The following essay takes liberties and interpretation that are not specifically found in the Bible. As you read, please carefully consider this as only ONE perspective. The author does not assume that all reading parties believe the excerpt portrayed below is the sole truth found in the Bible between David and Bathsheba. The author has expounded and dramatized the story to validate and connect emotionally with women who have suffered from rape in order to help restore identity and hope.

Modern-day language used throughout to convey personal interpretation.

Some content may not be suitable for children.

bathsheba: rape part 1

I awoke suddenly. Confused. Unsure of my surroundings, I looked around and the happenings of the night before came back in a flood. I caught my breath, unable to move, frozen in terror, horror, and wishing to God that the deep feeling of dread in my gut would go away. But I knew it was real. I clenched my eyes shut, my whole face disfigured as my mind remembered someone’s touch, breath, and force upon me.

That evening I bathed, as was my usual routine. I dried the droplets of water off my smooth skin, and sauntered back into the house. Ringing for dinner to be brought to me, I hummed to myself, enjoying the warm air on my arms and the bright sunset shining on my face. I was relaxed, lounging in the silk purple robe loosely wrapped around my waist. Being known in the city for my beauty, I was the envy of most women when I went to court with Uriah. Really I had no one to thank but my parents and God for such good genes. There certainly are other beautiful women to grace the courts when we go, but not many of them have such a privileged home life. You see, Uriah is known among the soldiers, the men, the courts. I am known because he is known. He says I am blessed, and I am. Not many men consider their wives better than rubies.

Anyways, I had just received a glass of wine and a simple tray of bread, cheese, and fruit, when my presence was requested at the door. Seriously? My mouth fell open as I realized it was a group of King David’s royal guards. They stated a formal request by the king for my presence at the castle. Due to the nation being at war, I was so afraid it was Uriah in trouble. Of course! I dressed in something formal, something beautiful for the courts as I was expected to speak with David himself, and took my time ensuring my hair and face was perfect. I sent word to my parents to please pray, that the king had requested my presence with news of Uriah.

I’m groaning out-loud, pausing in my remembrance of last night. This story of mine, Bathsheba, you’ve heard before. I was bathing on the rooftop. David sent for me. I went. Of course I went. You say no to the king and you die. Besides, little did I know what was in store for me. As I continue, please know that my feelings, thoughts, and emotions have been felt by others, and will continue to be felt by many other women in varying degrees of intensity. I was raped. I was raped by a man who was known of God, by God, and for God. He was chosen from a child to serve God. He is highly esteemed by both young and old. He is warrior. He knows wealth, rejection, despair, love, disparity, and adoration.

David called me into a quiet room. I thought it must be serious if he is being this private about the news. I was handed a goblet of wine, and David began making general conversation about the war, the nation, and my home life. I smiled, putting on a more confident front than I felt, nervous in the palace without Uriah by my side. I obliged David the small talk. Before I knew it, my wine glass was being refilled directly by David himself. I glanced around and realized there were no servants waiting on us. David drew near to me. So close I could smell the wine on his breath. He placed a gentle hand on my cheek. What was he doing? Suddenly, before I had time to react, he was kissing me. I’m confused. What is happening? My brain is foggy with wine, struggling to make sense of shocking advances.

A strong, powerful man was kissing me. Do I scream? Do I pull away? What do I do?! Frozen. My stomach lurching, heart skipping, brain racing, yet frozen I remained. Even if he weren’t king, this was a man that killed a lion and a bear. What he wanted, he got. He got all of me. Degraded me. Used me. I don’t have to describe in detail what rape entails. You already know what rape entails. And fully I was raped. Rape is grief. Rape is the essence of feeling utter and complete loss of your self, your soul. You’re hollowed out with little to nothing remaining. Value, stripped. Shame, overwhelming. Fear, crippling. A triple rape in one: body, mind and soul. My virtue now ruined, the life I had built with Uriah now stained by violation. Looking back, I do see dark pain and anger slowly exchanging for joy [in the future]. I ended up birthing a son who became the wisest and wealthiest king of all.* But before my story turns to Solomon, I endured far more pain than I would ever wish upon another human. My first son died due to David’s sin. It wasn’t even my sin and I had to pay the worst kind of bereavement price. But again, that part of my story is for another time. Today I am sharing rape and cannot get side-tracked. Before knowledge of any sons, or murder of my husband, or marriage to David, this is the morning-after realization that I had been stripped of being human and made into an object. I was not asked. I did not consent. A wide-eyed, taken-off-guard, frozen-in-silence response is not consent.

I despondently spoke words of a virtuous woman to Solomon, describing what I once was before the demise of my life with Uriah and what I hoped he would one day find. This is only part 1 of my story. There is redemption. There is love again. There is joy that comes after mourning for awhile. A long while. But it comes nonetheless. Do not hate David, favored of the Lord. I’ll admit, I did at one time. God is much bigger than grievous acts done toward the innocent. David is me. David is you. He is all of us, falling prey to acts of darkness.

Proverbs 31:25 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land...