Who Put Bathsheba on the Roof? Leonard Cohen and Failure to Study in Context, That’s Who

Last updated on: July 28, 2018 at 9:37 am by Ben Spackman

Who Put Bathsheba on the Roof? Leonard Cohen and Failure to Study in Context, That’s Who 2018-07-28T09:37:45-05:00 Ben Spackman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Apparently, the idea has entered popular consciousness that in 2 Samuel 11, Bathsheba herself was on the roof. I’ve actually been confused as to why people seem to think this, since the text doesn’t actually say so; It’s David who was on his flat palace roof, trying to cool off. So, where is this idea coming from that Bathsheba was “bathing” on the roof?

I suggest one popular source, Jeff Buckley’s popularization of Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah,” which references David and Bathsheba. It includes the lyrics, “you saw her bathing on the roof.” Now, I suppose it could be understood as “you saw her bathing [while you were] on the roof” but that seems to flout Grice’s linguistic maxims.

I suspect most people hear this song and imagine Bathsheba, having a bath on her own roof. Such a ridiculous thing, at least in our cultural understanding of bathing and roofs, could have no other purpose than self-display and seduction. It’s been painted this way by, e.g. Jean-Leon Gérome in 1899.

This is just another example of how tradition and culture influence us without our even being aware. This is what happens when we read scripture completely unaware of ancient context, so insert here a strong plug for reading a modern study bible (like the Jewish Study Bible) and studying the bible in context.

While Cohen/Buckley and some tradition disambiguate the Bible in favor of Bathsheba’s “seduction” like the flagrant painting above, it is just as unjustifiable to disambiguate the Bible in the other direction and make Bathsheba completely innocent. Both of these disambiguate, because the text itself is ambiguous… and we don’t like ambiguity that. The text is heavily focused on David’s abuse of power, but are there hints? I think so, but in both directions. That’s for another post.

As always, you can help me pay my tuition here,. You can also get updates by email whenever a post goes up (subscription box on the right). You can also follow Benjamin the Scribe on Facebook.

Gospel Doctrine

Old Testament

Previous Post

July 28, 2018

Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 29: 2 Kings 2, 5-6

Next Post

August 4, 2018 Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 30: 2 Chronicles 29–30; 32; 34

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category ancient languages Announcements Book of Mormon books D&C evolution Genesis Gospel Doctrine Gospel Doctrine Resources history LDS Church History New Testament Old Testament prophets science and religion scripture study Seminary teaching temple Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 January 2010 December 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which New Testament city was known for worshipping Artemis?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ephesus Athens Rome Corinth