Special Sub-Topic: The Biblical Story of Bathsheba Click Here To Play: The Biblical Story of Bathsheba

What was Bathsheba doing when David first saw her?

Taking a bath. 2 Samuel 11:2 - David could not sleep and was walking on his rooftop patio. Bathsheba as was the custom was bathing at night in the water that was heated by the desert sun that day.

Who was Bathsheba's first husband?

Uriah the Hittite. 2 Samuel 11:3 - Uriah was a soldier in David's army. The Hittites were a group of mountain dwellers who lived north of Canaan.

Struck by her beauty, King David sent for Bathsheba. After their "fling" Bathsheba sent a message to David that she was pregnant. How did David initially try to resolve this dilemma?

He tried to persuade her husband to have sex with Bathsheba. 2 Samuel 11:6-14 - David sent for Uriah, who was fighting in the war. After getting a report on how the battle was going the king encouraged Uriah to go spend the evening with his wife. The loyal soldier refused saying that it would not be right to enjoy the affections of his wife while his fellow soldiers were at war. The next night David even got Uriah drunk but the husband refused to have sexual relations with his wife.

After his initial plan did not work David had Bathsheba's husband murdered. How did he have him killed?

David arranged for him to die in battle. 2 Samuel 11:14-24 - David sent a note by Uriah to give to his general Joab. The note laid out a plan to have Uriah killed. Joab was to place Uriah on the front line of the fiercest battle than have all the men but Uriah retreat leaving Uriah to die at the hands of the enemy.

Upon hearing of her husband's death, what did Bathsheba do?

Mourn. 2 Samuel 11:27 - After Uriah's death Bathsheba mourned, but after an appropriate time she married David and moved into the palace.

What happened to the baby that was conceived during David and Bathsheba's affair?

He died a few days after his birth. 2 Samuel 12:15-24. The firstborn son of David and Bathsheba became ill. For days David prayed and fasted but the child died. David's servants were baffled by his reaction. After the baby died, David got up, ate and worshipped God saying, that he had hoped God would spare the child's life but now that he is dead, David said, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me." David comforted Bathsheba and their love for each other was strong enough to overcome this tragedy. Later they were blessed with more children.

David and Bathsheba had a second son. What did they name him?

Solomon. 2 Samuel 12:24 - Solomon became king after David's death. He is known for his wisdom.

According to 1 Chronicles, how many total children did David and Bathsheba have?

4. According to 1 Chronicles 3:5 David and Bathsheba had four sons, Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon.

Before David's death what request did Bathsheba ask him to fulfill?

She asked that her son would be named as David's heir to the throne. I Kings 1 and 2 - David's son Adonijah (whose mother was Haggith) attempted to take the throne from Solomon by a having public coronation before David's death. Bathsheba's quick action helped secure the throne for Solomon and kept Adonijah from hijacking the throne. However she did attempt to fulfill a request from Adonijah. Early in his rule Solomon scolded his mother who requested that Adonijah be allowed to marry one of David's concubines. Solomon recognized that request as a threat to his rule. If Adonijah was given close access to the throne he could usurp the king's authority. Solomon had Adonijah and his co-conspirators killed. However, he loved his mother greatly and had a throne placed to the right of his throne so she could have the seat of honor at his right hand (1 Kings 1:19)

According to the New Testament, Bathsheba was an ancestor of Jesus.

T. According to Matthew 1:6 and Luke 3:31 both Joseph and Mary were direct descendants of Bathsheba.