Women of the Bible: Character Study: Bathsheba: The Innocent Victim

When it comes to the Biblical account of BATHSHEBA, two questions should be asked: 

• Was it her fault that the king lusted in his heart for her?
• Was she responsible for her husband’s death?

Image credit:  Bathsheba Art

The Hebrew meaning of Bath Shebha is “seventh daughter” or “daughter of the oath”. Bathsheba was the mother of King Solomon. She was the wife of Uriah the Hittite who David had murdered to cover up his act of adultery with her. Bathsheba became pregnant by King David while her husband was away at war. The child that was conceived through that adulterous union died. David later made Bathsheba his lawful wife and she gave birth to Solomon, the last king to rule over a united Israel. After Solomon’s death, 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel revolted against the rule of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, and the kingdom was divided.

Throughout the years, many have debated whether Bathsheba was as guilty of adultery as King David. Was she deliberately bathing outdoors knowing that the king could see her from his balcony? When he summoned her, even though he was king, could she not have refused him? Could she not have pleaded with him not to defile her? Why didn’t she prick the king’s conscience and remind him that her husband was an honorable man and loyal to the king and not deserving of such treachery? Instead of sending word to the king that she was pregnant by him, why not send word to her husband that while he was away and she was all alone, the king violated her and now she was with child? Had she done any of those things the biblical account would clearly show who the guilty party was and Bathsheba’s biography would read differently. Some conclude Bathsheba is just as guilty as King David of committing adultery.

It should be noted that the scriptural account does not indicate that Bathsheba objected to being taken by King David. The scriptures also do not indicate that she DID indeed object but was taken against her will. What the bible story does reveal is that Nathan the prophet went directly to King David and accused him of the sin!!! Evidently, the God of King David had no problem figuring out who the guilty party was. And the prophet serving that God had no problem telling the king that his God was not pleased with his behavior. And the scriptures are clear to show David was the one punished, not Bathsheba.

Nathan compared Bathsheba to “a little ewe lamb”. She was taken and violated. Her husband was murdered. She bore an innocent child and lost the child. Defilement and grief on top of grief: she was an innocent who was wronged and hurt. How do we know this? Because the scripture says after all of this happened, David made her his legitimate wife and “comforted her”. I suppose it was the least he could do. Read all of her story and tread carefully before maligning the character of a decent and honorable woman. David paid the price for his sin.

• Bible References: BATHSHEBA – 2 SAM 11: 3; 12: 24; 1 KINGS 1:15, 28, 31; 2:13

Bathsheba: A Novel (The Wives of King David)

Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter

Women of the Bible: Tamar - The Noble Harlot

In the History of the Jews, Tamar was a dutiful widow who played the harlot.  The genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew mentions five women. One of them is Tamar.

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(Image credit: Gelder, Aert de - Tamar and Judah; Public Domain)

Tamar (alternately spelled Thamar) was the wife of Er, the firstborn of Judah, who was the fourth son of Jacob. Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham. Jacob fathered twelve sons who became the twelve tribes which comprise the nation of Israel. Er died and according to the Law of Moses regarding marriage, a man was required to marry the widow of his brother, if the brother dies with no male heir. (Note 1) This was to be done to preserve the name and estate of the deceased. Therefore, Onan, Ers brother married Tamar. But Onan also died. 

Judah, the father-in-law had a third son, Shelah. At the time of Onans death, Shelah was too young to marry. Being fully aware of the law and its requirements, Judah promised Tamar that when Shelah was old enough, he would give her to him in marriage. But when the time came, Judah did not honor his word and obey the law. In desperation to conceive a son who would preserve her late husbands name and estate, Tamar disguised herself as a harlot (a prostitute) and offered her services to Judah. She became pregnant with twin sons. Months later, when Judah was informed of Tamars pregnancy, he demanded that she brought out publicly and put to death; the penalty for whoredom. IT WAS THE LAW!!! 

When Tamar proved that Judah, her father-in-law, was the father of her unborn, Judah publicly acknowledged his own guilt. Because he had not allowed Shelah to marry Tamar, he was the outlaw. Tamar was fully vindicated. She had obeyed the law and was judged as not having committed any act deserving of punishment; particularly punishment by death. Tamar was acknowledged as being righteous, because she was determined to preserve her late husbands family line. The names of the twin sons were Perez (or Phares) and Zerah (or Zara) recorded in the Gospel of Matthew as follows: And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar (Matt 1: 3) 

Tamar understood her duty, and she also knew her rights and the rights of the dead. The scriptures do not indicate that she conspired or consulted with anyone for advice. She determined what needed to be done in order to right a wrong and had the courage to follow through. 

Note 1: Among the Hebrews marriage with a brother's widow was forbidden as a general rule (Lev. xviii. 16, xx. 21), but was regarded as obligatory (Deut. xxv. 56) when there was no male issue, and when the two brothers had been dwelling on the same family. 


References:

• The scriptural references provided can be used to piece together Tamar's real life story. GEN 38: 6, 24; RUTH 4: 12; 1 CHRON 2: 4; MATT 1: 3

• "Seekers of the Promised Land." Great People of the Bible and How They Lived. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest Association, 1974.

• Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995. 

glitter-graphics.com

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A Few Bio Facts About the Blog Publisher

Hello! Welcome!  It's another new year.  Thank you for visiting and reading my blog. Perhaps you might want to know a little more about the blog publisher, so I'll share a few biofacts.

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and left my childhood home in 1986 because of a job opportunity and have never been back. The likelihood of me ever getting a chance to revisit my place of birth is slim and none! More none than slim. So I decided to take a trip down memory lane via Google images.

I tried to find my childhood home. Sadly, the house I grew up is was torn down and the land it stood on was turned into a parking lot. That house wasn’t exactly paradise. But I never dreamed it would become a parking lot.

Next, I searched for the school that I attended 5th grade to 8th grade (from 8 years old to 12 years old). I found a very clear picture of the church building which is right next to the school. It was a Catholic school and mass attendance was required. It was also the building was where my 8th-grade graduation ceremony took place.

Incredible! The building looks exactly the same. Proof of life! Proof of MY life.

Looking at the photograph gives me a warm fuzzy feeling.

( Image source: miamiarch.org - Holy Redeemer Catholic School, Miami, Florida )

Content previously published at Virily.com

Interesting People: Anousheh Ansari

Anousheh Ansari was born September 12, 1966, Mashhad, Iran. Her life story could be titled: Dots on the Map from Iran to Texas to Space. She displayed both the American and Iranian flags on the sleeve of her spacesuit.

Anousheh Ansari’s family is originally from Iran but they transplanted themselves in America after the Islamic Revolution; and guess where they chose to settle? Yup! Texas!

She had a childhood dream. Going into space.

Did she realize that dream? Yes she did!

Did she have to overcome prejudices and obstacles? Uuuhhh … hmmm?

A female, an American of Iranian descent who wanted to display both the American and Iranian flags on the sleeve of her spacesuit.

Was she insane? NO! She was a dreamer and her dreams came true!

Anouseh Ansari’s story is your typical American success story. Or at least, all of US would like to believe that her story is “typical” because it feels good to be able to boast to others that this kind of dream realization happens only in America. Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s “Hardball” likes to call these kinds of typical fairy tales “American exceptionalism”.

• Books Worth Reading: “My Dream of Stars: From Daughter of Iran to Space Pioneer” by Anousheh Ansari and Homer Hickam

I was lucky. So many didn’t get a chance to live their life to their full potential https://t.co/jJYiIcqwUD

— Anousheh Ansari (@AnoushehAnsari) September 26, 2022

Famous Poets: Spotlight on Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks (1917 - 2000)

"I am a writer perhaps because I am not a talker."  

- -  Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 - 2000) 

A biography snapshot of African-American poet, Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks (Jun 7, 1917 - Dec 3, 2000). 

Continue reading:

Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks: Famous African-American Poet - 100Springs.com

Renowned Poet Gwendolyn Brooks, May 1968 - Photo by Howard Simmons

* * * *

#OTD
Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks (June 7, 1917 – December 3, 2000) was an American poet, author, and teacher. #WIU pic.twitter.com/Ve8UEwjHPr

— Gwendolyn Brooks Culture Center (@WIU_GBCC) June 7, 2019

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May 5, 1950 Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her book “Annie Allen.” She was the first AA to receive the prize. Brooks biography, “A Life of Gwendolyn Brooks,” was published in 1990. See: https://t.co/LC0E1lEjm2#OnThisDayInBlackHistory pic.twitter.com/sVlNhcefCG

— Thabiti Anyabwile (@ThabitiAnyabwil) May 5, 2019

Do You Dare Go Dowsing for Graves?

Gravestones are fascinating historical markers.  But not all graves are marked.  The history of those buried is lost.  Or not!

“Some people use the term “dowsing” while others use “divining” or “witching”. All three terms mean the same thing.”  Some say dowsing is pseudoscience and does not work.  Nevertheless people earnestly dowse for graves in certain areas where bodies are believed to be, but the burial spot or final resting place has become lost because they are unmarked. Volunteers for history societies often dowse for graves; and there are others who have their reasons.  Very interesting.

• Read more: Old Cemeteries and Grave Dowsing | Wizzley.com

+++
If you like reading articles like the one referenced above you will love this book!

Funerals to Die For:The Craziest, Creepiest, and Most BizarreFuneral Traditions and Practices Ever

Funerals to Die For: The Craziest, Creepiest, and Most Bizarre Funeral #Traditions and Practices Ever by Benjamin, Kathy ~ https://t.co/qaLvkFZRv3 via @amazon #books #ebooks #reading #readinglist #readingcommunity @goshoppingbees pic.twitter.com/bTdw46kMzn

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) October 4, 2021

Character Study: Bible Women | Mary: Full of Grace

MARY
The mother of Jesus. No one disputes this.

Almost everyone in a predominantly Christian society knows the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. When Mary is introduced in the Christian scriptures, she is living in Nazareth in Galilee and she is betrothed to be married to a man named Joseph, who discovers that she is pregnant. Knowing that child could not possibly be his child, Joseph agonizes over what to do about Mary. Under Jewish law, he has two options. Option 1: Shame Mary publicly and have her stoned for infidelity. Option 2: Put Mary away quietly. The scriptures state that an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him not to fear taking Mary as his wife. She had committed no sin and the child that she was carrying was the result of a miracle and the fulfillment of a prophecy that “a virgin would conceive and bring forth a son who would be named Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us’.” 

Mary and Jesus - Image Credit: Paint According To The Number Set Paint Diy Children and Adult Oil Painting, Virgin Mary Jesus 

Some non-Christian sources say that Jesus was a bastard, an illegitimate child, the result of an unlawful union between Mary and someone other than her lawful husband. There is an ongoing debate as to whether the Qu’ran (Koran) states that Mary was a virgin who conceived and gave birth to Jesus, having never had sexual contact in any way with any man OR whether she was a virgin at the time the angel visited her and told her she would have a child.

Whether or not Christian and non-Christian sources agree Mary is the 5th woman mentioned by Matthew in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

• Bible References: MARY – MATT 1: 16, 18, 20; 2: 11; 13: 55; MK 6: 3; LK 1: 27, 30, 41, 56; 2: 5, 16, 19

A Lineage of Grace:Five Stories of Unlikely Women Who Changed Eternity

Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter

The JFK - James Bond Link (and Other Interesting Bond Trivia)

Sharing links of interest I discovered while researching to publish my article for HUBPages.com:

My List of the Best James Bond Theme Songs

JFK's recommendation may have helped sell the James Bond books to America - Did you know that the late former President John F. Kennedy's endorsement of one of Ian Fleming's books promoted the popularity of James Bond films in the American market and helped propel 007 into becoming a worldwide phenomenon?

James Bond books by Ian Fleming Info on the James Bond books by Ian Fleming, including 12 novels and 2 books of short stories.

How James Bond and Steve Jobs changed our world - Economic Times By Bennett Voyles "...October marks two anniversaries that matter a lot to the tech world's collective unconscious: the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film series, and the first anniversary of Steve Jobs' death. ..."

The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum Octopussy (1983), one of seven Bond movies starring Roger Moore, remains the only one in the series to be filmed in India. Parts of it were shot in Rajasthan, with Vijay Amritraj playing a cameo. In the case of Skyfall, complications pertaining to securing permission to shoot on a running train on the Konkan Railway reportedly forced the crew to look elsewhere. The latest Bond movie was eventually filmed in Shanghai, Istanbul and the Scottish Highlands. ...

The 10 Coolest Gadgets in 50 Years of James Bond For 50 years, James Bond has been the master of international intrigue and had some truly great gadgets along the way.

'Skyfall' Star, Naomie Harris Talks New Role And Idris Elba Becoming The First Black Bond Having the opportunity to co-star beside a suave British intelligence agent such as James Bond, requires a lot of skill and technique. According to 36-year-old actress Naomie Harris, prepping for her starring role in, Skyfall, proved to be more strenuous than she originally expected.

Facebook Fan Page: Idris Elba for James Bond. We Want Idris Elba for James Bond. As of Oct 2012 - over 20,000 likes; with almost 4,000 people talking about this.

Biggest Bond Bloopers A collection of bloopers at moviemistakes.com. Highlights the biggest Bond bloopers from all 22 Bond movies (there are over 1,000 mistakes across the entire series!).

Kennedy: A Cultural History of an American Icon 

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Related articles:

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● Irresistible Trivia About James Bond Novels - Treathyl Fox - Medium

● After that, Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, wrote a book a year. This brilliant writer died of a heart attack in 1964. That's a little over ten years!! ● It is not often that I come across...

First published 11/3/14, 9:49 PM CST

When is the new #JamesBond film released? What’s the title, who is in the cast, and is it #DanielCraig’s last movie as 007? https://t.co/5x1wZnJ7jf via @flipboard #entertainment #moviesmusicandbooks #Bond #Bond25 @RadioTimes

— Treathyl Fox (@cmoneyspinner) July 27, 2019

An Aston Martin DB5 as seen in Goldfinger. 

Expensive items are often part of a glamorous lifestyle.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Quotes and Notes : Philosophy : Confucius Wisdom and Quotes

According to the famous Roman orator and lawyer Cicero:

"There is nothing so absurd that it has not been said by some philosopher." (Yawn.)

The yawn may or may not have been included when he made that comment. But Rome was loaded with philosophers and they had a habit of congregating on Mars Hill daily and just ... babbling. Meanwhile, on another part of planet earth ...

To contrast with a teacher from the Far East:

"3 methods to learn wisdom: by reflection, which is noblest; by imitation, which is easiest; and by experience, which is the bitterest."

Words of wisdom from one who probably lived his life as a simple common ordinary man, but who is today acknowledged by many around the world as one the world's most sensible common sense philosophers. When it comes to Confucianism, many would insist that Cicero's quote does not apply.


A brief bio-snapshot:

- Life span: About 70 years (c. 551 B.C - c. 479 B.C.)

- Born and buried in Chu-foo (or Qufu or Lu).

- Served as Public Administrator for 15 years (532 B.C. - 517 B.C.); afterward, he studied and taught the Chinese classics, and spread his philosophy.

- His sayings were published posthumously as the "Analects of Confucius".

- The Prince of Lu consecrated his home as a temple, two years after he died.

Do You Admire the Wisdom of Confucius?

I do. ☺

To practice 5 things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue: gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.  ~ Confucius

Image credit: Confucius Statue in Bejing, China (Wikimedia Commons)

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Asian-American Legend ~ Bruce Lee (Nov 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973)

God bless the Internet and especially social networks, bloggers, and online writing communities. So there’s this really cool guy – Nathan Bernardo, aka NateB11 – and he is a loyal and devoted martial arts disciple. He knows a lot about MA and writes articles on the topic. Of course, in America, we know that the reason we know about kung fu, karate, and all that stuff is because the one and only Bruce Lee told US it exists and proved it by teaching US how it’s done! 

Bruce Lee departed this world in 1973 leaving behind a legion of adoring fans, some of whom would give birth to future admirers.  Legion!  Some of his fans – like my kids – hadn’t even been born yet!!  To this day, whenever information is published about this legendary martial artist, people just can’t resist taking a peek, to see if it reveals anything more about Mr. Lee that we did not know.

Check out this HUB by NateB311.

16 Interesting Facts About Bruce Lee

* * *

 

“If you truly love life, don't waste time …” by Eduardo Tuma

https://www.flickr.com/photos/eduardotuma/

Bruce Lee – The Evolution of A Master Art Legend by Advance Martial Arts

https://www.flickr.com/photos/advancemartialartsconnect/

http://www.advancemartialartsconnect.com/find-a-school

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• Bruce Lee Estate Sues to Block 'Ip Man 3′ Producers From Recreating the Dragon
• 
  

* *  SIDE NOTE – Home and Garden Design Tip:
If you have ever seen the popular film “Enter the Dragon” starring Bruce Lee, then you probably remember the scene where the old British gentleman meets with Mr. Lee in a garden to discuss recruiting him for a mission to catch a bad guy.  Did you know that the design of the garden where they had the meeting was based on principles of feng shui?

Book Recommendation : Women in History : Razia Sultana of India (Reblog)

EXCERPT:  " ...Razia ascended the throne of Delhi at the age of 31. During her four-year reign from 1236, silver coins issued in her name bore her official title "Jalauddin" but she referred to herself as "lmadatun Niwan", which meant the Great Woman. Razia Sultana dressed like a man and rode an elephant through Delhi with her face unveiled....

Legends surrounding Razia have made her popular in Indian culture; the 1983 Urdu film Razia Sultan is a fictionalized account of her life, as is Rafiq Zakaria's novel, Razia: Queen "

Women Who Ruled: Razia Sultana of India 

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

**COMMENT: If you want to learn about women in history, this is the best blog ever!! Not only is it visually attractive and appealing, but the posts - so informative, intriguing and fascinating - will never disappoint you.

Book below not mentioned at the blog post, but suggested if interested in other women like Razia, the Queen of India.  It's a picture book suggested for ages 5 and up.  I'm older than 5 which puts me in the "and up" group of readers.  Picture books are wonderful quick reads and are just like a primer on a particular topic.  They usually have great illustrations and the non-fiction books present the info like a quick summary.  It whets your appetite and if you choose to do further research, you can search for books in the Juvenile/Young Adults section of the library for a more mature advanced reading level.
 

Extraordinary Women from the Muslim World

 

Ancient History | Military Leaders | Alexander the Great

“My father will get ahead of me in everything, and will leave nothing great for me to do.” 
~ Alexander the Great
 
Historical records indicate this is what Alexander the Great said when others informed him about his father’s conquests.

Alexander the Great: God-King or Mere Mortal?

Image Credit: Close up of Alexander on the Alexander Mosaic, in the Naples National Archaeological Museum. (Wikimedia Commons)

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SPOTLIGHT ON Edith Hamilton, American Educator

"Shining a spotlight on Edith Hamilton, honorary citizen of Athens, Greece, classical scholar and American educator. ..."

Hello! Thanks for visiting this blog. This content has been republished elsewhere on the web. Thanks for stopping by. Please visit the replacement link and also please come back and visit here. You're welcome!

Content moved to Medium.com

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Follow Cmoneyspinner's HomeBiz Projects's board Legends, Myths, Fables, Folklore, Culture on Pinterest.

Character Study: Ruth: The Beautiful Gleaner

RUTH

How many stories have you heard of a woman begging to live the rest of her life with her mother-in-law?

Image credit: Debby McCann on Flickr.com

   the  



Ruth is a shortened version of ‘retut’, which means “lovely friend”. Ruth was a Moabitess, who married into a family of Israelites. She was subsequently widowed. The Book of Ruth is a short book in the Old Testament that tells the story of this “beautiful gleaner”. She is remembered for her loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and her conversion to Judaism. The earnestness of her plea and her sincerity was expressed almost in the form of a prayer.

Ruth in Boaz's Field (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

They were both destitute and Naomi tried to convince Ruth that she could offer her nothing but bitterness. Yet to Naomi she pleaded: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my God.” (Ruth 1: 16) Ruth’s steadfastness ultimately resulted in her marriage to her deceased husband’s wealthy kinsman Boaz, who was the father of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David, the shepherd boy who became an anointed king of Israel.

Bible References:  RUTH – RUTH 1: 1 – 4: 22; MATT 1: 5

The Book of Ruth (Oprah’s Book Club)

Beautiful | Forward this Image

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