Who was Bathsheba in the Bible?

from the old testament

• Information about Bathsheba is limited, but she is introduced in 2 Samuel 11 as the wife of “Uriah the Hittite” (2 Samuel 11:3). While he and the other warriors were in battle, David had remained home (2 Samuel 11:1) and saw her bathing (2 Samuel 11:2). Desiring her, he sent for her and committed adultery with her (2 Samuel 11:4). As a result, she became pregnant (2 Samuel 11:5). Desiring to hide his sin, David eventually killed her husband (2 Samuel 11:14–17). However, God judged David for his sin by killing his and Bathsheba’s first son (2 Samuel 12:14–18).
• David married Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:27), and after the first son died, they had another together, Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24).
• David had several other sons with other women, including Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5). When David was very old (1 Kings 1:1–4), Adonijah made himself king (1 Kings 1:5–10). Bathsheba found out through Nathan the prophet (1 Kings 1:11–13). She then hurried to see David to have him publicly declare that their son, Solomon, was king (1 Kings 1:28–35).
• Adonijah feared Solomon would kill him (1 Kings 1:50–51), and Solomon initially let him live (1 Kings 1:53). However, Adonijah later approached Bathsheba to ask Solomon for permission to marry Abishag (1 Kings 2:13–17). Bathsheba asked Solomon, who became incensed, seeing through Adonijah’s plan to claim the throne over Solomon. He thus rebuked his mother and killed Adonijah (1 Kings 2:22–25).

from the new testament

• Bathsheba appears in Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1:6, showing that God worked through David's sin to bring about Jesus.

implications for today

The stories surrounding Bathsheba, particularly her relationship with David, are complicated. As a minor historical figure, we also don’t learn much about her. However, we do know that God used her to bring Solomon into the world and ensure he became king. God promised David that his son would have an eternal kingdom (2 Samuel 7:12–13), which He fulfilled by sending His Son, Jesus, in Solomon's line (Matthew 1:6–7).

While Scripture doesn’t teach us much about Bathsheba's character, we can learn something about God through her.

First, God works through sinful men and women. Whether or not Bathsheba was complicit in David’s adultery, their complicated relationship shows that God does not need perfect people to accomplish His plans. Instead, He can use anyone and any circumstance to glorify Himself.

Second, God’s promise, which continued through David’s son, began over a thousand years earlier with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–3). We thus learn that God both keeps His promises and ordains history to work out as He intended.

Third, God disciplines even His people. For unbelievers, His wrath is on them both in this life (John 3:36) and in the life to come (Revelation 20:11–15). But for believers, He disciplines us to train us to obey Him (Hebrews 12:6–17). Sometimes that discipline is hard, as seen with David’s first son with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:13–14). But it’s always for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).

Bathsheba’s life and legacy are complicated, but she and David are no different from us: sinners who need a Savior. Let us look to David’s son, Jesus, through whom we all can be forgiven for our sins!