(June 20, 2014 at 9:18 pm)Tonus Wrote: It was as I was considering that last part that I realized that Bath-sheba really is just a prop in the story. The foil in this story is Uriah; it is his decision (to show a sort of spiritual solidarity with his brothers on the battlefront) that leads to David going from a man who suffered a moment of weakness to a man who allows his inner demons free rein and brings Yahweh's anger crashing down upon him and his house.No, you have to back up to the beginning. David's downfall comes from his own laziness.
2 Sam 11
1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
It was the time when kings go out to battle, but David didn't. If he had, none of this would have happened.
More regarding rape: note that David was a celebrated warrior, a poet, a musician, and king. Uriah had been away from Bathsheba for some time. Seduction is very reasonable to conclude from the situation.
