The final woman mentioned in Matthew 1 was Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel, chapter 11, she was introduced. She became the object of King David’s desire and committed adultery with him while her husband, Uriah the Hittite, was off at war.
I have heard many sermons preached on the relationship between David and Bathsheba. Some people interpret that Bathsheba knew what she was doing when she had the affair. Others say that David raped her. Either interpretation would have impacted her life in a terrible way. Let’s look at both scenarios:
Scenario One: If it was an affair that she willingly took part in, Bathsheba would have had incredible shame and guilt to live with. Her loyal husband was off fighting for the very man that she had slept with! She knew there was no way to hide the affair because she was pregnant. Everyone in town knew that her husband had been gone for months. She would be labeled an adulteress. Then, when David had Uriah killed, I cannot imagine the guilt she felt knowing that she was the reason he had to die. What a terrible secret to keep!
Scenario Two: If Bathsheba was raped, then she had all of the terrible shame and pain that went along with that. She would have to break her husband’s heart when she told him what happened and she would have to bear the child of the man that raped her. But then David had her husband killed, so she had to deal with that terrible loss. I’m sure David would have threatened her with her life if she told anyone what had happened. A terrible secret to keep!
Either scenario is bad. Bathsheba had to deal with many terrible consequences of what happened, including losing the child that she had conceived with David. But God took this broken woman and blessed her. He gave her other children, including Solomon, who she helped to become king. He is known as the wisest man to ever live, according to 1 Kings 3:11-12.
Bathsheba the adulteress (or rape victim, whichever scenario you interpret) became a Godly wife and mother. Many say that Proverbs 31 was written by King Solomon in memory of her. If that is the case, then her terrible past did not define her. Her fear of the Lord defined her. Proverbs 31:28-30 NLT says: ‘Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.’
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