an archeological find from king david's period

An archeological find from the King David period
By David Verveer

To all protestors, please note: this is a fictional story, based on some facts from the past and present.

It begins with the current discovery of a tunnel in Jerusalem, which leads to the pool used by King David. The digs, which have been underway for years, are located in David's city, west of the Wailing Wall. A year ago, archeologists discovered a pool from the days of the Second Temple, that have been used by pilgrims to Jerusalem, to refresh them after their long journey. Recently, the edge of the tunnel was discovered in the digs. Archeologists posit that it leads to a pool, originally located next to the garden full of fruit trees, where King David and other kings of the dynasty used to bathe.
Professor Heinrich Gurnicht Mit Leber, or the Caracataca University of Colombia, on his Sabbatical, participating in the above dig, discovered last year an ancient jar, buried in the tunnel pass way, in which a scroll was found, revealing a report during the reign of King David, and political power structure, of those days. The scroll is written in ancient Hebrew, and seems to be written by court priests serving the temple, during the reign of David's son, King Salomon. Like most of the written material found from this period, the scroll was never completed, and the story told, does not show, how those serious political problems influenced the final years of the reign of King David.

The story deals with the period when David had become king of both Judah and Israel. He had consolidated the kingdom, and declared the town Jebus as the countries capital, named Jerusalem. He built a palace and intended to built a temple. He subjected most of Israel's neighbors, with exception of the Ammonites, which were not completely defeated. The Chief General fighting the Ammonites was named Joab, who commanded the troops on the front, while King David remained in his palace home in Jerusalem.

According to the scrolls, King David scrolls about the rooftop of his palace on a hot night, and happen to see a girl bathing completely naked on a roof nearby. He was struck with her beauty, and the following day tried to discover her identity. It was a girl named "B" married to Uriah, a Hittite, serving as General, in David's army. According the investigation run by Nathan, the prophet and head of the moral police of those days, David kidnapped "B", and raped her, (according her version of the story, while the king insist, they only talked) before sending her home.

"B", informed the king that she was pregnant and expecting a child, which according her, was David's offspring. It is not clear from the story, if this was an attempt of blackmail the king by "B". But it appears that David ordered his chief of staff, Joab to make sure that Uriah would be sent to the most dangerous front, fighting with the Amonnites. And indeed, in the next battle, Uriah got killed.

Nathan's team investigating a complaint for alleged rape and other charges, believed the material collected so far contained sufficient evidence for at least three charges in the affair, based on the evidence it appears highly likely that the team will recommend indicting the king on three charges. While the evidence is strong regarding the charges of sexual harassment, in other matters, improper conduct in the granting of pardons and spying on the king's service men, more evidence will be needed to make it stick.

Nathan, in a meeting with the King, advised him to retire from reign, ahead of publishing the report of the investigating team. There is no evidence of the king taking the advise of Nathan, but as said before the scroll was not completed and we will never know, how the King managed to continue his reign, after such a scandal. \n \nEpilogue:\nThe above mentioned girl "B", according the bible story appears to be a girl named Bathsheba, but it could be that there were more girls indicated by the letter "B".

Nathan, in a meeting with the King, advised him to retire from reign, ahead of publishing the report of the investigating team. There is no evidence of the king taking the advise of Nathan, but as said before the scroll was not completed and we will never know, how the King managed to continue his reign, after such a scandal.

Epilogue:

The above mentioned girl "B", according the bible story appears to be a girl named Bathsheba, but it could be that there were more girls indicated by the letter "B".