Bathsheba

Bathsheba first appears in one of Scripture's darkest episodes. While her husband Uriah was fighting in David's army, David saw her bathing from his rooftop and sent for her. Their union resulted in pregnancy, and David's attempts to cover the sin escalated into the murder of Uriah—a loyal soldier who refused to enjoy his home while his comrades fought.

The prophet Nathan confronted David with a parable about a rich man who stole a poor man's only lamb. When David raged against the rich man, Nathan declared, "Thou art the man." David repented, but the child born of their adultery died despite David's desperate prayers and fasting. Bathsheba's grief is captured in the simple words, "David comforted Bathsheba his wife."

Their next son was Solomon, of whom God said, "I will be his father, and he shall be my son." Bathsheba became central to the succession. When Adonijah attempted to seize the throne in David's old age, Bathsheba and Nathan reminded David of his oath to make Solomon king. David acted immediately, and Solomon was anointed.

As queen mother, Bathsheba held an honored position. Solomon placed a throne for her at his right hand and told her, "Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay." Most remarkably, Bathsheba appears in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus—listed as "her that had been the wife of Urias"—a reminder that God's grace works through broken stories.