Did David rape Bathsheba?

Quick answer

Although David’s relationship with Bathsheba was sinful, the Bible does not describe it as rape.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In 2 Samuel 11, King David commits adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrates the death of her husband to conceal the sin. While some question whether this incident was rape, the text does not provide evidence of nonconsensual sex. This contrasts with the explicit description of rape in the case of Amnon and Tamar in 2 Samuel 13. The Bible's clear identification of Amnon's act as rape suggests it recognizes and condemns nonconsensual sex, implying that David's sin with Bathsheba, though grievous, was consensual. Modern readers must interpret these events within their historical context, avoiding the imposition of contemporary standards on ancient narratives.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

In 2 Samuel 11, we read about King David’s sin against a married woman named Bathsheba. During the season of war, David stayed behind, and one evening while walking on his rooftop, he saw Bathsheba bathing. David lusted after Bathsheba, inquired about her, sent for her, and slept with her. When he found out she was pregnant, he tried to have her own husband sleep with her to conceal the sin. When her husband did not, David had him killed in war. Many wonder if this one-night stand was a rape since we are not told that David lovingly pursued Bathsheba nor are we told if she consented. While it is true that Bathsheba may have felt she had no choice but to obey the king's summons (2 Samuel 11:4), there is no indication that a rape occurred.
We can compare the account of King David and Bathsheba with the events that happened a couple of chapters later when David's son Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13). The Bible explicitly described Amnon’s act as rape (2 Samuel 13:14), but it did not describe David's adulterous relationship with Bathsheba as rape. Since the Bible so clearly identified Amnon's act as rape, we know it acknowledges nonconsensual sex as rape. David's adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband were grievous sins, and God punished him greatly for it (2 Samuel 11:1—12:25). However, since the Bible in no way implies that David and Bathsheba's affair was nonconsensual, we can conclude that it was not rape.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

The incident with David and Bathsheba is not explicitly mentioned in the New Testament. However, Matthew 1:6 says that "David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah." Solomon was born to David and Bathsheba after the death of the child conceived in the initial incident; this means Bathsheba was part of Jesus' lineage through His legal father Joseph.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Any time we read a factual event in the Bible, we must always read it in light of its original context. We run into error when we superimpose twenty-first century, western standards over ancient Middle Eastern culture. In that day, it may have been unthinkable for a person to ignore or disobey a king's summons, but it may also be true that Bathsheba went willingly, considering it an honor to be desired by the king. So while it is true that we are uncertain how willingly Bathsheba obeyed the king's summons (2 Samuel 11:4), there is no indication that a rape occurred. We must let God’s Word speak for itself, understanding it in the context of when it was written as well as in context of the rest of His Word.

UNDERSTAND

David’s sin with Bathsheba was grievous and had consequences.
David’s sin with Bathsheba is not described as rape although David’s son’s sin against Tamar was.
It cannot be said that David raped Bathsheba.

REFLECT

How do I approach reading and interpreting challenging or controversial passages in the Bible?
In what ways do I ensure that I am considering the historical and cultural context when studying biblical events?
How does understanding the difference between consensual and nonconsensual actions in the Bible influence my perception of justice and morality in my own life?

ENGAGE

What do we learn about God in the way that He calls out and differentiates sin?
In what ways can modern readers avoid imposing contemporary moral standards on ancient biblical events, and how does this impact our understanding of biblical teachings?
Some are concerned that Bathsheba had no voice in this interaction. However, silence in the text does not necessitate non-consent. Further, God’s calling some things rape and not calling this act the same reveals that what David did was not considered rape, although it was considered a grievous sin.