Quick Question

[jessicacook]

In the Old Testament days, was it normal for people to take baths on the rooftop?

I was thinking about David today and all the troubles he had because of seeing Bathsheba taking a bath. But my thought was, What was she even doing up there? Was that something they did normally?

Thanks in advance!

[stevenson]

I'll answer you this way.... give the scripture that says she was taking a bath on the roof.

[beckrl]

Maybe it reads like this
After King David sees the beautiful Bathsheba bathing from the palace roof.

If she bath on the roof not only David but eveyone else looked upon her

[jinjer]

2 Samuel 11:2-3(King James Version)

2And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
3And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

David was on the roof, not Bathsheba.

Jinjer

[pastorables]

I was thinking about David today and all the troubles he had because of seeing Bathsheba taking a bath.

Having a little sympathy for David? Keep in mind that David had a wife in his house and actually could have walked away from this temptation.

It would appear that David had a very high rooftop which offered him splendid views of the landscape. Unfortunately, that high rooftop offered a view of the bathing pool as well.

Personally, I don't think the sin was in seeing this woman bathe, but rather his desire to make her his own (we have missionaries abroad that deal with nude bodies on a consistent basis).

We must walk with God and keep our integrity in times of temptation.

pa

[jessicacook]

Ok, so maybe David was on the roof!
I have ALWAYS heard that story as Bathsheba was on the roof! Until I read it closely, I still thought about it that way because that was the way it was always taught to me!

Having a little sympathy for David? Keep in mind that David had a wife in his house and actually could have walked away from this temptation. pa

Actually, no. I was hoping to tie it into a modesty lesson for girls about how we need to be careful what we do in front of guys.

I agree he was the one that gave in to the temptation.

[bibleguy]

Ok, so maybe David was on the roof!
I have ALWAYS heard that story as Bathsheba was on the roof! Until I read it closely, I still thought about it that way because that was the way it was always taught to me!

Having a little sympathy for David? Keep in mind that David had a wife in his house and actually could have walked away from this temptation. pa

Actually, no. I was hoping to tie it into a modesty lesson for girls about how we need to be careful what we do in front of guys.

I agree he was the one that gave in to the temptation.

David was wrong, for sure. But while were getting Bathsheeba off the roof, let's make sure and not let her off the hook.

We would very likely be wrong if we thought that Bathsheeba didn't know that David frequented his roof (a very common eastern practice, as the roofs, like Rahab's house), and purposefully did so to catch his attention. I believe that to be more likely the case, than not.

But, absolutely, David could have (and most certainly should have) turned and walked away, refusing to let lust be conceived and bring forth sin.

[jessicacook]

So where was she taking a bath? Why was she the one he saw? Could he not see others? Because I, too, seem to think the fault in this wasn't all on David. Maybe I'm wrong.

[A2JGirl]

Why would she be bathing where anyone could see her at all? That sounds fishy to me.

P.S. Aside from modesty, I have heard it preached that it started by David not being at the battle where he should have been, he tarried in Jerusalem. Just a small step in the wrong direction.

[RamboPreacher]

In the Old Testament days, was it normal for people to take baths on the rooftop?

I was thinking about David today and all the troubles he had because of seeing Bathsheba taking a bath. But my thought was, What was she even doing up there? Was that something they did normally?

Thanks in advance!

2 Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (2 Sa 11:2). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

David was on his roof.

part of the challenge is that we Western's think of the roof as a non-place in the house, and that it took effort and special direction to get there. not so then. The roofs were commonly used for a refreshing time in the cool of the evening - it was considered part of the house (palace).

Next point to remember is that essentially everyone (men) were at war, in battle, and not in the city. (David should have been gone too!) I don't believe that she was being immodest. I believe that she probably just didn't think anyone was around. It was common for the affluent, and even the not-so affluent, to have a "courtyard" in their house.

Like the roof, this courtyard, was used as a multipurpose "room". food preparation, cooking and weaving, most commonly. but also for bathing. A woman may not have commonly used it for bathing, but certainly for children and the husband. but again, all the men were supposed to be at war (especially the king). so even if her roof or courtyard was visible from the palace, it would be normally a correct assumption on her part to think the king was at war in the spring.

[stevenson]

Now that everybody is on the same page, here's your explanation. Houses in Israel back in David's time looked like these http://www.bible-architecture.info/Housing.htm . The house had a roof that could be used for a number of things. Many historians believe that Bathsheba was bathing on her rooftop. If she was, she probably was in a tent. The king's palace was much higher and looked down upon the other houses. Bathsheba was probably unaware that she was being watched. The king was probably not looking for Bathsheba but by chance got a glimpse of her. If he was doing what he should of been doing he wouldn't of been where he was!

But it is a common belief that she was bathing on the roof although the Bible never says such. Another common Bible myth.... that they tied a rope around the High Priest before he went into the Holy of Holies. It's not in the Bible and is logistically impossible to pull someone out by a rope from the Holy of Holies. But people still believe that it's in the Bible.

[RamboPreacher]

...
Actually, no. I was hoping to tie it into a modesty lesson for girls about how we need to be careful what we do in front of guys.

I agree he was the one that gave in to the temptation.

have you seen this:
http://www.boybrains.com/

[jessicacook]

...
Actually, no. I was hoping to tie it into a modesty lesson for girls about how we need to be careful what we do in front of guys.

I agree he was the one that gave in to the temptation.

have you seen this:
http://www.boybrains.com/

That's great, Rambo!! Thanks!!

And thanks for the explanations as well!

[Full Quiver]

the truth may very well be that he saw others, had relations with others, but the story of them two was more dramatic and filled with a great lesson for us today since the OT is for our learning. No telling how many women David had but for sure we are not.

[bibleguy]

the truth may very well be that he saw others, had relations with others, but the story of them two was more dramatic and filled with a great lesson for us today since the OT is for our learning. No telling how many women David had but for sure we are not.

There is no indication that Bible stories were chosen by God based on their dramatic value, but for their prophetic value.