Who Was Bathsheba in the Bible? Wife of David and Mother of Solomon

Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite whom King David took and slept with while Uriah was at war, around 1000 BC (2 Samuel 11:2-4). When she became pregnant, David arranged Uriah's death and married her (2 Samuel 11). After the prophet Nathan confronted David and their first child died, Bathsheba gave birth to Solomon, who became king of Israel (2 Samuel 12:24; 1 Kings 1:30). Matthew refers to her as Uriah's wife in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:6).

Quick Facts About Bathsheba

Fact	Details
Name meaning	Usually understood as "daughter of an oath" or "daughter of seven"
Testament	Old Testament (named in the New Testament genealogy of Jesus)
Key books	2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Kings 1-2; 1 Chronicles 3:5; Matthew 1:6
Time period	About 1000-960 BC, during the reigns of David and Solomon (traditional dating)
Family	Daughter of Eliam; wife of Uriah, then of David; mother of Solomon, Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan
Known for	David's sin with her, being the mother of Solomon, securing Solomon's throne

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Bathsheba's Family

When David asked about her, he was told she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:3). First Chronicles calls her father Ammiel, which uses the same two parts of the name in reverse order (1 Chronicles 3:5).

Her husband Uriah was one of David's mighty warriors, listed among the thirty-seven at the end of 2 Samuel 23 (2 Samuel 23:39). The same list includes an Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite (2 Samuel 23:34). Ahithophel was David's counselor who later joined Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15:12). The Bible does not say directly that this Eliam was Bathsheba's father, so the link to Ahithophel is possible but not stated.

Who Was Bathsheba in the Bible? David's Sin

In the spring, when kings went to war, David sent Joab and the army out against the Ammonites, but he stayed in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 11:1). One evening he walked on the palace roof and saw a very beautiful woman bathing (2 Samuel 11:2). He sent someone to find out about her, then sent messengers to get her, and he slept with her. The text notes that she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness, and then she went back home (2 Samuel 11:3-4).

Bathsheba conceived and sent word to David that she was pregnant (2 Samuel 11:5). This is the first time her own words are recorded.

The Death of Uriah

David called Uriah back from the battle and told him to go home, expecting him to sleep with his wife (2 Samuel 11:6-8). Uriah slept at the palace entrance instead. He said he could not go home to eat, drink, and be with his wife while the ark, the army, and his commander were camped in the open (2 Samuel 11:9-11). Even after David made him drunk, Uriah did not go home (2 Samuel 11:13).

David then sent a letter to Joab by Uriah's own hand, telling him to put Uriah where the fighting was fiercest and then withdraw from him (2 Samuel 11:14-15). Joab did so, and Uriah was killed (2 Samuel 11:16-17).

When Bathsheba heard her husband was dead, she mourned for him. After the time of mourning, David brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son (2 Samuel 11:26-27). The chapter closes with God's verdict:

"But the thing David had done displeased the LORD." (2 Samuel 11:27)

Nathan's Rebuke

The LORD sent the prophet Nathan to David. Nathan told a story about a rich man with many sheep who took a poor man's only ewe lamb to feed a guest (2 Samuel 12:1-4). David burned with anger and said the man deserved to die (2 Samuel 12:5-6). Nathan answered, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7).

Speaking for God, Nathan said David had struck down Uriah with the sword of the Ammonites and taken his wife (2 Samuel 12:9). The sword would never depart from David's house, and calamity would come from within his own household (2 Samuel 12:10-11). Nathan's rebuke is addressed to David, and the text places the guilt for the adultery and the murder on him (2 Samuel 12:7-9).

David admitted that he had sinned against the LORD. Nathan replied that the LORD had taken away his sin and David would not die, but the son born to him would die (2 Samuel 12:13-14). The heading of Psalm 51 connects that psalm of confession to this moment, when Nathan came to David after his adultery with Bathsheba.

The Death of the Child

The child became ill. David fasted and lay on the ground for seven days, and on the seventh day the child died (2 Samuel 12:15-18). David then got up, washed, worshiped, and ate. He said that while the child was alive he had hoped the LORD might be gracious, but now he could not bring him back (2 Samuel 12:20-23).

The Birth of Solomon

David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and she gave birth to another son, whom they named Solomon. The LORD loved him and sent word through Nathan to name him Jedidiah (2 Samuel 12:24-25). Bathsheba had three more sons with David: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan (1 Chronicles 3:5).

David had other wives, several of whom bore him sons in Hebron before he reigned in Jerusalem, including Abigail (2 Samuel 3:2-5). Bathsheba's sons were born in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 3:4-5).

Securing Solomon's Throne

When David was old, his son Adonijah declared himself king without David's knowledge (1 Kings 1:5, 1:11). Nathan went to Bathsheba and told her that her life and Solomon's were in danger. He advised her to remind David that he had sworn Solomon would be king after him, and he promised to come in and confirm her words (1 Kings 1:11-14).

Bathsheba went to David and bowed before him. She reminded him of his oath, told him that Adonijah was celebrating as king, and said that the eyes of all Israel were on David to learn who would succeed him (1 Kings 1:15-20). She warned that otherwise she and Solomon would be treated as criminals after his death (1 Kings 1:21). Nathan came in and confirmed her report (1 Kings 1:22-27).

David called Bathsheba back and swore that Solomon her son would be king after him and sit on his throne that very day (1 Kings 1:28-30). Zadok the priest anointed Solomon at Gihon, and the people rejoiced (1 Kings 1:38-40).

The Queen Mother

After David's death, Adonijah asked Bathsheba to request Abishag the Shunammite as his wife (1 Kings 2:13-17). When Bathsheba came to Solomon, the king stood up, bowed to her, and had a throne brought for her at his right hand (1 Kings 2:19). Solomon refused the request, saying Adonijah might as well have asked for the kingdom, and he had Adonijah put to death (1 Kings 2:22-25).

Bathsheba in the Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew's genealogy of Jesus names a few women. Along with Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth, Matthew refers to Bathsheba without using her name:

"David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife" (Matthew 1:6)

Matthew traces Jesus' line through Solomon (Matthew 1:6-7). Luke traces it through Nathan, another of Bathsheba's sons (Luke 3:31; 1 Chronicles 3:5).

Key Lessons From Bathsheba's Story

• God sees sin done in secret. David hid his actions, but the LORD sent Nathan to expose them (2 Samuel 11:27; 12:12).
• Sin brings real consequences. A man died, a child died, and David's household suffered (2 Samuel 11:17; 12:10, 12:18).
• Confession leads to forgiveness. When David admitted his sin, Nathan said the LORD had taken it away (2 Samuel 12:13).
• God works through broken situations. The LORD loved Solomon, and Bathsheba became an ancestor of Jesus (2 Samuel 12:24; Matthew 1:6).
• Bathsheba acted with courage later in life. She went before the king to secure the promise made to her son (1 Kings 1:15-21).

Where Bathsheba Appears in the Bible

• 2 Samuel 11: David takes her, and Uriah is killed
• 2 Samuel 12: Nathan's rebuke, the death of the child, and Solomon's birth
• 1 Kings 1: She secures Solomon's succession
• 1 Kings 2:13-25: Adonijah's request through her
• 1 Chronicles 3:5: Her four sons, where she is called the daughter of Ammiel
• Psalm 51 (heading): David's psalm after Nathan's visit
• Matthew 1:6: The genealogy of Jesus

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Bathsheba in the Bible?

Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, whom King David took and later married after arranging Uriah's death (2 Samuel 11:3-27). She became the mother of King Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24).

Who was Bathsheba's first husband?

Her first husband was Uriah the Hittite, one of David's mighty warriors (2 Samuel 11:3; 23:39). David had him placed where the fighting was fiercest so he would be killed (2 Samuel 11:15-17).

How many children did Bathsheba have?

Bathsheba bore David a son who died as an infant, and then four sons: Solomon, Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan (2 Samuel 12:18, 12:24; 1 Chronicles 3:5).

Is Bathsheba in the genealogy of Jesus?

Yes. Matthew lists Solomon as David's son "whose mother had been Uriah's wife" (Matthew 1:6). Luke traces the line through her son Nathan (Luke 3:31).

What did Bathsheba do for Solomon?

When Adonijah claimed the throne, Bathsheba went to David with Nathan's support and reminded him of his oath that Solomon would be king. David then had Solomon anointed (1 Kings 1:11-39).