Storybook Home Introduction 1st Story: Sparked 2nd Story: Flames 3rd Story: Smoke
"Smoke"
by Kendra Currie
Abishag lay in David’s chilly arms.
He shook now. She suspected he wouldn’t last the night. He drifted in
and out
consciousness, sleepy but never fully asleep.
She had one more question to ask
the King, one more story she wished to hear from his own lips. She
hadn’t yet
heard the tale of the most mysterious woman of all from his past. But
dare she
ask? She had already pushed too much, said too much . . .
But she had to know.
“David?”
“Yes, child?”
“Tell me about Bath-sheba.”
“It was late and I couldn’t sleep. I climbed to the rooftop
and saw her bathing on a nearby rooftop in the moonlight. The water was
streaming down her body. She was beautiful…incredible. I wanted her
from the
first moment I saw her,” he said.
David didn’t seem to realize where he was or who he was talking to
anymore.
His eyes
were unseeing.
“Bath-sheba boldly returned my gaze and I think I saw her smile. I certainly did a few hours later, in my chamber, when she came to meet me.
"A couple of months later, she still consumed my mind. I dressed as a
commoner and paid
her a surprise visit at dusk. I noticed the certain stoniness in her
manner, the
tiniest bulge in her once smooth belly, the way her hand went to the
small of
her back. I had seen them all before.
“'You’re pregnant,' I said.
She nodded, and said, 'And my husband has been away at war for months…'
“'Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,' I told her.
"Back at the palace, I hastened her husband’s return.
“'Uriah,' I said, when he arrived at my court. 'Reports of your bravery on the battlefield surpass all. I am very pleased with your loyalty and courage. As a reward, I have brought you back to the capital for two weeks' worth of leave. Please go home to your family and make merry.'
'How can I, when the rest of the men sleep in the woods, in trenches?'
Uriah replied. 'I thank my lord the king for his graciousness, but no,
I won’t
go home. I must return to the battle.'
"'Very well,' I said. My stomach was queasy. 'Then carry this message for me back to your commander.'
"I rolled up the scroll I had written that morning in case
things took this turn. As Uriah stood before me, I sealed the scroll
shut with
my royal seal. Its words were seared on my brain. It read:
“Upon his arrival at camp, place Uriah at the front lines. Tell Uriah that the King of Israel gives him the honor of leading the charge against our enemy’s wall.”
“It was a death sentence. Everyone knew…but they didn't know why I had passed it on Uriah. I couldn’t let news of the affair with Bath-sheba get out. Bath-sheba would’ve been ruined if Uriah discovered her treachery. He and the people would have stoned her to death. I couldn’t have saved her. If I had revealed my secret, I would’ve been ruined.
"If only Uriah hadn’t stubbornly refused to return to his
wife when I gave him the chance…”
“In due time she gave birth to a son whom we named him Solomon. After enough time had passed, we married, and I officially adopted Solomon as my own son. The kingdom is his now. His. He won’t make the old mistakes . . .”
With these words, King David seemed to suffer a seizure. Abishag put a
hand to
his face but his cheek was suddenly cold; his eyes, unseeing.
The wind blew the curtain. The flame went out and with that, the King of Israel was no more.
Author’s Note:
The story of David and Bath-sheba
is the last that I will include in this storybook. I thought this was a
good
place to end my storybook because I have been using David’s
relationships with
women to trace the arc of events through his life. The story of David
and
Michal showed us David’s youth and how he had to flee Saul for his
life. Then,
the story of David and Abigail carried us up to the point where David
is
anointed King of Judah. Finally, the story of David and Bath-sheba is a
good
place to end because it tells the last major chapter in David’s life as
a king
and introduces his son, Solomon, who would eventually succeed him to
the throne
of Israel.
As usual, I kept the essential framework of the story the same. However, I did leave out some things. In the original story, Bath-sheba sent word to David that she was pregnant, but I decided to have him visit her and learn the truth firsthand. Further, according to the Bible, David and Bath-sheba’s first child died because their sins displeased god.
I also removed Joab, the commander
of David’s armies, from the story. He was basically an intermediary in
the
story, carrying out David’s orders and delivering messages. Instead, I
thought
it would be more interesting if David did these things personally.
Well, that’s all she wrote. Hope you enjoyed it!
Bibliography:
2Sam.11: 1-27
2Sam12: 1-24
The Holy Bible: 1611 Edition, King James Version. Weblink.