×
Friend,    With Purim right around the corner, Sefaria is busy preparing for the “Purim bump” — the increase in users who visit Sefaria to celebrate the holiday. Last year, more than 100,000 people visited the library or used the app to connect with the holiday or read along with Megillat Esther. This year we’re expecting even more.    To help with our text and tech preparations ahead of this busy time, a generous Jewish foundation is matching all gifts to the library up to $36,000.    Please give today to help us meet your learning needs!     
Batsheva was one of King David's wives. He saw her bathing on a rooftop and arranged to have her husband sent to the front and killed so he could marry her. Their son Solomon succeeded King David, though he had many older brothers.
Notable Sources
All Sources
A
David and Batsheva's Fate
TANAKH
The initial encounter between David and Batsheva sets off a chain of events that profoundly impacts David's reign and personal life. The biblical narrative in Samuel II describes how King David saw Batsheva bathing, inquired about her, learned she was the wife of Uriah, and then summoned her to the palace where he lay with her.
David vs. Ahab: Unequal Fates
COMMENTARY
Why did King David face fewer repercussions for his actions with Batsheva compared to King Ahab's punishment for illicitly inheriting land? This contemporary study delves into the biblical narratives of King David and King Ahab, exploring the complexities of leadership and morality in Jewish history.
A Mystical View of David and Batsheva
CHASIDUT
The story of David and Batsheva is often viewed as a grave sin, but this text offers a mystical interpretation that challenges this perception. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a prominent Chasidic master, explains that David's actions were not driven by physical lust but were connected to higher spiritual judgments.
Destined from Creation
KABBALAH
According to the Zohar, King David can be considered righteous despite his actions with Batsheva because she was destined for him since the creation of the world. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, offers deep mystical interpretations of the Torah, including the story of King David and Batsheva.
Prophetic Confrontation and Repentance
TANAKH
The confrontation between Nathan the prophet and King David over his actions with Batsheva is a pivotal moment of prophetic rebuke and repentance. This mention in the book of Psalms highlights the role of Nathan in addressing King David's moral failings and the subsequent repentance that shaped David's legacy.
The Divine Favor of Solomon's Birth
TALMUD
The birth of Solomon, Batsheva's son and a key figure in Jewish history, was divinely approved and prophetically named Jedidiah, signifying God's favor. The Gemara in Tractate Sanhedrin discusses genealogical connections and divine approval, using references from the Book of Samuel.
Securing Solomon's Throne
TANAKH
Batsheva's intervention was crucial in ensuring Solomon's rightful succession to the throne amidst political intrigue. The narrative in Kings I details the urgent and strategic actions taken by Batsheva and the prophet Nathan to secure Solomon's kingship against Adonijah's premature claim.
The Divine Choice of Solomon
COMMENTARY
Solomon's kingship was divinely chosen and prophetically endorsed, fulfilling David's promise to Batsheva. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz’s modern translation and commentary on the Hebrew Bible provides clarity and accessibility to the text, connecting readers to its plain meaning and historical context.
David's Moral Reckoning
JEWISH THOUGHT
King David's confrontation with his own moral failings through Nathan's parable is a powerful example of self-realization and repentance. The biblical story of King David and Batsheva, particularly Nathan's parable, is a profound narrative of prophetic rebuke and moral accountability.
David's Divine Struggle
MIDRASH
David's deep remorse and the theological implications of his actions suggest that his sin was part of a divine plan. The 16th-century compilation, Ein Yaakov, reflects on King David's repentance and moral struggles, emphasizing themes of sin, repentance, and divine justice.
The Story of David and Bathsheba , Embroidered Panel, Greece, 19th century. The H. Ephraim and Mordecai Benguiat Family Collection. The Jewish Museum, New York.
The Story of David and Bathsheba , Embroidered Panel, Greece, 19th century. The H. Ephraim and Mordecai Benguiat Family Collection. The Jewish Museum, New York.
We use cookies to give you the best experience possible on our site. Click OK to continue using Sefaria. Learn More.OKאנחנו משתמשים ב"עוגיות" כדי לתת למשתמשים את חוויית השימוש הטובה ביותר.קראו עוד בנושאלחצו כאן לאישור