Wife of Uriah, then David; mother of Solomon
c. 1000 BC · Old Testament
The wife of Uriah the Hittite, seen bathing by David from his rooftop — whose tragic story includes David's adultery, Uriah's murder, the loss of an infant, and ultimately the birth of Solomon.
Bathsheba was the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty men. Her story begins in 2 Samuel 11. While Uriah was at war with David's army at Rabbah, David, who had stayed in Jerusalem, walked on his palace roof at evening and saw Bathsheba bathing. 'The woman was very beautiful to look upon.' David sent for her and lay with her. She conceived. David tried to cover it by recalling Uriah from battle — but Uriah refused to enjoy his wife while his comrades were in the field. David ordered Uriah's death by having him placed where the fighting was fiercest. Uriah was killed. Bathsheba mourned. David took her as his wife. The child was born — but the LORD struck him with sickness and he died (2 Samuel 12:14-19). The prophet Nathan confronted David ('Thou art the man') — and David repented (Psalm 51). Bathsheba's second son with David was Solomon — chosen by God to succeed David and build the temple. Bathsheba played a key role in securing Solomon's succession over Adonijah (1 Kings 1-2). When David was old, Adonijah declared himself king. Bathsheba, prompted by Nathan, went to David and reminded him of his promise that Solomon would reign. David affirmed Solomon, and Solomon was anointed king. Bathsheba's name appears in Jesus' genealogy in Matthew 1:6 — though notably as 'her [that had been the wife] of Urias' — keeping the painful history in view. Through David and Bathsheba came the Davidic line that produced the Messiah. Her story shows both human sin and God's redemptive grace working through broken history.
David sends for her
"I am with child"
By David's orchestration
After mourning
After Nathan's rebuke
"The LORD loved him"
Against Adonijah
"Her that had been the wife of Urias"
Bathsheba's significance: (1) Her story exposes David's terrible sin — adultery and murder. (2) She is the mother of Solomon — Israel's wise king. (3) She is in Jesus' genealogy (Matthew 1:6), with her name preserved alongside Uriah's. (4) The aftermath of her affair (Psalm 51) is the OT's deepest expression of repentance. (5) Her story shows God's mercy working through broken history — the Davidic line continued, the Messiah came.
“I am with child.”— 2 Samuel 11:5
“Let my lord king David live for ever.”— 1 Kings 1:31
Bathsheba was the daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty men. While Uriah was at war, David saw her bathing, sent for her, and committed adultery. She conceived. David had Uriah killed in battle and took Bathsheba as his wife. The first child died. Their second son was Solomon. Bathsheba is in Jesus' genealogy (Matthew 1:6) — though noted there as 'her that had been the wife of Urias.'
Christians interpret 2 Samuel 11 differently. The text doesn't explicitly use the word 'rape,' but the power dynamic — a king summoning a married soldier's wife — is morally fraught. Many modern interpreters argue Bathsheba had no real ability to refuse. What the text is clear about: David's sin was grievous (Psalm 51) and bore terrible consequences (2 Samuel 12). Bathsheba is consistently portrayed as more sinned-against than sinning.
Yes. After Uriah's death in battle (orchestrated by David, 2 Samuel 11:14-25), and after Bathsheba's mourning, David took her as his wife (2 Samuel 11:27). She bore him a child who died as judgment (2 Samuel 12:13-19), then a second son named Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24), and other children (1 Chronicles 3:5).
Matthew 1:6 — 'David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias.' Bathsheba is in Jesus' line because Solomon, her son with David, was a direct ancestor of Jesus. Notably, Matthew does not name her directly but references Uriah — preserving the painful history. Her inclusion (along with Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Mary) reminds us that the Messiah's genealogy includes broken stories God redeemed.