There are four women mentioned in Mathew’s listing of the genealogy of Jesus. All were identified by the sons they bore: Tamar, mother of Perez; Rahab, mother of Boaz; Ruth, mother of Obed, and Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, son of King David. But only Bathsheba is further distinguished. She was the wife of Uriah the Hittite.
Bathsheba’s story is often overshadowed by that of David. David, who stayed home while his men were in battle, who watched Bathsheba bathe from the rooftop, and who brought her to his quarters and slept with her. And David, who eventually had Uriah abandoned and killed in battle to cover up his own sin of adultery. But what of Bathsheba? Was she a helpless pawn in the affections of a lustful monarch? One commentator points out she was bathing in the uncovered court of a house in the heart of the city, where anyone could look down from the roofs of neighboring houses or from higher ground which does not say much for her modesty, even if she had no ulterior motive. (Wycliffe) That she came without hesitation, understanding the probable outcome, gives her a share in the guilt of David’s actions - the death of her husband Uriah and his men. She also shared his sorrow. Their child became ill and died.
But God did not abandon Bathsheba. As queen, she became the mother of Solomon, known for His wisdom and one designated to build the temple of God, a man whose very name means peace. When his promised path to the throne of Israel was threatened, she was warned and went to David in her son’s defense. She was honored as the Queen Mother, sitting on a throne as she talked with her son, the next in line for the kingship of David. She made mistakes, becoming involved in family intrigue as David’s sons angled for his crown. But what we see in her story is recovery. She was not a victim of her circumstances – whether created by her own will or by those who would use her for their own purposes. In a society that devalued the role of women yet in a history that includes such women of strength as Sarah and Rebecca, Deborah and Hagar, Bathsheba takes her place. She reminds us that life can take a turn for the better. She lived the remainder of her life in the peace of Solomon’s reign. But even more amazing is her inclusion as an ancestress of the Messiah.
I have become like broken pottery. But I trust in you, O Lord. I say “My times are in Your hands.” Psalm 31
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