Rabbah than here.”
She tried to tell herself that David was busy with matters of state, but jealousy and hurt crept in. Her imagination tormented her . Whom is he holding in his arms tonight? Ahinoam? Abigail? Or had he lost all interest in his wives and concubines? How many other women in this city have looked up at the handsome king strolling along the battlements and yearned to warm his bed? She remembered the girls in the camps, girls exactly like her, who’d gazed at David with adoring eyes and dreamed dreams about him.
David could have anyone he wanted! Even before he was king, women were falling in love with him.
She was stricken with regret and fear as the days passed. If only she had fled to the privacy of her house that day. If only she hadn’t brazenly continued her bath, exposing herself to this endless heartache. She had no one to blame but herself for what she suffered now. She’d gone willingly to David’s bed. She’d told herself love was reason enough to give herself to him. David, her god.
Why hadn’t she thought about the Law before she gave herself to him? He had assured her that no stone would touch her. But what could he do if the priests cried out against her? For if their affair became known, she had no illusions about who would bear the blame. David was a beloved king. She was a powerless woman.
Adultery! She’d committed adultery! How could she have done such a thing after being brought up by her mother, father, and grandfather, who all held to the Law of Moses with such fierce devotion?
If they ever find out, they’ll kill me!
A week passed and then another and another, and she received no summons from the palace, no message, no hint of David’s concern. How easily he had abandoned her!
The time for her monthly show of blood came and went, and terror filled her. After all the years of trying and failing to conceive with Uriah, she was pregnant after one night in David’s arms! Why now? Why under these circumstances? What could she do now?
Had she only imagined the tenderness in David’s touch? Had her hope deceived her into believing she saw love in his eyes? If he loved her, wouldn’t he have summoned her by now? or at the least have sent a message of some kind?
Nothing! He cares nothing about me!
She pressed her hands against her temples. Seven wives and ten concubines! What need had he of her? Would he even care that she was with child as a result of her night with him? In a few months, everyone was going to know she’d committed adultery. Her handmaiden had already guessed she was pregnant—and by whom. Soon her mother would notice the changes in her. Soon every man, woman, and child who laid eyes upon her would guess her secret.
Trembling, she placed her hands on her abdomen. She was torn between terror and exultation. Within her womb was the child of a king—not just any king, but King David, hero of her childhood dreams. David, singer of songs, conqueror of nations! He had been like a god to her.
Anger filled her. She looked up at the wall of his palace where David had stood on that fateful day of her undoing. She’d always thought she would rejoice when she was with child, eagerly anticipating the happy event of bearing a son to her patient, loving husband.
Never in her life had she felt such despair and fear!
Was it the love she’d felt for David all these years that had made the soil fertile enough to accept the seed?
Only the king could protect her from suffering the consequences of their sin.
But would he?
She grieved over David’s silence and was terrified at what Uriah would do to her when he found out how she’d betrayed him. What defense had she? David hadn’t dragged her into the palace kicking and screaming!
She’d never wanted to hurt Uriah. He was a good man, a kind and generous husband. But Uriah’s touch didn’t make her burn. David’s embrace made her soar and melt. Was it so wrong to crave the caresses of a man she’d loved for as
She tried to tell herself that David was busy with matters of state, but jealousy and hurt crept in. Her imagination tormented her . Whom is he holding in his arms tonight? Ahinoam? Abigail? Or had he lost all interest in his wives and concubines? How many other women in this city have looked up at the handsome king strolling along the battlements and yearned to warm his bed? She remembered the girls in the camps, girls exactly like her, who’d gazed at David with adoring eyes and dreamed dreams about him.
David could have anyone he wanted! Even before he was king, women were falling in love with him.
She was stricken with regret and fear as the days passed. If only she had fled to the privacy of her house that day. If only she hadn’t brazenly continued her bath, exposing herself to this endless heartache. She had no one to blame but herself for what she suffered now. She’d gone willingly to David’s bed. She’d told herself love was reason enough to give herself to him. David, her god.
Why hadn’t she thought about the Law before she gave herself to him? He had assured her that no stone would touch her. But what could he do if the priests cried out against her? For if their affair became known, she had no illusions about who would bear the blame. David was a beloved king. She was a powerless woman.
Adultery! She’d committed adultery! How could she have done such a thing after being brought up by her mother, father, and grandfather, who all held to the Law of Moses with such fierce devotion?
If they ever find out, they’ll kill me!
A week passed and then another and another, and she received no summons from the palace, no message, no hint of David’s concern. How easily he had abandoned her!
The time for her monthly show of blood came and went, and terror filled her. After all the years of trying and failing to conceive with Uriah, she was pregnant after one night in David’s arms! Why now? Why under these circumstances? What could she do now?
Had she only imagined the tenderness in David’s touch? Had her hope deceived her into believing she saw love in his eyes? If he loved her, wouldn’t he have summoned her by now? or at the least have sent a message of some kind?
Nothing! He cares nothing about me!
She pressed her hands against her temples. Seven wives and ten concubines! What need had he of her? Would he even care that she was with child as a result of her night with him? In a few months, everyone was going to know she’d committed adultery. Her handmaiden had already guessed she was pregnant—and by whom. Soon her mother would notice the changes in her. Soon every man, woman, and child who laid eyes upon her would guess her secret.
Trembling, she placed her hands on her abdomen. She was torn between terror and exultation. Within her womb was the child of a king—not just any king, but King David, hero of her childhood dreams. David, singer of songs, conqueror of nations! He had been like a god to her.
Anger filled her. She looked up at the wall of his palace where David had stood on that fateful day of her undoing. She’d always thought she would rejoice when she was with child, eagerly anticipating the happy event of bearing a son to her patient, loving husband.
Never in her life had she felt such despair and fear!
Was it the love she’d felt for David all these years that had made the soil fertile enough to accept the seed?
Only the king could protect her from suffering the consequences of their sin.
But would he?
She grieved over David’s silence and was terrified at what Uriah would do to her when he found out how she’d betrayed him. What defense had she? David hadn’t dragged her into the palace kicking and screaming!
She’d never wanted to hurt Uriah. He was a good man, a kind and generous husband. But Uriah’s touch didn’t make her burn. David’s embrace made her soar and melt. Was it so wrong to crave the caresses of a man she’d loved for as
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