Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

I usually try to give you a heads-up when there's an episode that may not be suitable for young ears,

and that applies today, but I also want to give you a different kind of heads-up.

We'll briefly mention a topic that may be sensitive for some of you.

So if you're a person who has a history of sexual assault, just know we'll reference

that briefly in today's episode.

So you can listen cautiously, or choose to skip this episode, or save it for a time when

you feel prepared to listen.

Do whatever serves you best.

When today's reading opens, the timeline has overlapped with what we read two days ago.

Israel has been at war with the Ammonites and the Syrian mercenaries they hired.

Israel defeated the Syrians and made them their servants, but things were sort of left up in the air with the Ammonites.

Typically, kings lead the way in their country's military exploits, but David decided to kick back at home for some reason we never find out about instead of leading his people into battle.

It may seem like it's not a big deal, but this little decision exposes a big gap in his

leadership. It hints at passivity. David is shirking responsibility. And while his army is off to war,

David's walking on his roof one day and sees Bathsheba bathing on her roof. First of all,

that's where people bathed, because that's where they could

easily catch and store rainwater. We have no reason to think she was trying to entice David. In fact,

she probably assumed the king of all people was off to war like he was supposed to be, since that's

where her husband, Uriah was. He was one of David's mighty men.

Second of all, Bathsheba was keeping the commands of God by purifying herself.

So here she is, trying to be obedient, when armed guards show up at her door and bring her to the king's palace.

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