Matthew 1:6b
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.
My first reaction is that Matthew should be ashamed of himself. He doesn’t even mention Bathsheba. Rather, he calls her only “the wife of Uriah.”
It may be that Matthew is embarrassed by this story. Little wonder. It is the story of David’s shameful treatment of a woman of his kingdom and her husband. The woman is Bathsheba, and the story of David’s adulterous affair with her can be found in 2 Samuel 11. Except calling it an “adulterous affair” actually softens what happened. Because that implies the relationship was consensual, and by the terse wording of the text, and the fact that Bathsheba is married and that David was the king, it is unlikely she had much choice in the matter.
To make matters worse, once Bathsheba becomes pregnant, David seeks to deceive Uriah into thinking the child will be his and, when that fails, has Uriah killed. It is an embarrassing story, a shameful story, a story of the abuse of power that has consequences that ripple destructively through David’s reign for years.
And so Matthew omits Bathsheba’s name, perhaps trying to blunt the force of the memories and history her name evokes.
But even though he doesn’t name her as I wish he would, he does include her. And in this he moves well beyond the author of the books of Chronicles, the parallel history to 1 & 2 Samuel, who omits the story of David’s abuse of Bathsheba and Uriah altogether. And he even moves beyond Luke, who mentions only David and not only omits Bathsheba but also Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, instead tracing Jesus’ ancestry through Nathan, a minor son of David who is barely mentioned in the Old Testament.
So while I’m disappointed that Matthew doesn’t name Bathsheba, I am grateful that he at least includes her story. And I know that where Matthew failed, we can stand in, naming Bathsheba, remembering her story, and honoring her by caring for all women and men who are abused by those in power, mindful, as we do, that God cares for them as well.
Prayer: Dear God, move us to care for those who have been harmed by the powerful in this world, never forgetting that you Son was descended from just such a person. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Post image: “David and Bathsheba” by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1526)
David,
I have been personaly and as pastor by your thoughts. The point about Bathsheba is powerful and worth considering. I was surprised, however, that you did not mention Uriah being a Hittite. Could not Matthew have wanted to include the name of a pagan who had committed himself to God’s people and God’s ways?
That’s a great thought and something that didn’t occur to me. Which all goes to prove, as I like to say, that reading the Bible is great…and reading it with others is even better! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your insight.