Rethinking Bathsheba Part 2: Adultery or Power, Privilege, and Sexual Assault?

Nathan Tells the Story

God sent Nathan to visit David over this incident with Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 12:4, Nathan, using a parable, said to David, “Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” (ESV, emphasis mine)

Nathan used the word “took”. The same Hebrew word for “took” is used in both 2 Samuel 11:4 and 2 Samuel 12:4. In Nathan’s parable, the rich man didn’t have permission to take the poor man’s lamb. Just as the rich man in Nathan’s parable took the poor man’s sheep, so David took Bathsheba, that is, without consent. 

The Lamb

Nathan’s parable is instructive in another way as well: the use of a lamb. First, the Hebrew word he uses for “lamb” in 12:4 is feminine, it’s an ewe lamb. Nathan is very deliberate with his use of the feminine noun. He is making it clear that he is referencing Bathsheba as the lamb.

Secondly, whenever we read about lambs in Scripture, they are generally used to symbolize innocence, purity, and sacrifice. In my opinion, Nathan is saying that Bathsheba was pure in this incident. She was not at fault. She was not engaging in adultery, in a sin; rather, she was a victim.  

Who Can Tell the King NO?

We are not told how much time is between 2 Samuel 11:4 and verse 5; however, we know she didn’t know the next day that she was pregnant.  She just had her period before David took her, so likely about a month later she knew and alerted him that she was pregnant. Between verse 4 and 5, there is nothing telling us that she continued to go to his house. There is nothing to indicate this was an affair that continued past the one sexual encounter, something I would expect if adultery.  

Calling this “adultery” protected King David’s legacy. The “Man After God’s Own Heart” couldn’t dare be a sex offender. But, what if he was? David’s power allowed him to do whatever he pleased. No one could stop him or tell him no. His military leaders went off to war without him, when he should have been with them. Even they couldn’t tell him “no” you cannot stay behind. How could a woman tell him no?  

Protecting a Hero and the Powerful

Yet, to protect a spiritual hero, we’ve viewed this story in terms of adultery, allowing some of the blame to be cast upon the woman.  We wanted it to be adultery, we couldn’t fathom the thought of David committing a sexual assault. It’s much better that he’s merely an adulterer and murderer than sex offender. As with David, we don’t want our modern-day spiritual leaders and heroes of the faith to have such failings. But, as with David, we can’t ignore the evidence. 

It was after reading story after story of women who were victims but were accused of being complicit in her assault, that I began to rethink this story of Bathsheba. Like Bathsheba, some have been accused of sinning, though they were innocent in the matter. However, it sounds better to call it adultery or anything other than a sexual assault when there is a person in a position of power who is the perpetrator. It sounds better to blame the victim – even just a little bit – when there are power structures at stake.

Why Write This? What Does it Matter?

I don’t write this to bring about bitterness, anger, or cause offense. I write this to bring about a Biblical perspective of what we see taking place in our society – and to ask people to re-read their Bibles with fresh eyes. The power structures that protect offenders must fall and bow to the authority of Jesus. Just as David repented of his sins and came to be known as the “man after God’s own heart”, so too can the current offenders and perpetrators and those who are complicit with those offenders repent.  David redeemed himself through his repentance and demonstrated that there is no sin that can keep you separated from God.

There are Nathans all around, some are men and some are women, including a blonde Texan who shook up the SBC over the last few years, but particularly in 2021. Auntie Beth Moore (as Twitterers call her) and many others have been speaking up for the Bathshebas who have been blamed, ignored, and ostracized. It’s time to listen.

Conclusion

What are your thoughts on the rethinking of Bathsheba? Let me know how it has challenged your way of reading this story.