Bath-Sheba

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Bath'-sheba or Bath-she'ba. (Daughter Of The Oath).  2 Samuel 11:3; etc., also called Bath-shua in  1 Chronicles 3:5, the daughter of Eliam,  2 Samuel 11:3, or Ammiel,  1 Chronicles 3:5, the son of Ahithophel,  2 Samuel 23:34, and wife of Uriah, the Hittite, (B.C. 1035). The child, which was the fruit of her adulterous intercourse with David, died; but after marriage, she became the mother of four sons, Solomon,  Matthew 1:6, Shimea, Shobab and Nathan.

When Adonijah attempted to set aside the succession promised to Solomon, Bath-sheba informed the king of the conspiracy.  1 Kings 1:11;  1 Kings 1:15;  1 Kings 1:23. After the accession of Solomon, she, as queen-mother, requested permission of her son for Adonijah to take in marriage Abishag, the Shunammite.  1 Kings 2:21-25.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Bath-sheba ( Bâth-Shç'Bah or Bath'She-Bah ), Daughter Of The Oath. The wife of Uriah the Hittite, an officer in David's army. She is called Bath-shua in  1 Chronicles 3:5. David first committed adultery with her, then caused her husband to be slain, and afterwards took her to wife. Bath-sheba was the mother of Solomon, whose succession to the throne she took pains to secure,  1 Kings 1:15-31, and of three other sons,  1 Chronicles 3:5. She is afterwards mentioned in the history of Adonijah,  1 Kings 2:13, in the title of  Psalms 51:1-19, and among the ancestors of Christ.  Matthew 1:6.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The wife of Uriah, and probably granddaughter of Atithophel which see. David first committed adultery with her, then caused her husband to be slain, and afterwards took her to wife. These sins displeased Jehovah, who sent the prophet Nathan to David, with the parable of the ewe lamb,  2 Samuel 12:1 . David bitterly repented, but was yet punished,  2 Samuel 11:12 . Bath-sheba was the mother of Solomon, whose succession to the throne she took pains to secure,  1 Kings 1:15 . She is afterwards mentioned in the history of Adonijah,  1 Kings 2:13 , in the title of  Psalm 51:1 , and among the ancestors of Christ,  Matthew 1:6 .

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 1 Chronicles 3:5 2 Samuel 11:3 1 Chronicles 3:5 2 Samuel 11:4,5 Psalm 51:1 2 Samuel 12:15-19 Song of Solomon 12:24 1 Kings 1:11 2:13 1 Kings 1:11,16-21

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Bath-She'ba, בִּתאּשֶׁבִע , Daughter Of the Oath, or Of Seven [sc. years]; Sept. Βηρσαβεέ , Josephus Βεεθσαβή : also בִּתאּשׁוּעִ , Bath-Shu'A, another form of the same name; Sept. as before;  1 Chronicles 3:5; in ch.  1 Chronicles 2:3, this form is translated "daughter of Shua" in the English version), daughter of Eliam ( 2 Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel ( 1 Chronicles 3:5), the grand. daughter of Ahithophel ( 2 Samuel 23:34), and wife of Uriah. She was seduced by King David during the absence of her husband, who was then engaged at the siege of Rabbah ( 2 Samuel 11:4-5;  Psalms 51:2). B.C. -1035. The child thus born in adultery became ill and died ( 2 Samuel 12:15-18). After the lapse of the period of mourning for her husband, who was slain by the contrivance of David ( 2 Samuel 11:15), she was legally married to the king ( 2 Samuel 11:27), and bore him Solomon ( 2 Samuel 12:24;  1 Kings 1:11;  1 Kings 2:13; comp.  Matthew 1:6). It is probable that the enmity of Ahithophel toward David was increased, if not caused, by the dishonor brought by him upon his family in the person of Bath-sheba. The other children of Bath-sheba were Shimea (or Shammu'ah), Shobab, and Nathan, named in  2 Samuel 5:14;  1 Chronicles 3:5. When, in David's old age, Adonijah, an elder son by Haggith, attempted to set aside in his own favor the succession promised to Solomon, Bath-sheba was employed by Nathan to inform the king of the conspiracy ( 1 Kings 1:11;  1 Kings 1:15;  1 Kings 1:23). After the accession of Solomon, she, as queen-mother, requested permission of her son for Adonijah (q.v.) to take in marriage Abishag (q.v.) the Shunamite. B.C. 1015. This permission was refused, and became the occasion of the execution of Adonijah ( 1 Kings 2:24-25). (See David).

Bath-sheba is said by Jewish tradition to have composed and recited Proverbs 31 by way of admonition or reproof to her son Solomon on his marriage with Pharaoh's daughter (Calmet, Dict. s.v.; Corn. a Lapid. on Proverbs 31). The rabbins describe her as a woman of vast information and a highly-cultivated mind, to whose education Solomon owed much of his wisdom and reputation, and even a great part of the practical philosophy embodied in his Proverbs (q.v.).

A place is still shown at Jerusalem, called "the Pool of Bath-sheba," as being the spot where she was seen bathing by David, but it is an insignificant pit, evidently destitute of any claim to antiquity (Biblioth. Sacra, 1843, p. 33).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

bath - shē´ba , bath´shē̇ - ba ( בּת־שׁבע , bath - shebha‛ , "the seventh daughter," or "the daughter of an oath," also called Bathshua בּתשׁוּע , bath - shūa‛ , "the daughter of opulence" ( 1 Chronicles 3:5 ); the Septuagint however reads Bērsabeé everywhere; compare Bathshua; HPN , 65, 67, 77, 206 for Bath-sheba, and 67, 69, note 3, for Bathshua): Bath-sheba was the daughter of Eliam ( 2 Samuel 11:3 ) or Ammiel ( 1 Chronicles 3:5 ); both names have the same meaning. She was the beautiful wife of Uriah the Hittite, and because of her beauty was forced by David to commit adultery ( 2 Samuel 11:2; Ps 51). Her husband Uriah was treacherously killed by the order of David ( 2 Samuel 11:6 ). After the death of her husband David made her his wife and she lived with him in the palace ( 2 Samuel 11:27 ). Four sons sprang from this marriage ( 2 Samuel 5:14;  1 Chronicles 3:5 ), after the first child, the adulterine, had died ( 2 Samuel 12:14 ). With the help of the prophet Nathan she renders futile the usurpation of Adonijah and craftily secures the throne for her son Solomon ( 1 Kings 1:11 ). Later Adonijah succeeds in deceiving Bath-sheba, but his plan is frustrated by the king ( 1 Kings 2:13 ). According to Jewish tradition, Prov 31 is written by Solomon in memory of his mother. In the genealogy of Jesus (Mt 16) Bath-sheba is mentioned as the former wife of Uriah and the mother of Solomon by David. See Adonijah; Ammiel; Bathshua; David; Eliam; Nathan; Solomon .