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Thread: Did David rape Bathseba?

  1. #1
    Senior Member Pentecali's Avatar
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    Did David rape Bathseba?

    Evangelicals are arguing wether David wooed or raped her.

    Evangelicals debating rape and the story of David and Bathsheba.


    The biblical story of David and Bathsheba is as dramatic as it is ambiguous: A powerful man sees a beautiful stranger and orders his subordinates to summon her. She becomes pregnant. The man clumsily tries to cover it up, but eventually he has the woman's husband killed, and they later marry.

    In recent days, a question about this ancient tale has inspired heated online conversations among evangelicals: Did David have an affair with Bathsheba, or did he rape her? The answer has implications for the way the famous story is taught to children and the reputation of a biblical hero. But the debate itself illuminates—and may even change—the ways that evangelical Christians think about gender, sex, power, consent, and abuse.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    IMO it was rape because the most powerful person in the land abused his authority
    In those days a women could not say no or go to the police for support so she had to submit to a king

    There are many women who are enthralled by power and may even willingly submit because it was a famous person which happens today in our culture.
    So I can see some married women even feeling special that King David slept with them

    There is no record that Bathsheba was a willing participant apart from having to submit to King David as he was regarded as god like.
    She may also have feared for her life or her husbands

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    I saw an article about this just today. It sort of goes along with today's political correctness and revisionism. I agree with the Cardinal said.

  5. #4
    The story stands as a stern warning to men in places of influence. David should have been to war as other kings did. It was against his nature and calling to send troops without being there to lead into victory. Secondly, David wanted something beyond what God had given him in his wives. That alone sowed a message into future king Solomon. What parents do in moderation, children will do to an extreme.

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    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    I think it's impossible to tell from the account if she participated willingly or unwillingly. She did dare confront king David with the fact that she was now pregnant, she could have kept silent and blamed it on some other man in order to escape the wrath of the king. So she wasn't dead scared of him. I think it would have been easier for king David to keep his servants silent about the matter if she slept with him willingly rather than being raped by him inside his own palace (he sent for her). So the evidence suggests that she was seduced by the king. Perhaps she expected the affair to be brief and childless.

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    Senior Member Smitty's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FireBrand View Post
    The story stands as a stern warning to men in places of influence.
    Bill Clinton comes to mind even though is a godless man and full of lust.
    If you put God First, you have Him at Last.

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    Administrator fuego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by curly sue View Post
    I saw an article about this just today. It sort of goes along with today's political correctness and revisionism.
    Yep. It's really just another attempt to de-legitimize or 'demonize' the Bible. If that's the right term.

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  13. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Smitty View Post
    Bill Clinton comes to mind even though is a godless man and full of lust.
    He is a glaring example.

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    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FireBrand View Post
    The story stands as a stern warning to men in places of influence. David should have been to war as other kings did. It was against his nature and calling to send troops without being there to lead into victory. Secondly, David wanted something beyond what God had given him in his wives. That alone sowed a message into future king Solomon. What parents do in moderation, children will do to an extreme.

    There are leaders today that have used their ministry and gifting to deceive women in their churches to submit to sexual favors as some kind of 'ministry' to the leader
    What craziness

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    Senior Member Cardinal TT's Avatar
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    I asked my wife about David and Bathsheba and if Bathsheba had any blame

    I believe my wife had a wise answer by referring to prophet Nathans rebuke.
    There is no mention of Bathsheba being rebuked by Nathan as God placed the blame 100% on David
    Bathsheba did suffer by losing her baby and that was it - but God blamed David for the baby dying

    My wife also said that Nathan called Bathsheba a 'lamb' not a sheep in the parable. A lamb is harmless and innocent.

    Without being dogmatic there is at least from Nathan's parable a reasonable assumption she was innocent

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