Essay of Bible Women: Bathsheba

The main story I read that really caught my attention was the Bible Women: Bathsheba. In this story, the main character is a female who has an affaire on her husband with King David. It is a bit surprising to consider this a woman role since she did something that people look down upon. But regardless of her actions, Bathsheba was a woman figure. In the story, Bathsheba’s husband had been away to war for a year and she missed having someone around to love her. When the King saw her bathing on the roof one day, he had someone go and fetch Bathsheba to bring her back to the castle. It does not say in the story, however, how voluntary she was to the affair. Not saying she was forced, but times were different back then and having the King ask for you specifically and wanting to have relations is probably hard to say no to. Also, the fact that after she found out her husband had died she was really torn up about it, which makes me think that she wasn’t ever over her husband.

Another theme that is showed by the King is being inspirational and modeling to what not to be.  He not only called this female to have an affaire with him but he also sent her husband to the front lines in the battle so he would die and that the two could marry because he got her pregnant. Since this is in the bible, this is showing morals about marriage and death. It is taboo for one to cheat on their spouses and it is also looked extremely down upon and very illegal to murder someone. As the story continued onto another story it adds that the lord was upset with the King’s actions.

Bathsheba

Week 3 Storytelling: A Woman in Waiting

Her eyes peered out the glass window staring into another lonely sunset. Her hand cupped under her chin while her elbow rested on the counter below her to balance her head as she let out a subtle sigh, “are you ever coming back?” It had been about a year since the woman, Bathsheba, saw her husband because he was fighting in a war. The pain of solitary grew within her every day her husband, Uriah, was gone because she missed him terribly. But as months went on without his presence, she would almost forget about him.

One evening, Bathsheba decided to take a bath on top of her roof. She was completely nude, thinking that her vulnerability was safe with only nature watching her. Yet, she began to feel someone watching her as she washed her pale skin. Without moving her head, her eyes peered down to the castle beside her and saw someone in the window. At first she was startled but then she began to feel flattered that someone was taking interest in her.

Bathsheba finished washing her body then went back in her home to put her clothes on.  Then she heard a loud knock on the door and thought to herself, “who could that be,” she mumbled to herself. Opening the door, there was a large man asking for her to come with her to the King. Confused by the request, she followed to the man to the castle until she was alone with the King in his room.

“I called you here because I saw you on the roof,” stated the king.

Bathsheba curtsied and kept her head down from her embarrassment, “I apologize King David, I should have moved away when I saw someone looking.”

As she spoke, the man moved closer to her and placed his finger under her chin to lift her head so her eyes would look into his. “Apologize? You are the most beautiful woman I ever laid my eyes on.” A soft smile curled on his lips.

Hearing his reply caused the woman’s heart to skip a beat. No one had given attention to Bathsheba in any way like that. Just knowing someone looked upon her naked body in such admiration made her cheeks turn red and lead her to have an affair.

Days go by and Bathsheba and the king continue to have an intimate relationship. They even took long walks together, talked for hours, laughed and shared secrets they didn’t tell anyone else. Bathsheba even began to forget about Uriah especially when she became pregnant. She had never been so happy before, not even when Uriah was with her. So when the king proposed to Bathsheba, she immediately said yes. Even though Bathsheba didn’t know when Uriah would come, she knew that David was the one she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. So even if Uriah came home, Bathsheba and the king decided to that they would explain their love for each other and apologize. She had finally moved on from the year of solitude to a lifetime of happiness.

Waiting

Authors note:  This is my version of the story in the Bible Women: Bathsheba from the King James Bible (1611): 2 Samuel 11. I kept the original story but it is in the perspective of Bathsheba. In the original story it the King saw Bathsheba bathing while her husband was in the war and they have an affair and she gets pregnant. The part I didn't add was when the King tired to get the husband back home to think it was his baby and he told the King he wanted to keep fighting. The King then told his general to put the husband in the front lines to die so he could marry Bathsheba. While I read the story, I thought it would be interesting to see what Bathsheba was thinking and what made her sleep with the King. 

Reading Diary B: Bible Women Bathsheba

I chose the story from Bible Women: Bathsheba because I really want to write a storytelling about it. I can vividly imagine this story because the main points of this story can be related in media like soap operas. A woman named Bathsheba was married to a man named Uriah who had been in war for more than a year. One afternoon, Bathsheba was bathing on top of her roof when the King David saw her. Because he found this woman exceptionally beautiful, he knew he had to have her. David had his servants bring the woman to his place and have an affair. After that, Bathsheba became pregnant. David tried to get Uriah back from war to stay at home with his wife so he could think that he was the father of the child rather than David. But Uriah did not want to go home and wanted to continue fighting. Because of this, David had to change his plans for the worst. He gave a letter to Uriah to give to Joab, the general of David’s army, which said to put Uriah on the front lines of a tough battle. He did as he was told and when the battle happened, Uriah died. Bathsheba was told the news and mourned for her husband and then she married David. 

Bathing

Reading Diary A: Bible Women: Hannah

I chose the story in the Biblical Traditions of Bible Women: Hannah because this was a story I have not heard of. There was a man named Elkanah who lived in Ramathaim-zophim who had two wives named Peninnah and Hannah. Even though they all worshiped the lord, Peninnah bore many children but Hannah had non. This left Hannah upset and depressed. To add onto her pain, Peninnah would rub it in her face that she had so many children. I think Peninnah was jealous because Elkanah loved Hannah more. After so much grief, Hannah prays to the lord and promises if she was able to give birth, she would raise the child to be a man of god. Eli, the priest, thinks she is drunk from her request but she stands her ground and tells him she is sincere. One day Hannah finally bore a child named Samuel. To fulfill her promise, she takes her son to be raised by persists at Shiloh and still goes and visits him. This story is about never loosing hope because the lord is always listening even when people don’t see it.

Mother and Son

Topics of Week 2

Title: Wolfs & Foxes

Comments: My whole life, I have loved all types of animals and feel a strong connection with them. Out of the animal kingdom, the two that always strike me are wolfs and foxes. Foxes are my favorite animals but I also love the look of wolfs as well as their mysteriousness and protectiveness  

Possible Stories: Since Wolfs are very acknowledgeable animals for centuries, I know I will find many from different cultures but I don’t know if it will be as easy to find stories about foxes. Looking online, I was able to find tons of stories on wolfs and even found one so that both animals are in the story.

Sample Story: I chose the story the Wolf and the Fox for many reasons and one being the title. But the story is also compelling. When I talk to people about animals, people say that wolfs tend to be wise and held in such a high standard. But foxes get little credit. Because foxes get little credit, I am glad that this fox was acknowledged for his keenness and slyness. Therefore, the fox is the wise one.

Bibliography information:  

Sample Story: The Wolf and The Fox 

Book Title: Household Tales

Book Author: Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm

Year: 1812

Title: The Hang Man

Comments: A big passion of mine is horror movies as well as stories. Ironically, I am a huge chicken but scary stories, movies or documentaries are my guilty pleasure. I can’t get enough of them!

Possible Stories: Since I am a huge fan in this genre, I know that there are tons of options to choose from.  

Sample Story: I was able to find a story from one of the links provided in the instructions. It is a true story that just leaves the reader’s skin crawling! A robber was shot in 1911 and from then till 1977 his dead corpse was used in many attractions around the world

Bibliography information:

Sample Story: Cowboy Outlaw 

Book Title: Tells The Story

Book Author: Brian Dewan

Year: 1993

Title: Native American

Comments: Another interest of mine is Native American culture. I love listening to chants from different tribes while I meditate or just to listen to it while I am studying. I would like to learn more about their folklore and culture as well.

Possible Stories: While knowing some about the culture, I know that Native Americans have many tales that have told for centuries. With that knowledge, I know I can find something of interest.

Sample Story: I found a story about a coyote and a bear, which are very famous animals in Native American stories. The coyote and bear work together with crops and fishing but the wise bear just makes a fool out of the gullible coyote.

Bibliography information: 

Sample Story: The Coyote and the Bear 

Book Title: Pueblo Indian Folk-Stories   

Book Author: Charles F. Lummis  

Year: 1910

Title: Lions

Comments: At home, I have two cats of my own that I treat like my babies. Even though I have love for both dogs and cats, cats are my favorite since they seem wise and independent. I feel like lions are just big jungle cats, so I really like them.

Possible Stories: There are plenty of stories about lions in legends and myths but I have yet to really look into it. I just recently became interested in Lions from a friend of mine.

Sample Story: The story is about a woman who stole a cup from a rabbit. After the lion heard this, he hunted the woman and killed her but left her skin. Thus, the lion wore the skin and went back to her village. Once the villagers found out, they set the lion on fire and regrew the woman from the heart.

Bibliography information: 

Sample Story: Lion Who Took Woman’s Shape 

Book Title: South African Folk-Tales

Book Author: James Honey

Year: 1910