5.          A "SCRAPING AWAY" BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
        Listening For Bath-Sheba's Story

                            Bonni-Belle Pickard


Introduction:
    In this Bible study, you will be asked to do some hard work to gain new insights into the person of Bath-Sheba.  As noted in the previous section, "Roles of Women in the Bible," you will have to do some "scraping away" of what you've "always heard" about Bath-Sheba.  Perhaps you have only "heard" this story previously from David's perspective.  To hear Bath-Sheba's story, you'll have to study the scripture with new eyes and ears, and you'll have to dig into your experiences as a woman to flesh out the sparse details provided by the texts.  For those who do the hard work of allowing themselves to be led by God in this way, the rewards will be many!

Read the texts (first layer)
2 Sam. 11, 12, 1Kgs. 1,  2, Prov. 1:7-16,  3: 5, 6, 31: 30, 31
1 Pet. 3: 10-16.

Names (second layer) 
    The following are meanings of some of the Hebrew names found in Bath-Sheba's story.  What do the names tell us about each person?
    "Bath"    -        "daughter (of)"
    "Sheba"    -    "oath" or "the beautiful, fertile                 land of Sheba"
    "Eliam"    -    "God of Gracious"
    "Uriah"    -    "Flame of God"
    "David"    -    "Beloved"
    "Solomon"    -    "Peace"
    "Nathan"    -    "gift"
Background information (third layer) 
Look in a Bible Dictionary or commentary to find out:
- Who were the Hittites?
- Who was Ahithophel?
- How many sons did Bath-Sheba have?

Following the story (Digging deeper) 
-    Bath-Sheba was known both for her beauty and wisdom.  Which served her better?
-    How long do you think Bath-Sheba had been married to Uriah when David first saw her?  Consider that she was bathing to cleanse herself after her monthly period, indicating therefore that she was not yet pregnant.  What importance does this have for the story?
-    David's palace was located above Jerusalem on the eastern ridge where, walking on the palace roof, he had full view of Bath-Sheba's house.  Traditional interpretations claim that Bath-Sheba was bathing on her roof, perhaps to attract attention.  Do you find evidence in the text to support this interpretation?
-    Why had David gone to war with his troops?
-    What alternatives did Bath-Sheba have for responding     to the messengers David sent to get her?
-    What protection could Bath-Sheba claim against rape     by the king?
-    How did the rape affect Bath-Sheba's marriage?
-    How had David broken Bath-Sheba's "oath"?
-    How did the rape affect her standing in the Jewish     community?
-    What choices did Bath-Sheba have as a Jewish woman     when she found she was pregnant?
-    What was Nathan's position in the palace and in the     community?
-    What was Nathan's `gift' to Bath-Sheba?

-    Why did Uriah stay away from his wife when he was     summoned back to Jerusalem?
-    Do you think Bath-Sheba knew he was in town?
-    What would she have thought?
-    What did Bath-Sheba feel when she heard the news of     her husband's death?
-    As one shunned by the community, who would have     told her?
-    When David sent for Bath-Sheba after Uriah's death,     the original wording has the sense of "gathering her in,"     as a harvest is gathered.  What was Bath-Sheba's life     like in the harem at that point?
-    What did she feel when David came to lie with her     again?  Did she feel "comforted"?
-    Some scholars note that it was the common practice at     that time for the mothers to name the babies.  What is      by the recorded fact that David named Solomon?
-    How did Bath-Sheba's role in the harem change after     Solomon's birth?
-    Females were rarely taught to read in that day, yet     Bath-Sheba would probably have heard from her     mother and grandmother such wisdom sayings as are      in the book of Proverbs.  How would these have     helped her raise her sons?
-    How did Bath-Sheba risk her own death to ensure that     Solomon was made king?  What was David's "oath"?
-    How did Bath-Sheba feel to see Abishag in bed with     David?
-    How was a king's perceived sexual power related to his     perceived political power?
-    What power did Adonijah recognize in Bath-Sheba     after David's death?  What change of roles had     occurred for her?


-    Jewish tradition claims that Bath-Sheba presented     Solomon with a Book of Wisdom at his first wedding.      What in Proverbs reminds you of Bath-Sheba's own     words/actions?
-    Did Solomon follow Bath-Sheba's wisdom?  What did     he ignore?

To the "real wood" 
-    How did Bath-Sheba refuse to be a victim?
-    What resource did Bath-Sheba use in times of trouble?
-    What `gifts' has God given you in times of trouble?
-    How does the passage from I Peter apply to Bath-    Sheba?
-    What other scripture passages come to mind?
-    What strength can we gain from hearing Bath-Sheba's     story?  Why have we not heard it before?


BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Brown, Driver, & Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of     the Old Testament, Oxford: Claredon Press, 1951.
Deen, Edith,  All the Women of the Bible, New York:     Harper & Row, 1955.
Dennis, Travor, Sarah Laughed, Nashville: Abingdon,     1994.
Laymon, Charles (ed.),  The Interpreter’s One Volume
    Commentary On the Bible,  Nashville: Abingdon Press, &