'31' The Series - Bathsheba

"Controversial", this word came to mind a few times when I was studying our woman for this episode. 

I wanted nothing more than to share her story without having to be labelled a conspiracy theorist, considering topics that have been and are still at the fore front of the world's discuss for the past few months (let it be known that I tried).  

A version of the bible chronicles her as "David's Great Sin". 

She is said to be one of the most beautiful women in biblical history but I describe her as a woman who was just minding her business one cool evening taking her bath, her name is Bathsheba (I hope you saw what I did there 😉)

On a cool spring evening when kings were out to battle (with their men) and women stayed back doing what women do, a particular king who should be out battling decided to take a stroll on the roof of his palace where he saw someone that lit a fire under him so he sent his messengers and he took her.

I remember growing up to stories about traditional rulers (kings they are called) been powerful enough to have any woman who "tickled their fancy". A general Yoruba saying that portrayed the king as an authority over women was: Oba ti gbe ese le ( the king has deliberately taken the possession of a woman with or without her consent or approval of those in whose custody she is).

In Bathsheba's story the king thought he had only quenched the flames of his lustful desires that resulted in death and mourning but little did he know that he had just set ablaze the tenacity of a woman.  

This woman became the king's wife after a series of guileful events and (although not recorded) made it her life's goal that her son become the next king of Israel. Considering that David had 6 sons before hers made this all the more intriguing (I always wondered how she pulled it off)

The traditional succession plan could not hold against her ambition and she had those crucial to her goal in her corner.

"....Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, and asked her, “Haven’t you heard that Haggith’s son, Adonijah, has made himself king, and our lord David doesn’t even know about it? If you want to save your own life and the life of your son Solomon, follow my advice. Go at once to King David and say to him, ‘My lord the king, didn’t you make a vow and say to me, “Your son Solomon will surely be the next king and will sit on my throne”? Why then has Adonijah become king?’ And while you are still talking with him, I will come and confirm everything you have said.”

And yes she got what she wanted; an unwitting pawn of men (or so they thought) became the queen mother.

"....the king said to them, “Take Solomon and my officials down to Gihon Spring. Solomon is to ride on my own mule. There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. Blow the ram’s horn and shout, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ Then escort him back here, and he will sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah."

Some have said that the strength of a woman lies in her femininity and I bet Bathsheba couldn't have agreed more.