YEARS LATER
David woke up from his sleep. There was light that still streamed through into his room, although it was weak. It had to be early evening. He remembered what the envoy had told him earlier and smiled. He may not have been at the war, but the hand of God was still with Israel.
He got up and had his clothes put on, and then he elected to stretch his legs. The servants waited inside while he took a stroll along his roof. On one side, he could see the mountains and the ridge line, forming a marvelous natural work of art. On the other side, he could see the houses of some of his subjects. The compounds were empty, and there really wasn’t much to see.
He was about to look away when something caught his eye. One of the houses he could see had a bathing pool outside, and there seemed to be someone in it. He stopped and took a closer look, and what he saw had him completely mesmerized.
It was a woman, an outrageously gorgeous woman, and she was just freely enjoying her bath.
David stared for a while, transfixed by her beauty, and his lust for her began to form. He called for one of the servants.
“Find out who that woman is for me.”
The servant eagerly responded. “Your Majesty, she is Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, wife of Uriah the Hittite.”
David was hearing the words the man spoke, but they were not registering in his head.
That woman had him in a chokehold, and he just had to have her.
******
YEARS AGO
Weeks after his first major error, Saul was in Gibeah when his armor bearer came to him.
“Your Majesty, the prophet Samuel is here to see you.”
While he wasn’t necessarily enthused, Saul couldn’t turn him down.
“Send him in.”
A few minutes passed before Samuel stood before him. Samuel bowed.
“Your Majesty, may you live long.”
“What sayeth the Lord, prophet?”
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
“As the Lord wills, prophet. May His name be exalted forever.”
Samuel nodded and sent for his commander.
******
YEARS LATER
“Your Highness, behold, the messengers have arrived with the woman.”
“Excellent. Bring her to the upper chamber, and dismiss the messengers back to their regular duties.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
While the servant left to bring the woman to David, he took off his cloak and stood beside his bed. Within a few minutes, the servant returned with the woman.
“Your Highness, the woman you asked to see.”
The servant gently closed the door behind him, leaving David and the woman alone. The woman bowed before David.
“Your Highness, may you live forever. I am but a humble subject to your rule. I was tending to my husband’s home when your messengers came with news regarding your summons. Here I am, Your Highness. I am at your service.”
David examined her as she spoke, struck by just how stunning she was. From afar, she’d looked beautiful but in person, she looked like the radiance of heaven. She was perfect and she was irresistible. Before she was done speaking, David had long made the decision to have her.
“Lift up your head, young maiden, for you have found favor in the sight of the king.”
He began to walk around her as he spoke, like a predator sizing up his prey.
“I was taking a stroll on the roof, tired from the activities of my day, when my eyes caught sight of you. I was awestruck by your beauty and captivated by your radiance. Tell me, fair maiden, what is your name?”
The woman, both flattered and nervous, replied, “I am Bathsheba, Your Highness, wife of Uriah the Hittite, mighty man of Israel.”
David took her hand. “Bathsheba. Wife of one of my mighty men.”
He kissed her hand, then he took the other hand. She was slightly shaking, which amused him. He kissed that hand, and then he gently held her arms, as if to steady her as he looked deep into her eyes.
“Why are you shaken, young maiden?”
Bathsheba smiled shyly. “I am nervous at your touch, Your Highness.”
“Fear not, Bathsheba, for I will be gentle with you. You have me spellbound beyond belief, and I simply must have you.”
Bathsheba knew that she was in no position to resist him. This was the era of the King’s Decree; anything he wanted was his, anything at all. She began to undo her robe but he held her hand.
“Let me.”
******
YEARS AGO
Saul stood before the men at Telaim in his garment of war, with his armor bearer at his side.
“The prophet Samuel came to me with a word from the Lord. It is time to finally vanquish the Amalekites.”
The men cheered. Anyone who had been around long enough knew exactly how much of a menace the city of Amalek had been for generations. Each man in that crowd either had a personals story, or a story from their fathers and forefathers of the atrocities of the Amalekites against Israel.
“Now, this is how we will defeat them. My commander tells me that there are two hundred thousand foot soldiers here, and ten thousand men from Judah. We will set an ambush in the ravine at Amalek, and we will attack them from Havilah to Shur. The Lord assures us of victory, so fear no one. Attack with all bravery and courage!”
The men cheered once again. Once it had died down, Saul continued.
“Spare no living creature. Neither man nor beast must remain alive at the end of this conquest. The Lord commands it. Now, gird yourselves for the battle. Take whatever you need and be ready to go in a matter of hours.”
The men began to check their gear and sharpen their swords. Saul called his commander and three of the men aside. He addressed the men first.
“Send word to the Kenites saying, ‘This is the word of Saul, King of Israel. Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them. For you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.’ Be sure to return only when they have moved away, for that will be the sign for the men of Israel to commence the onslaught.”
The men bowed and left. Then he spoke to the commander.
“Leave their king for me.”
Sigh, David wasted no time satisfying his lust, did he? And surely Saul’s sticking to the order from God, right?
