The passage in 2 Sam follows a sequence of stories in which someone or something is “taken.” Here is the sequence: [notice the verb]

1. After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. And David took Metheg Ammah from the hand of the Philistines. (2 Samuel 8:1, NKJV). David took this city by force.

2,3,4. David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. And David took the shields of gold that had belonged to the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem. Also from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. (2 Samuel 8:4, 7, 8, NKJV).

5. Therefore Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of their beards, cut off their garments in the middle, at their buttocks, and sent them away. (2 Samuel 10:4, NKJV). In this case of mistaken intentions, Hanun violently took by force David’s servants and humiliated them.

6. “And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” (2 Samuel 12:4, NKJV). Again, the verb means to take by force, and this is the analogy Nathan uses in his confrontation of David… with no blame on Bathsheba.

So, the author sequences stories in which a person is taken by force… in the middle of that sequence, he uses the same Hebrew verb of Bathsheba:

7. Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. (2 Samuel 11:4, NKJV).

I believe the intent is to say he took her by force. And I believe the little parable Nathan used to confront David proves it.

This to me highlights the nobility of Bathsheba, the evil of David, and the grace of God in strengthening Bathsheba, disciplining David, and ultimately forgiving him.

Sorry for the long post, but I’ve never seen this addressed before, and I’m eager to clear Bathsheba’s name.
Blessings.

Dr Bill Giovannetti

You and Rick have an amazing love for each other and I praise God for that, but what I am most thankful is that your love of God is deep and solid and strong. What an amazing gift this kind of love – in both areas – are to your children! My grandchildren are, indeed, very blessed! Love, Mom