(Cont’d. )
David was very happy. He’d heard it said that one could not have everything in life, something would be lacking but they were obviously wrong. With Bathsheba now his wife, he had everything: money, power, respect, children, wives, concubines, and pregnant Bathsheba.
Tightening his hold on Bathsheba’s hands, David said, “It’s good to see you again.”
After he had left, she began to think again. She was now one of the king’s wives. It would take her some time to get used to the privilege, luxury and wealth that came with it.
**********
One day, a messenger came to Bathsheba from her grandfather, Ahithophel. He wanted her to come and see him as soon as possible.
Wondering what was wrong, Bathsheba quickly prepared herself and left. On the way, she thought of how good David had been to her. He had done many things to ensure her comfort and happiness. He was kind and tender at heart. It also seemed that he really like her. His children, especially the males were something else though. They seemed unruly, behaving like children who had no fear of God or their parents.
She had also noticed that David did not rebuke or discipline them. There was a time Adonijah did something bad. She had expected David to rebuke him but he did not. It seemed he did not have much time for the children, and was not involved in their lives. He was a busy man though, she realised, being the king. Their mothers didn’t help much. They spent more time talking and gossiping than teaching and training their children in the right way. When she had children, she would make sure she brought them up in the way of the Lord, and not in the way the children of David walked, she decided. Her children would fear God and respect their parents, she would ensure. She would also teach her children to stay away from polygamy. It was wrong. David was learning the hard way.
Then her mind went to Uriah, and she shook her head sadly. Her joy would have been full now as she had what every woman would desire: comfort, maids, a caring husband and a baby in her womb, … but she was not very happy. People must think her to be an adulteress but she was not. She still regretted the way everything went and the death of Uriah.
She reached Ahithophel’s house, and one look at him told her he was very angry. The good-natured look she was used to seeing on her grandfather wasn’t there.
He didn’t waste time to reveal why he had asked her to come.
“I have been told of what happened between you and King David.”
He knew! Not expecting that question, she didn’t know what to say.
“I heard the story from reliable sources.”
She still wasn’t sure of what to say.
He asked her, “Are you pregnant?”
Pregnant? How did he know?
“Answer me!” He snapped.
“Y-yes.”
“Who is the father?” He demanded.
“My husband.”
“I know it’s your husband but which of them, the dead or the living one?”
She didn’t answer.
Ahithophel got up and walked a little toward the window, with his back to her. He said, “Some people have been talking about it.”
Bathsheba gasped. People have been talking about it! She knew it would happen.
Ahithophel went on, “When I first heard, I didn’t believe it. I thought how could the king do such a thing? Your father, Eliam is one of his thirty men and I am one of his closest advisors. Uriah, your husband was also one of the thirty men fighting on his behalf. Why would he do such a thing? I thought it could not be true.”
He turned abruptly to look at her and pointed a finger, “The king has committed a grave sin! He slept with you … my granddaughter; he defiled you and put you in the family way! He knew you were married, yet did this abominable thing. He will pay for it!”
“Grandfather,”
But he didn’t listen to her as he turned away and said coldly, “King David!” Then smiling in a sad way, he spoke as if David was standing before him, “You have done an abominable thing! You impregnated my grandchild!”
“I didn’t say he impregnated me.”
He turned back and looked at Bathsheba.
She returned his stare.
He walked slowly toward her and said, “Look at me in the face and tell me he is not the father of the child in your womb.”
She looked down.
“Bathsheba,”
“Yes,”
“I said look at me and deny it.”
She couldn’t.
Then he told Bathsheba, “He has done his worst. I won’t say anything to him. You may go.”
She didn’t move.
He added, “This is between us. As I said, I won’t say anything to him but as the Lord liveth, he will regret it.”
There was silence for about a minute. Then he spoke again, “As he defiled you, may his daughters be defiled!” He cursed. “As he has caused me so much pain, may he know pain!”
Bathsheba burst into tears.
(To be continued)
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