An Ethical Appraisal of David-Bethsheba Relationship in 2 Samuel 11

The Old Testament is saturated with ethical issues. Ethics is a framework that is covered with sound moral principles and decisions. Interestingly, the account of the relationship between David and Bathsheba (2 Sam 11) outlines certain ethical issues relevant for modern Christians. This paper reveals that in the David-Bathsheba relationship narrative, certain ethical values were breached though with consequences. The paper reveals David‘s violation of the ethics of self-satisfaction and persevearance (2 Sam 11:2-3); ethics of fidelity/faithfulness in marriage (2 Sam 11: 4); ethics of integrity (2 Sam 11:6-8); the ethical principle of trustworthiness and sincerity (2 Sam 11:14-15); ethics of the right to human dignity(2 Sam 11: 4a); the ethics of love as well as that of cooperate mutual good (2 Sam 11:15-16). It is obvious that David could not consider, appreciate, and think highly of the life of Uriah as important. In other words, David violated the ethics of respect for human life (2 Sam 11:16-21). This paper thus concludes that the David-Batsheba narrative is bequeathed with ethical concerns relevant for modern Christians.