The Sanctified 'Adulteress' and her Circumstantial Clause: Bathsheba's Bath and Self-Consecration in 2 Samuel 11

Bathsheba's actions in 2 Sam. 11.2-4 identify crucial aspects of her character. Past commentators interpret these words in connection with menstrual purification, stressing the certain paternity of David's adulterine child. This article demonstrates that the participles rōheset and mitqadd...

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Authors: D'Ror Chankin-Gould, J. (Author) ; Hutchinson, Derek (Author) ; Hilton Jackson, David (Author) ; Mayfield, Tyler D. (Author) ; Schulte, Leah Rediger (Author) ; Schneider, Tammi J. (Author) ; Winkelman, E. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Sage 2008
In: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Year: 2008, Volume: 32, Issue: 3, Pages: 339-352
Further subjects:B Deity
B uncleanness
B Sanctification
B Menstruation
B purity or purification
B Adultery
B David
B Bathsheba
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Summary:Bathsheba's actions in 2 Sam. 11.2-4 identify crucial aspects of her character. Past commentators interpret these words in connection with menstrual purification, stressing the certain paternity of David's adulterine child. This article demonstrates that the participles rōheset and mitqaddesšet and the noun mittum'ātāh do not denote menstrual cleansing. Bathsheba's washing is an innocent bath. She is the only individual human to self-sanctify, placing her in the company of the Israelite deity. The syntax of the verse necessitates that her action of self-sanctifying occurs simultaneously as David lies with her. The three focal terms highlight the important legitimacy of Bathsheba before the Israelite deity, her identity as a non-Israelite, her role as queen mother of the Solomonic line, and her full participation in the narrative.
ISSN:1476-6728
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the Old Testament
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/0309089208090805