The Colorful Past of Jesus’ Ancestor, Bathsheba

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary to whom Jesus was born…  Matthew 1:1a & 6b,16 ESV1

Read 2 Samuel 11:1-26, 12:1-25, 1 Kings 1:5-53

Bathsheba, Jesus’ 25th Great Grandmother, was the beautiful wife of Uriah the Hittite. Uriah was one of the leading men in David’s band of the toughest military warriors who were credited with heroic feats. They fought next to David during the years Saul was trying to kill him and were an invaluable part of David’s army during the time he was king. These men fought bloody battles and did amazing, almost crazy, deeds like single-handedly taking out 300 men with only one spear, killing lions barehanded, and snatching spears out of the hands of 7 1/2 foot-tall enemies. (See 1 Chronicles 11 and 2 Samuel 23).

Because Bathsheba was married to such a wild man, I doubt she was a mousy, little woman who was afraid of her own shadow. We don’t know when Uriah and Bathsheba wed. We don’t know if Uriah was with David for the entire 8 years David was hunted by Saul. But if Bathsheba was with Uriah even part of that time, she could have lived on the run for years finding shelter in caves. She could have had her home burned and been temporarily captured (see 1 Samuel 21-31). A wife of a wild man would have had a wild life. True, opposites do attract, but my guess is Bathsheba was as rugged as she was beautiful.

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The Color Past of Jesus’ Female Ancestor, Ruth

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born…  Matthew 1:1a, 5b & 16 ESV1

Read Ruth 1:1-18, 2:1-23, 3:1-18, 4:1-13

Ruth, Jesus’ 28th Great Grandmother, was a foreigner, a Moabite maiden, the daughter-in-law of Naomi, an Israelite woman. The book of Ruth tells us that Naomi moved with her husband, Elimelech, and two sons, Mahlon and Chilion to Moab to flee famine in Israel. During their time in Moab, Elimelech died. Then both of the young men married Moabite women. Shortly afterward becoming husbands, Mahlon and Chilion also died. This left Naomi alone in a foreign land, with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, and with no man to provide for and protect them. Imagine the mourning in that household!

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The Colorful Past of Jesus’ Female Ancestor, Rahab

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born… Matthew 1:1a, 5a & 16 ESV1

Read Joshua 2:1-24, 6:17 & 22-25

Rahab, Jesus’ 29th Great Grandmother, was a successful businesswoman in the pagan town of Jericho. Unfortunately, the best business opportunity for a woman in her town at her time was the business of selling one’s body. Rahab was a prostitute with an international clientele. From her house in the city’s wall, she could easily advertise her business to travelers and merchants of all kinds.

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The Colorful Past of Jesus’ Female Ancestor, Tamar

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ … and Judah the father of Perez … by Tamar … and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born…  Matthew 1:1a, 3a & 16 ESV1

Read Genesis 38:1-30

Although they played just as vital a role as the men, there are only five women named in Matthew’s record of Jesus’ genealogy. We are familiar with Mary and her valuable role as Jesus’ mother. But what about these other women? What is so important about each of them that their names are specifically mentioned? Let’s take a closer look at each of them.

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