Storytelling Week Two: Bathsheba

Image gathered by Eddie Farough (2012). Modern David and Bathsheba. Source: Google

Bathsheba, who had recently lost her husband in battle, sat in her quarters, reminiscing on all the times she and Uriah had together. She felt remorse, remembering the wrong she had done her husband by laying with David, many fortnights prior.

Belly swollen with child, Bathsheba was glad that she had David, when all else seemed lost. She thanked the Lord that she was not alone after Uriah departed from this world. She cried out, "Lord, why must you taketh my husband? I understand not."

Now David, seeing the pain of Bathsheba, knew what he had done was wrong and displeasing to the Lord. He felt remorse for sending Uriah to battle, knowing that it was by his hand that the husband of Bathsheba was dead. He knew the jealous nature of his actions was wrong and began to wonder at the thought of bestowing the truth of Uriah's death to Bathsheba. He knew, though, that Bathsheba would not agree to become his wife, knowing that it was due to him that her husband was dead. He kept it hidden so as to make Bathsheba his wife.

Bathsheba and David were then married, and Bathsheba bare him a son. All the while, Bathsheba was blind in knowing how the fate of her late husband came to be.

One evening, at dusk, Bathsheba was conversing with her handmaid and said, "Maid, why thinketh ye that Uriah must have departed this world so soon?"

The maid replied with a peculiar answer that brought astonishment to Bathsheba. "Might it have to be the letter written from Master David many fortnights ago?" inquired the maid. Staring in bewilderment, Bathsheba further inquired about letter the maid spoke of.

"Many fortnights ago, David wrote a letter to Joab, calling him to the forefront of the mightiest battle so that he might be smitten and perish," said the maid. "My eyes have seen and my ears have witnessed this unrighteous deed by David, I musn't hide the truth from thou any longer," the maid said.

Bathsheba could not believe what the handmaid was saying. She prayed that the maid might have a false account. Alas, she knew that the handmaid was an honest woman and believed the tale she shared.

"I am to leave this place and go far away. David took my happiness as his own, so I doth the same for him," said Bathsheba.


Author's Note: When reading the story of Bathsheba, I was left at the end with wondering what happened next, therefore, I decided to write the ending of this story, although it does differ to what actually happened in these people's lives. In the original story, Bathsheba is seen bathing on the roof by David, who she later has an affair with. David is jealous that Bathsheba is married, as she is a very beautiful woman, so David has Uriah, Bathsheba's husband sent to the front lines of war to be killed. Bathsheba was in mourning after hearing of the loss of her husband and David became her husband.

The story ends with the statement that David's actions displeased the Lord. I felt like this was a weird ending to the story and I wanted to see what happened with Bathsheba and David's relationship. Even though this is an imagining of what would have happened, it isn't the story that necessarily comes next in the Bible. I tried my best to write the same language as the original text.

Bibliography
Book: King James Bible
Verse: 2 Samuel 11
Year Published: 1611
Website: http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/04/bible-women-bathsheba.html