David, Bathseba and Nathan
By Michael English
Summary: This was written partly as a dramatisation of 2 Samuel 11 & 12 and also as an introduction to how David handled criticism, part of a series we did based on Nicky Gumble's book Challenging Lifestyles.
Bible Reference: 2 Samuel 11 and 12.
Characters: Joab, David, Narrator, Nathan
Props: A perfumed letter in a pink envelope, pen and paper to write top secret orders.
Setting: King David's Palace
(A palace. King David sits on his throne and is attended by his general Joab)
Joab: G'day mighty king David! I, Joab, will lead your armies in battle. Who do you want us to take out today?
David: Go and smite the Ammonites in Gods name.
Joab: No worries.
(Joab marches out)
David: Ah. Peace and quiet at last! Now what shall I do. I know, some bird watching. Where's my binoculars.
(David mimes looking out of the window with binoculars)
Will you look at that. She's a right tasty bit of stuff. None of my other wives are built like that.... Servant. Go and find out who she is.
Narrator: And so it was that David met Bathsheba and had an affair with her, even though he already had several wives, and Bathsheba was married to Uriah, one of David's best officers.
(Pause)
Some time later a messenger arrived for David.
Messenger: I bring you a message my Lord.
(David takes the message and smells it.)
David: From a woman. Hmm. I wonder what it says.
Narrator: The message told David that Bathsheba was pregnant and that he was the father.
David: This is a problem. If Bathsheba has a child, every one will suspect me of doing wrong and that would never do. Time for a cunning plan. Messenger. (David writes) Take these top secret orders to General Joab at the front.
(The Messenger departs)
Narrator: So David sent orders to General Joab telling him to put Bathsheba's husband Uriah in the front line and get him killed. Joab obeyed even though it meant getting many other Israelites killed as well.
(Joab arrives)
Joab: G'day King. News from the front. We've had a bad defeat. Some of your best officers have been killed including Uriah.
David: How sad! We will need to do something to keep morale up. I know, a royal wedding. That always works. I'll just have to marry another woman. Somebody take a message to Bathsheba!
Narrator: Some time later the Lord spoke to Nathan who was considered a prophet by the Hebrews. Nathan came to speak to David.
(Nathan enters)
Nathan: Wotcha oh king.
David: Welcome to my humble palace Nathan. It is always good to greet a prophet of the Living God.
Nathan: David. I have come with a complaint: There were two men in your kingdom, one rich the other poor. The rich man had vast numbers of sheep, but the poor man had only a single lamb which he treated like one of his family. One day the rich man had some visitors, but he didn't want to kill one of his own animals so he stole his neighbour's lamb.
(David jumps to his feet and begins shouting)
David: Tell me who has done this terrible thing. He deserves to die. I swear in God's name that he will pay back at least four times as much as he took!
Nathan: You are the man.
David: Surely not. You've made a mistake!
Nathan: God made you king of Israel and gave you everything a man could ask for, and if it had not been enough he would have given you twice as much. But you have done an evil thing - you had Uriah killed and took his wife.
David: Yes, I admit it. I have sinned.
This script is Copyright 1997 Michael English, All Saints Milton. Permission is given to use this drama in non-profit making church events provided the source is acknowledged. Some editing may be required to suit local conditions. Please let us know if you have any comments.