You for allowing me to give a bit of personality to Your story. I don’t know how accurate it is to the true feelings of Bathsheba, but I don’t feel convicted to change it, so I suppose that means You are alright with it. THANK YOU for keeping me from Bathsheba like situations. I know I feel as though I have, in the past, been ‘trapped’ by my own actions, but You bring good out of those times, nonetheless. You did with David and Bathsheba too. It’s amazing what You can rescue and turn into good. Keep doing it in my life please Father. Don’t let me fall into traps that I can’t get out of.

There is NO trap that YOU can’t get me out of. And I PRAISE You for that!