David and Batsheva/2

David and Batsheva

Exegetical Approaches

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Guilty of Adultery and Murder

David sinned egregiously, committing both adultery and murder.

Sources:Bavli YomaYoma 22bAbout the Bavli, RadakShemuel II 11:2-4Shemuel II 12:9-13About R. David Kimchi, R. Yosef KaraShemuel II 11:1-15Shemuel II 12:8-11About R. Yosef Kara, Abarbanel

"וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד וַיִּדְרֹשׁ לָאִשָּׁה"

Batsheva's role

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד לְאוּרִיָּה רֵד לְבֵיתְךָ

וַאדֹנִי יוֹאָב

Natan's parable

Punishment

חָטָאתִי לַי"י

רַק בִּדְבַר אוּרִיָּה הַחִתִּי

How can David stay married to Batsheva?

Why did he merit dynastic rule?

Not Guilty of Adultery or Murder

Bavli ShabbatShabbat 56a-56bAbout the Bavli, RidShemuel II 12:4About R. Yeshayah of Trani, R. Yaakov Fidanque, MalbimShemuel II 11Shemuel II 12About R. Meir Leibush Weiser, 

Sources:Though David's actions deserved a measure of censure, he did not violate the Biblical prohibitions of adultery or murder.

Divorced status – According to these sources, in David's era anyone who went to battle divorced their wives to prevent them from becoming a "chained woman" (עגונה) if the soldier were not to return.  The sources disagree regarding whether the status is conferred only retroactively, if the husband never returnshome, or if upon leaving to war the marriage is already dissolved.  heva

"וַיִּשְׁלַח דָּוִד וַיִּדְרֹשׁ לָאִשָּׁה"

Batsheva's role

Guilty of Murder but not Adultery

Ralbag