Bathsheba (The Wives of King David Book #3): (A Creative Retelling of One Of the Most Famous Women in the Bible)

I really enjoyed this book, and loved how the author set the scene for what happened and then worked through all the details and questions we would have about it.My only quibble is how the characters mentioned going to heaven after they died. This is not a concept that that people clearly understood in that time, the idea of "living on" was culturally thought of to happen more through your ancestors and creating a name for yourself.Additionally, this is not what the Bible teachers. Speaking of David, in Acts 2:29-36 it clearly states that David did not go to heaven after he died.“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right handuntil I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’[f]“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”We also see in the Psalms that David wrote that he knew he would not be alive and aware once he was dead.Ps. 115:17-19It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence;it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore.Many modern day Christians think of the soul as an immortal entity within us that goes on living after death. What does the Bible say? Describing the creation of human beings in the beginning, the Bible says, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7, KJV). Other Bible translations say, “. . . and man became a living being” (NKJV; NIV). God did not put a soul into man. He formed the body from the dust of the ground, and then He breathed His life-giving spirit into the lifeless body—and the result was a soul, or a living being. When a person dies, the reverse takes place. The breath of life departs from the body, and the soul no longer exists. That’s what the Bible says. “The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7, NIV). At the resurrection, God reunites the body and His life-giving spirit—and the person lives again.If souls existed as separate entities that lived on after we died, that would mean we have immortality. However, the Bible says human beings do not have immortality. Only God is immortal (see 1 Timothy 6:15, 16). Paul says that the righteous “seek for glory, honor, and immortality” (Romans 2:7). If we had immortal souls, why would the righteous seek after something they already have?

I will admit it. I was up before dawn this morning to watch William and Kate join together in a royal wedding that attracted the attention of the world. Was it the fact that a prince fell in love with a commoner that we could all relate to the romance of the union? Or is a human desire to be captivated by anything remotely "royal", a curiosity that will never be quenched, a lifestyle coveted from afar, the reason? Whatever the motive, the world anticipated the wedding for months, sat glued in front of the television during the ceremony, and now suffers post-wedding let down.The fantasy of being a princess is one every girl is born with. Walt Disney thrives on such hunger and continually feeds the addiction with princess movies, dolls, and games. Unlike the fantasy of Jasmine and Cinderella, however, the wedding of William and Kate reminds us that royalty still exists even if not in our country. Yet, it seems that even in a society where Kings and Queens, Prince and Princesses have no place, there is that romantic notion that if you could just be a Princess, everything would be right in your world.Don't expect the fascination with royalty to diminish. Thousands of years post King David's rule, writers are still penning accounts of his life, and readers are still captivated by one of the most famous rulers to date. Author Jill Eileen Smith has written The Wives of King David series that accurately depicts what the demands and pleasures of being his wife entailed. I have enjoyed the series, but clearly, the third book in the installment is my favorite.The story of Bathsheba's encounter with King David needs no added frills or lace. It stands alone as one of the most passionate, emotionally charged events related to King David during his lifetime. However, when Smith joins pen with history, the reader understands the motives behind the events following King David's meeting with Bathsheba. The motive in murdering Uriah is clear-it was not ordered in hate or guilt, but in protection for Bathsheba. After all, the law required blood as atonement for the adulterous affair, and David wasn't going to ruin his kingdom for it, and he certainly wasn't going to let Bathsheba take the hit. Not to mention he tried to cover the sin by giving Uriah a leave from battle, but Uriah was just too devoted to the laws regarding interaction with woman during war to fall for it.Believing that a removal of Uriah from the picture would make things right, King David became her kinsman redeemer, and welcomed Bathsheba into his kingdom. The political ramifications from such a move would remain within the royal family until King David appointed Solomon his successor. Along the way, there is atonement for the sin of adultery, bitterness and jealousy to contend with, and a battle to win against his beloved son. There is enough romance, drama, and action to appease even the cynical of readers.As a long time fan of King David, and after reading many accounts (both fictional and academic), I enjoyed the flowing prose of Bathsheba more than any other to date. I am a girl that thrives on historical romance and feel it's important for the author to take artistic freedom within the realm of truth. Smith has met my requirements for a great piece of Biblical fiction ten times over. There will never a bad time to grab Smith's novel Bathsheba to read. However, after seeing the last remnants of the royal wedding, I think this is a perfect time!

This book was so well written. The author captured the personalities of the characters in this historical biblical event brilliantly. The raw emotions and personality behind each character involved were profound. know the story, I was gripped by her creative interpretation. I loved how David's character was portrayed. I could not fault this book. The culture and history was very well researched It is a fiction that is correct and you could argue this and that..(that's why its a novel..) but I loved how the author allowed you to experience the relationship David had with God and showed David's own weaknesses and failures as a man, yet God loved him immensely and therefore you felt the pain of God's heart when David sinned against Him and abused the position and power he had been destined for his whole life.Uriah the Hittite - I loved this guy. In the bible Uriah's character and personality is not really seen or detailed but in this book the author reminds us and highlights the fact that he was actually one of David's 30 'Mighty Men', he was part of the elite warriors that fought on the frontline and won battles after battles. Again is biblically correct, I had forgotten this. Uriah's character and his personality I thought was spot on for who he was and despite how brave a warrior he was, he was so in love with his wife Bathseba. I felt so angry with David for what he did to Uriah and Bathesheba and indeed the shame his actions brought on her family and her grandfather who was one of David's chief military counsellors and strategist. Honour was huge in those days. The author also brings to the forefront Bathseba's personality and character which again you don't find much of in the biblical account of this story. Why bath in full view of the King's rooftop... ?? (anyway, that's a question for another day..) regardless of this, King David was wrong and God held him accountable for his actions in years to come. I had to put the book down for a day or so because the emotions from the story was so powerfully written. If you've ever listened to someone teach or bring a sermon on this famous story in the bible, this is just as powerful and no different. It brings profound meaning and understanding to Psalm 51. When you read this story, Psalm 51 and indeed other psalm penned by King David will make sense and come alive.Thank you for bringing your gift and relationship you have with God onto a world platform. Keep doing the research and keep telling the stories.

Husband read it to me and it was great

A story of rebellion and the mercy of God to those who repent and turn to Him with a contrite heart.

It is so wonderful to connect with the people of the Old Testament. Mrs. Smith makes these people come alive as though they lived only yesterday she made them so real to me, that I found myself flipping though my Old Testament scripture. Something I haven't done in a very long time. Great and very accurate research!Thanks Mrs Smith.Glory be to Our Saviour.

Enjoyable book with plenty of reference to the old testament .I learnt a lot more about the fascinating life of King David.