"Did King David abuse his royal power in his relationship with Bathsheba?"
I'm studying 2 Samuel 11 and trying to understand the dynamics between David and Bathsheba. Given that David was king and Bathsheba had no apparent ability to refuse his summons, is it appropriate to view this event as a case of coercion or abuse of power? How have scholars and theologians interpreted this passage in light of modern understandings of consent and authority?
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Shirley H
Supporter
Absolutely! I think he did! In 1 Kings 11:1-3, God gives 3 rules that kings of Israel were never to do. 1. The King was not to multiply horses for himself! His strength was to be the Lord and military means. 2. The king was not to collect wives, they could influence his heart! 3. The king was never to stash silver and gold. (Deuteronomy 17:16 & 17) I think David disobeyed all of these, he lost his focus. God had chosen him remember, because he was a man after God's own heart! (1Samuel13:14). God looks at hearts! 1 Samuel 16:7. David broke at least three commandments. #1, #5, #6, #7, #9. O.k., so in war people get killed, maimed, etc. But Uriah was basically set up to be killed, because of, dare I say, lust? Matthew 5:27,28: "You shall not commit adultery!... I say whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery in his heart!" God looks at the heart, and believed David to be a man after God's own heart! Ecclesiastes 2:22: "For what has man for all his labor and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?" King Solomon said this! He was King David' s son. I believe that women were sometimes "spoils" of war. They did not enjoy the freedom of today's world. 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35: "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive as the law says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church." This was a good number of years after King David! However, I do agree David misused his royal power! He paid dearly! He loved God, and he was just as human as we all are. And God loved David, as he loves each of us even with our flaws! Know this, God does have rules! He does get angry. He loves deeply!
Tim Maas
Supporter
I don't and can't purport to speak for modern-day scholars and theologians, but, to me, the Bible makes it clear that although, in a certain sense, God held both David and Bathsheba responsible for their actions through the death of their child, God placed the bulk of the blame on David for abusing his authority, since it was his position as king that would have made it difficult or impossible for Bathsheba to refuse him. I think that this perspective on God's part was made clear by Nathan's subsequent rebuke of David in 2 Samuel 12.
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