meetBible › Old and New Testament
Bathsheba
Taken by a king and widowed by his order, she became the mother of Solomon.
Old and New Testament · c. 1000 BC · 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, Matthew · Also known as Wife of Uriah, Mother of Solomon
About Bathsheba
Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s soldiers. While Uriah was at war, King David saw her bathing, sent for her and slept with her, and she became pregnant. To cover it up, David had Uriah killed in battle, then married her. "The thing that David had done displeased the LORD." Their first child died. Later she bore Solomon, and "the LORD loved him." In David’s old age she and the prophet Nathan secured Solomon’s succession, and as queen mother she was given a throne at Solomon’s right hand. Matthew names her in Jesus’ family line as "her that had been the wife of Urias."
Scripture places the blame for what happened squarely on David: Nathan’s rebuke is addressed to him, and the narrator says David’s deed displeased the LORD. As the king, David held power over her. The text doesn’t describe Bathsheba’s feelings or choices in 2 Samuel 11.
The story
The LORD loved him
After Nathan’s rebuke, the child born to Bathsheba fell ill and died. "And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife." She bore another son, "and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him."
2 Samuel 12:15-25
Before the king
When David was old and Adonijah claimed the throne, Bathsheba went in to David: "My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me." David kept his oath. Later King Solomon rose to meet her, bowed, "and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand."
1 Kings 1:11-31; 2:19
Key moments
- Taken by David: While Uriah was at war. (2 Samuel 11:4)
- Mourns Uriah: "She mourned for her husband." (2 Samuel 11:26)
- Solomon is born: "The LORD loved him." (2 Samuel 12:24)
- Secures Solomon’s throne: With Nathan. (1 Kings 1:17)
- Queen mother: At the king’s right hand. (1 Kings 2:19)
Questions about Bathsheba
In meetBible these answers are given in Bathsheba’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
How did Solomon become king?
When David was old, his son Adonijah declared himself king. Nathan told me to go to David, and I reminded him: "thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me." Nathan came in to confirm it. David ordered Solomon anointed that day.
Why are you named in Jesus’ family tree?
Matthew writes, "David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias." He doesn’t use my name, but names Uriah, the man David wronged. I am one of a handful of women in that list, alongside Tamar, Rahab and Ruth. Many readers see in them a God who works through broken and unexpected stories.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with 2 Samuel 11–12; 1 Kings 1–2.