Women of the Bible Michal, Abigail, Bathsheba Pastor Ritva Williams April 2016 RECAP 1850-1700 BCE: The Era of the Matriarchs (and Patriarchs) of Israel and her neighbors — Sarah & Hagar, Rebekah, Rachel & Leah, Bilhah & Zilpah, Dinah & Tamar. 1300-1250 BCE: the approximate date of the Exodus from Egypt. 1250-1210 BCE: Joshua leads the Israelites into the promised land of Canaan. Rahab (the innkeeper/harlot) played a major role in the destruction of the ancient city of Jericho. 1208 BCE: Pharaoh Merneptah who ruled Egypt from 1213-1203 BCE, names “Israel” as a people in the land of Canaan, whose grain stores his army has destroyed. 1200-1000 BCE: The Era of the Judges (shoftim) — in the absence of any centralized government, the Israelites form a confederation of tribes. In times of crisis, ad-hoc chieftains emerge to arbitrate disputes and provide military leadership, e.g. Deborah the Prophet. The book of Judges highlights the chaos and lawlessness of the times, e.g. Jephthah’s Daughter, Delilah. The last “judge” of Israel, the prophet Samuel, proved to be a wise and just leader, but his sons took bribes and perverted justice. The people demanded “a king to govern us, like other nations” (1 Samuel 8:1-5). Samuel eventually anointed Saul as the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 9:27-10:8). Later when Saul proved to be unreliable, Samuel anointed David (1 Samuel 16).

David was the youngest son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth (the Moabite). Boaz was the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah and Tamar. David was born ~ 1040 BCE. He was anointed by Samuel he was still a youth, tending his father’s sheep. He came to King Saul’s attention (1) as a musician, and (2) by accepting Goliath’s challenge to one-on-one combat. When King Saul was afflicted by a spirit of melancholy, David was summoned to provide music therapy. While Saul’s son Jonathan, became David’s best friend, Saul grew increasingly envious of David’s military successes and tries to kill him (1 Samuel 16-18).

1 READ 1 SAMUEL 18:17-30 & 19:8-17 What do you think motivates Saul to offer Merab in marriage to David? Why does he change his mind? What is the bride price that Saul demands in exchange for Michal? Is Saul pleased to have David as a son-in-law? Why or why not? How does Michal show her love and loyalty to David? How do you think her father responded? READ 1 SAMUEL 25:2-42 What is David requesting of Nabal? How does Nabal react? What is David’s response? Who saves the day? How? How does David interpret the circumstances of Nabal’s death? What happens to Nabal’s wife, Abigail? What about Michal? Saul eventually attempted a reconciliation with David, but David did not trust him and fled Israel, entering the service of the king of the Philistine city of Gath. When the other Philistine lords doubted David’s loyalty, he retreated to his stronghold at Ziklag only to find it burned down and his family taken captive. While David was rescuing them, the Philistines attacked Israel, killing Saul and Jonathan (1 Samuel 26-31). David was anointed King of Judah at Hebron (~1010 BCE). Seven years later, at the age of 30, he was anointed king of all Israel (~1003 BCE). He made Jerusalem his capital city, and brought the ark of the covenant into the city (2 Samuel 1-6). READ 2 SAMUEL 3:12-16; 6:16-23 Why does David ask for the return of Michal? How does their story end? READ 2 SAMUEL 11:1-12:25; 1 KINGS 1:11-31; 2:10-25 Who is Bathsheba? How does she come to David’s notice? What happens? How does David attempt to fix the situation he has created? How does it all play out? Do you think the death of David and Bathsheba’s baby was punishment for their sin? Why or why not? How would we describe Bathsheba’s place in the royal family based on the stories from 1 Kings?

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