You are strongly recommended to add to your library the excellent revised edition of Harper's Bible Dictionary titled, The Harper Collins Bible Dictionary, Revised Edition [book review], edited by Paul J. Achtemeier, with the Society of Biblical Literature (NY: Harper Collins, 1996). It is currently the best one-volume Bible dictionary in English, and it is available at Border's Books, Christian Science Reading Rooms, http://www.borders.com, or http://www.christianbook.com.

Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam, the son of Ahitophel, one of David’s advisors (2 Sam. 11:3; 23:34). The wife of Uriah the Hittite, she was coveted and seduced by David while her husband was with Joab, fighting against the Ammonites at Rabbath, east of the Jordan (2 Sam. 11:1-4). After David had ordered Uriah sent into the forefront of the battle where he was killed, he married Bathsheba. The Bathsheba adultery was rebuked by Nathan the prophet. Bathsheba became the mother of Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24) and begged the elderly David for Solomon’s succession to the throne (1 Kings 1:15-17). In another instance, she interceded for Adonijah, Solomon’s half-brother, who had requested to be given Abishag the Shunammite (1 Kings 2:13, 22). The name ‘Sheba’ (‘Shua’ in 1 Chron. 3:5) probably refers to a foreign god, which may indicate the family of Bathsheba was of non-Israelite origin.

David and his wives.

It should be noted that marriage was often a tool used to consolidate political power and alliances.

The following are the wives of David that are mentioned in the Bible. Based upon the number of his children, David possibly had additional wives and/or concubines. (See 2Sa 5:14; 1Ch 3:5-9; 1Ch 14:4-7)

1. Michal (1Sa 18:20-29; 19:9-17; 25:44; 2Sa 3:12-16; 6:12-23), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/michal.htm
2. Ahinoam (1Sa 25:43; 30:5,18), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/ahinoam.htm
3. Abigail (1Sa 25:1-42; 30:5,18), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/abigail.htm
4. Maacah (1Ch 3:2), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/maacah.htm
5. Haggith (1Ch 3:2), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/haggith.htm
6. Abital (1Ch 3:3), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/abital.htm
7. Eglah (1Ch 3:3), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/eglah.htm
8. Bathsheba / Bath-shua (2Sa 11:1-12:25; 1Ki 1:11-31; 1Ki 2:13-25; 1Ch 3:5; Psa 51), described at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/bathsheba.htm

• See also 2Sa 11 and 12 at http://www.bibletexts.com/verses/v-2sa.htm