We have two glimpses of Bathsheba, the one of her forcibly being taken by David that we saw last week, and now, years later, a second moment when her child Solomon has attained manhood.

David's multiple wives and numerous children have broken his heart again and again. Much of it is his fault. He cannot discipline the young men whom he dearly loves and the ensuing rapes, murders and revolts could fill a dozen dramas. Nor does
he make any provision for his successor. The palace intrigues continue until David is too old and feeble to raise his hand. Then, two final plots evolve.

In the first, Adonijah summons some of his brothers and many of the royal officials to a great feast at which he plans to proclaim his right to the throne. Unbeknown to him, the old prophet Nathan has enlisted Bathsheba to go to David and remind him that he has promised her that Solomon shall become king.

No one knows if this promise has actually been made or if this is still another plot in the palace. It sounds very plausible. Bathsheba willingly plays her role, emphasizing that if he fails to act, she and her son will find themselves on the enemies' list when Adonijah comes to power. This underlines our belief that she too is a Hittite, a foreigner, and a new king could well exile her.

David rouses himself to a final action. He summons the priest, asks that the royal mule be saddled, that Solomon be anointed, and the trumpet blown to announce the fact. In a scene worthy of Hollywood, as the trumpet blares to herald King Solomon,
it echoes across the hills into the feast of Adonijah who hasn't quite pulled off his coup. It lacks a few minutes for his proclamation.

Bathsheba has done well. In the next chapter, after David's death, when she approaches the throne where her son is seated, that young man rises up to greet her, has a throne brought in for her, and seats her on his right hand. He owes her that much and more.

We will leave her seated there, since the Bible does not fill in much more of her story. Like the other women David has married, she fades into the background and we haven't a clue as to what her last years are like. No matter. From a dark patriarchal era she emerges to play her role. When Matthew puts together his genealogy of Jesus, he lists Bathsheba as "the wife of Uriah" to remind us of her origins.

However we see her, she is a female ancestor of Jesus of Nazareth, one of only four women so named by Matthew. She stands as the outsider, possibly an immigrant, and a model for all who live in uncertain times.

Bible reference: 1 Kings 1-2
                        Matthew 1:6