Bathsheba falls in line with the many “seductresses” of the Bible. A simple google search of her name pulls up a myriad of images of buxom women with curvy silhouettes and smoldering eyes. I find it fascinating that women are consistently portrayed as weak and inept in the Bible, yet they somehow have the power to bring the mightiest of men to their knees using their feminine wiles. Bathsheba, being one of these women, intrigued me immensely, and I researched several commentaries about her. Taking these perspectives into account, I learned a lot about some of the finer details of the story and some common misperceptions about the woman bathing on the roof.
I started with reading Gill’s Exposition, written in 1763. Of the commentaries I read,
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Brueggeman proposes that David was purposefully seeking sexual gratification when he went for his stroll on the roof. Brueggeman believes that David “was at leisure and saw what he wanted, a woman ‘very beautiful’” (Brueggeman 272). I find this interpretation and examination of David’s motives very interesting. Why did David stay in Jerusalem? Why did he walk around on the roof? Why does no one seem to care about these motives? I think that it is possible that David had some sexual urges and decided to use his birds eye view of the city to his advantage. Conversely, I do not agree with Brueggemann’s belief that adultery was David’s greatest sin. Brueggemann draws attention to the fact that Bathsheba was more often called “the wife of Uriah,” including in the royal genealogy of Matthew. He uses this piece of evidence to conjecture that Bathsheba’s identity as Uriah’s wife was very important, and, therefore, David’s sin of adultery was equally grave. Considering God’s love of his people and his commandment to love others, I think God must have been more disappointed with David’s disregard for human
After all, King David was a warrior, a military leader that was responsible for many deaths, albeit to claim an earthly kingdom for God, many shed blood. Obviously addicted to power, for many, what makes this celestial favoritism even more compelling is David’s narcissism that often manifested as philandering with the wives of other men, and ultimately claiming them as his own.
When David asked his “eldest sister Mary, where the lovely city [he was dreaming of] could be… she went onto warn [him] seriously not to mention it to anyone else; other people, as far as she knew didn’t have such pictures in their heads…and it would be unwise to mention them.” This shows us that David is possibly
Throughout the book the author hints at David's past, and how he feels lonely and abandoned. He needs some people to call family, to love and to trust because Steelheart left him alone in a cruel unforgiving world. ” Steelheart jumped forward with blinding speed and slammed a hand against [David's] father’s chest, crushing him back against the white stone pillar. Bones shattered, and blood poured from my father's mouth” (Sanderson 13).
David was a journalist and the people at the fair really didn’t treat David right. They treated him as if he wasn’t important. David’s reaction to this was to act rudely to others but David knew that it wasn’t intentional toward him and that he needed to realize that.
In this regard, David is describing how the way Giovanni or anyone touched him made him feel ashamed but at the same time made him feel unstoppable. This proves David to be selfish because he does not care who he is in a relationship with as long as he is satisfied. Another example that proves him to be selfish is when he admits, “Sometimes, when he was not near me, I thought, I will never let him touch me again. Then when he touched me, I thought it doesn’t matter it’s only the body it will be over soon.” David realizes that the thought of sleeping with Giovanni disgusts him, but he does not care because his desire is met.
In 2 Samuel 9-20 David had many fascinating and diabolical traits, he showed forgiveness, kindness, recognition of some of his sin and mourns just like everyone else. He also knew how to command and lead effectively which helped him, however also assisted with his malicious acts. David had to have whatever he wanted no matter what the cost; even though he knew, God was going to punish him for his actions. Bathsheba was described in the scriptures right away as being very beautiful. In addition was details about her menstrual cycle had just ended which was why she was bathing close to where King David was.
I believe the setting was this way to prevent outside influence and interaction. This would create an controllable atmosphere for David and the Davidian leaders. Obedience Cult members join because they seek truth, social approval, love or something to believe in. Part of these factors is also the feeling of truly believing what you're told.
David doesn’t even love Hella. She’s a part of the mask he’s hiding behind; their relationship is a lie. Immediately after reading this letter David sleeps with a woman named Sue almost to convince himself that he is society’s “normal” straight individual. He compares having sex with Sue as “a job which it was necessary to do in an unforgettable manner” (Baldwin 100). David only has sex with her to justify his reasoning behind leaving Giovanni for Hella, which is he “can have a life with her” (Baldwin 142) but can’t have a life with Giovanni simply because Giovanni is a man.
This shows the change David has made with his views and choices. In the beginning of the book, David wished for extra arms as a harmless joke only to realize that making that joke costed him and got beat by his father. David then kept quiet as he didn’t want to express his own feelings due to trauma he has suffered. By the end of the book, David runs away with his friends in protest to his father’s rules and to express who he truly is. From the beginning of the book to the end, David has shown examples of him changing who he is as a person for the better.
David states, shortly after reliving the memory, “I despised my father.” This simple idea exemplifies the power the man had over young David, as well as showing the
This quote expresses David’s ongoing internal battle between knowing who he is as a person and worrying about how others identify him. In reality, the only person’s opinion that David should be cautious about is Sharon 's, which ironically is the only opinion that he destroyed in the process. Another ironic part in the story is how Sharon never forgives David for the lie he told that day, yet later on in their marriage, she is the one lying the most and keeping the biggest secret of all, the
The Wife of Bath and her tale are the most similar out of all the tales because they both share a domineering outlook over others. In the general prologue she is told to have had five husbands and is described as a looker, “Her face was bold and handsome and ruddy,” (Chaucer 39). In her prologue she goes more in depth of her time spent with her five husbands. Wife of Bath talks most about how she gains control over her husbands. For instance, her fifth husband was the controlling force in their marriage until he made the mistake of hitting her and telling her he would do anything to keep her with him and said, “My own true wife, do as you wish for the rest of your life…” (335).
After having five husbands, the Wife of Bath establishes herself as an expert on marriage. She wholeheartedly indulges herself in God’s commandment to “increase and multiply” (l. 28). The Wife of Bath, although receiving criticism for her lusty life, always defends her life choices. First, she defends her lifestyle by referring to reputable men in the Old Testament who had more than one wife. Second, she considers sexual organs to satisfy both practical and pleasurable uses in life.
This seems just like lust which it is, but it also shows that not even a life can be in the way of sin. David might not have personally killed him, but he did kill him by giving him the order to go to the front lines. David broke the sanctity of life just so he could do an act that he would later come to regret in his life. People no longer value it due to people losing their faith and hope.
David carefully listens to his armies and seeks wisdom for the greater good of the community. Although David is fearful of the Philistines, he considers Keilah over himself and risks his life to protect the city. He values people’s lives as much as his own and protects them fulfilling God’s orders. Without hesitance, David puts the needs of the people before his own and saves them as their