FAQ

The film effectively minimizes some of the unethical behavior and toxic leadership David displayed in the source material. In the film, David is innocently walking on stairs outside of the palace, presumably on a matter of business, when he spots Bathsheba bathing openly, implied to be trying to capture the King's attention on purpose. In scripture, David was not only not with his army campaigning in the field (which was the norm for a king in these days) but also had not risen until early evening, implying that he had been shirking regular daytime duties. Then he went on to roof of his palace and spied on Bathsheba bathing within the walls of her home, where she had the expectation of privacy. In the film, Bathsheba takes the initiative to come see the King and complains that her husband is sexually inattentive and also beats her. In scripture, David uses his authority over servants to learn who she is and has her brought to him; there is no indication that Bathsheba was unhappy with her marriage or had any agency in her relationship with the King. The film implies that Bathsheba refused David sexually until after her husband was dead. In scripture, David has sexual relations with Bathsheba almost immediately, fully understanding her husband was with the army in the field (where the King also should have been), and again presumably with knowledge of servants. In the film, David arranges to have Uriah killed in order to marry her, and there is no pregnancy until after the marriage. In scripture, Bathsheba becomes pregnant after an indeterminate number of sexual encounters with the King. David first attempts to cover up his affair by summoning Uriah in from the field and having him sleep with his wife, but this fails because Uriah refuses to return home while the army is still campaigning. David then attempts to feast Uriah and get him drunk so he will go home, but this, too, fails. Only then does the King have Uriah return to the army, carrying the message that ordered the commanding general to have Uriah killed by placing him at hazard during battle. Scripture also clearly states that when Bathsheba heard of her husband's fate she was upset, further indicating her unwillingness to have participated in this affair.