The sin of David, rape?

The Bible is not clear on whether Basheba was a willing participate or not. Some woman's groups (and a Bible study produced by Calvery Chapel that I know of) try to make this claim that she didn't want to but it is complete speculation. Perhaps she didn't. What the Bible ephesises is that he took another man's wife, and this led to murder on top of that. This is all we can know for certain and what we must stress. I agree that is might even be likely that this was indeed rape, but we can not say this for certain and must not less we find we are actually wrong.

 

Very interesting subject.

Bryan
SDG

 

Perhaps I am wrong here, but I don't think there is any indication that she was a willing partner either. There is no indication either way. It simply wasn't important for the Biblical writer to record this fact because it wasn't his point for the story; and therefor shouldn't be the point of the story for us either.

 

What about the fact that she was out in plain view NAKED for those in two story or higher buildings could see?

Did all women bathe out in the open?

Perhaps she was lonely and knew that her home was in plain view of David's home and knew it was possible to be seen.

 

I completly forgot about that and it brings up an interesting point.

When I was in junior high sunday school the teacher presented this story as if Bathsheba was flaunting her stuff, indeed, that she was purposly exposing herself in the open, and the name Bathsheba wasn't seen in the best light.

But over the years and attending different sunday schools it seems that sediments have changed on her actions, even to the point where now she is one of the victums of the story. Even to the wonderful narrative tale my Calvery Chapel Bible study presented where afterword she threw herself in the shower to wash off the dirtiness of being violated.

I have heard people say that everyone baths on the roof, and heard others say that this was very uncommon, so no one agrees on that.

I have also heard that David should have been huming his favorite hymns because such keeps you from temptation (I think that was back in junior high . . . I hope it wasn't calvery chapel).

I have also heard that David's first sin was to not to his job and go out to battle, though this seems like speculation on what the text presents us as well.

 

Dr Bob,

Do you think Bathsheba was a willing participant by her response to the pregnancy? She sent and told David of the pregnancy, something she could have hidden to save herself fromt the Laws written for women in adulterous relationships? It seems she was willing to admit her pregnancy to him so he would know he was the father.

 

And hear O great king--the sword will not depart from your house---that's all Nathan had to say! He was going to reap what he had sown! He was going to reap more than he sowed! And tragically, others will get in on reaping what David had sown!

Steep price for spiritual laziness!!

Blackbird

 

I always wondered about this too G2C. Why was Bathsheba so complacent? Did she not like her husband or something? Did she have stars in her eyes over the King desiring her? If it was rape, why did she later marry him?

Who knows. I sure don't.

 

My point was - what was Bethsheba doing giving the opportunity for men to feast their eyes upon? Was there no one to hold a towel? Could she not block a window?

If she knew the kingdom was in view, and someone up high could see, I seriously question her morals.

Would their not be guards that could look on her?

Didn't David turn and ask someone who that was?

This was hardly rape.

 

Ahhh... Interesting topic.

How about this slant on David's sin ...

II Samuel 11:1b "... but David tarried still at Jerusalem."

If David had been where he was supposed to be, he would not have seen Bathsheba.

Could we go to the root of this and say that David was disobedient unto the Lord and that He was not where he was supposed to be?

If David had gone to work/done his job that day, he would not have fallen into the rest of the sins that he committed.

The root: David was in the wrong place/ David was disobedient.

 

Can you point out where it says that God had commanded him to go and fight?

Root: David looked upon another man's wife instead of turning away.

Root: Bethsheba was in view of men during her little bath.

 

Just for my own sense of curiosity, where does it say that Bathsheba was naked? It says she was washing herself, but, was it a sponge bath, a spit bath, washing her face and hands, her feet? given that modesty was more prevalent then than now, just how much "skin" was David observing?

 

Jewish tradition says that David and Bathsheba were a loving couple happy with one another in their final days. (Remember that she did become his wife afterwards and gave birth to Solomon).

This aludes that she was a willing participant, though it is not a fact.

 

I once raised this question in a bible study class and one of the very attractive women present spoke up and said that since the Bible says that David was a man after God's own heart, surely if Bathsheba had offered any resistance or objection, David would have respected her wishes in this matter. I have always suspected she was speaking from personal experience but never had the nerve to ask. But her words made a lot of sense to me