The meaning of Bath-sheba in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
bath-she'-ba, bath'-she-ba (bath-shebha', "the seventh daughter," or "the daughter of an oath," also called Bathshua bath-shua', "the daughter of opulence" (I Chronicles 3:5); the Septuagint however reads Bersabee 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 (II Samuel 11:3) or Ammiel (I 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 (II Samuel 11:2 ff.; Psa. 51). Her husband Uriah was treacherously killed by the order of David (II Samuel 11:6 ff.). After the death of her husband David made her his wife and she lived with him in the palace (II Samuel 11:27). Four sons sprang from this marriage (II Samuel 5:14; I Chronicles 3:5), after the first child, the adulterine, had died (II Samuel 12:14 ff.). With the help of the prophet Nathan she renders futile the usurpation of Adonijah and craftily secures the throne for her son Solomon (I Kings 1:11 ff.). Later Adonijah succeeds in deceiving Bath-sheba, but his plan is frustrated by the king (I Kings 2:13 ff.). According to Jewish tradition, Pro. 31 is written by Solomon in memory of his mother. In the genealogy of Jesus (Mat. 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.
A. L. Breslich
See more on the meaning of Bath-sheba in the Bible:
Bath-sheba {Easton's Bible Dictionary}
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