Originally Posted by
Cardinal TT
I recognize there are people who want to use David and Bathsheba to make political points and disparage God and the scriptures - their views are similar to the Pharisees who want to point the finger without wanting the truth
There is a poignant message for all leaders about abusing authority.
When we look at the verses in context they do reveal more than just sexual immorality
2 Sam 12:9 - Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
v10 - Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'
v11 - Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
Look how God uses taken 3 times. The word taken in v9 & 10 is the same Hebrew word as take in v11
Taken is used to describe David's action toward Bathsheba in v9. As a once off it can be debated it was either a forced taken or a more general use of the word
God then uses it again in v10 in a context of serious abuse and then God uses it more harshly in v11 of terrible judgement because of David's abuse
David's wives will be taken and raped - that is the actual judgement
Reading all 3 verses in context it implies strongly that taken in this story is a very serious word not just a general submission by Bathseba - one can rightly believe that God saw David's action as a forced rape
I don't believe David did use violence but God saw it that way considering his kingship as he represented God as the highest anointed vessel.