Bathsheba's Petition
"David's Promise."
Abishag, King David, Nathan and Bathsheba.
Frederick Goodall.
Due to the problems in David’s household, Bathsheba had good reason to be concerned about her future and the future of her son. The family problems in David’s household are likely why Adonijah did not invite Solomon to his feast and this obviously implies that he was not in good standing with Adonijah. Recall that Nathan was not invited either. After all, Bathsheba would obviously have been viewed as the exact cause of most of the family’s embarrassing problems. Since there was a tendency for such differences in this household to result in death, she really had good reason to be concerned. If a shrewd and unscrupulous prophet wanted to motivate someone to a particular course of action, this could be just the card to play.
1 Kings 1:16 And Bath-sheba bowed, and prostrated herself unto the king. And the king said: 'What wouldest thou?' 17 And she said unto him: 'My lord, thou didst swear by the Lord thy God unto thy handmaid: Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne. 18 And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and thou, my lord the king, knowest it not. 19 And he hath slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar, the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant hath he not called. 20 And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.' (JPS) (Emphasis added)
Micah 3:5 This is what the Lord says: "As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them they proclaim 'peace'; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him." (NIV) (Emphasis added)
Alarmed at the ominous prospects for the future Bathsheba becomes Nathan's ally.
Ezekiel 13:17 "Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them 18 and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? 19 You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live. (NIV) (Emphasis added)